Church Family,

I hope you stayed safe and warm during yesterday’s winter weather. Since we were not able to gather in person, we recorded a short devotional that you can watch through the link below. It introduces our Advent series, Waiting Witnesses, and sets the foundation for the weeks ahead.

This series invites us to wait with holy expectation to see God move, and to live as witnesses to the wonder of Jesus as we share the Good News.

Below are the key take aways from Week 1’s Message about Zechariah 

-God’s silence is never God’s absence.

 There are seasons when we hear nothing and feel nothing. It can create fear, confusion, and doubt. Scripture shows that silence often means God is preparing something deeper than we     can see.

-Name your night.
   Honesty is the first step toward hope. When you name the darkness you are facing, you give God room to meet you in it.

-Stay faithful in the shadows.
   Faithfulness grows strongest when life feels unclear. You keep showing up. You keep praying. You keep trusting that God is still working.

-Make room for the unexpected.
    God often moves in ways we do not predict. Peace grows when we hold our plans loosely and make space for God’s better story.

- Just because you cannot see the dawn does not mean the light is not rising.
    God often works before we notice. The first signs of light are small, but they announce that hope is already on its way.

As we move toward Christmas, may these truths guide us, steady us, and help us look for the light that is already breaking in.

This Sunday we wrapped up our How to Deal with How You Feel series with a message on two emotions that quietly shape much of our spiritual life: surprise and anticipation. This final week reminded us that emotions are great indicators but terrible dictators, and that God invites us to surrender what we feel instead of suppressing it.

Surprise is the brain’s rapid attention switch. It disrupts our plans and forces us to respond. Some surprises feel like warning lights; others feel like gifts. All of them become invitations to trust God in ways we did not plan. Scripture shows again and again how God works through holy interruptions, unexpected moments, and divine detours.

Anticipation prepares our hearts for what has not yet happened. It can move us toward hope, faith, and readiness, or drift toward worry and anxiety when we try to control outcomes. Anticipation becomes healthy when it leads us to abide, not strive. Anticipation has the opportunity to turn into anxiety or abiding.

This week we considered these truths:

• A life without surprise leaves little room for faith to grow.

• Anticipation is not passive waiting; it is active pursuit of the Lord’s plans.

• Genuine faith makes room to anticipate God moving and to be surprised by His grace.

• When surprise hits, surrender the moment. When anticipation stirs anxiety, surrender the outcome.

We also practiced a simple way to navigate any emotion:

Pause.
Process.
Proceed.

As we finish this series, my hope is that you feel more equipped to recognize what you feel, surrender it to God, and walk with Him in both the unexpected moments and the waiting seasons.

Smell is the fastest route to emotion and memory.
It’s the only sense that connects directly to the brain’s emotional center — meaning a single scent can trigger trust, comfort, or warning before we even think.

That’s why the smell of rain, a favorite meal, or even a church sanctuary can make us feel at home. Smells—like emotions—teach us when to trust and when to turn away.

This week in our How to Deal With How You Feel series, we explored trust and disgust — two emotions that shape how we draw close to what is good and turn from what is harmful.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” — Romans 12:9

Trust builds connection, intimacy, and hope.
Disgust protects boundaries and convictions.
Both are gifts from God — when guided by His Spirit.

We learned:

• Disgust helps you reject what harms you.

• Trust helps you receive what heals you.

• Mature faith knows when to turn away — and when to draw near.

This week, try to:

• Learn it: Know what to trust and what to reject through Scripture.

• Live it: Trust the Savior, reject the sin.

• Give it: Show and tell others the Way.

As Ephesians 5:2 reminds us, “Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering.”

So, here’s the question: Do you smell like your Savior?

Some emotions are like bombs. We think if we bury them, we’ll be safe — but eventually, they explode.

This week in our How to Deal With How You Feel series, we’re talking about fear and anger — two powerful emotions that often hide beneath the surface.

Fear asks, “Am I safe?” and anger often answers from a place of pain. Both can either push us away from God or toward Him.

“Do not fear, for I am with you.” — Isaiah 41:10
“In your anger, do not sin.” — Ephesians 4:26

Following Jesus does not eliminate our fears — but it does free us from them.
Following Jesus does not rid us of anger — but it redirects and redeems it.

Fear hides.
Anger hurts.
But Jesus heals.

This week, take a moment to:

• Name it — Bring what you’ve buried into the light.

• Reframe it — See it through the lens of grace.

• Tame it — Surrender it to God’s authority.

• Reclaim it — Let God use it for good.

• Share it — Your story might set someone else free.

Because when we allow Jesus into the places we’ve buried our emotions, He doesn’t just defuse the bomb — He brings peace.

This past Sunday was one of the most powerful and hope-filled days of the year—Recovery Sunday. Every year Chuck McCoskey our Recovery Ministry Director and this crew lead our service in a powerful way, sharing stories of vulnerability and victory. 

This year we had the privilege of hearing from Tim, Shelby, and Jesse, three incredible individuals who shared their stories of recovery and how God has used our recovery ministry to bring healing, freedom, and new beginnings in their lives. Their honesty and courage reminded us that no one is too far gone and that God is always writing a story of redemption.

We are so incredibly inspired and grateful for this important ministry in our church and our community. If you missed it or want to be inspired again you can catch their stories and the full service below. 

If you want to know more about our recovery ministry you can click here for more info.

Speaker: Recovery Speakers

This past Sunday we kicked off our new series, “How to Deal with How I Feel.”

We talked about something we all experience — emotions. They’re a powerful part of being human. They can be beautiful indicators of what’s happening in our hearts… but sometimes terrible dictators when they take control.

Just like the dashboard lights on your car, your emotions are signals — not steering wheels. They’re meant to alert you, not drive you.

Our culture tells us, “Follow your heart” and “Do what feels right.” But Scripture reminds us that what feels right isn’t always what is right. Proverbs says, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end, it leads to death.”

We learned that your emotions are real, but they’re not always right — and that’s okay. God isn’t asking you to ignore them. He’s inviting you to bring them to Him. Healing often happens not in hiding, but through process, people, and God’s presence.

As we begin this journey, here are three challenges to take with you this week:

1. Slow Down and Notice the Lights – Take time each day to ask, “What’s flashing on my dashboard?”

2. Talk to Someone — Don’t Walk Alone – Let trusted people in on what’s really going on.

3. Let Scripture Speak Louder Than Your Feelings – Remind yourself of what’s true when emotions get loud.

Your emotions are real—but they’re not the boss.

This week let’s invite God to do what only He can do: turn what we feel into something He can heal.

Speaker: Pastor Cole Maxwell

We kicked off our new series, “How to Deal with How I Feel.”

We talked about something we all experience — emotions. They’re a powerful part of being human. They can be beautiful indicators of what’s happening in our hearts… but sometimes terrible dictators when they take control.

Just like the dashboard lights on your car, your emotions are signals — not steering wheels. They’re meant to alert you, not drive you.

Our culture tells us, “Follow your heart” and “Do what feels right.” But Scripture reminds us that what feels right isn’t always what is right. Proverbs says, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end it leads to death.”

We learned that your emotions are real, but they’re not always right — and that’s okay. God isn’t asking you to ignore them. He’s inviting you to bring them to Him. Healing often happens not in hiding, but through process, people, and God’s presence.

As we begin this journey, here are three challenges to take with you this week:

1. Slow Down and Notice the Lights – Take time each day to ask, “What’s flashing on my dashboard?”

2. Talk to Someone — Don’t Walk Alone – Let trusted people in on what’s really going on.

3. Let Scripture Speak Louder Than Your Feelings – Remind yourself of what’s true when emotions get loud.

Your emotions are real—but they’re not the boss.

This week, let’s invite God to do what only He can do: turn what we feel into something He can heal.

Speaker: Pastor Aaron Perry

We continued our teaching series called "Learning to Listen" in which we are exploring how to hear the voice of God and what He sounds like. We typically struggle to hear God for reasons like, our life is too noisy, our schedules are too busy, we aren’t paying attention, and we don’t know what His voice sounds like. Over the last couple weeks, we have been exploring different ways God speaks to us; this week we looked at how God speaks to us through other people. Having a Godly community of people who speak into our lives is so important, most of our worst decisions were made by not listening to wise counsel or not seeking it. Most sin and shame start in seclusion. We are at our best and most whole in community. Below are some key take aways from the message.

-Not every message proclaimed to be from God is from God. We must make sure it aligns with scripture, is in step with the Spirit, and is sensed by Godly community.
-God tends to send four different times of messages to us through people: Cheering (Encouraging), Convicting, Clarifying, and calling.
-Encouragement from others is like an encounter with the divine
-Conviction that leads to Christ-centric correction brings freedom not burden.
-Community has the ability to help clarify what God is saying to us.
-Invitation and affirmation are often the entrance into God’s will.

So, as you seek to listen to know if God is speaking to you through someone else or if God is speaking to you to say to someone else! Remember these three things! First be open to God Speaking, we have to listen. Secondly, live In Community That Cares enough to say what needs to be heard to grow. And finally, walk out the wisdom you learn, the bible tells us to not be mere hearings of the word but also doers.

Speaker: Pastor Jerry Ausbrook

We continued our teaching series Learning to Listen where we are exploring how to hear the voice of God and what He sounds like. We learned how our lives should be built on the foundation of God's word. His Word guides and transforms us. It shows our true intentions and who we are or aren't. We are all called by good works and saved by grace. Here are some key takeaways from the message.

- God's Word is our source of truth.
- God's Word is powerful. It has the ability to expose and judge thoughts and intentions.
- We can trust God's Word. It is inspired by God, breathed to us for our growth and development.
- God's Word is the source of light that is of eternal value. His Word will show us our course in life.

Speaker: Pastor Cole Maxwell

We continued our new teaching series called "Learning to Listen" where we are exploring how to hear the voice of God and what He sounds like. We talked about Samuel and how he positioned himself to hear from God even before he recognized His voice because he had a deep hunger for God's presence. We learned how prayer isn't a performance or a formula; it's a practicing presence. Prayer can become something that we do on autopilot, praying the same words on repeat without much thought. Continuing to do the same things and hoping for different results. But in order to have that deeper connection with God, we need to be spiritually hungry to be close to Him. We are seeking spiritual fulfillment from worldly things that will never satisfy, we need something deeper. Below are a few key takeaways.

-No amount of studying or learning about prayer will make you into a person of prayer until you choose to find and walk through the front door.
-Hunger for God is the only thing that allows us to hear his voice.
-Hunger for God trumps perfection every time.