So many things can run through our minds and hearts that it can be difficult to know where to begin. But sometimes the best place to begin is simply to become still—to settle ourselves, quiet the noise, and make room to hear what God is speaking to us personally. These thoughts are simply study notes from my own journey. They are not a formula, a rigid teaching format, or something you have to accept exactly as written. Take what speaks to you, study it for yourself, search t

The Kingdom Is Within You: Decree the Year You Want to See As a new season begins, I believe the Lord is speaking a simple but life-changing truth: Don't simply accept the year you think you're going to have—decree the year you believe God has prepared for you. Too often, we allow circumstances, headlines, or other people's opinions to define our expectations. But Scripture teaches something different. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is not something to be found "over here

Prayer as Relationship: How Our Conversations with God Grow Over Time A reflection drawn from an honest conversation about prayer, maturity, surrender, and the simple invitation to talk with God. Prayer is often taught as a formula: praise first, then thanksgiving, confession, intercession, petition, and finally listening. For some people, that structure is helpful. For others, it can feel like a script that never quite fits. In this conversation, the heart of prayer emerged

Maturity Isn't About Knowing More—It's About Living What You Know One of the greatest gifts in the body of Christ is diversity. We are not called to be identical copies of one another. God created each of us uniquely, and He ministers to each heart in deeply personal ways. When we allow one another the freedom to walk with God as He leads, unity naturally follows. True unity isn't uniformity—it's a shared love for Christ expressed through many different lives. That truth lead

Rev. Marcia Bumpers 7/5/2026 This Kingdom of God Is Within You: What Jesus Meant in Luke 17:21 Discover how living from the Kingdom of God transforms your identity, your peace, and your daily life. Have you ever wondered where the Kingdom of God is? Many people imagine it as a future destination or a place we'll experience one day. Yet Jesus gave a remarkable answer that changes how we see our relationship with God today. In Luke 17:20–21, the Pharisees asked Jesus when the K

Awakened Once, Repenting Continuously One of the things I'm most grateful for is that God never leaves us to figure this journey out on our own. His Word forms us, and His Spirit faithfully works within us, shaping us day by day. Last week we talked about how the Christian life is all about participation. It's not about trying to convince God to come closer to us—He's already here. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." That life is Christ

Father, thank you for your word and for the people gathered. Thank you for the family we share, for the love that moves among us, and for the love you continually pour into us so that we can pour it back toward one another and into the world around us. Thank you for the kind of shared communion that reflects your own life—Father, Son, and Spirit—perfect unity and shared presence. As we turn our attention to your word, we quiet our hearts and make ourselves ready to receive wh

Stay on the Boat: Trusting God Through the Storm Life has a way of challenging our expectations. Many of us begin our walk with God believing that if we hear His voice and follow His direction, everything will unfold smoothly. We imagine clear skies, favorable winds, and easy journeys. Yet the life of the Apostle Paul teaches us something very different. Obedience does not exempt us from storms. It prepares us to endure them. In Acts 23 through Acts 28, Paul's journey to Rome

Shifting Your Focus: Looking Beyond the Temporary Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day... While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." There is no shortage of noise in our world today. News headlines, social media feeds, wor

Living Beyond Feelings: learning to Walk by Faith One of the greatest challenges in the Christian life is learning the difference between faith and feelings. Many of us spend years believing we're living by faith when, in reality, our emotions are directing our decisions, shaping our beliefs, and determining how we view God. Yet God never intended for His children to be led primarily by feelings. He calls us to live by faith—a faith rooted in His presence, His promises, and H

Drowning in Grace: A Closer Look at Agape Love There are moments when a simple prayer opens something deeper than we expected. This message began that way—an honest invitation: “God, you know exactly how we’re wired. You know how we hear. Speak to us.” And He does. Not in a one-size-fits-all way, but personally—meeting each of us right where we are. Love That Begins With Him During a worship set, a lyric stood out: “Forever is a long time, and that’s how long I’ll love you.”

“He Knows Your Name”: Seeing People Through the Eyes of Grace There’s something sacred about driving alone. No noise. No expectations. No interruptions. Just the road ahead, the quiet hum of tires on pavement, and room for God to speak. Sometimes the most profound lessons don’t arrive polished and packaged. They come raw, unexpected, and deeply personal. This one did. I recorded it exactly as it came to me — unfiltered. Usually, I clean things up before I share them. I soften

Can You Re-frame Your World? The Power of Your Words There’s a question worth sitting with: Can I re-frame my world? Not someday. Not when circumstances change. Right now. Many of us move through life reacting—to news, to people, to stress, to memories—without realizing how much we are actively shaping our own reality through something as simple (and as constant) as our words. The Tongue: Small, But Powerful In Bible, James chapter 3 paints a vivid picture: the tongue is smal

Resurrection Life and Healing: More Than a Moment There’s something deeply comforting about gathering together in God’s presence—like family sitting in a living room, at ease, known, and cared for. In those quiet, sacred moments, we’re reminded of a simple but powerful truth: God is not distant. He is here, actively working in our lives, teaching us, shaping us, and pouring into us—just as lovingly as a teacher with children gathered around. And what He offers us isn’t shallo

Experiencing Resurrection Life: More Than a Moment This morning, I want to talk about something we’ve already sung about—but now it’s time to really understand it, recognize it, and live it: resurrection life . Sometimes, especially in faith spaces, we use words and phrases that sound powerful but feel abstract. We say them, we hear them, but if we’re honest, we’re not always sure what they actually look like in everyday life. And when something stays abstract, it’s hard to

Condemnation vs. Correction: Learning to Live Free There’s something many of us quietly wrestle with: Do we really know the difference between condemnation and correction? It shows up in everyday life—in our thoughts, our conversations, and especially in how we process our past. So often, what we experience isn’t growth… it’s condemnation. We replay old mistakes, relive failures, and speak harshly about ourselves. We carry the weight of things we cannot change. But here’s the

Resurrection Life: You Were Raised Too Amen. Amen. Amen. As we approach Resurrection Sunday, many of us reflect on the story we’ve heard year after year—the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. But there’s a deeper truth that often goes unspoken, or at least under-realized: You cannot celebrate the resurrection of Christ without celebrating you. That may sound bold at first, but Scripture reveals something powerful—when Christ died, we died. And when He rose, we rose to

Living from the Inside Out “In Him we live and move and have our being.” – Acts 17:28 There’s a quiet but powerful shift that can transform the way we live our faith: moving from the idea of stepping out to stepping up . At first glance, those phrases might sound similar—but spiritually, they couldn’t be more different. The Reality We Often Miss Jesus paints a profound picture in John 14:20: “I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” Imagine this as a set of circles:

Choosing Obedience, Grace, and Unity In times of uncertainty and division, one truth remains steady: a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand . These words, spoken by Jesus Christ, carry a message that is just as relevant today as it was when they were first spoken. Faith communities, families, and even our own hearts can become divided when we lose sight of God’s voice and allow our own thinking to take over. Yet the call of the Gospel is not confusion or conflict—it is

Awakening to Our Union With God Father God, thank you for your word. Thank you that your presence is here with us. You are good—so gracious, merciful, and kind. Thank you for opening our eyes to see you as you truly are: good to us and good within us. Amen. This year we’ve been talking about stepping up , and today I want to talk about something closely related: stepping into reality. We Live According to What We Believe Is True One truth keeps appearing in so many situations