Everybody knows that you can’t put God into a box! …but, that doesn’t stop us from trying. Today we look at some of the boxes we try to put God into in our lives.

It’s time to let God out of the box! No, He can’t really be put into a box, but too often we limit what He wants to do in our lives by limiting what we believe about Him. Our challenge in 2023 is to allow God to work in and through us in God-sized ways!

Disappointment. It comes to us all, and sometimes the road between where we are and where we want to be seems long and winding. But what if the very thing you thought was a burden was actually something God intended as a blessing? Join us as we explore the story of two men who met Jesus and how it can change our lives in the new year ahead…

With all of the distractions at Christmas time, it is so easy to miss the real reason for this season. Though many of the people in the original Christmas story missed Jesus, Joseph found Him and it changed his life. Let’s learn from his example!

All Advent long we have been asking the question; “What’s your focus?” What is distracting you from the the True Focus of the Christmas Story? Is it your traditions and comfort like Zechariah? Is it the building and protection of your own kingdom like Herod? Or is it something more mundane like The Daily Grind like our Bible characters for today?

Different places and different families have different Christmas traditions. We get that. What about having a different focus at Christmas? This week we will look at the role King Herod played in the Christmas story. He knew what we know and even believed what we believe, but his focus was VERY different!

This Advent season we are all looking for hope, just like Simeon and Anna from the Christmas narrative in Luke 2. May we not miss a key component of these weeks—that Baby Jesus came as a messiah for the whole world, a world that still needs God’s love. You and I are God’s strategy to accomplish that vision.

The Advent Season is meant to turn our focus to the birth of Jesus Christ. These weeks should be filled with excited anticipation of His birthday. Unfortunately, there are many other attractions plying for our attention this month. What has stolen your heart? What is preventing you from focusing on Jesus on His own birthday?

The long way to the winner’s circle for a Dark Horse is full of stops and starts. Fear, insecurity, deep-rooted traditions all play a role in keeping them in the shadows longer than God intends. This week’s Dark Horse was held back by disobedience. In this story we can all learn a lesson about the destructive power of disobedience!

By now, we all know what a Dark Horse is. They start out in obscurity but wind up in the winner’s circle making an impact for the Kingdom of God. But what about those Dark Horses who remain dark? Those who never get out of the starting gates? How can we be sure that we hear God’s call when He it’s time to come out of the shadows?