Pastor’s Pad

We know the Spirit is always at work, but we can often only see how and where in hindsight. There are, however, a handful of moments where you can see that work and pinpoint it in the moment. Today we’ll share one of those times.

Today’s episode continues the journey of the work of the Holy Spirit, with tips of how to stay in tune with that work in your life even though like wind we can’t see the Spirit but we can feel his effects. May you be encouraged today.

I have seen and learned in my life that even in the darkest of times, God is still at work, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Today a story that is one of my favorites that I hope blesses you and helps you find courage and hope even if you’re in one of those tough seasons in life.

According to Jesus, we are not alone. We have been given the Holy Spirit as our guide, our teacher, our comforter, our helper. But so many times we can only see His work in hindsight. Sometimes in life we are blessed to see, in the moment, what He’s up too. Listen today as we reflect on both times in our lives with stories of hope that will encourage your walk.

We are living in a moment when fear seems to be consuming more and more people. Conspiracy theories, what will happen next, it seems to be all we can talk about. Scripture has loads of commands to not fear or not be afraid. As followers of Jesus, we need to be voices of hope in the storm, still while others scramble, living in quiet confidence in the Lord’s Presence.

My life changed when I remembered my first love, Jesus. In today’s episode I’ll share about how and when I discovered a taste of what the apostle Paul said when he reflected that he considered everything rubbish except for the knowledge of know Jesus Christ as Lord.

Are you craving anything during this time of sheltering in place and isolation? Maybe a hug from a friend or a sit down meal at your favorite restaurant? What if taking some time to comfort someone else with whatever their cup of cool water is, could bring you the same kind of comfort as these things? In today’s podcast we’ll jump from 2 Samuel to Mark 9 to find a cup of cool water.

If you want to see change in your life, you’ve got it be all in. If you want fruit of the Spirit, then seek to live a full life “worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:27). Let us be voices of hope in a broken and scared world; gospel livers in a world of self lovers.

Our lives are so full of noise that it’s hard to find a quiet moment to sit and just be, but that’s exactly what we need especially in our walk with Jesus. Today’s episode speaks to this important skill to learn, gives some tips, and invites us all to learn to be still and know He is God.

As Mother’s Day approaches we have the opportunity to thank and appreciate all of those who have spoken into our lives truth and wisdom, who have cared for us in ways that we probably can’t even measure, and people that have passed on their faith. Jesus had a mom too, and moms are critical into our faith journey. Let’s reflect on them today and appreciate them this week even more than normal.

There are days when life is just hard and you fee the weight of the world on your shoulders. Jesus taught us to do life with one another, and I think when we practice living that way, the weight gets lifted even if just a little.

So many times in life, when Jesus calls, the first thing we do is to look at ourselves and find all the reasons we can’t possibly do what He’s asking of us. We look at the external circumstances we can see and fail to see the bigger picture. We’ll talk today about a way to stop looking at ourselves and trust in the One who calls.

What can we learn from how a puppy takes a walk on a leash that can teach us about life, God, and Bis commandments? I’ll tell you.

Our personal expectations can be difficult to navigate when it comes to our relationships. We can either be greatly fulfilled or depleted based on expectations. In this podcast we’ll talk about how right sizing those expectations can help move our walk with Jesus from a consumer to a covenant relationship.

How do you weather a storm? We can learn a lesson from White Water Rafting as well as Mark 4 on the best way to survive a storm which involves learning to lean in and hold on to Jesus.

I’m afraid it’s true; Jesus loved to party. He surrounded Himself with people whether it was 2 or 3 or 500. And what about those early pictures of Jesus? The ones where He’s always serious? They don’t show a full picture. Jesus was full of life and joy, the life of the party. You and I need to party too; to enjoy life and grow with God and people.

One word can be so powerful, especially when the one word is spoken by the Word. Find out how One word spoken by Jesus changed everything.

How do you start your day? Snooze? Coffee? Cold shower? Jesus was often found out early in the morning, while it was still dark, praying. Today’s podcast shares why this may help yourself day go better as well as four prayers that I find meaningful to recite daily as a part of my prayer closet time.

Remember playing hide and go seek? Well, in much of life it can seem like God is hiding but then you find out He wants to be found. Listen and see how and where to look.

As our circumstances continue to keep us isolated and our future unclear, many are struggling with anxiety. Sometimes, anxiety can be fueled, or at least aggravated by, a wrong picture of God. Today’s podcast focuses on Gods desire, and how knowing that desire can give us peace.

The Psalms are a collection of prayer songs, and when you read through them like a journal, they reflect how life is like. They also reflect a way to live life with our eyes on God at all times. Psalm 22 is a perfect example and we’ll talk about how Jesus might have sung it from the cross.

When Jesus small group of followers received the Holy Spirit after His ascension, miracles began spilling out everywhere and the disciples spoke in the power of the Spirit. People took note that they had been WITH Jesus and no one could stop the spread of the good news that Jesus was alive!

Sometimes we think doubt and faith are opposites, but maybe they compliment each other and work together. Either way, Jesus still calls us to walk with Him and help others do the same even with our doubt. Reflect today on the Ascension of Jesus after His resurrection and how He speaks to all the above.

God and His work will always have mystery, if not then He’d be a human construct and not divine. However, concerning the mystery of the resurrection of Jesus Christ there are some evidences that can Ay least tell us it did, indeed, happen.

We call today Good Friday today because we know how the story ends, but for those followers of Jesus going through it just over 2,000 years ago, it was far from good. Reflect today and all that He endured for you and for me.

On Thursday night of Holy Week, Jesus began the battle of a lifetime, no, of eternity. He began to suffer the feeling of being ripped apart from a relationship that has always existed, the relationship of the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They did that all for us. In His suffering we come even closer to Him. Listen, reflect, and fall in love with the Savior

On the Thursday of Holy Week we are told that Jesus did something to show the full extent of His, but that something might surprise you. Learn what it was and why it’s so amazing, and how it’s our call to receive that love and then share that love.

You know those moments in life you wished know one saw or knew about? What if some of life’s moments are meant to be shared with others but just enjoyed between you and Jesus?

Have you ever wanted to gain access to someone that was off limits? A hero? A celebrity? One of the things Jesus did during Holy Week was to remove the obstacles between us and God. Find out how in this episode.

We are always skeptical when someone tells us they have good news and bad news, which do you want first? As we begin Easter week, we’ll reflect each day on the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus and today, a guiding principle for life’s toughest moments - even in the worst of times, God is right here with us - and that’s really good news.

Some people talk about finding “the one” person that they were made for, but that’s a dangerous belief. This episode will explore why and how the right answer can help you grow in your walk with Jesus.

Humility is a quality that seems to be running scarce in our world. We go to war over posts we disagree with, party divides are even more divided, and people know Christianity more for what we’re against than what we’re for? Jesus lives differently and it’s time we let Him back as the lead in our lives.

If you could hear God just one time, what would you want Him to say? In this episode I’ll share about a time I heard God speak, and what He said, and how that just might be His most important message to us all.

What is it you lack? Some of us might think of external things - clothing, TP, money, others may think internal - peace, joy, security, but if the Lord is leading in our lives we can find that we lack nothing.

What would your closest friend say is the most important thing in your life? Today’s thought comes from Luke 10 and involves Jesus telling us what one thing matters most and how it can’t be taken away no matter what our circumstances bring.

We all grieve, especially now. We grief the loss of something or someone we looked forward to in our future. Jesus knows grief all too well and comes by our side in the midst of it all.

In these turbulent times, anxiety creeps in, seeking to steal away our joy, our time. Hear some insights from Jesus on anxiety from a person who struggles with anxiety.

When we love life WITH others we do thinks to help us grow in what it means to be WITH. Jesus calls us to be WITH Him before we do anything for Him. Practice living WITH.

Why is it so hard for us to rest? Jesus invites us to rest which is to trust that we aren’t the center of the world, He is.

How Jesus’ time in the wilderness compares to our times today, and how He navigated His journey to return in the power of the Spirit.