There’s something that kicks in when we are at our lowest.

When strength has evaporated there’s a hidden reserve we can count on in times of trouble. Some describe it as a second wind or another gear; we tend to experience it only when everything else is lost.

Followers of Jesus call this Grace.

It’s always more than enough and helps us access a resilient reserve that can carry us through any difficulty. Jesus is the embodiment of Grace. The reality of “Christ in us” secures an ample supply to abilities beyond this world.

Looking closely at the life of Jesus we discover the resilient life of Grace. We recognize we are never alone. The good news is that this resilient life is available to all.

Praying the scriptures is a beautiful way of connecting to your Father via ancient voices.

King David, Ruth, the Apostles, prophets, Mary, and many others have recorded prayers that help us articulate the cry of our own hearts.

Sitting with your Bible and letting the text become a petition helps you develop powerful prayer language. It confirms your human value and connects you to Heavenly resources.

Followers of Jesus are encouraged to pray. In fact, Jesus himself declared “when” not “if” you pray so the assumption that prayer is important is a pretty safe one. But many of us struggle with prayer.

Developing a prayer habit will help you tap into a rhythm of grace and an awareness of God. Jesus taught us a way to pray that emphasizes the things that matter. Join us tomorrow for a message with a special twist that includes your voice

In fact, Jesus himself declared “when” not “if” you pray. So the assumption that prayer is important is a pretty safe one.

But many of us struggle with prayer. Google “prayer” and the internet will return more links to prayer formulas, patterns, and advice than you could read in a lifetime. While much of this information is good, what if we’re missing the bigger point?

The moment we make prayer a formula we turn a relationship into a recipe. We move from a dependent child to a demanding chef. From Grace reliant to Gordon Ramsay.

What if prayer is our connection?

Our lifeline to Love?

We all know what it’s like to feel afraid.

Just thinking about that time you were separated from your parents at a crowded store can trigger the feelings of abandonment. Fear can be tormenting. But God tells us "do not fear" hundreds of times in the Bible (some have said 365 times...one per day).

When God says "do not fear", He is not telling us it’s wrong to feel it.

To feel fear is not a sign of spiritual weakness. He’s reminding us we are not alone.

In this message, Pastor Derek dissects the lies that fear attempts to convince us are real and reminds us that we are never alone.

We try to control the conditions in which we live but our efforts are often futile. Honestly. The only thing we can control is our response and our attitude. We can choose how we view our surroundings, ourselves, and those around us.

In this message, Pastor Sarah will be talking about how we can truly thrive when the world around us appears to be dying. Choosing the good is the way of Jesus that will help us move from trauma to triumph, from darkness to light, from imprisonment to freedom.

We’ve all been given free will. The ability to decide what to think and how to act belongs to us. But many times the choices of others can impact us negatively.

When events and the actions of others are thrust upon us we can feel helpless and hopeless. Like we have no choice. Like a victim. When tragedy and trauma strike, remembering that you still have a choice as to how you respond is empowering. Nobody chooses to be victimized but we build a prison for ourselves when we choose to remain a victim.

Choosing the good in the face of evil is something Jesus did well. He knows what it’s like to be victimized but to walk away in freedom. As his followers we have been given the grace to forgive wrongs, love our enemies, and destroy evil by choosing the good.

Right believing seems to be the concern of many people these days. But if right believing doesn't result in right living then it’s all just a philosophical mental exercise. As followers of Jesus, we are compelled to demonstrate our faith through our actions.

Two phrases we often hear these days are “living in the moment” and “being fully present”; these are good ways to think about the impact of your next choice. Choosing the good is a moment-by-moment process that Jesus wants to help you master.

What does God want me to do? It’s such a daunting question with so much riding on the answer. I wish there was a GPS we could follow or some kind of Sherpa we could consult for every decision we have to make. But life doesn’t come with a map. So how do we discover who we’re meant to be and what we’re created to do? How do we make the right decisions when we are feeling lost and confused?

Being thankful isn’t just a response to the good things that happen in life. It’s a reorienting of your mindset so you can gracefully endure the difficult things. Grumbling and complaining are the status quo of our culture and it’s so easy to go with the flow of negativity. But gratitude is a grace that you can tap into regardless of what your circumstances are saying. It’s an atmosphere shifting tactic from Heaven that unlocks the unstoppable freedom that Jesus provided.