Word of Life

You were made for a purpose. God put you here on Earth for one reason: to glorify Him. That doesn't mean that you won't be sinful and go against God, but you must remind yourself daily that you were made in His image and made to glorify Him. People will always go against God's design, but today, Pastor Richard reminds us that God will reign, and the Earth will be restored to its intended design. What an awesome promise you can rest in!

Humility opens your heart, like a window letting in God's grace. In today's message, Pastor Richard reveals the call to stay humble in heart, never losing that raw admission, “I need a Savior.” Your righteousness always falls short, but Christ's perfect righteousness, gained through faith, guards you forever. Forget comparing yourself to others. Are you embracing a humble heart, relying solely on Christ's flawless righteousness?

Prayer in Jesus' name isn't a blank check; it's a lifeline to God's heart. In today's message, Pastor Richard recalls where Jesus tells His disciples to ask in His name, the name of the Savior who gave His life to redeem us. It's not about tagging His name onto any wish, but aligning your heart with His love and purpose. When you pray with that focus, God moves to help you.

Stumbling blocks clutter the heart like debris in a runner's path. In today's message, Pastor Richard mentions the call in Hebrews to cast off the sins and weights that snare you, and to return to God. Those habits or distractions you know too well? Clear them away and set your heart to pursue Him earnestly. It's about preparing the way, like charting a course. Are you ready to remove the obstacles holding you back from God?

Have you ever tried to open a lock without the key? You can rattle, kick, or shake it, but it will most likely never open unless you have the correct key. Today, Pastor Richard will remind you that God is the one who holds the key to your salvation. You can try and brute force your way into heaven, but it won't work because you don't have access without first going through God. If you're looking for a hope and a future, God holds the keys to unlocking it. 

God wants you to have the kind of faith that challenges itself! If you have faith that God is going to provide for simple things like this week's groceries, you may not experience much growth when the Lord follows through. But Pastor Richard encourages you to have faith for something bigger in life. Believe that God is going to fulfill the dream that He has placed on your heart, so that you can give the glory to Him when He makes it happen.

Modern idols seduce just like ancient ones, luring hearts into age-old sins. In today's message, Pastor Richard explains how submitting to convenience and self-will, as described in Isaiah, mirrors the idolatry of lust and sin that has been present in humanity from the beginning. Society boasts progress, yet spirals back to these practices. Are you recognizing the idols pulling every which way at your heart in today's world?

Life can hum along like a calm day, blind to the storm on the horizon. In today's message, Pastor Richard compares the end times to Lot's day, when Sodom's people lived carelessly right up until fire fell. Scripture urges believers to stay sober, alert, and vigilant. Some are ready, others aren't. Where do you think you are? The call is clear: turn your heart towards God. Are you living alert, with your heart fixed on Christ's impending return?

There's something about jumping into the pool from the high dive that really gets you; If you get up there and you just go for it, then no problem. But if you stand up there and start thinking about it, then the longer you stand there, the harder it gets to jump in. In his message today, Pastor Richard warns you about waiting to get right with God. The longer you put it off, the harder your heart will become. Don't Hesitate. Commit yourself to Him now!

Do you have a personal budget? Some kind of means to track how much you have to spend on the different things you need, or want. If so, then you know that you can't just take your whole paycheck and spend it on whatever you feel like. You need to buy the essentials first. In today's message, Pastor Richard shares with you an invitation from God not to waste your life on worthless things, but to come to Him, because He has everything you need. 

I don't know about you, but I certainly remember receiving my fair share of discipline growing up. Well, if I'm being honest, there were probably a handful of things that got missed. But you know what? As much as I hated it then, I understand that it was for my good. In today's message, Pastor Richard relates the discipline of a child to God's discipline in your life. If God is chastening you, it's because He loves you, and He means it for your good.

God wants you to have the kind of faith that challenges itself! If you have faith that God is going to provide for simple things like this week's groceries, you may not experience much growth when the Lord follows through. But Pastor Richard encourages you to have faith for something bigger in life. Believe that God is going to fulfill the dream that He has placed on your heart, so that you can give the glory to Him when He makes it happen.

God's forgiveness is a truly mysterious thing! It's not a loan that you need to repay over time, or a gift that takes time to take effect. When you are forgiven by God, it's instantaneous! Pastor Richard draws an example today from the story of David and Bathsheba: when David was called out on his sin, he repented to the Lord. It wasn't several days later when forgiveness arrived; forgiveness came at the very moment of repentance.

It's completely unheard of for a convicted criminal to have someone step in and take his punishment in his place. You might hear of someone paying a fine for someone else, but to actually go in and do time, or even face the death penalty on behalf of a guilty party, that's completely unheard of. In his message today, Pastor Richard reminds you that that is exactly what Jesus has done for you; He died in your place for the sins that you committed.

Have you ever been in a spot in life where you didn't know where to go or what to do? That can be a really difficult place to be when you feel like there's no hope. But do you know that sometimes that's right where you need to be? In today's message, Pastor Richard shares with you that you can cry out to God, and HE will help you. When you find yourself in a place of despair, God will hear you and He will answer your cry.

Isn't it fun to look through old family photos? To take a trip down memory lane? To see where you came from and what you've gone through to get to where you are today? Pastor Richard encourages you to consider where you are in your walk with Jesus today. Do you remember where you came from? Do you remember what your life was like before? If you haven't started on your journey with Jesus yet, today could be the day to remember!

You know, knowing what to say is important, but knowing when to say it is equally important. You can just spit out random compliments to others, but isn't it great when your compliment is just what someone needed to hear in that moment? In his message today, Pastor Richard explains to you that Jesus speaks to you exactly what you need to hear at exactly the time you need to hear it. He is the perfect Word in season for your life.

Babies love to be held, and so wherever the mother goes, the baby wants to go with her. But sometimes, the mom needs to put the baby down to take care of something, and what happens? The baby cries as if she has been completely abandoned. In today's message, Pastor Richard asks if you ever feel like that with God? Is there ever a moment when you don't feel close to God and start to panic? Be encouraged, He's still right there!

God's forgiveness is a truly mysterious thing! It's not a loan that you need to repay over time, or a gift that takes time to take effect. When you are forgiven by God, it's instantaneous! Pastor Richard draws an example today from the story of David and Bathsheba: when David was called out on his sin, he repented to the Lord. It wasn't several days later when forgiveness arrived; forgiveness came at the very moment of repentance.

Sometimes, the world likes to slap a label on you, calling you a bad person. Just remember, you can find comfort in knowing that God sees you as righteous when you genuinely repent and seek His forgiveness with an open heart. It feels as if sin has never even crossed your path. But have you stopped to think about who deserves all the credit? Today, Pastor Richard shares how Jesus has washed you clean and made you righteous in the eyes of God!

Have you ever felt completely abandoned in life? Perhaps you've been going through an extremely difficult season, while everyone around you seems to have it easy. Well, in his message today, Pastor Richard wants you to know that you're not alone. Even Jesus knows what it was like to suffer with no one else to feel His pain. He knows what you've gone through and even what you're going through now, and He wants to comfort you in your tears.

What if you never checked the messages on your phone, but then you complained about no one ever reaching out to you? That would be odd, right? It's not that they never reached out, it's that you never listened. In today's message, Pastor Richard assures you that God IS speaking to you. Are you listening? Are you spending time in the Word of God? Are you opening up the pages of Scripture to find out what God has to say to your heart?

Some people are really good at planning. Not only do they have their day mapped out, but they've got the whole year and even five to ten years lined up. They know where they want their career to be, what house they want to live in, and how many kids they want to have. Today, in his message, Pastor Richard encourages you to surrender your plans to God. God knows what lies ahead, where you can only guess and hope for the best.

It's easy to look at the failure of others and shake our heads. There's a phrase that says, “My sin always looks worse on somebody else.” The truth is that all too often, we're quick to judge others but aren't willing to deal with our own sin. In today's message, Pastor Richard urges you to look at your own heart to see what God may want to deal with. Don't be so calloused that you won't allow God to work in your life.

There are a lot of goals that many of us give up on because of the hurdles that we'd have to overcome to achieve them. Whether it's hours of training involved to be an elite athlete, or the years of schooling to earn that degree. Sometimes we just have to curb our expectations. In his message today, Pastor Richard shares with you that eternal life is attainable for you! Jesus has already done all the work; all you have to do is trust in Him.

Sometimes, the world likes to slap a label on you, calling you a bad person. Just remember, you can find comfort in knowing that God sees you as righteous when you genuinely repent and seek His forgiveness with an open heart. It feels as if sin has never even crossed your path. But have you stopped to think about who deserves all the credit? Today, Pastor Richard shares how Jesus has washed you clean and made you righteous in the eyes of God!

A savvy businessman is always on the lookout for opportunities to strike a deal that works in his favor. It's easy to rationalize your choices and missteps by pointing out the good you've done, isn't it? But do those really stack up to what God expects? Today, Pastor Richard encourages you to let go of the negotiations with God. Rather than trying to explain yourself, why not embrace the truth that you need Jesus to save you from eternal separation? 

With all of the various sources of information we have today, you have to stop and consider who and what to listen to. So many people want you to listen to THEM, but how can you discern the truth? In his message today, Pastor Richard warns you that there are so many people out there who think they're wise, but in God's eyes, they're nothing but fools. Keep your eyes on God, and let His Word be the lens through which you view the world.

When you plant a seed, you can't just stick it in a pot of soil and expect it to grow; you've got to water it and give it sunlight. Without the water and sunlight, that plant will never come to life. Today, in his message, Pastor Richard expresses to you that without the Spirit of God, you will never truly experience life. The good news is that God pours out His Spirit on those who come to Him. Are you ready for the outpouring of God's Spirit in your life?

In a new relationship, it's easy to feel “in love,” but over time, couples often lose that affection they once had for each other. It's sad to see when a couple moves from being inseparable to insufferable. Today, in his message, Pastor Richard challenges you to ask yourself if you've become weary of God. Were you once so in love with God that He was all you could talk about, but now, He's more of an inconvenience? May it never be so!

We've all experienced some kind of failure in our lives, but should we let our failures define us? What if that first time you fell off your bike, you never got back up again? It takes resilience to keep moving forward. In his message today, Pastor Richard encourages you not to dwell on your past failures but to move forward as you grow in God's grace. Don't let yesterday's failures hinder what God wants to do in your life today.

I think most of us wish that life was perfect, but it's not. It would be great to spend our days sitting on a beach relaxing, but the reality is that life has its ups and downs. In today's message, Pastor Richard shares with you that although life can be hard, you don't have to go through it without hope. God hasn't promised you a life free from difficulty, but whatever struggles you face, He wants to carry you through to the other side.

A savvy businessman is always on the lookout for opportunities to strike a deal that works in his favor. It's easy to rationalize your choices and missteps by pointing out the good you've done, isn't it? But do those really stack up to what God expects? Today, Pastor Richard encourages you to let go of the negotiations with God. Rather than trying to explain yourself, why not embrace the truth that you need Jesus to save you from eternal separation? 

When you venture out into the rain, the best companions to keep you dry are an umbrella or a cozy spot to take cover. Similarly, do you realize that you need someone to save you from God's anger that's coming down like rain? Today, Pastor Richard shares some heartfelt insights on why having Jesus in your life is so important. He's the only one who can save you from God's wrath and judgment, guiding you to mend your relationship with your Creator!

Have you ever opened up the fridge to look for something and, after a while, given up? I know I have, and do you know what's worse? When someone else walks over to the same fridge, opens it up, and grabs that thing you were looking for, immediately! Today, in his message, Pastor Richard urges you not to miss Jesus when He's right in front of you. He wants to reveal Himself to you in His Word. Are your eyes open?

How often do you read the Terms and Conditions before you click that “Accept” button? I mean, who has time for that? But did you know that if you ever had to go to court, by having clicked “Accept,” you would be legally bound by those terms and conditions? In today's message, Pastor Richard shares with you that the only way to receive eternal life is by accepting God's terms: Repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

When you're feeling weak, the last thing you need is someone to come yell at you and tell you to pick yourself up by your bootstraps. No, when you're feeling weak, what you need is someone to come alongside you and encourage you until you can stand on your own. In today's message, Pastor Richard shares with you that Jesus is that someone. He didn't come to beat you down, but to offer you life and freedom from sin.

It seems like just about every time life is about to settle down, something comes up to throw a wrench into things. It's like you can hardly catch a break before the world comes crashing down - again. *Sigh* “How will I make it through this time?” You might be asking yourself. Well, in his message today, Pastor Richard wants you to know that God is always in control. When you trust in Him, you'll experience His faithfulness in your life.

When we look back on History, we can see the many different rulers that have come and gone. Some were the seemingly obvious candidates, while others were quite surprising. Even in our modern day, watching the change in power can keep us on our toes. In his message today, Pastor Richard will show you that no matter who's in the Whitehouse, or any other position of authority, you can be sure that God is on the throne in heaven.

When you venture out into the rain, the best companions to keep you dry are an umbrella or a cozy spot to take cover. Similarly, do you realize that you need someone to save you from God's anger that's coming down like rain? Today, Pastor Richard shares some heartfelt insights on why having Jesus in your life is so important. He's the only one who can save you from God's wrath and judgment, guiding you to mend your relationship with your Creator!

It's so easy to fall into the habit of measuring our worth by looking at what others are doing. But have you ever thought about how this benchmark you hold doesn't mean a thing to God? Today, Pastor Richard shares some thoughts on God's grace and mercy. He'll judge you based on His own sense of what's right. To handle that, He's showered you with plenty of favor and patience. Embrace His grace and start working on your weaknesses!

Standing on the beach, when that massive tide rolls in, it can send a shiver down your spine, can't it? In a similar vein, encountering certain challenges in life can leave you feeling a bit helpless in your heart. But have you ever thought about the fact that you're serving a God who's got everything under control? Today, Pastor Richard tells you to stand firm in your faith. Embrace your courage because God can flip your challenges into something good!

It's funny how we often fall into the habit of putting off the tasks we're given, isn't it? You know, as someone who believes in Christ, it's interesting how procrastination can sneak in and mess with the amazing plans God has lined up for you. Today, Pastor Richard encourages you to dive right into discovering God's plan for your life. He's looking for your willingness to follow His calling, and there's an incredible plan waiting just for you!

Hezakiah felt a heavy sadness wash over him as he battled illness, pouring out his heart to God in search of comfort and support. A sign from God came to him through Isaiah, bringing the answer to his prayer. There might be times when you're wrestling with something and hoping to hear from God. Today, Pastor Richard encourages you to look for the signs from God. He will always answer your prayer. Just keep looking for those signs from above!

Your journey with Christ isn't always a walk in the park. Life is packed with its fair share of challenges, all tied to the unique path that God has set for you. There are moments when you might notice that your health isn't quite at the level you'd like it to be. Today, Pastor Richard shares a heartfelt reminder to serve God with all your heart. Everything He does in your life is meant to benefit you. Have faith in Him and follow the journey He has laid out for you. 

Picture yourself as a kid once more. When you find yourself in a situation where you're completely lost, it's natural to reach out for a little guidance. That's the moment when your parents rush in to lend a hand. Today, Pastor Richard shares how your Abba Father is always there, ready to hear your cries for help. When you reach out to Him in prayer and ask for His guidance, God is there to help you and illuminate your path forward. Isn't that just incredible?

It's so easy to fall into the habit of measuring our worth by looking at what others are doing. But have you ever thought about how this benchmark you hold doesn't mean a thing to God? Today, Pastor Richard shares some thoughts on God's grace and mercy. He'll judge you based on His own sense of what's right. To handle that, He's showered you with plenty of favor and patience. Embrace His grace and start working on your weaknesses!

We all find ourselves grappling with the challenges of falling into sin. The enemy might throw some tempting distractions your way to steer you off the path toward God. So, does that mean there's no chance for you to return to Him? Today, Pastor Richard invites you to come back to God's righteousness, all thanks to His amazing grace. He's always ready to take you back with open arms. All you need to do is repent with a sincere heart!

It's funny how, when everything seems just right in life, we tend to lean away from our faith a little more each day. Have you ever thought about how God helps you confront the tough realities of life? In today's message, Pastor Richard shares how God wants you to lean on Him. He allows challenges into your life to help you see just how much you need Him. Why not shift your focus from just your skills and learn to rely on the incredible power of God instead?

Sometimes, you might find yourself thinking that a church isn't necessary for keeping that connection with God alive. So, how do you figure out if the guidance you're receiving is truly from God and not just your own desires? Today, Pastor Richard shares some thoughts on why fellowship really matters. Joining the church can help you discover and confirm what God has in store for you. You can also support one another in keeping that faith strong!

What makes you think heavy rain is on the way? Look at those clouds! You can almost sense when the rain will start and how heavy it will fall. In a similar vein, the Bible presents us with various signs and markers that hint at the future waiting to unfold. Today, Pastor Richard dives into the world of Bible prophecies and why they matter so much. Jesus is on His way to bring judgment to the world soon. Have you accepted Christ into your life yet?