Hello dear friends, As the future of our nation hangs in the balance, we are left waiting with (somewhat anxious) anticipation. What does the future hold and where is God's hand in all of this? Rest assured, God IS in control, He DOES have a plan, and that plan is GOOD. But our Great God also gives His people the option and opportunity to seek His face, to pray fervently, and to beseech Him in these times and ask His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven in this situat

My good friend said the other day: “I always tell people that being in the will of God is actually so much easier than forcing your own way.” It sounds simple, but actually, this is PROFOUND! Why? Because the WORLD is ALWAYS trying to convince us the OPPOSITE is true! Have you ever heard anyone say: “The standards taught in the Bible are impossible for any normal person.” “People who Live that way are too 'hardcore Christian'” “The only people who can be that ‘into’ their fai

CLICK HERE OR THE IMAGE BELOW TO WATCH CHRISTEN'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH MEGAN ALEXANDER! Sometimes God really does have the funniest sense of humor. Almost 5 years ago, I was preparing to move to New York City to begin my first official job in television. It was around this same time when my relationship with God became truly vibrant for the first time in my life. Just before I left for New York, I took a trip to the book store to buy some new Christian books and devotionals. W

Everything we do for God should be adobe WITH God! Sounds something to which you might say “DUH” in response😂🙈but truly...I was considering this and it’s easier said than done! ✨ Especially if you consider all of the things that God asks us to submit to Him. To name a few, our work, relationships, first fruits, our time, worries—God calls us to offer these aspects of our lives into His loving care. But are we truly doing this? ✨ If dedicating all of these elements of your l

"Have the guts enough to choose the things that matter NOW" --Beth Moore I loved this quote from Beth's latest book, Chasing Vines. Ironically, I actually highlighted it before the craziness of the coronavirus truly hit the U.S. Now that is has, this statement has become incredibly relevant! ✨ The impact of this crisis is immeasurable. The lives its taken, jobs its upended and fear its spread is devastating to watch. Still, I am praying that God will bring good fruit out of

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 We read this verse today as part of our Haplous Bible study. It got me thinking—does this mean unless we are holy we will not go to Heaven? But aren’t we saved by faith alone? Ephesians 2:8 tells us, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." It could mean that when we are really sa

The Haplous Bible Study is currently reading stories about men and women in the Old Testament. When the study book arrived, I have to admit-- I was a little nervous because I realized the study was simply passages from the Bible--no commentary whatsoever. Can I just tell you? I have learned SO much more than I ever thought I would! Reading the Word of God on its own is so powerful, and actually a profoundly personal experience with God. Why? Because it has forced me to ask HI

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." -James 1:22-24 Sounds easy enough, right? Then why have I looked back on so many days—days when I’ve started with prayer and Bible reading—and then have completely failed to live out what I read jus

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ✨ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ✨ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ✨ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkn

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”—JESUS Did you know that Jesus WANTS you to have a joyful, abundant life? I used to get trapped into the idea of thinking that doing things God’s way was restrictive and boring. SO WRONG! Life with Jesus is the most exciting, fulfilling experience. It is truly LIFE-GIVING to walk out life following God’s creative plan for you. I pray you all will have a wonderf

"Often the things that annoy us are the things that God has called us to change." I heard this in a sermon by Pastor Rich Wilkerson JR. and I love this thought! Take the time to consider that the things or circumstances in your life that annoy you could be opportunities for you to be an agent of CHANGE. The more we become like God, the more our hearts and thought-patterns will be aligned with His. Try incorporating this thought into your day today. When something happens that

A lot of churches have kicked off 21-days of prayer and fasting to begin the New Year. Something I have been trying to do more of us is to be very intentional about the media I consume. ✨ The music we listen to, shows we watch, books we read, accounts we follow, websites we scan ALL have an affect on our thought-patterns. Of course they do! ✨ So it makes sense that we should try as best we can to fill our minds with God-centered things. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus is NOT

Jesus said: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” Mark 16:15 When Jesus left the disciples and ascended back into Heaven, He reminded them that this story was far from over. He asked them to go out into the world and to preach the good news, and He asks us to do the same. Having a Jesus-focused mission doesn’t mean you have to pick up and move across the world. You are planted where you are for a reason, and you will not be there forever! So use eve

I think the message of obedience is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Jesus' teachings, because people tend to mistakenly associate their obedience with God's love for them. God's love for us is UNCONDITIONAL, whether we obey Him or not (crazy, I know). His gift of salvation does NOT rest upon our good works. It is a GIFT! Once we've truly accepted Jesus's gift, the Holy Spirit lives in us and we are saved. Obedience is NOT an act to gain salvation, it is an act of lov

JESUS BRINGS US BACK TO LIFE ✨ “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ✨ in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ✨ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our fleshand following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ✨ But because of his great love for us,

"The Greatness inside of you is actually about OTHER people." Straight from Pastor Alex Seeley's book, “The Opposite Life” which is all about how God’s calling on our lives and His Kingdom is actually the opposite of our human nature and perceived view of success, happiness, etc. Christmas is such a great season to be reminded of God’s opposite nature—He sent His son, God incarnate, to the world as a BABY. And not only that—this baby was born in a stable and laid in a manger

We just finished reading the Book of Haggai, which is actually only 2 chapters! In those 2 chapters, God told Haggai to tell His people FIVE TIMES to “Give Careful Thought” to their ways. I don’t know about you, but I have to give careful thought to my ways not just daily, but on a moment-by-moment basis. I have to bite my tongue, check my attitude, and remember to be gracious because God is so gracious. Let’s all give careful thought to our ways as we spend time with loved

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” Ephesians 6:13-14 I’ve read the Armor of God portion of Ephesians SO many times, so when we came to this section of our Bible study, I paused to ask God to teach me something new. And guess what? He delivered! Just yesterday (before reading this vers

" But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” When someone insults you or offends you, use it as an OPPORTUNITY to PRAY for them. And then actually THANK God for thei

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,  in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inherit