Mill Creek Church

We all have them and family can be some of the greatest sources of joy and disappointment. There is no such thing as a "perfect" family, so how do we set a direction for health and stability? Jesus shares what it looks like to build the right foundation for our families and marriages that can stand the storms of life.

The empty tomb is a tale of surprise, disbelief, and ultimately, hope. For those who are unsure, who have doubts or questions, take heart. You're in good company. The very first witnesses to the resurrection had to grow in their belief too. God invites us to look again, to consider the evidence, to ponder the impact of this story.

There is profound depth to God's love, as demonstrated through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. That love extends to all of us, even when we feel unworthy or distant from Him. God's love is not based on our actions or feelings, but on His unchanging character and plan for redemption.

God isn't interested in us going through the religious motions or presentations. He's concerned with the condition of our hearts. It's not enough just to hear His Word; even a hard heart can do that. What matters is what we do with it. How are we living it out?

Have you ever wondered why people sometimes make choices that seem to go against their own best interests? Why do we, at times, long for situations that we know aren't good for us? This paradox is not new to human nature, history reminds us how a lack of understanding might cause us to repeat it.

Dealing with the consequences of a hard and calloused heart is seen vividly in the story of the Pharaoh in the account of Exodus. If we are defiant toward God, sometimes God will simply let us experience the natural consequences of such defiance. If we are wrestling and fighting with God, sometimes God will let us “win.”

Taking personal responsibility for our struggles is hard but shifting blame doesn't solve our problems or bring us closer to God. Instead, He calls us to honest self-reflection and repentance. This process, while sometimes difficult, opens the door to healing, restoration, and a deeper relationship with God.

For many, it feels good to have a clean house or car. Or after a long day of working outside, a clean shower. But what about our inner lives and relationships? Let's invite God to do a deep cleaning of our hearts. Let's allow Him to replace our hard, unresponsive hearts with hearts of flesh – warm, alive, and receptive to His love and will.

One of the great promises of our faith is the fact that God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. But how can I know the will of God? Is it saying the right words, like a magic formula or spell? Is it only reserved for the hyper-spiritual? How will I know what God wants me to do?

Jesus never condemned wealth. He didn't say that having possessions was wrong, nor did he claim that poverty was more spiritual or that wealth was a sign of God's favor. What Jesus emphasized, time and time again, was a profound truth: The story of life is not about how much we have. The story of life is how we use what we have.