A “Yay God” is a special moment throughout the day where we can see and celebrate how God is working, moving, providing, or showing more of himself.Every night at the end of our work days while on the mission trip, we spent time in community sharing our individual “Yay God’s” with our work crews and as a large group. This video clip showed a small snippet of what that looked like - so fun, encou...  Read More

  The picture above was taken at the Carter Caves State Park, a beautiful space we got toexplore on our adventure day. We had no clue what the day would hold, except foradventure. We hiked to the Smokey Valley Lake & spent intentional time in prayer. First wespent five to ten minutes of intentional time praying by ourselves. Next, we huddled into acircle to find a partner for team prayer time. We ...  Read More

  Scripture: Colossians 3:12Have you been impatient, harsh, or focused primarily on yourself? The good news is that God’s grace offers a fresh start. Today, take a moment to examine your heart. Invite God to renew your mind and help you begin again, clothed in compassion and kindness.Prayer: Lord, thank You for new beginnings. Renew my heart and help me reflect Your kindness today....  Read More

  Scripture: Ephesians 4:15Many people think kindness means avoiding difficult conversations, but biblical kindness is rooted in truth. Genuine love seeks the highest good of another person. Sometimes that means offering encouragement; other times it means providing honest, gracious feedback. Truth without love can wound. Love without truth can mislead. Christ calls us to both.Prayer: Jesus, help ...  Read More

  Scripture: Luke 10:33-34The Good Samaritan saw a need and responded. He crossed social barriers, interrupted his plans, and spent his own resources to help someone who could offer nothing in return. Biblical kindness is more than sympathy; it is compassion in action. Ask God to open your eyes today. Someone around you may need encouragement, assistance, or simply a listening ear. Don’t walk past...  Read More

  Scripture: Colossians 3:12There is a difference between being nice and being kind. Niceness often seeks comfort and approval. Biblical kindness seeks the good of others, even when it requires effort, sacrifice, or difficult conversations. Real kindness helps people grow, serves practical needs, and is rooted in truth. Today, consider your recent interactions. Were you simply being nice, or were ...  Read More

  Day 1: Get Dressed for the DayScripture: Colossians 3:12Every morning we make a choice about what to wear. Paul reminds us that believers also have a spiritual wardrobe. Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are not automatic; they are attitudes we intentionally put on each day. Before rushing into your schedule, ask God to clothe you with His character. The way you are dresse...  Read More

  I love this summary of how Jesus extends grace to us and what it means for today and eternity. Eugene Peterson shares it in Romans 5:17-21- If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, absolute life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus C...  Read More

  Ok, let’s finish the chapter. Genesis 3:22-24- 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the ...  Read More

  Let’s finish the chapter and see more of how God responds to a broken and lost world. We’ll pick up in Genesis 3:21- 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Do you notice the care and compassion God shows them? They were naked, tried to solve it on their own by sewing fig leaves together. God, knowing that they were going to be exiled out of Eden into the wi...  Read More

  Reflect back on Genesis 3:14-15- 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”God spoke to the...  Read More

  We are back in our Genesis series- creation, failure, redemption, repeat. We are just finishing up with chapter three, and I realized the last time we were together in this series; I left you on a cliff hanger, literally.For those of you who were with us, I shared about how I was camping, hiking, exploring the backcountry of SD with some college friends and as I was climbing the face of this str...  Read More