The Valley of Vision
Romans 8:31, 35, 37-39
In this world, it’s not a matter of if we will endure trials, tribulation and hardship, it’s a matter of when. Jesus told us plainly that in this world we will have trouble but not to lose heart, he has already overcome the world. He also promised his believers that he would never leave us, in fact he promised to be with us all the way, even to the end of the age. When we endure the valleys of hardship, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus for he alone is the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
And when we fix our eyes on him while in the valley, he refines our vision. You see beloved, it’s in the valley that we learn invaluable lessons of the Lord’s deep love and faithfulness towards us that we simply could not learn any other way. My deepest times of growth in my relationship with Jesus have come in the valley, I suspect yours have too? May we remain faithful in those times of trials and testing and know in our deepest heart that he will lead us through the valley and onto the mountaintop of victory.

Standing Firm in Exile
Daniel 1: 1-7
 
Over and over again one of the central truths of the Bible is "Our Lord Reigns."
Even in moments of darkness, even when the future feels uncertain, God is sovereign.
He is not distant. He is not silent. He is present and ruling - even when things are falling apart. Daniel 1 teaches about God's sovereignty showing HE is in control even when people suffer, and the importance of standing firm in one’s convictions by refusing to compromise faith, despite intense pressure to conform to worldly customs. It demonstrates that obedience to God brings divine favor and wisdom as seen when Daniel and his friends are rewarded with superior knowledge for their faithfulness to a simple diet and their convictions.
 
God Bless,
Jeff Willis

Battle Ready Part 2: This is How We Fight Our Battles
 
Ephesians 6:10-18
 
In the previous sermon Battle Ready Part 1: Wake Up Sleeper, we learned what it means to be the True Church of Jesus Christ. We learned that a church that looks just like the world has nothing to offer the world. Jesus is calling his church to wake up and boldly proclaim the Gospel message of salvation. In this message we’ll identify who are enemy is and we’ll examine the powerful weapons that the Lord has given us to achieve victory over Satan and his diabolical schemes. 
I love and appreciate y'all
doug

It All Starts with a Thought
 
Luke 15:11-31
 
One of Jesus’ greatest parables can be found in the Gospel of Luke, it’s the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This Sunday we’ll delve into the Scriptures and examine what Jesus wants to show us through the story of the younger son, the older brother and the heart of the Father. Behind the scenes, Satan is always planting thoughts in our minds to confuse us. The strategic thoughts and ideas that Satan whispers in our ear always lead us away from the Father while the thoughts from the Holy Spirit always draw us near to the Father. Father God is always searching for us when we go astray and He is always prepared to welcome us home with open arms.  
To our great God be great glory!
I love y'all
doug

For This Cause
 
Titus 1:5       

 
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
 
So many times, we are led by the Spirit of God to places, thru circumstances or in a situation that we do not want to endure. There seems to be our plan and then God’s plan. Here in the book of Titus we find Paul providing instruction to a young pastor named Titus as to why he is in Crete. We ask ourselves: Why are we here?  What should I be doing? God’s Word is filled with direction, filled with instruction, and promise. We don’t need to be consumed with the noise of this world but remain focused on the Will of God….regardless where we find ourself today!
 
God Bless!
Jeff

Sermon message by Jeff Willis

Battle Ready: Wake Up Sleeper
 
2 Timothy 4:2-4
 
Ever since the original sin in the Garden of Eden, the battle of good vs. evil has continued throughout the ages. The battle has intensified though and the only answer and the only hope mankind has for triumph over evil is Jesus Christ. The church has been complacent and asleep at the wheel for far too long. We can no longer wink at sin and go along just to get along. It’s time for the Church of Jesus Christ to wake up and put on our spiritual armor. The same promise that the Lord made to Joshua is for us today. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Church, may we fight the good fight of the faith for the hearts and souls of this generation. To our great God be great glory and great victory!
I hope to see you there!
I love y'all
doug

09/14/25 Worship Service from Misty Creek Community Church

From Interim Pastor, Doug Allen:

All is Well
 
I’m not a big fan of change, I never have been… I’m a creature of habit I suppose and I speculate that most of us are like that. I like to stay within my comfort zone and if I had it my way, things would always stay the same. However, that is just not the way life works, it’s not the way that God works. Change is not just a possibility, it’s a certainty. Our lives are constantly changing all around us, sometimes in small almost unnoticeable ways and sometimes in really big ways. Sometimes the change is exciting and other times the change is grievous and perhaps too much to bear, in our own strength that is. This week, I was out for a 3 mile walk in our neighborhood. I almost always feel a connection with God when I’m outdoors in His creation.
 
This particular day, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and found myself fearful over big changes in my life, changes that I didn’t necessarily see coming, remember I don’t like change. I needed to know that everything was going to be alright and at that moment I just couldn’t see it… I turned on Pandora and started walking. A song came on by Robin Mark called All is Well. God gave me a new perspective that day. The lyrics say:
 
All my changes come from Him, He who never changes
I’m held firm in the grasp of the Rock of all the ages
All is well with my soul
He is God in control
I know not all His plans
But I know I’m in His hands
 
In that moment, I felt a peace from God cover me like a warm blanket. Sometimes we need to be reminded that God is in control of all things, yes even all of the changes that happen in our lives and that He works things out for the good of those who love Him.  
 
Romans 8:28 
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 
 
I can’t always see the good with my earthly eyes but I can trust in His Word and trust His heart. You see, God wants to shape us and mold us and draw us closer to Himself. He will often use change in our lives to do just that. He wants us not to lean on our own understanding but to trust in Him and His ways, to lean on Him, to press into Him, and when we do that, we begin to change too…We begin to see things with God’s eyes, not our own eyes.
 
Changes will come, this fact is inevitable but we have a God who never changes, who will never forsake us, who will never leave us alone. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or change??? 
 
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!  
To our great God be great glory!
 
I love y'all
doug

For Such a Time as This
 
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
God wants to use each of us as His dearly loved children to accomplish His will on the earth. In fact, He has prepared good works for us to do and He is always working behind the scenes to orchestrate and bring those good works to fruition. We’ll look at the life of Esther. God made a way for a young Jewish girl to become the Queen of Persia. For such a time as this, the Lord put Esther in that position to help thwart an evil plan that would have annihilated the entire Jewish race in Persia. God has a plan for you too, are you ready? Don’t miss it, God created you for such a time as this.
I love y'all
doug

Worship Pastor, Doug Allen

This Sunday's message focuses on Paul's call to "keep on being filled with the Spirit" instead of following worldly influences. The sermon emphasizes three aspects of Spirit-filled living: walking in love, living as God's holy people, and living as children of light.
God's Spirit works in believers' lives through baptism, continuous filling, empowerment for ministry, guidance, and enabling worship and prayer. Instead of seeking fulfillment in temporary things, we are encouraged to pursue a deeper relationship with God. As C.S. Lewis observed, God offers us much more than we often settle for. Let's aim to depend consistently on God's presence.
 
Please work on your Spiritual Gifts Discernment and Assessment Guide. You may present your identified gifts at MCCC on September 14 or 21 during worship at 10:30am. For a digital copy please click the link below.
https://mistycreekchurch.org/wa3417/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Spiritul-gifts-handout.pdf
 
Grace and Peace,
Stephen

Have you ever wondered if your unique gifts could be the missing piece in God's grand design? In a powerful message, this Sunday, I will unpack how spiritual gifts are more than just volunteer roles—they're divine assignments for building Christ's church. Through personal stories of family growth and community impact, the sermon challenges the stark reality that while 85% of believers know about spiritual gifts, nearly half don't recognize their own. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 12, the sermon reveals how discovering your spiritual gifts isn't just about serving—it's about experiencing deeper intimacy with God and authentic community. Don't miss this transformative message that could unlock your divine purpose and help you find your place in God's unfolding story. This Sunday you will have the opportunity to discover what your Spiritual Gifts are!!
 
Key principles from this Sunday’s Sermon:
•           Gifts are for building up the Body of Christ
•           They should be exercised with humility
•           All gifts must be used in an orderly way
•           The ultimate purpose is to glorify God and draw others to Jesus
 
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10)
Grace and Peace,
Stephen