The days are finally cooling down, the clouds have gathered, and God has blessed us with an abundance of rain with more on the horizon. I enter this new season with expectancy. I’m stepping into the unknown.  I live in the middle of farm land, so as I watch the natural world around me literally slow down and begin to prepare itself for a time of reset, I’m living the same thing in my own life.  I’m entering a season of waiting and preparation.  For what?  I don’t know!  That has been the hardest part. I’m learning to trust Him to

As we begin a new season in Children’s Ministry, we are studying  Joseph’s journey in the Bible. When Joseph was young, God gave him a dream and a purpose. That dream was his blueprint, but the blueprint was not always easy to follow. Through challenges, waiting, and unexpected changes, God was with him every step of the way.Just like Joseph, our children are on a journey. God has a blueprint for each of their lives, and He will guide them through every season. As we start this new ministry year, let’s encourage children to trust God, stay faithful, and remember that

A few years ago, Anastacia and I never set out to start a ministry. It started simply. Our church fed the staff at one of our local schools breakfast during a professional development day. Then we did it again. Over time, that turned into encouraging them with small gifts, writing letters, setting up prayer boxes and intentionally praying for the needs of that campus. There was never an agenda. We weren’t there to promote our church or invite anyone to attend. We simply wanted them to know: We see you. We appreciate you. We support you. And we’re praying for

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him. For the Kingdom of Heaven will be theirs.” — Matthew 5:3 NLT As I read Jesus’ sermon in Matthew 5, I stopped on verse three. “What does it look like to be poor in spirit?”, I asked God. I immediately felt impressed to memorize this verse and chew on it for the upcoming days. As I would recite the verse in my head I felt another nudge to listen to an audiobook on fasting.  As I listened to this book, I had the unshakeable sense that I must

Kenny Chesney wrote a popular song about the rites of Autumn in small-town America called the “Boys of Fall.” “When I feel that chill, smell that fresh cut grass I’m back in my helmet, cleats, and shoulder pads Standing in the huddle listening to the call Fans going crazy for the boys of fall” “In little towns like mine that’s all they got Newspaper clippings fill the coffee shops The old men will always think they know it all Young girls will dream about the boys of fall” There is something about the Fall of the year from the perspective

Fall is my favorite time of year. The countdown to cranberry sauce in the shape of a tin can is on. The sharp, crisp mornings that are coming seem to suit me better than the dog days of summer.The pace of the world feels like it settles in every autumn. Schedules get more predictable, and rhythms seem to rule our lives until the spontaneity of summer rolls back around.Rhythms and patterns can be a blessing or a curse, and it’s all dependent on our intentionality toward them. We’ve all known the slow drudge of going through the motions: family, work,