Embrace Podcast

Memories are one of the things Christmas brings a ton of. But those memories aren't always of happy moments around the Christmas tree. Instead, sometimes Christmas brings ugly memories to the surface, memories of brokenness, pain, and sin. But along with memories, Christmas also brings us a Savior. We may not forget those memories, those sins, but Jesus will forgive them.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but at times the season brings hard things to the surface. Grief, loneliness, unmet expectations—sometimes it seems like the older we get the less joyful Christmas becomes. But thankfully, Christmas brings so much more than what we're told. Christmas truly does bring joy, but that joy is found in Jesus. And in the midst of this crazy life, we need to fight for that joy, during the Christmas season and every day.

Do you call Embrace your home? Want to know more about where we are and where we're going as a church? This is the heart of Embrace. As we share what we're excited about, stressed about, and dreaming about, we invite you to be part of the bigger picture, to walk alongside us as we strive to reach the next person for Jesus.

Guest speaker Carlos Whittaker joins us to discuss killing your spiders from his recently released book.

Guest speaker Jon Weece shares on Galatians 5:6 - Love listens and looks at people. 

We are not only chosen and changed by God, but we're also called by Him. How does God call us? By name. What are we called to do? To show others His goodness. We were each called out of darkness and into God's marvelous light for a specific purpose. How awesome is that?

God not only chooses us, but He also changes us. Being changed takes work. It takes knowing that it's about a relationship with God, not rules. It takes killing our old selves to be made new in Christ. Being changed isn't easy, but luckily we don't have to do it alone. God changes us. The only question is: do we want to be changed by Him?

We've all probably felt unwanted or left out in life, but have you ever felt the same way when it comes to God? Have you ever wondered if God would want to choose you? This question isn't about who God is, it's about who we are. But here's the truth: God picks us. He's not stuck with us. And we are His, not our own. He does choose us. Every time. The only question is: will you choose Him?

Your past isn't what determines who you are today. Even though there are many times when we don't feel forgiven, Christ says we are completely forgiven. If you don't let your past die, it won't let you live.

God shows us that a fire from him can refine us, it can build us up and help us to live out our purpose. Sometimes when we think about that refining fire we fear it as well, but what if God never intended us to fear the fire? To grow with God and make an impact, we must learn how to enjoy the fire.