GSLCVA Podcast

In today’s midweek recharge, Pastor Johann speaks to how we are all acutely aware of having to maintain distances from our friends and loved ones these days. While we long to offer solace or make connections through human touch, this enforced separation reminds us that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus.

In today’s sermon Pastor James reminds us how, as children, we all rushed to the mailbox to see if that magical invitation came inviting us to a friend's birthday party. As adults, we often scroll our email looking for that one invitation to enter a contest and win the big prize. In today’s message, Jesus invites us—not with an email or a card, but with His own words and love: “Come to me, all who labor and all that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Our enforced time apart from one another drags on, and we are eager to return to “full-throated” group worship. We can dream, but we also need to recognize that not everything will be the way it was, even after the full return. In the meantime, we consider: What has God been showing us during these times? When God returns me, how will I serve? How will I then contribute to God’s church and His mission? We can also look at our biblical precedents, including Nehemiah’s return from the Babylonian Ex

In “The Two Sides of Hospitality,” Pastor Johann asks us to consider that hospitality is received as well as given—and that we might also experience hostility instead of hospitality as we carry God’s message to the people around us. But we are reminded that as we care for our neighbors, we see the face of Christ in them, and when others show us hospitality, they are seeing the face of Christ in us as well.

In this devotion, Pastor Johann shares that Christ's wounds reveal how He suffered and died for us, and loves us.  Likewise, our own wounds Christ has healed, provide us the credibility to connect with those encountering sicknesses, troubles, and hurts, and share the saving and strengthening Gospel message.

Pastor James talks about how God watches over sparrows, and sparrows do fall.  And in those words, we need to understand that yes, sparrows do fall, so life isn't perfect, but that God is watching and caring for us, each and every day.

This week, we are reminded, to stop fretting and fighting with God over the circumstances in our lives.  Instead, remember that the Lord is at hand and thank God in advance as you anticipate the joy and victory that is to come.  Free salvation, eternal freedom.

Pastor Johann reminds us that Jesus lived among us and touched us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  He fully and personally identifies with our pain.

These troubled times have brought out the best and the worst in people. Some of the bad behavior includes scapegoating, blaming “others” for what ails us. But as Christians, we will stand for forgiveness, not judgment and pointing fingers. We will stand for service, sacrifice, healing, and hope.

We’re all going through bad or hard times right now. In this Midweek Recharge, we look at the story of Job and are reminded of God’s complete faithfulness. In our troubles and through them, Christ is always with us, just as He promised