Why are relationships so complicated? Why do our deepest desires sometimes feel impossible to satisfy? The answer might surprise you: God designed you this way on purpose.

In this profound exploration of Song of Solomon 3:1-5, we dive into what appears to be a young woman's midnight dream of searching city streets for her beloved. But beneath this passionate pursuit lies a universal truth about human longing that resonates across centuries.

God isn't surprised by your desires—He created them. Looking back to Genesis, we discover that longing predates sin. When God declared "it is not good for man to be alone," He first created the desire in Adam, then deliberately extended that longing by having him name all animals before bringing him Eve. Adam's response? "At last!"—the cry of a longing fulfilled.

Whether you're seeking love, purpose, belonging, or security, these desires reflect Eden's echo in your soul. The problem isn't the longing itself but where we look for satisfaction. We pursue relationships, career success, social approval, or material comfort, yet remain unsatisfied because these things were never designed to fill the God-shaped void within us.

Even Jesus experiences longing. He eagerly desired to share the Passover with his disciples and prays for believers to join him in eternity. In Revelation, he stands at the door of our hearts, knocking—not just to accomplish salvation but because he longs for relationship with us.

What will you do with your longings? Rather than resenting them, mature believers thank God for desires that continually point us back to the only One who truly satisfies. Your longings aren't mistakes—they're invitations to discover that Christ alone offers what your heart most deeply desires.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

The Song of Solomon might seem like an unlikely text for Mother's Day, yet it reveals profound truths about God's perfect timing that speak to our deepest relationships and longings. Through ancient wedding customs, we discover a beautiful picture of Christ's pursuit of His people.

When the bridegroom comes "leaping over mountains" to claim his bride, we glimpse the eagerness of a lover who has prepared everything for their future together. In biblical times, betrothal was followed by a waiting period while the groom prepared rooms in his father's house - a powerful parallel to Jesus' promise: "In my Father's house are many rooms... I go to prepare a place for you."

The seasonal imagery throughout this passage reminds us that God orchestrates our lives through different chapters - sometimes winter's waiting, sometimes spring's renewal. For those experiencing Mother's Day with complicated emotions - whether celebrating motherhood or carrying the weight of unfulfilled longings - the message rings clear: "God's timing is never late and always loving." Your times are truly in His hands.

We explore four relationship seasons: summer drought (when love feels dry and nourishment lacking), fall harvest (enjoying blessings but sensing coldness approaching), winter death (when relationships feel lifeless), and spring renewal (fresh growth and excitement). Each season requires different spiritual responses, yet all can be navigated with faith.

Perhaps most powerful is the bride's request to "catch the foxes... that spoil the vineyards" - a recognition that even in seasons of blessing, vigilant protection is needed. This metaphor speaks to our inability to fully guard what matters most through our own efforts, pointing us to Christ who offers to do what we cannot.

The passage culminates in beautiful covenant language: "My beloved is mine and I am his." This mutual self-giving relationship represents God's ultimate desire for His people, available only when we "arise and come away" from self-sufficiency into His perfect love. Where are you in your season today? Will you trust the One who is bringing you safely home?

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

What does God really think about beauty? Far from the awkward silence many expect from the church on this topic, the Bible speaks candidly and powerfully about physical attraction, self-image, and how we view one another.

In this exploration of Song of Solomon, we discover a woman who feels insufficient despite receiving lavish praise from her beloved. "I am dark but lovely," she confesses – acknowledging both her beauty and what she perceives as imperfection. This duality mirrors our spiritual condition: simultaneously bearing God's image yet marked by brokenness. When she compares herself to common wildflowers, her beloved counters with stunning affirmation: "As a lily among brambles, so is my love among young women." He doesn't just see her beauty; he celebrates what makes her exceptional.

This ancient text reveals a profound truth for modern relationships: there's a significant difference between lying and choosing to see the best in someone. The couple engages in a beautiful exchange of affirmation that creates a sanctuary of love – where their native language becomes mutual encouragement, blessing and praise. Their garden rendezvous deliberately echoes Eden, reminding us of what love looked like before sin distorted it – when we could share ourselves without shame and build each other up rather than tear each other down.

Our beauty-obsessed culture could learn much from Solomon's perspective: physical beauty is a gift to enjoy and cultivate, but never a god to worship. Love may delight in the body, but it must be anchored in the soul. As we battle against aging (a fight where "time is undefeated"), remember that what truly matters is the growth of character, the wisdom that comes with years, and the beauty that outlasts physical appeal.

Join us in discovering how Scripture offers a refreshingly balanced approach that neither idolizes physical attractiveness nor dismisses its significance – showing us instead how to receive beauty as a gift, ground it in covenant love, and surrender it to the glory of God.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

When was the last time you heard a sermon series on the Song of Songs? For most Christians, this passionate, romantic book remains unexplored territory—too scandalous, too sensual, or simply too puzzling to tackle in church. But what if this ancient love poem contains exactly the wisdom our relationships desperately need?

Solomon, considered the wisest man who ever lived, wrote 1,005 songs during his lifetime. The Song of Songs represents his masterpiece—the greatest among them all. Despite being just eight chapters that take only ten minutes to read, this book delivers profound insights about God's design for human passion, intimacy, and commitment.

What makes this book particularly remarkable is its female-centered perspective. The woman speaks more than half the time (53%), with her beloved speaking a third, and the surrounding community offering commentary throughout. Through her eyes, we witness a love characterized by three essential elements: chemistry (the passion that draws two people together), character (the integrity that makes someone trustworthy), and community (the social fabric that supports healthy relationships).

The Song speaks directly to everyone. For singles who wonder if passionate love is worth waiting for, the female protagonist answers with an emphatic "yes!" For married couples who've lost their spark, it offers a vision of romance that remains vibrant through commitment. For parents navigating conversations about sexuality with their children, it provides a God-honoring framework that celebrates physical intimacy rather than sanitizing it.

Beyond human relationships, the Song points to something even more profound. If this is what human love at its best can be, how much greater must God's love be? The most stunning revelation isn't that we should love God passionately, but that God loves us with a passion that exceeds our comprehension—not because we're worthy of such devotion, but because of His grace.

Ready to rediscover this ancient wisdom? Join us as we explore love's sacred territory together—celebrating the beauty of romance while uncovering deeper truths about the One whose love transforms us all. What might happen if we allowed God's word to speak about passion with the same candor and beauty as the Song of Songs?

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

The confusion of Easter morning might be the most relatable part of the resurrection story. Three different groups encountered the risen Christ, yet each initially failed to grasp what was happening. The faithful women found an empty tomb and were "perplexed." The disciples heard their report and dismissed it as "an idle tale." Two followers walked with Jesus himself for hours without recognizing him. Why would God allow such confusion?

Luke's account reveals a profound pattern: spiritual sight doesn't come through physical eyes but through understanding Scripture. The women didn't recognize Jesus until they "remembered his words." The Emmaus road travelers' hearts "burned within them" as Jesus explained the Scriptures. The disciples finally believed when Jesus "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures." 

This Easter narrative offers incredible hope for skeptics and believers alike. God seems perfectly comfortable with our questions and perplexity, using them to create space for deeper faith. We don't need to figure everything out on our own. Scripture provides the framework through which confusion becomes clarity.

The greatest plot twist? The very people who were confused, doubtful, and slow to understand became witnesses commissioned to share this news with the world. Those who might have participated in crucifying Jesus became those who worshiped him. Those who failed to recognize him walking beside them became those who couldn't stop talking about him.

If you're searching, questioning, or feeling perplexed about faith, you're in good company. The first followers felt exactly the same way. Open God's Word and allow it to open your eyes to see Jesus standing right in front of you, inviting you into a story far bigger than you could write yourself.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

Tucked within the Old Testament lies a prophetic masterpiece so extraordinary that theologians have dubbed it "the fifth gospel." Isaiah 53, written seven centuries before Christ's birth, presents a portrait of the coming Messiah with such precision that it reads like an eyewitness account of Calvary.

This Palm Sunday message unveils five surprising truths about the suffering servant that challenge our human understanding and illuminate the wonder of God's redemption plan. From the servant's assured victory despite his appalling appearance to the shocking reality that those he came to save would largely reject him, each truth builds a comprehensive picture of how God would reconcile sinful humanity to himself.

At the theological heart of Isaiah's prophecy stands the doctrine of substitutionary atonement—the servant bearing our griefs, carrying our sorrows, being pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities. The language is unmistakable; our sin placed on him so that his righteousness might be credited to us. This divine exchange represents the answer to humanity's greatest dilemma: how can a holy God remain just while justifying sinners?

The servant's profound humility shines through his silent submission to undeserved suffering, creating a stark contrast with our natural impulse for self-preservation. Yet perhaps most astonishing is Isaiah's paradoxical declaration that through death, the servant would see offspring and prolong his days—a clear foreshadowing of resurrection and the spiritual children who would be born through his sacrifice.

For anyone struggling under the weight of guilt or shame, Isaiah 53 offers the liberating truth that Christ has paid the penalty for your sin. There is now no condemnation for those who trust in him. The highest court has declared you innocent. Will you accept this gift of grace today?

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?" This question from the angels at Jesus' empty tomb challenges everything we assume about death, life, and how forgiveness operates. When confronted with the resurrection, we must reconsider our understanding of reconciliation and forgiveness.

Our natural instinct when wronged is to establish boundaries and limits. Peter approached Jesus with this very mindset, asking, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" He sought permission to draw a line in the sand. Jesus responded by transforming the question entirely, shifting from a limit to a lifestyle of forgiveness.

The story becomes deeply personal when we consider Peter's own failure. After boldly declaring his loyalty, Peter denied Jesus three times beside a charcoal fire. Yet after resurrection, Jesus intentionally prepared another charcoal fire on the shore, creating the perfect setting for reconciliation. Before Peter even swam the hundred yards to reach him, Jesus had already set the stage for healing.

This message outlines five practical ways to know if we've truly forgiven someone: Have we released their debt? Do we entrust justice to God rather than seeking vengeance? Do we wish them good rather than harm? Are we actively pursuing reconciliation? And most importantly, are we viewing them through the lens of what Christ has done for us rather than what they've done against us?

Forgiveness isn't primarily about feelings but choices. Like the women who couldn't properly honor Jesus' body before the Sabbath but discovered he was already risen, we often feel our efforts at forgiveness are inadequate. Yet Jesus works in the unseen while we wait. He prepares the shore, starts the fire, and waits for us to simply come to him.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

In the midst of his greatest suffering, Jesus offers us the most profound lessons about forgiveness. While inches away from the cross, after being mocked and beaten, Jesus shows more concern for others than for himself.

Through just three statements spoken from the cross, Jesus revolutionizes our understanding of forgiveness. His first words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," reveal that forgiveness is something Jesus offers freely, even to those actively causing him harm. This forces us to confront uncomfortable questions: Have we truly forgiven others, or have we merely stopped thinking about them? Is there someone we claim to have forgiven while secretly maintaining a record of their wrongs?

When Jesus tells the repentant thief, "Today you will be with me in paradise," we see forgiveness practiced fully. Notice how Jesus interrupts his communion with the Father to welcome one more sinner into the kingdom. The criminal's simple request—"Jesus, remember me"—stands in stark contrast to our complicated formulas for salvation. This reveals the beautiful truth that nothing and no one is beyond God's forgiveness, challenging us to examine whether we're holding someone's past sin as greater than God's current grace.

With his final words, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," Jesus fulfills forgiveness finally. All sin—past, present, and future—has been completely dealt with. The debt is canceled, not just deferred. This invites us to trust that our own sins are truly forgiven and to extend that same complete forgiveness to others.

Most powerfully, we see humanity's transformation through witnessing Christ's forgiveness. Our first response at the cross—"He saved others, let him save himself"—becomes "Certainly this man was innocent." When we truly encounter Christ's forgiveness, we can't help but be changed. Will you allow that transformation to reshape how you forgive others today?

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

The crucifixion stands as history's ultimate demonstration of sacrificial love—a moment when the sinless Son of God willingly suffered what was rightfully ours to give us what could never be ours through our own efforts.

Journeying through the religious and political trials Jesus endured reveals a profound truth: the Creator of the universe stood silent before His accusers, accepting false charges, mockery, and brutal treatment that our sin deserved. Though declared innocent multiple times by both Pilate and Herod, the crowd demanded His crucifixion instead of Barabbas, an actual insurrectionist and murderer—a powerful picture of the substitution at the heart of our salvation.

This "great exchange" offers believers five extraordinary gifts purchased at the cross. Through expiation, our sin is completely removed, liberating us from crushing guilt and shame. Through propitiation, God's righteous anger toward sin is fully satisfied, assuring us that no sin is too grievous to be forgiven. Through justification, we're declared righteous despite our imperfections, giving us a fresh start not just once but daily. Through reconciliation, we're brought back into relationship with the Father we ran from, providing the family connection our hearts crave. Through imputation, we're clothed in Christ's perfection, addressing our deepest feelings of inadequacy.

These aren't theological abstractions but practical, life-changing realities available to anyone who comes with empty hands and an open heart. Whatever your struggle today—whether shame over past mistakes, doubt about God's forgiveness, need for a fresh start, longing for family, or feelings of never measuring up—the cross offers precisely what you need. Will you reach out and receive what Jesus suffered so greatly to give you?

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

The garden of Gethsemane reveals encouraging truths about suffering that can transform how Christians navigate their own pain. Two profound insights lie hidden in this familiar passage: Jesus knows the solution before we even encounter the problem, and God deliberately preserved the details of Jesus' suffering so we would know our pain is never foreign to him.

• Jesus went to pray "as was his custom" even facing his darkest hour
• An angel strengthened Jesus, yet he remained in agony
• Supernatural support from God doesn't always end our difficulties but enables us to endure them
• Five elements of a (non-exhaustive) Christian doctrine of suffering: it's promised, unites us with Christ, equips us to comfort others, deepens our dependence on God, and produces spiritual growth
• Suffering has purpose—it produces endurance, character, and hope
• Jesus moved from confidence to conflict and back to confidence again
• Peter's denial was met not with rejection but with Jesus' gaze of love
• God specially preserved the intimate details of Jesus' suffering that no disciple witnessed
• Jesus understands our suffering firsthand—he has carried every grief and sorrow
• Our Savior holds the fix before the failure ever occurs

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.