ColumbiaLifeChurch.org: Recent Episodes
Yancey Valdez — YanceyValdez.com
Renew your life with faith, hope and love in Christ! . . . Life is too short to feel stuck with no way out, Even worse, is letting it turn you into someone you don’t want to be. The good news is God knows how to turn things around, breathe new life and bring renewal into your being. With God, all things are possible! The world needs who God is creating you to become! Get the latest life-giving Word from CLC each week! It’s like getting a new spiritual weapon each week to help you overcome that discouraging enemy that seeks to breed fear, worry and self-doubt into your life. Renew your life with faith!—Greater faith enables you to swim past the barriers and do what people say can’t be done. Renew your life with hope!—Greater hope for the future provides power for the present. There is something positive to be found in almost every circUmstance of life. Hope enables us to find it. Renew your life with God’s Love!—God’s redemptive love is what gives people a second chance. Without it we’re nothing. With it, we become part of the solution and breakthrough our world needs right now. It’s easy to get started: (1) Subscribe to the latest life-giving Word from Columbia Life Church. (2) Listen to the Word. (3) Encourage someone else by sharing a message that was an encouragement to you. This one action could be a real game-changer in someone else’s life.
When Jesus promised His disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), He was literally calling them to venture outside their comfort zones.
Not only that, but Jesus also understood that for His disciples to accomplish this mission, there would be no chance of success without Him personally increasing their faith and instilling a confidence in Him that was > greater than any fear, discomfort, or hard road they would ever have to travel.
The road ahead for His disciples would at times be tough, but they also knew to follow Jesus would be the greatest adventure they could ever throw their entire lives into.
How does God instill a CONFIDENCE in us > greater than our comfort? Take a listen a find out!
Confidence #Faith #Hope #Love #Believe
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
My heart is grieving today . . . My Mom is now in heaven with my Dad.
Needless to say I am navigating through a lot of emotions. I had just made this short video to make an important church announcement just BEFORE I got the news that my Mom had a stroke and was not going to make it. They kept her very comfortable until she passed yesterday just before 6pm. Please pray for our family, this transition and new season God is leading us into.
The transcript for the church announcement is attached below and there is already a ministry road map in place for the Summer. God bless you all!
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Hi friends! . . . I have been serving in ministry as a pastor for almost 30 years and as a lead pastor for well over 20 of those years. Most recently the Lord has been leading me through a season of ministry opportunities and experiences in which He has clearly communicated to me that He is calling Jill and myself into a new season of ministry that’s going to look different. It’s more like a repositioning in which in order to embrace I need to step down as lead pastor of Columbia Life Church. So if you have not heard yet, this Sunday June 25 will be our last Sunday as pastors at Columbia Life Church.
We are so grateful to all of our church family, friends, and ministry partners for the opportunity to have served as pastors here at CLC. Your prayers, friendship and support are what have enabled us to do the work of ministry during our time here. We would not have been able to do what we do without you. Thank you so much! We are better people because of you!
We’re not moving. You’ll still be able to find me at YanceyValdez.com where I will still pursue and even more so those things God wants to accomplish through my writing and other speaking opportunities.
So please continue to pray for us! This door—this new season of ministry—that the Lord has opened for us to walk through is something we want to make the most out of with what He has given us to use for His glory!
I also want to say thank you to all of you who have walked with us during these last 30 years of pastoral ministry. We have seen people find Jesus, get filled with the Holy Spirit, come together to meet the needs of people and make a difference in the lives of others, in the places the Lord has called us to serve.
We can’t thank you enough for your friendship and support. Walking with us through all the peaks and the valleys, we’re grateful to God for you!
For the journey ahead, may His abundant blessings rest upon you and your family, your ministry and all that the Lord would have you do. May you experience a greater sense of His presence and peace, His comfort and joy, His many blessings and mercy, His grace and favor as you put your faith and trust in Him.
Thanks again. We love you. God bless you!
Pastor Yancey Valdez
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
At times, life can feel a bit uncoordinated. Like a puzzle you just poured out from a box with pieces scattered all over the table. When you first look at it, you realize this is going to take some time to sort though all the pieces; getting them turned over, organized and grouped together according to shapes, sizes or color.
It’s going to take some time, but in the back of your mind you already know there will be something beautiful when everything comes together.
Last week, we learned that praying in the Spirit invokes God’s help in everything we would ever do in life. This opens up boundless possibilities!When we pray in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit moves in a way in which He brings people, things and details into a divine coordinated effort to accomplish His divine purposes in a way we could have never thought or imagined.
We already know He brings order to the chaos, light out of the darkness, form out of emptiness. And then when He brings people together with their gifts, talents and resources into a coordinated effort for the cause of Christ, the possibilities of what could happen are boundless!!
What does it mean to put on the WHOLE Armor of God? And more specifically, what are the possibilities when we learn to PRAY in the SPIRIT at all times? Take a listen and find out!
ArmorOfGod #SpiritualWarfare #StandFirm #PrayInTheSpirit
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
In this series, we have been learning to remember and reinforce that God wants us to succeed in battling life’s battles. And to also encourage you that the battle you’re facing today will not outlast the victory Jesus already secured for us almost 2,000 years ago when died on the cross and rose from the dead!
His death means life—life for all who would put their faith and trust in Him! And we’re here today, to proclaim that He is now exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And that the Father just as He promised, gave Him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon all who would believe in Him! (Acts 2:32-33)
Praying in the Spirit invokes God’s help in everything we would ever do in life! Everything we would ever face, every battle, every hurt, every pain, every burden, every frustration, as well as every hope, dream, and pursuit we would ever undertake to bring Him glory! There is absolutely no limit of what God can and will do in the life of a person or organization who has made it their business to bring Him glory!
What does it mean to put on the WHOLE Armor of God? And more specifically, what does it mean to PRAY in the SPIRIT at all times? Take a listen and find out!
ArmorOfGod #SpiritualWarfare #StandFirm #PrayInTheSpirit
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
Sometimes the battles God calls us to engage in come at us in different ways. The fighting can be fierce, overwhelming, and seeming to get worse before there is ever a turn around. It doesn’t help when you see and suffer many casualties along the way.
The battle can sometimes be happening so fast that you don’t even have time to feel the pain or grieve; you just have to keep going and survive your way through it.
When you’ve taken a big hit and it seems like the enemy now has the advantage, what do you do? What does it mean to put on the WHOLE Armor of God? And more specifically, what does it mean to take with you the SWORD of the SPIRIT? Take a listen and find out!
ArmorOfGod #SpiritualWarfare #StandFirm #SwordoftheSpirit
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
It was a sad day when Adam and Eve turned away from God. They had lost everything. More importantly, they lost the most important thing they could ever possess.
What does this have to do with the Day of Pentecost? And why should we celebrate it? Take a listen and find out!
Pentecost #PentecostSunday #HolySpirit
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
Sometimes the battle we find ourselves fighting in can be overwhelming. It may not even be against one big giant, but against a lot of little things stacked against you. It’s the kind of day in which trouble after trouble seems to be coming after you, one right after the other, and again, and so on.
Battling a lot of little things at one time, in one day, can be overwhelming. When the day seems overloaded with not just busyness, but trouble upon trouble it’s easy to find yourself in despair; wondering where your help might come from; where you will find your salvation in all of it.
This is PART 6 in our Armor of God series where we have not only been learning about what it means to put on the armor of God, but also looking at stories about giants who who fell at the hands of ordinary people serving an extraordinary God!
God wants us to succeed in battling life’s giants, even when that giant might be a lot of little things coming at you at once. And He has supplied us with the armor we need, the habits we need to practice in order to take down those giants you may be facing in your own life today.
What does it mean to put on the WHOLE Armor of God? And more specifically, what does it mean to put on the HELMET of SALVATION? Take a listen and find out!
ArmorOfGod #SpiritualWarfare #StandFirm #HelmetOfSalvation
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
This is PART 5 in our Armor of God series where we have not only been learning about what it means to put on the armor of God, but also looking at stories about giants who who fell at the hands of ordinary people serving an extraordinary God!
God wants us to succeed in battling life’s giants! And He has supplied us with the armor we need, the habits we need to practice in order to take down those giants you may be facing today in your own life.
What does it mean to put on the WHOLE Armor of God? And more specifically, what does it mean to lift up the SHIELD of FAITH? Take a listen and find out!
ArmorOfGod #SpiritualWarfare #StandFirm #ShieldOfFaith
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
This particular piece of God’s armor can be an absolute game changer in our relational health; in our relationship with God; our relationships with others; and in the relationship we have with our self.
Without that peace the comes from God alone, a divine peace which the world cannot give, the battles we face in life can become that much more difficult to bear, and much less see the victory!
In PART 4 of our current “Armor of God” series we are going to continue our quest to discover what it means to put on the WHOLE Armor of God for the battles God calls us to fight.
It doesn’t matter if the battle you find yourself in today seems like you’re going up against a giant. In fact, some of you may be going through the toughest battle you have ever faced in life! But God wants you to know that the battle you may be fighting even right now, will not outlast the victory Jesus already secured for us almost 2,000 years ago on the cross!
What does it mean to put on the WHOLE Armor of God? And more specifically, what does it mean to put on the SHOES of PEACE? Take a listen and find out!
ArmorOfGod #SpiritualWarfare #StandFirm #ShoesOfPeace
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
Some of you may be going through the toughest battle you have ever faced in life, but God wants you to know—the battle you’re facing today will not outlast the victory Jesus already secured for us almost 2,000 years ago on the cross!
Jesus’ death and resurrection, His victory over sin, hell and the grave means a victorious outcome over all things in heaven and on earth. It’s a new beginning, a fresh start for all who would put their faith and trust in Him.
This is PART 3, in our current “Armor of God” series in which we are learning what it means to put on the WHOLE Armor of God as we face life’s daily battles; how to stand firm in the victory God has already secured for all of us through His Son, Jesus Christ!
Just like the Kingdom of God, the season of spring is at hand. Winter is already giving away to new life and a new harvest. And new opportunities will be springing forth!
The challenge of entering into this new season, however, is that we will often find giants that need to be defeated along the way; giants that can only be defeated in God’s power; giants that can only be defeated as we learn how to put on the WHOLE Armor of God!
What does it mean to put on the WHOLE Armor of God? And more specifically, what does it mean to put on the BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS? Take a listen and find out!
ArmorOfGod #SpiritualWarfare #StandFirm #BreastplateOfRighteousness
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
Some of you may be going through the toughest battle you have ever faced in life, but God wants you to know—the battle you’re facing today will not outlast the victory Jesus already secured for us almost 2,000 years ago on the cross!
Jesus’ death and resurrection, His victory over sin, hell and the grave means a victorious outcome over all things in heaven and on earth. It’s a new beginning, a fresh start for all who would put their faith and trust in Him.
This is PART 2, in our new “Armor of God” series in which we will be learning how to put on the WHOLE Armor of God as we face life’s daily battles. It’s about learning how to stand firm in the victory God has already secured for all of us through His Son, Jesus Christ!
Just like the Kingdom of God, the season of spring is at hand. Winter will be giving away to new life and a new harvest. And new opportunities will be springing forth! The challenge of entering into this new season, however, is that we will often find giants that need to be defeated along the way.
As God calls us to Himself, to pursue and take possession of those God-given dreams He gives birth to in our hearts, there will always be giants to face that can only be defeated in God’s power; giants that can only be defeated as we learn how to put on the WHOLE Armor of God!
What does it mean to put on the WHOLE Armor of God? And more specifically, what does it mean to put on the BELT of TRUTH? Take a listen and find out!
ArmorOfGod #SpiritualWarfare #StandFirm #BeltOfTruth
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
Some of you may going through the toughest battle you have ever faced in life, but God wants you to know—the battle you’re facing today will not outlast the victory Jesus already secured for us almost 2,000 years ago on the cross!
Jesus’ death and resurrection, His victory over sin, hell and the grave, means a victorious outcome over all things in heaven and on earth. His victory means a new beginning, a fresh start for all who would put their faith and trust in Him.
Today, we begin a new series for a new season in which we will learn how to walk in the victory God offers us in Christ! Spring-time is coming. Winter will be giving away to new life and a new harvest. New opportunities will be springing forth.
The challenge is that there will be giants all of us will face along the way. As God calls us to Himself, to pursue His calling and those God-given dreams He gives birth to in hearts, there will always be giants that can only be defeated in God’s power!
How are we to confront these giants that stand opposed to all that God seeks to accomplish in and through our lives? What does it mean to put on the WHOLE Armor of God? Take a listen and find out!
ArmorofGod #SpiritualWarfare #StandFirm
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
It’s Resurrection Sunday!! . . . On this day, about 2,000 years ago, it was first announced, “He is risen!” That proclamation changed the course of world history. It has touched and transformed countless lives, has been restoring health, renewing life, and filling people with hope for the future ever since it was first uttered. There is no other message like it. It’s Good News meant to still ring out to those who have yet to hear!
It’s been just over a year since our kidney transplant surgery. My brother needed a kidney and we were fortunate enough for me to be a suitable donor.
Six months prior and up to the day before the surgery, my brother was on all kinds of medications and going through dialysis treatments every other day just to keep him alive. Everyday things were laborious for him; walking, showering, running errands, trying to sleep. It was a lifestyle in which no matter what he did, he would always end up feeling exhausted and emotionally spent.
But after the surgery, the very next day, after he got his new kidney it all changed! All the medications were gone and his dialysis treatments became a thing of the past. A brand new life began! It was a new beginning; a new life born out of a life that was dying!
When I think about all that God did to orchestrate this miracle for my brother, to provide a kidney to reverse the ill effects of a life that didn’t have much longer to live, how much more has Christ provided for all of us by donating His entire body?
How much more has Christ provided for our own health, healing and well-being? How much more has Christ given us through His death and resurrection the promise of eternal life for all who would put their trust in Him? Take a listen and find out!
EasterSunday #ResurrectionSunday #KidneyTransplant
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
Some studies have reported that the average person will meet upwards of 10,000 people in their lifetime. Not every encounter will be good. Some people you will love, others not so much. Some will capture your attention, make you laugh or cry, while others may leave you scratching your head and wondering, “Why?”
But then there will be some encounters that are divinely appointed by God; people God sends into your life at specific points in your journey. I’m talking about those fully God orchestrated moments, life-altering encounters, revealing an epiphany type event in your life in which you realize that was God!
Encounters with people in which we look back and say, “God just showed up,” or “that was a God-thing” are some of the most defining, life-shaping, trajectory-driven moments we will ever experience in life. Why? Because it’s God showing up to defend, guide, direct, enable and empower of lives in a way that will bring about His greatest glory in our lives and in the world we live in!
How do we prepare ourselves for those God strategically sends into our lives? Take a listen and find out!
TheRoadToRome #Godof2ndChances #DivineAppointments #RelationalHealth ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
Is your preparation complete in regards to facing tomorrow, whatever it may bring?
Paul was there when Stephen was stoned to death. . . . The early church was in its infancy. After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those first followers of Jesus and the church was born. The Holy Spirit came in divine power upon those who believed, and there occurred a new birth, new life and a new beginning!
As more and more people heard and believed the message about Jesus Christ, those first disciples, His apostles, became busier and busier. It was increasingly becoming harder to devote time to prayer and the Word.
So the Holy Spirit led those early church leaders to choose deacons, people who could help them better serve the needs of a growing church with even more people coming to faith in Christ. And one of those deacons, was a man named Stephen. He was a man of good reputation, prepared by God’s Word, filled with the Sprit, and fully confident about God’s plan for His life!!
It wasn’t a cockiness, but a divine confidence in WHO God was in his life, WHAT God’s plan was for his life, and WHERE his life was ultimately headed, even when going through the midst of brutal trial.
How confident are you about God’s plan for your life? Is your preparation complete welling up into complete confidence in regards to facing tomorrow, whatever it may bring? How can we increase our confidence in regards to God’s plan for our lives? Take a listen and find out!
TheRoadToRome #JesusChristIsLord #HolySpirit
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
This is PART 8 in our current series entitled, “The Road to Rome,” where we have been walking alongside the Apostle Paul through his letter to the believers in Rome.
Paul has been trying to make the most out of the 2ND chance he has been given in life. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but the Holy Spirit has been walking with Paul the whole way.
As Paul finishes up a masterful work in Romans 8 regarding how the Holy Spirit personally ministers to the Christ-follower, we land on an amazing portion of Scripture that begs the question: What does it mean to put your HOPE in the One who loves you like no one else?
What does it mean to stake your entire future in the One who loves you more than anyone else? Take a listen and find out!
TheRoadToRome #Hope #Love
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
A New York Times article published in Aug 2008, shared how the National Archives had just released a list of names found in declassified records, some 750,000 pages, identifying a vast network of military and civilian operatives at work during World War 2. These declassified files identified nearly 24,000 people who formed the first centralized intelligence effort by the United States.
These spy operatives were soldiers, actors, historians, lawyers, athletes, professors, reporters. They studied military plans, created propaganda, infiltrated enemy ranks and stirred resistance among foreign troops. But for several years during World War II, they were known simply as the OSS.
They gathered intelligence; anything that would give them an edge for every battle that needed to be fought or mission that needed to be accomplished in order to win the war.
The Apostle Paul was given a second chance in life and he would also need an edge in facing a new world of uncertainty. It wasn’t an uncertainty in that God didn’t have a plan for his life, but that that the Lord would be calling Paul out of his comfort zone; to be His witness, carrying the Gospel to wherever the Holy Spirit led him; even if it meant to the ends of the earth.
This meant Paul would need to learn how to follow and trust God even more deeply. Every new challenge meant perhaps facing things he wouldn’t even know how to pray about; things in which he would need God’s peace and knowledge to also gain an edge and move across the borders of his own comfort zone.
How do we pray about something, we don’t even know how to pray for? How can you gain the edge in the battle you may be facing today? Take a listen and find out!
TheRoadToRome #Godof2ndChances #HolySpirit
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
This is PART 6 in our current series entitled, “The Road to Rome,” where we have been walking alongside the Apostle Paul through his letter to the believers in Rome.
Paul has been trying to make the most out of the 2ND chance he has been given in life. It has not been an easy road. It’s not easy coming out of a past you’re not proud of, filled with mistakes, failures, wrongdoing, sin and shame. Paul knew it was only because of God’s grace and mercy, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ that he was even given a new lease on life.
But a new beginning was just the start. He would also need the Person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit to lead the way forward. In fact, in Romans 8, Paul begins a masterful work on how the Holy Spirit personally ministers to the Christ-follower. He is literally sharing spiritual things he had experienced in his own life through the ministry of the Holy Spirit personally ministering to him.
And in Romans 8:14-17, Paul begins a discourse that offers us great insight into how the Holy Spirit not only ministers to the human spirit, but also our soul.
How does the Holy Spirit personally minister to our human spirit? How does the Holy Spirit’s ministry provide care for the human soul? . . . Take a listen and find out!
TheRoadToRome #Godof2ndChances #HolySpirit
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
This is PART 5 in our current series entitled, “The Road to Rome,” where we have been walking alongside the Apostle Paul through his letter to the believers in Rome.
Paul as he has been trying to make the most out of the 2ND chance he has been given in life. It has not been an easy road. But in Romans 8, Paul begins a masterful work on how the Holy Spirit personally ministers to the Christ-follower. He is literally sharing spiritual things he has experienced in his own life through the ministry of the Holy Spirit personally ministering to him.
And in Romans 8:11, Paul makes a bold statement that begs the question: What are the possibilities if the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lived in us? What would this look like personally in our own lives? In His Church? Take a listen and find out!
TheRoadToRome #Godof2ndChances #HolySpirit
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
This is PART 4 in our current series entitled, “The Road to Rome,” where we have been walking alongside the Apostle Paul through his letter to the believers in Rome.
The Apostle Paul was formerly a persecutor of the church. A man whose soul purpose was to strike fear, terrorize, hunt down and imprison anyone who professed to be a follower of Christ. So passionate about doing what he thought was God’s work, Paul threw his entire life and being into his mis-directed purpose.
His back story is not just about a list of things he had done wrong or of the injustice people suffered as a result of his actions, but also about the kind of person he had become; an angry, terrorizing, hate-filled person having free reign to do whatever he wanted to do to any Christ-follower he could find. All this he did and all this was who he had become, until Jesus Himself intervened and put a stop to it.
When Jesus stepped into Paul’s life he could have just taken him out, but He didn’t. God gave Paul a second chance, a new beginning to a man whose life was not only filled with a list of things done wrong, injustices to God, and to those whose lives he left in shambles, but to a man who was messed up from the core of his being.
How was the Holy Spirit able to help Paul make the most out of his 2ND chance? How does the Holy Spirit personally minister to the Christ-follower no matter where they may be at in their journey? Take a listen and find out!
TheRoadToRome #Godof2ndChances #HolySpirit
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
This is PART 3 in our current series entitled, “The Road to Rome,” where we have been walking alongside the Apostle Paul through his letter to the believers in Rome.
Paul was a man who was given a second chance. And as we have learned along way in this series, he practiced, taught and encouraged others to make the most out of that second chance God offers to all who would put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
You might be reading this right now wondering if a second chance is even possible for you? You may be thinking could God ever forgive a person like me? Why would God ever want to give me a second chance?
Paul’s former life was really bad and very hurtful to others. Yet, God changed all that when Jesus showed up in his life! It would be a new beginning, a fresh start, a new plan and purpose for Paul’s life. And along the way, Paul would learn how God had already made provision for every part of his life’s journey.
How has God made provision for every part of our journey in life? Take a listen and find out!
TheRoadToRome #Godof2ndChances #GodProvides
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
How much of your life is in harmony with God’s BIGGER VISION for ALL humanity and the world we live in?
The Apostle Paul was given a second chance in life and his story is a reminder that God is a God of second chances.
Paul knew he needed to make the most out of every opportunity he was given going forward. It wasn’t going to be easy, but Paul knew in order to make good on his second chance, he would need to bring his new life into harmony with God’s BIGGER VISION for ALL humanity and the world he lived in.
What does God’s BIGGER VISION mean for our lives today? Take a listen and find out!
TheRoadToRome #Godof2ndChances #BiggerVision
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
Guest Speaker, Missionary Daimian Dunn shares a timely message on the difference between fake news and good news.
Faith #GoodNews #Truth
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org
When was the last time you asked God to sanctify and set apart your daily agenda? . . . To fill it with His very nature, His presence, His peace, His power and to use it for His glory?
This is PART TWO in our “Making the Most of Every Opportunity” series.
Last week, we learned that not only do the seasonal changes we go through in life bring challenges, but also opportunities. And it’s been in this series that we’ve been learning about how to make the most out of these opportunities that are truly orchestrated by God.
The Apostle Paul was a man who was given a second chance in life. And his story reminds us that we serve a God of second chances. Second chances give us the opportunity to do things better than we did the first time, with better insight and perhaps a greater vision.
But in this, we find another challenge: What do you do when the VISION God has given you for a second chance, is GREATER > than the time you have? What do you do when it seems like there is never enough time? And as a result, it starts taking a toll on your spirit, your soul, and your body?
What else can we learn from God’s Word about how to make the most of EVERY OPPORTUNITY? Take a listen and find out!
Godof2ndChances #DivineAppointments #DivineOpportunities
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
To follow Jesus is to follow the One who leads us down a different trail of life each day. No day is exactly the same.
We follow Him because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). He is One in whom we find life, health, strength; the One through whose gifts we are clothed and fed; and through whose mercy we are forgiven and cleansed.
Following Jesus can be somewhat different every single day. It’s different everyday because we live in a world that is constantly undergoing change.
Every year, especially if you live here in a place like Oregon, you already know you are going to experience at least four different seasonal changes that will require you to make some adjustments to the way you live. From the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the way you drive your car to get to work, and all things in between, adjustments are necessary to live well through the seasonal changes we often cannot avoid in life.
Seasonal changes in life bring different challenges in which we have to make adjustments. But they also bring opportunities to bring glory to God!!
How do you make the most of EVERY OPPORTUNITY? Take a listen and find out!
Godof2ndChances #DivineAppointments #DivineOpportunities ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
The idea of God coming to us over 2,000 years ago in the birth of Jesus Christ is so unthinkable, so outlandish, so bizarre, that for those who lived during the time of Jesus’ birth it would have been like a dream.
It would have been something so unbelievable that perhaps the only way any one would have ever believed it, was in the way an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream to deliver the news. News that the woman he was engaged to be married to, was now bearing a child.
Mary was not unfaithful to Joseph. She was still a virgin. Yet it would be through her that the baby Jesus would cloth Himself with our nature and enter into our humanity through the power of the Holy Spirit.
There is no way that this story can be interpreted that Jesus’ arrival through Mary was an accident. He entered our world with the highest purpose to make God known through His death and resurrection, to pay the price for our sins and offer all who would believe the free gift of eternal life!
How does God call and lead someone like Joseph to play a role in such an unthinkable and amazing story?
It started with a dream as we observed in part one of our series. But Matthew also records four more instances where God revealed Himself through a dream in order to guide how the Christmas narrative was to be played out.
Studies have revealed that most people spend about two hours dreaming per night, and that each dream may last between 5-20 minutes, although the dreamer may perceive the dream lasting much longer than this.
What role do DREAMS play in the Christmas story? Take a listen and find out!
Christmas2022 #ChristmasDreams #Faith #Hope #Love #Believe #Wonder
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
The idea of God coming to us over 2,000 years ago in the birth of Jesus Christ is so unthinkable, so outlandish, so bizarre, that for those who lived during the time of Jesus’ birth it would have been like a dream.
It would have been something so unbelievable that perhaps the only way any one would have ever believed it was in the way an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream to deliver the news.
Studies have revealed that most people spend about two hours dreaming per night, and that each dream may last between 5-20 minutes, although the dreamer may perceive the dream lasting much longer than this.
What role do DREAMS play in the Christmas story? Take a listen and find out!
Christmas2022 #ChristmasDreams #Faith #Hope #Believe #Wonder
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
Today we talked about Hope
H - heartfully
O - optimism
P - persistent
E - expectation
Our hope, as Christ followers is rooted in the understanding that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
Hope #Christmas2022 ColumbiaLifeChurch.org
Thanksgiving is one of the ways we finish well, make things right, and honor God for His presence and supply in our lives. It is one of the ways God works in us to right wrongs, extend mercy, and recalibrate our lives. Giving thanks refreshes our perspective, renews our relationships, and offers hope for the future.
There are a lot of ways we can approach the subject of Thanksgiving, but today I believe God wants to remind us that the giving of thanks keeps us in alignment and on track with God’s purposes for our lives.
The Bible tells us that it is not by our works, but by God’s grace that we are saved.
“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NLTNot only that, but the Bible also says that we have been saved for a purpose to fulfill.
”For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLTWhat’s at stake here is that when we don’t make the time to regularly give thanks, we tend to lose our way and miss God’s blessings all together.
In this message, we’re going to talk a little bit more on this subject. Why is THANKSGIVING such an essential part of God’s WORK in our lives? Take a listen and find out!
HisMasterpiece #HisWork #HisPurpose #HisPerfectWill #HisGlory
Thanksgiving2022 ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
This is PART SIX in our current series entitled, HIS MASTERPIECE, where we have been exploring what it would be like to go WITH God to work!
One of the things that makes God’s work so fascinating, is the way God’s CREATIVE WORK can sometimes fill us with such a tremendous amount of AWE and WONDER!
When you look up into the heavens, and see the amount of stars in the sky, stars as close as four and half to thousands of light years away, you start to realize that if you’re looking at a star 1,000 years away, you’re looking at something that not only took a thousand years to get here, but also would have happened a thousand years ago.
Every time we look up into the heavens we’re looking at history, things of the past, things that have already happened, yet we’re only getting news of it when the event traveling at the speed of light finally reaches earth. If we see a star 1,000 light years away collapsing or disappear in the sky or becoming a black hole, we are literally seeing something that would have happened a thousand years ago.
It’s an amazing universe, a work of God that is still filled with mystery, unanswered questions, and things we are still discovering—a creative work that still fills us with awe and wonder!
The same can be said about the work God does and is still doing in our lives, both you and me. It’s a creative work, a MASTERPIECE in the making that still has the power to fill us with awe and wonder, even today!
How does God still fill His WORK with WONDER? Take a listen and find out!
HisMasterpiece #HisWork #HisGlory
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
This is PART FIVE in our current series entitled, HIS MASTERPIECE, where we have been exploring what it would be like to go WITH God to work!
The thing is, there are so many ways we can approach this subject; many questions we could ask. Like, where would God go be going to work today? What would God be working on? How does He approach His work? What does His preparation look like? What would the final product look like? What kind of attention to detail does He have? Does God finish what He starts?
This is WHY we have been looking at HOW God approached His work in the creation story in the book of Genesis. God did something different on each of the seven days of creation. In fact, God approached each day not only differently, but intentionally. There was purpose in each day.
The way God approached His work in the creation story gives us insight into the way God is working in our everyday lives to bring about His greatest glory.
How is God FASHIONING us to bring about His GREATEST GLORY in our lives today? Take a listen and find out!
HisMasterpiece #Humility #Grace #Favor #HisGlory
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org, YanceyValdez.com
This is PART FOUR in our current series entitled, HIS MASTERPIECE, where we have been exploring what it would be like to go WITH God to work!
The Bible tells us in the New Testament book of Ephesians that it is not by our works, but by God’s grace that we are saved.
“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
Not only that, but the Bible also says that we have been saved for a purpose to fulfill.
”For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT
In this fourth installment of our series, we’re going to gain a fresh perspective on the kind of ENTHUSIASM a master artist or builder puts into their work. And more specifically, about the kind of passion and enthusiasm God has for the work He seeks to accomplish in and through our lives.
As an added BONUS, one of our missionaries to Paraguay, Diane Peters, who recently retired from the mission field, stopped by today to greet our church family and to share how God has worked and been so faithful in her ministry!
How ENTHUSIASTIC is God about HIS WORK in your life right now? Take a listen and find out!
HisMasterpiece #DivineEnthusiasm #HolySpirit
This is PART THREE in our current series entitled, HIS MASTERPIECE, where we have begun exploring what it would be like to go WITH God to work!
The Bible tells us in the New Testament book of Ephesians that it is not by our works, but by God’s grace that we are saved.
“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
Not only that, but the Bible also says that we have been saved for a purpose to fulfill.
”For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT
In this third installment of our series, we believe God is getting ready to begin a new work within those that would put their faith and deepen their trust in Him today.
How does God often BEGIN a NEW WORK within us? Take a listen and find out!
HisMasterpiece #InTheBeginning #GodCreated
This is PART TWO in our new series entitled, HIS MASTERPIECE, where we have begun exploring what it would be like to go WITH God to work!
The Bible tells us in the New Testament book of Ephesians that it is not by our works, but by God’s grace that we are saved.
“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
Not only that, but the Bible also says that we have been saved for a purpose to fulfill.
”For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT
In this second installment of our series, we are pleased to have guest speakers, Jon and Megan Morris. They are ministers out of one of our sister churches right here in Damascus, Oregon. And God is doing a special work in and through them!!
What have they discovered when it comes to going WITH God to work? Take a listen and find out!
HisMasterpiece #TrustingInTheLord #FindingHisPerfectWill
Imagine yourself being a little kid. Close you eyes. If you’re sitting in a chair, lift your feet up and imagine yourself swinging in a swing.
And then ask yourself… What would it be like to go WITH God to work?
Where would He go be going to work today? What would He be working on? How does He approach His work? What does His preparation look like? What would the final product look like? What kind of attention to detail does He have? Does God finish what He starts?
Would we see a Master Craftsman at work? An artisan? Would you be able to see His heart in His work? His passion? His desire, as He works to create the most beautiful things we could ever behold? A masterpiece of only God’s making?
What can we learn from the Creator of all things, in heaven and on earth? And how would that change the way we would approach our work?
What would it be like to go WITH God to work? Take a listen and find out!
HisMasterpiece #DivineAppointments #DontGhostGod
Today’s message is for two kinds people. It may be for you or someone you know.
If life has taken a turn or gone sideways, and you’re wondering where God may be in all of it, this messages may be for you. And if not, it may be for someone you know who is going through a difficult time in their life right now. And when it is someone else, we often need the reminder of the role we play in being there for others.
It is the season of autumn, when the leaves begin to change colors and fall to the ground. It’s is a reminder that we live in a world where we see and experience change; a world that undergoes dramatic transformations, yet all under the structure and rhythm of God’s sovereignty and the sufficiency of His grace.
Does it seem like life here on earth is changing colors? Are you in a season where it feels like parts of your life are falling to the ground?
Where is God when it seems like life is FALLING apart? Take a listen and find out!
SeasonalChange #GodIsGood #UnfailingLove #Faithfulness
How can we make the most of what God has GIVEN us?
This is actually not another part of The Trailhead Series as we originally planned it, but it is a BONUS MESSAGE. And it’s something we should definitely consider as we’re discovering what it means to follow Jesus together.
Last week, I thought we were at the end of our series, but then God says, “No, I got one more.” We make plans and try to do things in an orderly fashion, but then God sometimes steps in and calls an audible.
This week as I was working on our next series, I felt the Lord impress upon me strongly that I couldn’t leave The Trailhead without sharing with you what He shared with me as a bonus installment in this series.
And at the center of this message is the question: How can we make the most of what God has GIVEN us? Take a listen and let me know what you think!
TheTrailhead #TheChurch #FollowJesusTogether #BeFaithfulTogether #ExpectRealLifeChange
What does it mean to have Adult and Teen Challenge in the house?
Today we are honored to have with us special guests from the Portland Metro Campus of the Pacific Northwest Adult and Teen Challenge Drug and Alcohol Addiction Centers. Our guest speaker is Zory Kirakossian, the executive director at the Portland Metro Campus.
Teen Challenge is the #1 Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program in the country. A recent nationwide study conducted by the Center for Compassion at Evangel University confirms that an astonishing 78% of graduates from Adult & Teen Challenge addiction recovery centers remain sober and substance free post-graduation!
If you know someone is struggling with drugs or alcohol addiction, please call or encourage them to get in contact with the Adult and Teen Challenge center right here in the Portland area (https://teenchallengepnw.com).
How can Adult and Teen Challenge make a difference in someone you may know who is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction? Take a listen and find out!
TeenChallenge #DrugAddiction #GetHelp
This is part SIX and our final installment in our series entitled, “The Trailhead,” where we’ve been discovering what it means to FOLLOW JESUS together.
Today, we’re going to talk about the greatest decision you could ever make in life. No other decision you’ll ever make in life compares to this one because this decision will always determine your quality of life here on earth and in the life after.
The greatest decision you could ever make in life is deciding WHO you’re going to follow. Why? Because it will always influence and directly impact your quality of life here on earth and in the life to come. And there is no greater life decision than the life lived following Jesus!
When you make this decision to follow Jesus, one of the first things you’ll discover that Jesus did when He began His public ministry, was get baptized in water.
Why is FOLLOWING JESUS in WATER BAPTISM one of the most powerful life decisions one could ever make? Take a listen and find out!
TheTrailhead #TheChurch #FollowJesusTogether #WaterBaptism #RealLifeChange
This is part FIVE in our current series entitled, “The Trailhead,” where we’ve been discovering what it means to FOLLOW JESUS together.
Discovering, developing and deploying our spiritual gifts play an essential role in following and serving Jesus together.
Without the Holy Spirit manifesting in Himself in expression of fruit, gifts and ministries our human efforts will always remain within the confines of our limited wisdom, strength and resources. Without the Holy Spirit, the best humanity has to offer this world will always be temporary in nature.
When the Holy Spirit is present and actively moving among God’s people, His church takes on an eternal nature, giving witness to the truth that Jesus is alive and still ministering in the world today! Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Jesus said His followers would do not just the same things He did, but even greater things!
What spiritual gifts are present in His Church right now, and how can we use them to FOLLOW and SERVE JESUS together? Take a listen and find out!
TheTrailhead #TheChurch #FollowJesusTogether #SpiritualGifts #RealLifeChange
What is Jesus building right here and right now in the local church?
This is part FOUR in our current series entitled, “The Trailhead”, where we’ve been discovering what it means to FOLLOW JESUS together.
In this series we’ve learned that FOLLOWING JESUS together means being His Church. It means being the people of God, the family of God, the temple of God, the body of Christ, and the Bride of Christ.
It means fulfilling the Great Commandment and Great Commission—loving God and loving people and making disciples of all the nations.
It means letting Christ come alive within us together in worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and mission. This is what Jesus is still building His Church for today, in our generation!
After His death and resurrection, Jesus entered into His glory and He poured out His Holy Spirit upon His Church. The Holy Spirit was poured out to empower His Church so that it could give witness to the Truth that Jesus is alive and still ministering in the world today!
In this week’s message, we now need address the question: What is Jesus building right here and right now in the local church?
How is Jesus calling us to FOLLOW HIM right here and right now in the local church? Take a listen and find out!
TheTrailhead #TheChurch #FollowJesusTogether #RealLifeChange
This is part THREE in our current series entitled, “The Trailhead,” where we’re discovering what it means to FOLLOW JESUS together.
And today, I want to address the question: What is Jesus building His Church for? Because you know, He’s NOT finished!! We are a work in progress. Following Jesus together is a work in progress.
50 Days after Jesus’ resurrection the Church was born! It was on the Day of Pentecost when God breathed the breath of life and the Holy Spirit came upon those first followers of Jesus Christ with an enduement of power that gave birth to what we are a part of today — His Church!
The Early Church was a new creation in Christ. The old life was gone and a new life had begun! Those first followers of Christ had now become the Church, a called out assembly, a community of believers filled with a supernatural life, vitality and power the world had never seen before!
What were the things that brought life and vitality within the community of believers in the New Testament Church? What is Jesus building His Church for? Take a listen and find out!
TheTrailhead #TheChurch #FollowJesusTogether #RealLifeChange
This is part TWO in our new series — The Trailhead — where we’re discovering what it means to FOLLOW JESUS together.
And today, I want share with you not only what it means to follow Jesus together, but what it means to follow IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.
The Early Church played a significant role in carrying on the ministry and mission of Jesus in the world they lived in. And part of following in His footsteps meant living out and fulfilling the Great Commandment and the Great Commission together!
What does it mean for us today, to FOLLOW JESUS together in His footsteps? Take a listen and find out!
TheTrailhead #TheChurch #FollowJesusTogether #RealLifeChange
There are TWO WORDS that have literally changed the world. They are the two most “power-filled” words ever spoken in the history of the world, facilitating breakthrough and transforming people’s lives ever since Jesus first uttered them over 2,000 years ago.
These two words have touched and transformed the hearts of all kinds of people; men, women, and children; the rich and the poor, kings and presidents; teachers, doctors, lawyers, artists, musicians, shepherds, fishermen, and even tax collectors. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what language you speak. These two words don’t discriminate, but are offered to anyone who would dare to listen and believe!
TODAY, if you’re tired of being stuck and overburdened? If you need a breakthrough or a miracle to be set in motion in your life? Then open your heart to the One who still speaks these two “power-filled” words into our lives today. What are these words? Listen for His voice, as He speaks to us even right now the words, “Follow Me.”
The most important decision you’ll ever make in your life is deciding WHO you will follow! Why? Where life goes and ends up is ultimately dependent on WHO you follow. Life can go in so many directions, be filled will countless experiences, and end up in who knows how many places. But, the most important place your life could ever end up in, is in heaven. And there is only One Person who can and is able to help us get there — Jesus Christ!
When you choose to follow Jesus Christ, you have made the greatest decision you could ever make for your life. And you’ll find you’re not alone in this journey. In fact, you’ll discover there are a lot of people in this world that have made this same critical decision for their lives — people who said, “Yes” to Jesus, when He said, “Follow Me.”
We’re meeting at The Trailhead in this series to discover what it means to follow Jesus Christ together.
What does it mean to FOLLOW JESUS together? Take a listen and find out!
TheTrailhead #TheChurch #FollowJesusTogether #RealLifeChange
This is part NINE, our final installment, in our series on the Holy Spirit. And today, I want to share with you one last promise Jesus made to His disciples concerning the Holy Spirit, and to consider this specific question: How does the Holy Spirit help us face an uncertain future?
With Jesus preparing to depart this world, His disciples were having a hard time processing what it would mean for them to face the future without Him. They only had one precious evening left with Him, before Jesus would be arrested, beaten, tried, and wrongfully sentenced to die a criminal’s death on a cross.
Yet in these last few moments they had with Him, He gave them one more promise concerning the Holy Spirit that would help them in times when they had to face an uncertain future.
How does the Holy Spirit help us face an uncertain future? Take a listen and find out!
HolySpirit #HisComingKingdom #SpiritofTruth #RealLifeChange
This is part EIGHT in our series on the Holy Spirit. And today, I want share with you what it means to have the Holy Spirit with you when life is hard.
Maybe you’re here today and life has been difficult. It’s been challenging as you’ve tried to make the most out of the life you have been given here on earth. You’re not alone. Getting on the other side of hard is one of the most difficult things to do in life. Most people don’t make it and often avoid that which is hard altogether.
This is WHY I want to share with you TODAY what it means to have the Holy Spirit with you when life is hard.
What does it mean to have the Holy Spirit with you when life is really hard? Take a listen and find out!
HolySpirit #WhenLifeIsHard #RealLifeChange
One of the most important promises that has been emphasized in this series is that the Holy Spirit would be for us, what Jesus was for those early disciples who traveled with Him when He walked here on planet earth.
For those early disciples, Jesus wasn’t a once a year, once a month, or even a once a week event or encounter. Jesus was the One they traveled with in their everyday lives. He loved them, He taught them, He was the Word of God to them, and the One who demonstrated God’s majestic sovereignty over all things in heaven and on earth.
There was a freedom to the way Jesus lived His life here on earth that drew His disciples closer to Him and impacted their lives tremendously.
Through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we also do well to make it a part of our everyday lives, our regular routine, to spend time with Jesus—in His presence and in His Word. The invitation to all, no matter where we may be at in our journey, is a simple yet powerfully life-changing one — “Come and see.”
Just one step in the direction that leads back to God is a “come and see” moment that has the potential to lead us into a more free and spiritually healthy place. We all need practical solutions for the challenges we face in our everyday lives. And finding those practical solutions we need for our everyday lives becomes that much more easier when we are in a spiritual healthy place.
Does the Holy Spirit still invite us to come and see? Take a listen and out!
HolySpirit #Freedom #ComeandSee #Rest #RealLifeChange
Guest Speaker, Missionary Daimian Dunn shares about His spiritual journey, faith, and what it means to be faithful.
Faith #Faithfulness #ThePrize
So far in our series, we’ve learned that with the Holy Spirit comes the enduement of power for life and service. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the PROMISE of the Father. In fact, after His resurrection Jesus told His disciples to wait in the city of Jerusalem for this PROMISE of the Father (Acts 1:4).
For Jesus’ followers the Holy Spirit meant the Kingdom of heaven was at hand. Jesus described the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence in our lives as One who would lead us into all truth, teach us and remind us about everything Jesus said. His presence in our lives would mean peace of mind and heart, a gift from heaven the world cannot give. Jesus also spoke of a baptism in the Holy Spirit that would overflow into the lives of others, like springs of living water overflowing from the heart.
The possibilities are endless when you think about this wonderful truth — that the Holy Spirit is meant to be for us what Jesus was to His disciples who traveled with Him when He walked on planet earth.
What’s so exciting about where we are at in our series, is that just when you think you’re starting to get a handle on WHO the Holy Spirit is suppose to be in our lives, there’s still so much more!!
What else did Jesus PROMISE His disciples concerning the HOLY SPIRIT, in this 6th installment of our series? Take a listen and find out!
HolySpirit #HisComingKingdom #SpiritofWisdom #RealLifeChange
When Jesus began His public ministry here on earth, not only did He perform many miracles but He also taught His followers much about the Kingdom of God. In fact, He shared with them things they needed to be aware of, signs in the heavens and on earth concerning His coming Kingdom.
The problem is that without the Holy Spirit they would miss it. Without the Holy Spirit, it would be that much harder to discern the signs of the times they were living in, and even more importantly, the signs Jesus taught His disciples to look for and promised would happen concerning His coming Kingdom.
Without the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ disciples would increasingly become a people who were growing more unaware, ignorant and forgetful of the things He taught them; unable to discern spiritual shifts or events manifesting themselves concerning the future; or signs pointing to His second coming, His coming Kingdom, and to where history is ultimately headed!
In our current series, we’re going to learn the Holy Spirit is the One whom Jesus promised would be for us, what He was for those early disciples who traveled with Him when He walked here on planet earth. The Holy Spirit is the One who brings the Word of God to light and makes us aware of things to come. He is the One who reveals the truth about God and provides the wisdom we need for the decisions we need to make in our every day lives.
What did Jesus PROMISE His disciples concerning the HOLY SPIRIT, in this 5th installment of our series? Take a listen and find out!
HolySpirit #HisComingKingdom #SpiritofWisdom #RealLifeChange
When Jesus began His public ministry here on earth, not only did He perform many miracles but He also taught His followers much about the Kingdom of God. In fact, He shared with them things they needed to be aware of, signs in the heavens and on earth concerning His coming Kingdom.
The problem is that without the Holy Spirit they would miss it. Without the Holy Spirit, it would be that much harder to discern the signs of the times they were living in, and even more importantly, the signs Jesus taught His disciples would happen concerning His coming Kingdom.
Without the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ disciples would increasingly become a people who were unaware, ignorant and forgetful of the things He taught them; unable to discern spiritual shifts; events manifesting themselves concerning the future; signs pointing to His second coming, His coming Kingdom, and of where history is ultimately headed!
In our current series, we’re going to learn the Holy Spirit is the One whom Jesus promised would be for us, what He was for those early disciples who traveled with Him when He walked here on planet earth. The Holy Spirit is the One who brings the Word of God to light and makes us aware of things to come. He is the One who reveals the truth about God and provides the wisdom we need for the decisions we need to make in our every day lives.
What did Jesus PROMISE His disciples concerning the HOLY SPIRIT, in this fourth installment of our series? Take a listen and find out!
HolySpirit #HisComingKingdom #SpiritofWisdom #RealLifeChange
When Jesus began His public ministry here on earth, not only did He perform many miracles but He also taught His followers much about the Kingdom of God. In fact, He shared with them things they needed to be aware of, signs in the heavens and on earth concerning His coming Kingdom.
The problem is that without the Holy Spirit they would miss it. Without the Holy Spirit, it would be that much harder to discern the signs of the times they were living in, and even more importantly, the signs Jesus taught His disciples would happen concerning His coming Kingdom.
Without the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ disciples would increasingly become a people who were unaware, ignorant and forgetful of the things He taught them; unable to discern spiritual shifts; events manifesting themselves concerning the future; signs pointing to His second coming, His coming Kingdom, and of where history is ultimately headed!
In our current series, we’re going to learn the Holy Spirit is the One whom Jesus promised would be for us, what He was for those early disciples who traveled with Him when He walked here on planet earth. The Holy Spirit is the One who brings the Word of God to light and makes us aware of things to come. He is the One who reveals the truth about God and provides the wisdom we need for the decisions we need to make in our every day lives.
What did Jesus PROMISE His disciples concerning the HOLY SPIRIT, in this third installment of our series? Take a listen and find out!
HolySpirit #HisComingKingdom #Spirit of Wisdom #RealLifeChange
When Jesus began His public ministry here on earth, not only did He perform many miracles but He also taught His followers much about the Kingdom of God. In fact, He shared with them things they needed to be aware of, signs in the heavens and on earth concerning His coming Kingdom.
The problem is that without the Holy Spirit they would miss it. Without the Holy Spirit, it would be that much harder to discern the signs of the times there were living in, and even more importantly, the signs Jesus taught His disciples would happen concerning His coming Kingdom.
Without the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ disciples would increasingly become a people who were unaware, ignorant and forgetful of the things He taught them; unable to discern spiritual shifts; events manifesting themselves concerning the future; signs pointing to His second coming, His coming Kingdom, and of where history is ultimately headed!
In our current series, we’re going to learn the Holy Spirit is the One whom Jesus promised would be for us, what He was for those early disciples who traveled with Him when He walked here on planet earth. The Holy Spirit is the One who brings the Word of God to light and makes us aware of things to come. He is the One who reveals the truth about God and provides the wisdom we need for the decisions we need to make in our every day lives.
What did Jesus PROMISE His disciples concerning the HOLY SPIRIT, in this second installment of our series? Take a listen and find out!
HolySpirit #HisComingKingdom #SpiritofWisdom #RealLifeChange
When Jesus began His public ministry here on earth, not only did He perform many miracles but He also taught His followers much about the Kingdom of God. In fact, He shared with them signs, things they needed to be aware of, concerning His coming Kingdom.
The problem is that without the Holy Spirit they would miss these signs of His coming Kingdom. Without the Holy Spirit, they would become a people who were unaware, uninformed, ignorant and forgetful of the things Jesus taught them; of spiritual things; things concerning the future; things concerning His second coming, His coming Kingdom, and of where history is ultimately headed.
When we are unaware of things to come, of things that are at the foot of our lives, the old saying becomes true, “If it were a rattle snake, it would have bit me.”
The Holy Spirit is the One whom Jesus promised would be for us, what He was for those early disciples who traveled with Him when He walked here on planet earth. He is the One who brings the Word of God to light and makes us aware of things to come. He is the One who reveals the truth about God and provides the wisdom we need for the decisions we have to make in our every day lives.
What did Jesus PROMISE His disciples concerning the HOLY SPIRIT? Take a listen and find out!
HolySpirit #HisComingKingdom #SpiritofWisdom #RealLifeChange
What is behind the door of POSSIBILITIES when we say, “YES” to God?
In our NEW SERIES, we are learning that new life means new decisions, which means being BRAVE!
For the disciples who believed Jesus was dead, their new life meant living in fear, in hiding and behind locked doors. Real life change would not necessarily happen through rumors that Jesus was alive, but by truly hearing, believing and embracing this Good News as TRUTH in their everyday lives!
The fact that Jesus was alive would totally redefine their perception of reality. It would mean a whole new life, new decisions, and new possibilities. From this day forward, new life would mean learning how to say, “YES” to God, “YES” to this new life, “YES” to new possibilities, which would also mean being BRAVE!
What is behind the door of POSSIBILITIES when we say, “YES” to God? Take a listen and find out!
Courage #NewBeginning #NewLife #DoNotFear #BeBrave
What is the COST of living in FEAR?
On this first Sunday after Easter, in this NEW SERIES, we’re going to learn that new life means new decisions, which means being brave!
Today, we are going to talk about the cost of fear! How do we avoid living in fear? How did Jesus deal with the fear His disciples were experiencing in their own lives? And what does that mean for us today?
What is the COST of living in FEAR? Take a listen and find out!
Courage #NewBeginning #NewLife #DoNotFear #BeBrave
Easter Sunday Message — Have you met THE MAN who swallowed up death in VICTORY?
Speaker: Pastor Yancey Valdez
EasterSunday2022
HOW FAR would God go to reach someone who has gone so FAR AWAY from Him?
Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits #Transformation #RealLifeChange
The Cross & The Crown—It’s a package deal!
Special Speaker: Demetrius Rogers
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org
Palm Sunday Message—“I Must Have Missed That, God!”
Special Speaker: Pastor Jill Valdez
Palm Sunday #ColumbiaLifeChurch.org
Where can we find the wisdom and power of God?
Special Speaker: Jeff Wong
ColumbiaLifeChurch.org
What does it mean to live as RESURRECTION PEOPLE?
This morning we are still looking at and living in a world of unresolved conflict. In the war that is raging on in Ukraine, we are seeing conflict being manifested in just about every area of life: Political conflict, physical conflict, social conflict, economic conflict and spiritual conflict.
When the Apostle Peter wrote his second letter to the New Testament Churches, it was during a time of great conflict. These early believers experienced tremendous persecution for their faith in Christ from those who served in places of power and authority in the Roman Empire, as well as from anyone else who felt threatened by the influence of the early church. They also had to deal with the confusion and conflict that arose from false teachers who were teaching a different gospel than the one taught by Jesus Himself and administered by His true apostles.
It’s during this time of tremendous conflict, persecution and confusion that Peter not only gives them instruction to keep their faith strong, but also hope in the One who died and was raised back to life for them. The most GODLY MAN who ever walked the face of the planet is a man death could never keep down because JESUS is the Resurrection!
What does it mean to live as RESURRECTION PEOPLE? Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits #Transformation #RealLifeChange
How do you KEEP GOING going when things are going bad?
If you have been keeping up with the news, you already know that this week Russia has launched an invasion into Ukraine. Lives have already been lost. Thousands of others have been uprooted, hijacked and forced to either flee or fight for their homeland. This attack upon the people of Ukraine is not only an attack upon their country, but upon their very freedom as well.
History records a past filled with kings and kingdoms, dictators and dictatorships that serve to remind us that our world has suffered at the hands of evil leaders with evil intentions; deceptive leaders with selfish motives; egomaniacs with pride so high they will do whatever they need to do to fulfill their self-serving and evil purposes.
This morning, the news reported that Russian President, Vladimir Putin raised the alert status of Russia’s nuclear arsenal to special combat readiness. This means, he has chosen to escalate this conflict into the nuclear phase and that those who interfere will deal with consequences they have never seen before.
When I went to the Word of God this week, I thought surely the Lord would have something to say about all that is going on in our world at this moment. And I don’t believe it is by accident that God’s Word is able speak to us where we happen to be right now in our current series.
When things are going bad, how does God help us to KEEP GOING? Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits #Transformation #RealLifeChange
Why do we need the Holy Spirit to EMPOWER our habits?
In our current series, we have been focusing on building better habits, healthier habits, Spirit-Empowered Habits that will enable us to be more consistent in living a life that pleases God—the life we have always been meant to live in relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ!
More specifically, we have been looking at the Apostle Peter’s second letter to the New Testament Churches. These churches were not only dealing with persecution on the outside, but also with false teachers on the inside. With impure motives they were spreading faithless ideas and philosophies contrary to the authority of the Spirit-Inspired Scriptures.
In order for believers in the Early Church to not be mislead, nor grow their faith in a way contrary to the Word of God, the Apostle Peter gave them a road map.
This road map begins solidly with their faith. And then leads them in a specific direction towards the habits they needed to build into their daily lives; habits they needed to strengthen, deepen and live out in order to experience life in its fullness in relationship with God. It’s the greatest life we could ever live; the life you and I have always been meant to live; a life that pleases God in relationship with Him through Jesus Christ!
The next habit Peter addresses in his road map is the habit of self-control. Of all the habits we have talked about thus far, self-control is the one habit most people struggle with the most. It’s no small concern to note that a lack of self-control—a wrong word or action done at the wrong time—can cost you everything!
Why is the habit of self-control much more difficult to exercise in our own power? Why do we need the Holy Spirit to empower our habits? Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits #Transformation #RealLifeChange
How do you AVOID missing the Word God wants to impart into your life?
In our current series, we have been focusing on building better habits, healthier habits, Spirit-Empowered Habits that will enable us to be more consistent in living a life that pleases God—the life we have always been meant to live in relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ!
More specifically, we have been looking at the Apostle Peter’s second letter to the New Testament Churches. These churches were not only dealing with persecution on the outside, but also with false teachers on the inside. With impure motives they were spreading faithless ideas and philosophies contrary to the authority of the Spirit-Inspired Scriptures.
In order for believers in the Early Church to not be mislead, nor grow their faith in a way contrary to the Word of God, the Apostle Peter gave them a road map.
This road map begins solidly with their faith. And then leads them in a specific direction towards the habits they needed to build into their daily lives; habits they needed to strengthen, deepen and live out in order to experience life in its fullness in relationship with God. It’s the greatest life we could ever live; the life you and I have always been meant to live; a life that pleases God in relationship with Him through Jesus Christ!
The next habit Peter addresses in his road map is the habit of knowledge. What does God really want you to know? How do you avoid missing THE WORD God wants to impart into your life? Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits #Transformation #RealLifeChange #Missions
What is the ONE thing we know for sure that God is deeply committed to?
It’s our first Missions Service for 2022! It’s a special day in which we get to celebrate the goodness of God in the ONE thing we know for sure God is deeply committed to. That being, the outworking of His redemptive plan for humanity through the Good News of Jesus Christ!
We are passionate about the mission God has given us because we believe every human being on the face of the planet deserves the chance to hear about the love and forgiveness God offers us through Jesus Christ. And we are passionate about this Good News because we believe there is no greater power in world that can positively affect a person’s life, relationships and destiny than the power of Jesus Christ!
Seeing people experience God’s redemptive love, power and forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ, is ONE thing we know for sure God is deeply committed to. It’s also the ONE thing we know for sure in which He will not fail. This means when we commit ourselves to something God is deeply committed to, we commit ourselves to something God will not let fail.
How can we commit ourselves to the ONE thing we know sure that God is deeply committed to and will not let fail? Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits #Transformation #RealLifeChange #Missions
How do you make sure your faith is growing in the right direction? What kind of habits do you need to build into your daily life to make sure your faith is not being led astray?
In our current series, we have been focusing on building better habits, healthier habits, Spirit-Empowered Habits that will enable us to be more consistent in living a life that pleases God—the life we have always been meant to live in relationship with Him through Christ!
More specifically, we have been looking at the Apostle Peter’s second letter to the New Testament Churches. These churches were not only dealing with persecution on the outside, but also with false teachers spreading doctrines and philosophies contrary to the authority of the Spirit-Inspired Scriptures on the inside.
In order for believers in the Early Church to not be mislead, nor grow their faith in a way contrary to the Word of God, the Apostle Peter gives them a road map.
It begins solidly with their faith. And then leads them in a specific direction towards the habits they needed to build, develop and strengthen in order to live a life that pleases God. It’s the life they were always meant to live in relationship with God though Christ!
How can we make sure our faith is growing in the right direction? Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits
Transformation #RealLifeChange
How is it possible to face every storm in life with a faith in God that is GREATER > than our fears?
In our current series, we have been focusing on building better habits, healthier habits, Spirit-Empowered Habits that will enable us to be more consistent in living a life that pleases God—the life we have always been meant to live in relationship with Him through Christ!
More specifically we have been looking at the Apostle Peter’s second letter to the New Testament Churches. These churches were not only dealing with persecution on the outside, but also with false teachers with impure and selfish motives on the inside.
In order for believers in the Early Church to not be mislead, nor grow in pursuit of these false teachings and philosophies that undermine the authority of the Spirit Inspired Scriptures, the Apostle Peter gives them a road map.
It is a list of ideals, pursuits, habits if you will, that Peter exhorts them to continually practice in order for them to grow in their love and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and to keep their faith strong.
In today’s message, we want to talk about the habit of faith and consider this question: How is it possible to face every storm in life with a faith in God that is GREATER > than our fears? Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits #Transformation #RealLifeChange
What would it look like if you were more consistent with the things you know you need to be more consistent with in your life right now?
What would it look like if you began to build better habits around the things you want to be more consistent with or more faithful about in your life right now? What could that look like?
There is a probably picture you have in your mind of what life is suppose to look like. The problem is as faulty human beings, our vision of what the future could look is always limited. Our finite wisdom, strength and understanding are not enough to guarantee the future we often envision for ourselves.
To take it a step further, while the practice of being more consistent, building better habits, or being more faithful are worthy endeavors, to the WRONG things, wrong goals, wrong vision and/or wrong ideas they can lead us in a direction our lives were never meant to go.
How can we be sure we are building better habits to be more consistent and faithful to the right things—to the things we know we need to be more consistent with in our lives right now? Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits #Transformation #RealLifeChange
How will you create the kind of atmosphere you need for the victories you’re seeking in the coming year?
It’s that time of year when people are making resolutions and setting new goals for themselves. They’re trying to eat healthier, exercise more, prioritize their lives better, doing just about anything to facilitate something better for their lives in the coming year.
The problem is most people won’t realize the goals they have set for themselves at the beginning of a new year. And it probably won’t be because they didn’t have a good plan, but more than likely because they didn’t have good habits.
The habits we practice, especially the habits that find strength in the Spirit of God, play a huge role in creating the kind of atmosphere all of us need for the victories we seek in the coming year!
Why? Because the atmosphere will always determine what lives or dies. There is a reason why a desert cactus doesn’t thrive in Alaska or the Yukon. The atmosphere is not conducive for it. In the same way, the atmosphere our habits create will ultimately determine whether our dreams, and the goals we have set to realize those dreams, live or die!
How CAN you create the kind of atmosphere you need for the victories you’re seeking in the coming year? Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits #Transformation #RealLifeChange
How does God grant us access to everything we need to live the life we were meant to live?
With the beginning of a new year, there are a lot of people who going to be making an investment in themselves. And more than likely, it’s going to begin on Monday morning. They’ll be diverting their time, resources, and energy which will directly impact their calendar and check book in order to bring about the changes they really to make in their lives in the coming year.
Many businesses know this. So accordingly, they’re also going to work hard to market their products and services through social media and/or television advertising so that they can gain a greater market share of the money they know people are ready to spend right now.
Eating healthier food, trying a better diet plan, getting a gym membership, reading more books, going back to school, saving more money or learning a new trade is just a sample of the things people are willing to invest in to facilitate life change.
The problem is most people won’t get the return they really want from the money they spend in this next year. Pursuing healthy life changes is a noble goal. And if you have a good strategy in place you’re already a little farther than most. But a good plan is not necessarily the difference maker.
Even with a good plan most people will not reach the goals they have set for themselves. Why? It won’t be because they had a bad plan, but because they had bad habits.
In this new series we’re going to learn how Spirit-Empowered Habits hold the key to not only living the life we are meant to live here in earth, also how it benefits us in the life to come! How does God grant us access to everything we need to live the life we were meant to live? Take a listen and find out!
GoodHabits #HealthyHabits #SpiritEmpoweredHabits #Transformation #RealLifeChange
What were the first words spoken from heaven, after Jesus was born?
The Christmas event in the arrival of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is so monumental, so life-changing and filled with world impacting wonder that the first words spoken from heaven after Jesus’ birth cannot help but offer one of the greatest invitations to a life we would have never dreamed or imagined!
In the middle of our everyday circumstances, perhaps even the fearful times you may find yourself living in right now, these heavenly words bring “good news of great joy and for all people” (Luke 2:10).
How could these first words from heaven after Jesus’ birth impact our lives today? Take a listen and find out!
Advent #Christmas #Holidays #Hope #Believe #Wonder
12-19-2021: The Magnitude of Christmas (pt.4)
How does Christmas offer the greatest hope for our deepest regrets?
In the Bible narrative, it was nine months ago when Zechariah the priest made a bad decision in a decisive moment. He had an encounter with the Angel Gabriel in which Zechariah rejected the Word that was being delivered to him.
As a result, not only did the Angel Gabriel strike Zechariah mute (a life changing event that in and of itself would have far-reaching and long lasting consequences), but it also created a moment he would certainly regret for the next year of his life.
Do you have things in your life you wish you could have done differently? How can the Christmas story reveal our greatest hope for our deepest regrets? Take a listen and find out!
Advent #Christmas #Holidays #Hope #Believe #Wonder
What is it that enables God to fill a person’s life with joy and wonder?
It’s the 3rd Sunday of Advent—a day in which we are reminded that there is a joy in the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, that is hidden from the wise and prudent yet revealed unto babes (Matthew 11:25). It is a joy made possible in the middle of our everyday lives and is meant to fill us with life-giving wonder as we look towards the future.
It’s not something every person experiences, however. It’s a joy hidden from some (the wise and prudent) and yet revealed miraculously to others (unto babes). And if you have never experienced this life-giving joy before, I would submit to you that maybe it’s not by accident that you’re listening to this message today, but that God has a purpose in it.
We cannot avoid the fact that during the season of Advent we are reminded that God wants to once again capture our attention, draw us closer to Himself, and fill us with joy and wonder!
But what does that look like? How does God do this? Take a listen and find out!
Advent #Christmas #Holidays #Hope #Believe #Wonder
How does God make anything He wants to do in our lives possible?
It’s the 2nd Sunday of Advent—a day in which we are reminded that God wants us to have an encounter with His grace.
Last week we learned that for the prophet Isaiah, when grace showed up, it changed everything He ever knew about God. Isaiah once thought God was unapproachable in the sense that sinful humanity could not stand in the presence of a Holy God. But his encounter with grace changed all that. As a result, Isaiah become the foremost prophetic voice of the Coming Messiah than any other prophet in the Bible.
In contrast, as we take a look at Zechariah the priest today, we will learn that when grace showed up, he didn’t know what to do with it. He didn’t understand it. In fact, he faltered to believe in it. And as a result, it would enormously impact not only his life, but the lives of those he loved and served.
Zechariah’s story reminds us that not everyone responds to God’s grace the same way. What can we learn from Zechariah about how God makes anything He wants to do in our lives possible?Take a listen and find out!
What kind of impact does God really want to have in my life during the Holidays?
It may be a timely thought for you right now because the more you consider this question, the more you crack open the door for the God of Wonders to do something amazing in your life!
It’s the first Sunday of Advent. It’s that time of year when we are reminded of God’s promise of light in the darkest of times; His promise of hope for our despair; the promise of His coming as “Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.”
Darkness, especially during the Holidays, can grab a hold of us so strongly that we often can’t think of anything else. Regrets, pain, loss, depression, and suicides are just a sample of what many people struggle with during the Holiday season.
It’s often during these dark, difficult and tough times that we may not even realize how much God wants to remind us and reveal to us WHO He really is in our lives. In fact, every time we enter into the season of Advent regardless of where we may be at in life, it is God who wants to once again capture our attention, reveal Himself and fill us with wonder!
What kind of impact does God really want to have in my life during the Holidays? Take a listen and find out!
Why is it important to prepare our hearts for the Holidays?
The Holidays can be one of the most discouraging and depressing times of the year for people. It’s a time of year when death and suicide rates soar. And it doesn’t help that we’re living in some difficult times right now with a lot of people and their families trying to survive without essential food, clothing, shelter and/or someone to advocate on their behalf.
What we should not forget, however, is that every year one of the things the Holidays are suppose to do is serve as a reminder that God wants to come and make His home with us. Regardless of the circumstances we may be trying to navigate through in our lives even right now, the Holidays are suppose to be a reminder of Good News—that God is coming, He wants to come and make His home among us!!
The church in the city of Laodicea, one of the seven churches in the book of Revelation, provides us with a picture of a church, a people, who were not ready for God to come and make His home among them.
What can we learn from their story about the importance of preparing our hearts for the Holidays? Take a listen and find out!
FollowChrist #FollowingChrist #Foundations #HolySpirit
Why does God allow times of testing to come our way?
God is not absent in difficult times! On the contrary, He is at work, living within all who have put their faith and trust in Christ regardless of the circumstances.
The church in the city of Philadelphia, one of the seven churches in the book of Revelation, knew this well. They knew as Christ-followers that God lived within them and was present among them no matter how good or bad life was playing out in their world. They also knew that God was opening a door for them that no one could close.
The church in Philadelphia was not necessarily the biggest church in the region. In fact, Christ noted they had “little strength.” Yet He also praised them because they were people who obeyed His Word and did not deny Him. They were people in whom the Holy Spirit gave them the grace to persevere even in the most difficult of circumstances.
What can we learn from their story about WHY God allows times of testing to come our way? Take a listen and find out!
FollowChrist #FollowingChrist #Foundations #HolySpirit
What are the stakes of not being alert to the Lord’s leading in your life?
In our current series, FOUNDATIONS, we have been looking at the lives of those who answered the call of God on their lives TO GO beyond the world that they knew. They took the words of Jesus seriously and His promise when He said to His disciples . . .
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NLT
Vitally important, however, in answering the call TO GO beyond the world that they knew, would be them being ALERT to the Lord’s leading in their lives. With the empowerment of the Holy Spirit they would have everything they needed to fulfill their mission. Yet, without being alert to the Holy Spirit’s leading how would one ever know if they were really WHERE God needed them to be, being WHO God needed them to be, and doing WHAT God needed them to do?
The church in the city of Sardis, one of the seven churches in the book of Revelation, provides us with a picture of a church that lost its way. Its story is a reminder of just how high the stakes are when we are not being alert to the Lord’s leading in our lives. What does their story mean for our lives today? Take a listen and find out!
FollowChrist #FollowingChrist #Foundations #HolySpirit
How does the Holy Spirit empower our lives to deal with things outside our comfort zone?
In our current series, FOUNDATIONS, we have been looking at the lives of those who answered the call of God on their lives TO GO beyond the world that they knew. They took the words of Jesus seriously and His promise when He said to His disciples . . .
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NLT
While this is a powerful word and promise from the Lord, it also presents us with an undeniable and uncomfortable truth for those who would embrace it. In order TO GO beyond the world that they knew, they would also have TO LEAVE their comfort zone. And that’s not always easy!
How does the Holy Spirit empower our lives to deal with things outside our comfort zone? Take a listen and find out!
FollowChrist #FollowingChrist #Foundations #HolySpirit
How can you remain faithful to your calling in an increasingly antagonistic world?
With temperatures dropping, and the rain and winds starting to ramp up again, it has become obvious here in the Northwest that summer is over, fall has arrived and winter is not be far behind!
In places where seasons transition in such dramatic fashion it often requires those who live in such places to change the way they live. People living in the Northwest will not be cutting their grass for a while. Winter sweaters, gloves and coats start to become part of people’s wardrobes again. Winterizing one’s home, making sure there is enough food and wood to fuel the fireplace begin to rise as top priorities.
Here’s the thing: Regardless of what season we may find ourselves navigating through, we can’t stop being faithful to our calling in life. Our calling from God in regards to WHO we are called to be and WHAT we are called to do, our reasonable service of worship to God and contribution to the world, is something God wants us to be faithful to both in and out of season.
How about when the world we are living in is becoming more and more antagonistic to that very call God has placed upon our lives? How can we remain faithful? Take a listen and find out!
FollowChrist #FollowingChrist #Foundations #HolySpirit
What does it mean to truly live a victorious life?
Have you ever gone through a time in your life when you have felt defeated? Or a season when you have found yourself in a battle that seemed like it would never end?
Battles can start in a variety of ways and come from a multitude of fronts, both internally and externally. They can often be the result of mistakes we have made, things we said or did, or shouldn’t have said or done; things we might have been able to do better.
But at other times, battles can play out because we’re standing up for what we believe are the right things, trying to honor God with our lives and as a result disdain, contempt and persecution come.
How does God bring about the victory in our lives when going through the most difficult of times? Take a listen and find out!
FollowChrist #FollowingChrist #Foundations #HolySpirit
How do you keep your life, relationships and purpose in this world from going stale?
God told the church in Ephesus that He had seen their hard work and patient endurance. They were faithful in holding up God’s truth in a not so kind world, patiently suffering for the cause of Christ without quitting. Yet, God had this complaint against them. He tells them…
“You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!” —Revelation 2:4 NLT
Their love had grown cold and stale, which in turn affected their very lives, relationships and purpose in the world they lived in. How can we keep our lives, relationships and purpose in this world from growing cold and stale? Take a listen and find out.
FollowChrist #FollowingChrist #Foundations #HolySpirit
What kind of world was the Early Church bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ into?
In this installment of our series, we are in Didyma, home of the great temple of Apollo. It is almost an exact replica of the temple of Artemis in Ephesus where the Apostle Paul spent about three years of his ministry. Both temples were massive with sculpted columns and courtyards that give us a picture of the what would have been important to a lot of people in the ancient world. It was a world whose economy was directly connected to its system of pagan worship.
Money was made whenever a silversmith or any other artisan sold a shrine or statue of a god made of wood, stone or metal. This is significant because for every new believer in Christ the Early Church made and discipled, it was in essence, removing a customer from the economic system of pagan worship. Over time, the local economies eventually felt the impact of believers finding new life in Christ!
None of this would have even been possible without the Holy Spirit’s power! In fact, the Holy Spirit who empowered the Early Church to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ into the world they lived in, is the same Holy Spirit who empowers the Church to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ into the world we live in today!
We were not meant to continue the Lord’s ministry in the world we live in in our own power, but in the Holy Spirit’s power. What does this look like for Christ-followers today? Take a listen and find out!
How do we become people of lasting influence for the Kingdom of God?
The Apostle Paul was in a hurry on the tail end of his third missionary journey. He was trying to get to Jerusalem in time for the Jewish festival of Pentecost. But he also wanted to meet with the Elders of the Church in Ephesus to give them words of wisdom, instruction and encouragement. Time was of the essence and Paul had to make a decision regarding what needed to take top priority.
Fortunately for us, Paul set aside his personal agenda in order to meet with these church leaders in the city of Miletus, about 50 miles southwest of Ephesus. And it would have a profound impact upon the early church and its influence in the world.
The narrative in this story provides a wonderful model for us to consider in regards to the kind of lasting influence God wants Christ-followers to have in the world. How do we become people of lasting influence for the Kingdom of God? Take a listen and find out!
FollowChrist #FollowingChrist #Foundations #HolySpirit
What do you do when you realize you’re not going back to the life you once had?
Last week, we talked about the impact the Apostle Paul had in the city of Ephesus. In the power of the Holy Spirit, he began sharing with others the Good News of Jesus Christ which led to making disciples who also began to make disciples. As a result, Ephesus became a spiritual powder keg and one of the most influential cities of for the cause of Christ!
As we progress through our FOUNDATIONS series and allow God to deepen our faith and devotion through those who were willing to go the ends of the earth for the cause of Christ, it’s hard not to realize we come from a long line of people who said, “YES” to God!
What can we learn today from those who said, “YES” to God and realized they were not going back in to the life they once had? Take a listen and find out!
FollowChrist #FollowingChrist #Foundations #HolySpirit
Imagine for a moment . . . What would it have been like to have stepped off that boat with the Apostle Paul, in the port of Ephesus, a dark pagan city whose people had no idea of the gravity of the message he was carrying?
The Apostle Paul was entrusted and empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry and proclaim the message of Jesus Christ “to the ends of the earth.” When he first visited Ephesus, Paul wasn’t able to stay very long, but he was able to share Christ with a few people who wanted him to stay longer and share more. In essence, Paul was able to plant a seed during his short stay in Ephesus that would eventually turn into a powder keg just waiting to be ignited.
When Paul later returned to Ephesus in Acts 19, the events of that day turned out to be a catalyst that transformed Ephesus into one of the most influential cities for the gospel!
What was it that these believers heard that turned their lives and their city and the world upside-down? Take a listen and find out!
What do you think it meant for the disciples who were there, who heard the words from Jesus Himself, just after His resurrection and yet just before His ascension into heaven, when He said . . .
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” —Acts 1:8 NLT
Although we were not there when Jesus spoke those words, we can’t ignore what He said to His followers in that moment. The words Jesus spoke on that day are ageless and remain true regardless of time or location. As followers of Christ, we must approach the words He spoke to His followers back then as if He is speaking directly to us in our current day.
The Lord is still speaking to His Church! In every age, in every generation, God has never stopped calling out men and women to be His faithful servants. The Lord is still calling people to join that great company of those who seek to follow Him with all their heart!
How are we to respond to such a great call?
In our current message series—FOUNDATIONS—we will learn from those early believers who answered the call to go beyond the world that they knew. The focus here is to learn and glean from the events surrounding those who lived before us, so we will have the foundation we need for each step of our life’s calling.
Don’t miss how God wants to deepen your faith and devotion through those who were willing to go “to the ends of the earth.”
Join us on Sundays for IN-PERSON services at 10am or ONLINE by following us on Facebook, YouTube or our Podcast which is available on most podcast platforms.
Go even deeper by joining us in our New FOUNDATIONS Life Group happening on Tuesdays at 6:30pm on Zoom.
For more information, just go to ColumbiaLifeChurch.org!!
What is the #1 reason why people QUIT too soon?
The journey can be tough. We have fundamental needs that need to be met as well as dreams, life improvements, and new year’s resolutions that many of us still are still trying to achieve. What’s common in all these pursuits, however, is that there are often challenges and obstacles along the way we need to overcome.
While humanity’s greatest improvements, leaps and advancements happened through much hardship, suffering, trailblazing and failure, these breakthroughs mostly occurred because someone didn’t give up.
When life goes sideways, and it can happen in so many different ways, I don’t know how people do it without God. Sickness, disease, loss of a job or loss of a loved one, I just don’t know how people go through this kind of grief, pain and suffering without God.
This is why our SPIRITUAL journey is so important in the human journey. Much like going on a hike out into the wild, there are essentials you really need to bring with you in order to not just survive, but to also enjoy the journey safely.
Let’s face it. When life turns into something we never wanted, we can easily get tired of it all, frustrated, depressed and just want to quit. What is the one essential you need to not quit too soon? Take a listen and find out! 8-15-2021: The BIG Three Essentials Your SPIRITUAL Journey Can’t Flourish Without (pt.4)
What is the #1 reason why people QUIT too soon? The journey can be tough. We have fundamental needs that need to be met as well as dreams, life improvements, and new year’s resolutions that many of us still are still trying to achieve. What’s common in all these pursuits, however, is that there are often challenges and obstacles along the way we need to overcome.
While humanity’s greatest improvements, leaps and advancements happened through much hardship, suffering, trailblazing and failure, these breakthroughs mostly occurred because someone didn’t give up.
When life goes sideways, and it can happen in so many different ways, I don’t know how people do it without God. Sickness, disease, loss of a job or loss of a loved one, I just don’t know how people go through this kind of grief, pain and suffering without God.
This is why our SPIRITUAL journey is so important in the human journey. Much like going on a hike out into the wild, there are essentials you really need to bring with you in order to not just survive, but to also enjoy the journey safely.
Let’s face it. When life turns into something we never wanted, we can easily get tired of it all, frustrated, depressed and just want to quit. What is the one essential you need to not quit too soon? Take a listen and find out!
What is the best possible OUTCOME for the circumstances you’re facing or the dreams you have for you life, right now?
It’s a crucial question to consider in order to avoid living an insignificant life—the kind of life that gains nothing, means nothing, and matters to no one. While a lot of people can say they have achieved a certain level of success in this world, living a life of significance is a completely different matter.
What does the Bible have to say about what God sees as the best possible OUTCOME for our lives? And how is this an absolute essential for our SPIRITUAL life to flourish? Take a listen and find out!
What are BIG 3 Essentials your SPIRITUAL journey can’t flourish without? How does God strengthen and add muscle to our faith? To flourish means to come alive, grow and thrive! It means to come out from under what has overwhelmed you or to burst forth with life from what has buried you alive.
The problem is that when you’re feeling crushed under the weight of life’s heavy burdens day in and day out, it becomes much harder to receive what God may have for you this day. The good news is that no matter what kind of heavy load you may find yourself under right now, you’re not without hope for with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26)!
In our current series, we have been learning that when the burdens we find ourselves carrying in life are heavy or overwhelming, God has the power to either make those burdens lighter for us to carry or make us stronger.
How does God strengthen and add muscle to our faith? Take a listen and find out.
God wants to accomplish something significant in your life today! How do you NOT miss it? How do you NOT avoid what God wants to accomplish in your life today?
It starts by realizing that today is a gift, this very moment is a gift, and that every single day there is something He wants to accomplish in our lives. And He doesn’t want us to miss it. Life’s heavy burdens can make it really easy to miss what God has for you today. The good news is that in Christ, God is for you and not against you. God wants both you and I to be better prepared to face our week at the end of this message than we are right now!
In a discouraging and frustrating world, filled with even more uncertainty about the future, God wants to strengthen our foundational base in Him more than ever. In a time of great trial and testing, where fear, worry and self-doubt are weighing heavy on our backs, people need to know and be reminded of the One in whom all things are possible—that with God, all things are possible through faith, hope and love in Jesus Christ!
Over the next five weeks, we’re going to learn about the BIG 3 essentials our spiritual journey can’t flourish without. The BIG 3 essentials will serve as a means to grant us greater strength and stability for the shaky times in which we are living in right now.
Don’t miss what God wants to accomplish in your life today! You’ll always be better prepared to face your tomorrow, your week, your next season in life, whatever it may bring. Where do we start? Take a listen and find out!
How do you NOT avoid what God wants to accomplish in your life today? It starts by realizing that today is gift, and that God doesn’t want us to miss what He wants to accomplish in our lives every single day. God wants both you and I to be better prepared to face our week at the end of this message than we are right now!
In a discouraging and frustrating world, filled with even more uncertainty about the future, God wants to strengthen our foundational base in Him more than ever. Living in a time of great trial and testing, where fear, worry and self-doubt are weighing heavy on our backs, people need to know and be reminded of the One in whom all things are possible—that with God, all things are possible through faith, hope and love in Jesus Christ!
Over the next five weeks, we’re going to learn about the three BIG essentials our spiritual journey can’t flourish without. These three BIG essentials will serve as a means to grant us greater strength and stability for the shaky times in which we are living in right now.
Don’t miss what God wants to accomplish in your life today! You’ll always be better prepared to face your tomorrow, your week, your next season in life, whatever it may bring. Where do we start? Take a listen and find out!
In our current series, we’ve been addressing the question, “What does a perfect relationship with God even suppose to look like?”
Today, in part five of our series, we want to bring focus to the question, “What does a perfect relationship with God look like, when we give the HOLY SPIRIT complete FREEDOM to move in our lives?”
There are a lot of people who will tell you they know that God loves them. They might even tell you they love God. But the deeper question they might not be asking themselves is, “Do you love the relationship you have with God?”
Do you want more? Do you think God wants more? What does a perfect relationship with God even suppose to look like? Take a listen and find out!
In part three of our series we have been addressing the question, “What does a perfect relationship with God even suppose to look like?”
There are a lot of people who will tell you they know that God loves them. They might even tell you they love God. But the deeper question they might not be asking themselves is, “Do you love the relationship you have with God?”
Do you want more? Do you think God wants more? What does a perfect relationship with God even suppose to look like? Take a listen and find out!
In part two of our current series we are addressing the question, “What does a perfect relationship with God even suppose to look like?”
There are a lot of people who will tell you they know that God loves them. They might even tell you they love God. But the deeper question they might not be asking themselves is, “Do you love the relationship you have with God?”
Do you want more? Do you think God wants more? What does a perfect relationship with God even suppose to look like? Take a listen and find out!
What does a perfect relationship with God even suppose to look like?
There are a lot of people who will tell you they know that God loves them. They might even tell you they love God. But the deeper question they might not be asking themselves is, “Do you love the relationship you have with God?”
Do you want more? Do you think God wants more? What does a perfect relationship with God even suppose to look like? Take a listen and find out!
How do you follow-through and finish well when persecution rises as a villain in your world?
When Jesus walked upon the earth, He knew He was walking in a lost world where people could be really mean; where mistreatment and persecution of individuals and people groups were a normal part of life; where persecution would rise as a villain creating occasions when we would just want to quit or fight back.
Persecution is still happening all around us, both locally and globally. It can come in forms of religious persecution, racism, political persecution, etc. It rises as a villain when the mistreatment of individuals or people groups escalates to devalue, dehumanize, and take away an individual’s or group’s right to exist.
How can we follow-through and finish well when persecution rises as a villain in our world today? Take a listen and find out!
How do you follow-through and finish well when you’re dealing with major conflict?
We live in a very conflict-filled world. Conflicts are happening all around, in our homes, our neighborhoods, our schools, our work places, in all branches of government and on the global stage. This past week alone, the news reported more mass shootings in Santa Clara, CA and in Miami-Dade, FL. In the international arena, a commercial plane was hi-jacked and forced to land in Belarus.
Major conflicts are not only happening externally around us, but also internally within. People are struggling with conflicts on the inside as well. It was sad to hear a report this week that 22 military service members commit suicide every day!!
Conflicts, both externally and internally, are some of the biggest obstacles that can totally derail our ability to follow-through with the hopes and dreams God has placed in our hearts to pursue.
How do you follow-through and finish well when you’re dealing with major conflict? Take a listen and find out!
How do you follow-through and finish well when it’s difficult to see the final outcome?
The Bible records moments in history when God’s presence and power were felt upon the earth. Floods, earthquakes, wind, fire from heaven, miraculous events when God made Himself known to His people by displaying His sovereignty and power over all things in the Heavens and on the Earth. These were moments when God showed up in a BIG way!
When it’s difficult to see how things are suppose to turn out for our lives and the world we live in, it can be hard to follow-through and finish well. Jesus knew this. That’s one of the reasons why Jesus gave His disciples the Beatitudes—blessed promises for His disciples to live life with hope.
Living with hope is what enables us to not give up, keep going, follow-through and finish well even when it’s difficult to see the final outcome. Just like God showed up in a BIG way on the day of Pentecost when He filled His disciples to overflowing with His Holy Spirit, so God is able to show up BIG in our lives today even when it’s difficult to see the final outcome!
How does God bring this reality in our lives today? Take a listen and find out!
ColumbiaLifeChurchOR #Beatitudes #Blessed #Blessing #Favor #FollowThrough #PureInHeart #Vision #Pentecost
How is following-through and finishing well even possible when life seems way too complicated?
We woke up this morning to a very complicated situation. Fighting and unrest has been playing out all week in Israel along the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The violence and loss of life erupting right now includes people groups entangled in a complex conflict not birthed in recent months or even years, but passed on from generation to generation for centuries.
Life doesn’t get much more complicated than this. When it comes to our relationships with others, especially with those who are not like us, navigating through differences of opinions and agendas can spark hurt, betrayal, spite, anger, bitterness, even war.
Not caring and/or not being skilled in our relationships with others can derail so many potentially good things and “God things” in our lives. When our relationships with others start turning toxic, it’s almost impossible to follow-through and finish well.
The good news is that Jesus knew this. How is following-through and finishing well even possible when life seems way too complicated? Take a listen and find out!
How do you “follow-through,” when you find yourself in the middle of soul-draining circumstances? What does the perfect finishing move look like when you find yourself in the middle of a soul-crushing situation?
I’m not sure how life may be going for you right now. But if you’re in the middle of a soul-draining, soul-crushing, circumstance, there is still a promise of blessing for you. God still has a promise of blessing for you!
How can you “follow-Him-through” and out of a soul-draining or soul-crushing situation? Take a listen and find out!
How does God start and finish something really good in a person’s life? How does God begin and bring to conclusion something really good in a person’s life, especially when you have never been more lost than ever?
We are in a new series entitled, “Follow Through.” It’s what brings an action to a conclusion in our lives. In athletics, it is the finishing movement that happens after a ball has been struck or thrown. For us, we are believing in this next season that God wants to begin and bring to conclusion something really good in those who would dare to follow Him!
Problem is life sometimes goes sideways, really sideways. In this past year, people have suffered an extraordinary amount of loss in their lives. Loss of a job, loss of income, loss of health, lost relationships, lost dreams and opportunities, and especially the loss of loved ones.
How do we recover emotionally from a situation beyond our control, our expertise, our pay grade? How do we get past the fact that somethings are beyond our power, our ability and our words to fix them? When we’re mourning, it’s as if life has stopped, everything has stopped including the good things God may want to bring about in our lives. The more difficult the pain, the more lostness we tend to experience.
How is God STILL able to bring about good things when you have never been more lost than ever? Take a listen and find out!
How does God start and finish something really good in a person’s life? And what role does the Holy Spirit play in all this?
We are in new series entitled, “Follow Through.” It’s what brings an action to a conclusion in our lives. In athletics, it is the finishing movement that happens after a ball has been struck or thrown.
If you’re listening to this message, I believe you’re not here by accident, but that God has a word for you. You’re entering into season in which God wants to begin and bring to conclusion something wonderful in your life and its something God doesn’t want you to miss!
That’s why He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide and empower us along the way. There is a destination, a divine outcome, God wants to bring about in your life, but you’ll need the Holy Spirit to “follow-through” with what God gives you to do.
God wants to start and finish something really good in your life! How can the Holy Spirit help you from missing what God wants to do in your life? Take a listen and find out!
How does God bring the dead back to life? Aren’t dead things suppose to stay dead forever? Not if God has anything to say about it!
The words, “He is risen,” means we have hope. It means death doesn’t have the final word. What does this mean for our lives today? Take a listen and find out!
How do you break the grip of something bad in your life that just won’t let go?
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey with crowds filling the streets in front of and behind Him, there was an excitement in the air. With the annual Jewish festival of Passover at hand commemorating the people of Israel’s deliverance from their bondage of slavery in Egypt, the crowds were hoping Jesus as their Messiah would bring about their deliverance from the Roman oppression that currently had its grip on them. That’s why crowds were shouting, “Hosanna!” which can be translated, “Savior, save us!”
How does God break the grip of something bad in our lives that refuses to let go? Take a listen and find out.
How do we become transformed in our vocational health? How does God breathe life and bring renewal into our lives so we can experience better vocational health?
Today, we’re finishing up our 50 Days of Transformation. In this series we’ve been learning about how God breathes life, brings renewal and transforms us in seven key areas of our lives—parts of our lives where most people want to make changes and experience better health. And today, it’s about our vocational health!
A person's vocational health has to do with how a person is responding to the call of God in their life. And it's far more important than a person's job. WHY? Because people change jobs all the time. On the other hand, the work God calls you to, your life's work and contribution to the world, is something you never retire from. It's the very thing you are meant to do, the dream God gives you for your life!
How can we experience better vocational health? Take a listen and find out!
How do we become transformed in our financial health? How does God breathe life and bring renewal into our lives so we can experience better financial health?
Today, we’re continuing our 50 Days of Transformation. In this series we’ve been learning about how God breathes life, brings renewal and transforms us in seven key areas where most people want to make changes and experience better health. And today, it’s about our financial health!
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to experience better financial health. Our finances can be one of the greatest sources of stress and heartache in people’s lives, impacting marriages, families, careers, you name it. The pandemic hasn’t helped, hitting our economy hard with many businesses closing up shop and people losing their jobs.
Our financial health is something we need to pay attention to especially during the times in which we are living in right now. Fortunately God knew we would have to navigate through financial challenges and His Word has much to say on the subject. How can God lead us into experiencing better financial health? Take a listen and find out!
How do we become transformed in our emotional health? How does God breathe life and bring renewal into our lives so we can experience better emotional health?
You’re probably here because you don’t want a candy-coated version of reality. You want the truth! And the truth is that the villain, the enemy of your soul, doesn’t want you to be in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. WHY? Once that happens he loses control of telling WHAT you’re capable of doing, WHO you’re suppose to be, and WHERE your life is headed! It can be like riding a non-stop emotional roller coaster.
The Good News is that the unhealthy emotional expectations the world places on you become secondary to exhaustive possibilities when you place your faith, trust and hope in Jesus Christ and His plan for you life! How can God help us experience better emotional health? Take a listen and find out!
How do we become transformed in our mental health? How does God breathe life and bring renewal into the intellectual part of our being, so we can experience better mental health? How can we experience a greater measure of peace in a world that can drive us crazy?
Today, we’re continuing our series entitled, “Transformed,” a church-wide campaign designed to take us through 50 Days of Transformation. During this series we’re going to learn and experience how God breathes life, brings renewal and transforms us in seven key areas of our lives. And today, it’s about our mental health!
How does God breathe life and bring renewal into the intellectual part of our being, so we can experience a greater measure of peace and better mental health? Take a listen and find out!
Today, we’re continuing our series entitled, “Transformed,” a church-wide campaign designed to take us through 50 Days of Transformation.
During this series we’re going to learn and experience how God breathes life, brings renewal and transforms us in seven key areas of our lives. And today, it’s about our physical health!
How do we become transformed in our physical health? How does God breathe life and bring renewal into our physical being, so we can experience better physical health? Is our physical health important to God? Take a listen and find out!
Today, we’re continuing our series entitled, “Transformed,” a church-wide campaign designed to take us through 50 Days of Transformation. During this series we’re going to learn and experience how God breathes life, brings renewal and transforms us is seven key areas of our lives.
The human journey is filled with peaks and valleys, times and seasons when we have to carry some heavy burdens. These life challenges can take a heavy toll on us—mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, relationally, etc. When the pressure is on, it can makes us wonder if we’re ever going to get out from under that heavy burden, and get to where we would really like to be in life.
This is what these next 50 Days of Transformation is about— God breathing life, bringing renewal and transforming us in seven key areas of our lives!
Today, we’re beginning a new series entitled, “Transformed,” a church-wide campaign of 50 Days of Transformation. During this series we’re going to learn and experience how God breathes life, brings renewal and transforms us is seven key areas of our lives.
The human journey is filled with periods of time, moments, seasons, even years when we are called upon to carry a number of heavy burdens. These life challenges can prove to be very taxing upon us—mentally, physically, emotionally, financially, relationally, etc. When the pressure is on, we wonder if we’re ever going to get to where we would really like to be in life.
This is what these next 50 Days of Transformation is about— God breathing life, bringing renewal and transforming us in seven key areas of our lives!
How do you find the promise of God’s blessing to move forward out of a past of pain and struggle? It wasn’t easy for Jacob. He found himself fleeing for his life as a result of some questionable choices he made to acquire his brother Esau’s birthright and blessing. It wasn’t much better for his son, Joseph, either. Joseph found himself sold into slavery as a result of the hateful choices his brothers made to get rid of him—choices that led to a life of pain and struggle.
The choices we make each day shape our tomorrow. They shape the future and the eventual past of the next generation. Every step Jacob took into his future was shaped by choices he made for himself in the past. It was the same for Joseph as well. Except the biggest life-altering choice for him was not made by him, but by his brothers when they decided to treat him like a piece of property and sell him into slavery.
Yet, in each of these stories we find the promise of God’s blessing to move forward was still able to be found out of a past of pain and struggle. How can we find it for ourselves today? Take a listen and find out!
How do you find the promise of God’s blessing in an impossible situation?
Abraham found himself in an impossible situation when God asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. An impossible situation can be equated to what one may feel or experience when going through a time of testing—a “no other way out” challenge that requires more than you think you have. How do you get through such a time of testing? How did Abraham do it? Take a listen and find out!
Where can we find the promise of God’s blessing in a world gone wrong? In the days of Noah, the world was filled with hate, violence and corruption. People had no idea how grieved God was because of the wickedness that filled the world. Jesus said, “In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:37-39 NLT). Yet, in the midst of a corrupt world, the Bible says that Noah found favor with God. How did one man get it right when everyone else got it wrong? How did Noah find God’s blessing in a world gone wrong? Take a listen to find out!
A lot of people are not sad to say good-bye to 2020 and welcome in a new year. This past year was filled with great difficulty, shattering countless lives, dreams and families in its wake. The damage that has been done in this past year has really put a heavy burden on people’s shoulders as they enter 2021. What is a person carrying a heavy load to do? Where can we find the promise of God’s blessing in the middle of such difficult circumstances?
As we finish up our Holiday series entitled “Majestic Momentum,” I want to share with you about the Holiday Gift that leads to perfect freedom. It was something manifested when Simeon encountered the Christ child at the Temple. Simeon recognized His encounter with the Christ child, to be able to hold Him and praise God for Him, as the pinnacle of his life! A most sacred moment in which everything about his physical existence here on earth encountered and touched everything that was spiritual in the heavenly gift of the Christ child. It released something in Simeon—a moment of perfect freedom and life fulfillment never experienced before!
As we continue our Holiday series entitled “Majestic Momentum,” I want to share with you about how to recognize a move of God in your life and avoid a crash landing.
In two different encounters, Zechariah and Mary were visited by the angel, Gabriel. God was getting ready to move in a mighty way in both their lives. The problem? Zechariah wasn’t ready to receive what God had for him resulting in him living out the next year of his life in a way he had not planned. But with Mary it was different. Not only did she readily receive God’s Word, she would give birth to it and it would change the world! What was it that enabled Mary to receive from God what Zechariah could not? The answer was critical in how the next 12 months played out in their lives—the difference between recognizing a move of God and avoiding a crash landing, or not!
Today, I want to talk with you about one of the greatest gifts you could ever receive during the Holidays. It's the next question we are looking at in our current Holiday message series entitled: "Majestic Momentum." And the question is "How to Overcome the Darkness of the Holiday Season?"
Why is this an important question to consider? Because isn’t overcoming the darkness of the times we live in, what Christmas is all about? The wonder of Christmas that sparks a new light and a new momentum going forward is basically this—God became man, that man united with God might defeat the powers of darkness. Jesus entering humanity through the power of the Holy Spirit is what Christmas is about. It's about Jesus, the Light of the world, making His entrance into the world during a dark time in which people lived.
The darkness is real. And it can bring any momentum we have in life to a complete stop. Why? When it's dark, it's harder to see, and generates feelings of fear, moving into the unknown, and slower progress. When this happens, we start putting more energy in fighting those fears and concerns. How do we overcome the darkness? Take a listen.
How do you deal with your anxious thoughts during the Holidays? . . . This is another great question to consider for our next installment in our current Holiday message series entitled: "Majestic Momentum." This holiday season going into the new year is going to be different from anything we've experienced before. It's already a time of year filled with more suicide, loneliness, and depression. How much more with the world-wide pandemic and its effects upon people's lives are concerns like these amplified. We are going to need to hear from the throne of heaven. We are going to need to experience the ministry of the Prince of Peace, the coming King, to not only settle our spirits, but to also generate the momentum we need for those breakthrough goals we're looking for going into the new year!
What is the main reason WHY most people feel that can’t do something? Or have the strength to face something? This is a great question to consider for our next installment in our new message series entitled: "Majestic Momentum." This holiday season going into the new year is going to be different from anything we've experienced before. It's already a time of year filled with more suicide, loneliness, and depression. How much more with the world-wide pandemic and its effects upon people's lives are concerns like these amplified. We are going to need to hear from the throne of heaven. We are going to need to experience the ministry of the Prince of Peace, the coming King, to not only settle our spirits, but to also generate the momentum we need for those breakthrough goals we're looking for going into the new year!
What do you do when you encounter misfortune in your life? This subject will serve as a great starting point for a new message series entitled: "Majestic Momentum." This holiday season going into the new year is going to be different from anything we've experienced before. It's already a time of year filled with more suicide, loneliness, and depression. How much more with the world-wide pandemic and its effects upon people's lives are concerns like these amplified. We are going to need to hear from the throne of heaven. We are going to need to experience the ministry of the Prince of Peace, the coming King, to not only settle our spirits, but to also generate the momentum we need for those breakthrough goals we're looking for going into the new year!
How do you know you’re making any progress in a difficult season in your life? How do you know when you’re past that mid-point in a difficult journey? Or at least past a part of the journey you won’t have to revisit again? Until you reach that point where you can see the light at the end of tunnel, or where you feel you’ve finally gained an advantage in your situation, it can be rough going. You can’t avoid these tough seasons in life. But you can realize you are making progress when something about your relationship with God is changing—a transformation no circumstance can subvert, and made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Message excerpt: “He could have easily quit . . . On his first venture out onto the mission field, the Apostle Paul was stoned, dragged out of town, and left for dead. He was on a mission from God. Along with his mentor Barnabas, they were set apart by the Holy Spirit and sent out by their home church in Antioch of Syria to share their hope in Christ with the rest of the world. But not everyone bought into this hope. In fact many people were hostile toward it. While in the city of Lystra, the crowd was incited against Paul and violence erupted. It was crazy! Then a riot broke out” […]