Sunday Devotionals with John & Rachel: Recent Episodes
The LifeHouse Ministries
What started as a weekly encouragement in front of a computer with family, simply to get through these trying times, has evolved into a true ministry. Our weekly gatherings have grown because of an authentic hunger to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ for every day life. Come and fellowship with us and let's draw closer to God together!
Worry is something we all wrestle with from time to time. Whether it's care or concerns about tomorrow, or preoccupation with the past, this is definitely an area we can grow to trust God more. What is worry? What are we actually doing to ourselves when we do?
If we are honest, we can admit that believing in God and trusting God are two different things. Trust is a deliberate act of our will that requires vulnerability and confidence in those we choose to give it to. This series will explore the dynamics of trusting God and how it affects our lives. Has God earned your trust?
Even Jesus’ family history was full of drama and chaos, with some less than ideal characters to call ancestors. What can our family history teach us about God’s faithfulness? How can we better trace God’s greater purpose through our past and move into a deeper appreciation for what He still has in store for us?
As we reflect on God's goodness throughout this year, how can we better recognize the activity of God in our lives? What can we glean about our future from what God has already said or done? We are walking through the Christmas Story with new eyes in search of a fresh revelation. Don't worry. Ponder Purposefully.
When we think about the meaning of unity we often think about it in a corporate context. What can the story of Cain and Abel teach us about God's definition of unity? Family. Faith. Competition. Murder. Isolation. What does it really mean to be our brother's keeper?
With many of us still reeling from historic injustices, it's comforting to find camaraderie with those who share our experiences. What would Jesus have to say about the racial and cultural issues in our society today? Who is our neighbor? What is God's definition of being neighborly? Lord help us with this one!
What is the purpose of the church today? How do we interpret the relationship between the church and our culture? What about Justice? How does Jesus challenge us to think and live in these perilous times?
This is a tough one. Many of us have experienced emotional, mental, and even physical harm from people we categorize as enemies. Our natural response to offenses are often retaliation and vengeance yet Jesus calls us to LOVE our offenders. How can we genuinely do this? Lord help us with this one!
Family can be complicated but is very important to God. God reveals Himself to us as Our Heavenly Father and those who embrace His Son Jesus are His children. What did Jesus say about family dynamics? How are we to view and interact within our family systems from the lens of Christ?
What Would Jesus Do? That's the question we seek to explore in this series as it relates to the relevant matters of our lives. Why is it so important for us to consider Jesus' words, actions, thoughts, and feelings in our everyday lives? We are going deep in this series!
God wants to be known by each of us and has gone to great lengths to reveal Himself to us throughout our lives. As we conclude this challenging series, may we all come into a greater recognition that to better understand God we must get to know Jesus beyond the surface.
How does what we know about God correlate with what we know about ourselves? Is it truly possible to understand ourselves at our core without an honest pursuit of a deeper knowledge of God?
Why were you born when you were born? Have you ever considered why you live where you live and the specifics of your origin? Could these factors all be preordained for you to happily find the God of Creation? God is NOT hiding from us!
If the God of Creation is self-sufficient what does this mean for us? How can we get to know "The Unknown God" better? We have to realize and confess...God DOESN'T need us.
When was the last time you stopped to observe the mind-blowing vastness of the sky or consider the unreachable depths of the ocean? What about the purpose of Thunderstorms? What does everything we experience in creation teach us about God?
Our conception of God directly influences how we live and see the circumstances in our lives. How can we better reconcile the harsh realities in the world around us with the relevance of God?
We all have an idea of God but is our conception based on the God of creation or a god we've created? In this series we are challenging our ideas about God in an attempt to get to know Him better. Who is God? Is it possible to worship a God we don't know?
We have been challenged throughout this series on how we see and embrace Starting Over. How can we more fully move forward into the newness that God has for us? We have to close the door behind us.
Starting Over is not always provoked by the consequences of our choices. Sometimes while we are living our lives change finds us. What do we do when our lives are "interrupted" by God? How can we become more aware of God's fingerprints in our lives?
When faced with the reality of Starting Over it's easy to feel as if all we have gained along the way is wasted with our efforts. What is your definition of progress? Failure? How do you measure it? How can we determine what is worth keeping?
Uncertainty is scary. Coping with what may be ahead of us in light of what has been behind us can be paralyzing. How can we be certain that our next steps will be the right ones? Could Starting Over very well be in God's plan for us to end up where He always intended for us to be? What if?
The idea of Starting Over can create in us all kinds of emotions. Frustration, fear, and confusion are just a few we are well acquainted with. Ultimately, our peace is connected to our ability to trust and surrender to the path that God has us on and recognize, "in the beginning God."
Life is not always what we expect. We have ups and downs and can't always decipher our next steps. In these moments we can either keep going until we find our way or go to the beginning and start over. How do we know which one to do? What does starting over mean to God?
God's bountiful Grace toward us provides us all with an opportunity to have an authentic relationship with our Creator. This free gift is made possible through faith in Jesus Christ. What's the difference between Grace & Mercy? How can we grow in our appreciation for all that we have access to because of this?
Have you considered the depths of God's Grace? Many of us are acquainted with receiving this amazing gift from God in relation to His mercy and forgiveness but is there more to this? Most certainly! There's a whole other side to God's grace.
The relationship between Salt and Light is critical to our existence on Earth. In fact, everything on our planet is directly impacted by how these elements work together. What can we glean spiritually from this natural process? How can we more intentionally walk in this high calling to be Salt of the Earth and Lights of the world?
What's the difference between light and illumination? What role does our mind play in how we see and interpret our world and the things of God? Let's go deeper!
Jesus said "those who follow after me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life." What is this Light of Life? How can we better understand the spiritual role we play in God's ultimate purpose as lights in our dark world?
Not only are we called The Salt of the Earth but we are also called Lights of the World. What is Light? What significance does this phenomenon have on our experiences and existence on this planet? What is Christ actually calling us to the world? This is going to get DEEP!
Salt is vital to the preservation of life but what purpose does flavorless salt serve? Jesus said it is good for nothing. What does this mean for us and our interactions with one another?
Have you ever considered the significance of salt? Its implications reach far beyond the satisfaction of our palates. In reality, this tiny mineral is vital to the maintenance of life as we know it on this planet let alone our everyday lives. What did Jesus mean when he said, You are the Salt of the Earth?
How we leave one season usually sets the tone for how we will intepret what's next for us. What are your expectations for the coming year? How can we inspire hope in these perilous times? What does the Good News of Christ teach us about our responsibility to peace on earth and goodwill toward our fellowman?
One of the most potent ingredients in the Good News is Hope in Christ. Our anticipation of things to come are intricately tied to our ability to Hope in the goodness of God. What can this season teach us about God's intentions towards us? Is it really possible to expect any good from evil?
With everything going on these days it can be difficult to maintain an anticipation of hopefulness. Each of us have been conditioned to expect certain realities in our lives. How can we bring our expectations in line with the promises of God? What does God mean when He calls something Good?
We have discovered how powerful Gratitude is and its implications on our choices and experiences. As we conclude this series, how can we live this out in our everyday lives? How can developing a posture of gratitude and improve our ability to cope with life's uncertainties? Free people are grateful people!
How we see our circumstances most often dictates how we handle them. How can a perspective of gratitude help us cope with difficult situations in our lives? Is it really possible to recognize the good in every situation?
Our ministry partner Pastor Dave shares his miraculous testimony about founding Camp Grace and how we can discover God's calling for our lives! If you have a heart for seeing our at risk youth transformed by the love of Jesus you are not gonna want to miss this! True Gratitude to God should lead us to action!
Is it really possible for gratitude to have physical, mental, and spiritual effects on us? Can how we see our present circumstances and future expectations be influenced by how grateful we are? Just how powerful is this transformative virtue?
Gratitude changes everything. How we see our circumstances, each other, and God are all connected to our posture and perspective. Join us as we delve into this transformational virtue and seek to grow in our understanding of what it truly means to be grateful people.
So many people are hurting. These days many wrestle to find the hope and peace that only comes from a genuine relationship with Christ. We could not let this moment pass and not share what was on our hearts concerning the current state of our world. Please listen and help us pray for our world. We all need Jesus!
What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? How can we stay in sync with God's Will in our prayer lives? As we bring this series to a close, may we all continue to grow in our communication with God. Just Pray.
What do you do when you are the one standing in need of prayer? Or if there's a need, you don't know to pray for? We've all been here at some point in our lives. Herein lies the importance of intercession. How can we come to grow in this area of communication with God for the benefit of others?
It's no secret that opposition is a reality in our pursuit of the things of God. From personal distractions to societal influences our communication with God is often in the crosshairs. How can we better overcome these hinderances to sincere and effective prayer lives?
Much like many other things in life, doing it together makes it better. Prayer is no different, especially when it's done the right way. Something special happens when we pray together. How can we become more effective in this area? Now more than ever Lord, teach us to pray...TOGETHER!
He healed the sick, cast out demons, and even raised the dead. For all these miraculously public wonders, Christ spent much more time praying in secret than in public. How can we grow in our prayer lives behind closed doors? There's something powerful to be said about secret prayer. Let's go deeper!
Many times we face circumstances in life that bring us to our knees. During these times it can be tempting to misjudge God's providential care and concern for us, let alone pray effectively. How can we better navigate these realites in our everyday lives?
The Lord's Prayer has provided us a beautiful model for communication with Almighty God in this series. What lessons can we learn as we set ourselves to make our requests? What is the relationship between our requests and forgiveness? Let's go deeper!
Ever wonder what the ultimate purpose of prayer to God is? Many times when we pray we fail to truly understand the purpose beyond the scope of our own needs. How can we become more intentional and consistant in our communication with God?
In this brand new series we will explore the purpose and power of Prayer. What is Prayer? Why is it so important? Join us as we delve into how we can better communicate with Almighty God. Now more than ever Lord, teach us to pray!
In this intimate devotional we wanted to share our testimony and how this all started. From the vision, to the relocation, to where we are headed its been quite the journey so far. We pray that as our story unfolds you are inspired and encouraged to step out in faith on what God has called you to do. The world is waiting!
There is one ultimate goal. When it's all said and done freedom in Christ leads to holiness which will result in eternal life. In these perilous times, how can we walk more freely in our pursuit of holiness? How can we be sure that we are going to be with God?
God is extremely gracious and generous toward us. In turn, we are called to humbly reflect these characteristics to those around us. What is biblical generosity? How can we walk more freely in our service to others?
Although freedom is available to all who are in Christ, we must make a conscious decision to embrace it, while assuming the responsibility that such a privilege entails. How can we better manage our choices and responsibilities in light of who God has called us to be?
What does it mean to be free from sin? Is this really possible in light of our natural propensity to fall short of God's standard of righteousness? How can we truly Walk Freely in this area? This is going to get deep!
What does it mean to truly be free in Christ? How can we come to fully embrace all that God has for us and who He has designed us to be? In this new series we will explore God's definition of freedom and how we can live into this liberty everyday of our lives. Let's get ready to Walk Freely!
Much of our feelings of insecurity stems from the inner conflict between who we think we should be and God's original design for our lives. How do we come to embrace God's opinion about us and who He has created us to be? Who sets the bar for how you see yourself?
Bitterness starts as a small root. Over time, if left unchecked, it will seek to bear fruit that will not only poison our relationships with others but eventually our souls. How can we conquer this prevalent deterrent to purpose and finally walk in the freedom Christ has for us?
Are you bitter? How can you tell? What are the implications of this covert issue on our relationships with others and God? How can we begin to walk in the freedom of Christ in this area of our lives?
Unresolved hurt from offenses can lead to bitterness, which poisons our souls. What does God say about bitterness? How can we come to grips with our need for vindication when our feelings are justified?
We can all relate to the need to feel wanted and accepted. However, the reality is many of us wrestle with the fact that we have experienced the opposite far more in our lives. How does God view rejection? How can we better handle it in our everyday lives?
Shame can also be projected on us. Sometimes by association, family name, or by reputation, we can carry a stigma that doesn't belong to us. Feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness can isolate us from God, each other, and a hopeful future. What is God's final resolution for shame?
Shame is possibly the most debilitating of all the things that keep us in bondage in our relationship with God and each other. How can we overcome the external and internal pressures that result from how people perceive us? How can we come to better appreciate how God sees us despite how we may see ourselves?
We can't change the past. This can be the most tormenting aspect of our humanity and can cause many of us to get stuck trying to fix things that we can not change. How can we move forward in the things of God when we are burdened by the unfavorable consequences of our choices?
Our sinful nature is constantly at odds with the way God desires us to live. What happens when we sin? What is the difference between condemnation and conviction? How can we walk more freely in our relationship with Christ while honoring God's standard for righteous living?
When we fall short of God's standard for our lives we often wrestle with feelings of guilt and shame which cause us to run away from God. Many of us struggle with this inner feeling of impending judgement. How can we overcome condemnation and learn to walk in the freedom of Christ while we are still prone to human weakness?
Forgiving ourselves is necessary in order for us to walk freely in our divine purpose. How can we walk in this freedom when those we seek forgiveness from do not forgive us? Is it really possible to move forward without the closure we need?
Forgiveness lies at the heart of our relationship with God and one another. It is fundamental to our understanding of salvation through Christ. Yet many of us are challenged to participate in its liberation. How can our relationship with God and others be hindered by an unwillingness to forgive ourselves?
Even after salvation we wrestle with our humanity and things about ourselves that hinder us from fully embracing a walk of inner liberty. Guilt, shame, and condemnation are just some of the things that keep us from walking in the fullness of who God designed us to be. We often disqualify ourselves. How can we truly make the transition to genuine freedom on the inside? This powerfully liberating series speaks to the heart of the matter!
Resurrection gives us the hope that even in death there can still be a glorious new life! Yet many of us find ourselves seeking living things amongst dead things. How can we break free from the pains and stigmas of our past and walk more fully in the newness of our life in Christ?
When we hear the term "spiritual warfare" we often imagine dramatized demonic activity and fighting the devil. What is the biblical premise of spiritual warfare? What does this have to do with our IDentity in Christ? How can we better recognize the activity of these forces of darkness? How does God empower us to wage these spiritual battles everyday?
Once we come into our new IDentity in Christ our perspective on everything begins to change. We become more aware of ourselves, the spiritual blessings of God, and those around us. How should this new perspective influence our lifestyles and relationships? What does God expect from us as it relates to our conduct as new creations?
Now that we understand the magnitude of who we are and what we have IN CHRIST, what is our responsibility to our IDentity as Christians? In a world where what it means to be a Christian is left to interpretation, what does the Bible say a Christian life is? How can we better walk worthy of this new IDentity?
Many limit salvation to mean "avoiding sin" so they can go to Heaven but is there more to this way of life? What does a Christian look like when they know who they are? What do they know? What does it mean to be a NEW creation? With so many things separating us how can we come to confidently walk in the Identity God has preordained for us IN CHRIST?
When we first come to Christ, we often wrestle with who we are and who we were created to be in God's design. What does it mean to be a new creation? How can we find our place in this world and discover our divine purpose? In this new Identity Crisis series, we will explore who we are IN CHRIST and what it truly means to BE a Christian in this age.
How can we learn to navigate our next steps when our physical SENSES are telling us different things? What SENSE can we use to perceive God's will for our lives then? In these trying times of vague truths and blurred lines we need to cultivate this SIXTH SENSE...Discernment.
Our SENSE of touch has a powerful impact on how we feel and experience the world around us. How can we better perceive the presence of God in our everyday lives through this SENSE? How can we truly relay God's touch to this hurting world?
Some say our SENSE of taste is the one of all the others that we can't live without...literally! How important is our taste to our growth and experience of the world around us? What spiritual connections can we draw? How can we better come to recognize the activity of God in our everyday lives through this SENSE?
The functions of our SENSES are only as accurate as our state of mind. What role does our thinking play in how we see God, our world, and our divine purpose for our world? How can we better keep our minds focused on what matters most? If we eventually become what we think, what's our responsibility to our thought life?
Our SENSE of smell is often minimized as the lesser of the others but you may be surprised at how much influence it has on our experiences, expectations, and behaviors both naturally and spiritually. What role can this SENSE play in our relationships with God and each other?
From the sounds of the outside world to the familiar voices we hear most often, there is a constant battle going on for our attention. Our SENSE of hearing is most susceptible to attack. How much of what we are hearing is truly edifying us? How can we learn to hear God better amidst the noisiness of our everyday lives?
Our sight is probably the SENSE we rely on most to interpret our world, however, the way things look are not always what they seem. Amidst all the visual distractions how can we bring our eyes into focus with what God is doing in our lives? Could it be that what looks like a threat could really be God moving in a way you've never seen before?
God’s purpose for us is already inside each of us, however discovering it amidst all the noise of life can be challenging. Join us as we delve into our new devotional series called SENSES. Let's tune out the distractions and FOCUS our SENSES on what really matters! Make this year your year of coming into PURPOSE!
2020 has been a year of unprecedented global change. With many of us mourning great losses many have also celebrated achievements and monumental milestones. Many lessons can be learned from our personal experiences this year but what has this year taught us about God?
Temptations, impulses, desires, passions, vices, retribution, whatever it is we all seek gratification in one way or another. What does it mean to have self-control? Is this truly possible according to God's standard? To what extent are we responsible for our actions and when must we rely on the help of God?
Meekness also described as gentleness, is often likened to weakness and timidity but have you considered the courage and strength it takes to truly be meek even when you have grounds to retaliate? What does it mean to have a lowly and gentle spirit? How does God demonstrate gentleness towards us?
Loyalty, trustworthiness, consistency, dependability are all qualities we look for in our relationships. Ever consider the magnitude of these qualities in God? How does God demonstrate His faithfulness to us? No matter where you are in your faith walk this fruit is most certainly one to appreciate. BIG TIME!
We have all heard the cliche, "God is Good" but what does that really mean? This can be hard to see in such trying times. Are you a good person? What characterizes a good person?
Kindness is often minimized to "being nice" but have you considered the power of genuine kindness? What about those who in our eyes do not deserve it? In a time where it seems like people are thinking more of themselves than others what can we learn about kindness from God's perspective?
Both a virtue and a struggle, patience is a fruit we all can most certainly use more of. Ever consider how much patience God has? Or how about divine timing? Why would someone in control of everything ever choose to wait or endure anything?
In today's world peace in any form seems to be a highly sought after commodity. What does Peace look like from God's perspective? How can we come to know and experience more of this in our everyday lives?
Imagine a Happy God...maybe even catching Him laughing in delight! For many of us the idea of God with even a remote smile on His face is hard to conceive. In a world full of trouble, evil, and so much pain what could He possibly take joy in? How can we find joy in these trying times?
Ever hear or say to yourself, "I need to have more LOVE"? Ever wonder what that truly means? Who is this expectation coming from? How can we come to see these Godly characteristics active in our lives? What are the Fruit of the Spirit really? It's about to get REAL!
Jesus promised we would never have to walk this life alone but He would send us an advocate, a helper, and a guide who would not only be with us but IN us leading us into all truth.
How can we truly walk freely in Christ while honoring God's standard for righteous living? What does that look like in everyday life? What is God expecting from us? Rules, Religion, or Relationship?
Rules, Religion, or Relationship? Often a slippery slope between what we think God wants from us and what we need to do to make ourselves feel like we are closer to God...What does it mean to walk freely in Christ?
One of the hardest things in life is trying to make others happy. We all have different interpretations and standards for satisfaction. What about God? How can we possibly please an Infinitely Holy Being?
The infinite Wisdom of God is amazingly demonstrated in the plan of salvation. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and through Christ we all have access to an authentic relationship with our Creator. Ever wonder why God has gone to such great lengths to make Himself known to us?
We are faced with so many decisions everyday of our lives. Some have yielded consequences that were good and some we are still working to overcome. What if it were possible to make more sound decisions because we had a supernatural perspective to guide us?