Articles Tagged 'Children'

It's the Little Moments

by Melissa Troyer · Ephesians 5:15-16 · Addiction

Melissa Troyer writes insightfully about her husband, Daniel, and his way of seizing small moments to be there for his family despite being in a very stressful time in grad school.

He grasps those little moments so well. Pulls the kids close, chooses to go play frisbee or a game of Uno, just because.

A Day of Surprise?

by Paul Faulkner · James 4:7-8 · New Life · New Day

Paul Faulkner reminds us to greet each day as a gift of something fresh, new, and something that has never happened before or will again.

Things are not always the same. You wake up in the morning, and things are changing every day.

Leaving a Legacy of Faith

by Paul Faulkner · Psalm 34:11 · Parenting

Paul Faulkner talks about four gifts that we can give our children to pass on to them a living legacy.

What can we really leave our children?

A Fork in My Path

by Ben Steed · Matthew 25:37-40 · Hope · Compassion International · Poverty

Ben Steed chronicles his trip with Compassion International to Ecuador.

...make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.

Hope in our Messy Days

by Melissa Troyer · Matthew 7:7-8 · Messes

Melissa Troyer reminds us that life's messes should drive us to our knees and open our hearts to the love, grace, and freedom of God!

Parenting cuts deep to the core. It lays open our needs before God, and we can either resent it or embrace the powerful cleansing that comes from God's purifying fire

Sky, Dirt, and Dreams Unfolding

by Melissa Troyer · Genesis 12:1-3 · Waiting

Melissa Troyer shares her insightful, home-loving momma whose meditations about life, family, and faith help us grab what is most important in life.

Buried deep in the earth of our hearts, God has buried dreams and hopes. While they lie under the surface, they ARE there.

Children of God!

by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware · John 1:12-13

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to celebrate and focus upon what it means to be a child of God who can approach Jesus as an older brother and God as Abba Father.

Jesus came to earth, lived as one of us, and died a horrible death of shame and humiliation on the cross so we could be in his family.

Peace in This World?

by Melissa Troyer · John 14:27 · Peace

Melissa Troyer reminds us that our world is broken and full of chaos, but we can find peace in this world in Jesus.

We were not created for war, fighting, and death. No wonder our souls gasp for justice and a peaceful community.

Christ at the Center

by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware · Ephesians 5:21-6:4 · Submit

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to celebrate Father's Day and Juneteenth, and also focus on the practical ways we live in relationship with others with Christ at the center of

We choose to follow our Lord's example and submit our desires to the needs of others.

Our Holy Mundane

by Melissa Troyer · Matthew 1:23 · Immanuel

Melissa Troyer writes about the pressures of daily life for a mom whose husband is in P.A. school, money is tight, and children are calling, all the while Jesus is near.

Children, chores, and never-ending responsibilities bring opportunities to turn our selfish hearts back to God.

Precious and Priceless

by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware · 1 Peter 1:18-19 · Redemption

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remind us just how precious we are to the Lord and how greatly we matter to Him.

The value of a gift isn't the financial expense of the gift but the personal sacrifice made to give it!

Starting Over Having Learned Lessons from the Past

by Melissa Troyer · Jeremiah 6:16 · Motherhood · Starting over

Melissa Troyer combines her journey through motherhood, her realization of inadequacy, her belief in God's sufficiency, and the willingness to teach using our own failures.

We AREN'T enough, but He is. It is the goodness of the Lord that brings us nose-to-nose with our desperate need for Him.

Before the Red Sea Parts

by Melissa Troyer · Joshua 24:5-7

Melissa Troyes writes with beauty about God’s touches of grace on a trip to New England with her family as she wrestles with the grief over an aunt who is gone too soon and the uncertainty of the future of her family and where they will live.

Life is as full of beauty as it is uncertainty if we open our eyes to see the divine fingerprints of grace.

Waiting in Expectation

by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware · Romans 8:19-38 · Jesus coming

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remind us of God's greatness and Jesus' promise to take us home to the Father and reveal us as God's adopted children and heal our broken wo

We trust in Jesus' promise to return in victory for us and bring God's new heaven and new earth.

Proof of My Identity

by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware · Romans 8 · Holy Spirit

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to reassure us of our victory through Christ because of the Holy Spirit's presence within us as God's children.

God has provided each of us the ultimate proof of our identity: the Holy Spirit living inside of us!

Inheritance Day

by Philip Gulley · 2 Timothy 2:1-2 · Inheritance

Philip Gulley talks about inheriting things from his grandfather and what it means for inheritance day to come.

Melancholy or anticipation? We are part of a great cycle of inheriting from our grandparents and parents as well as passing on to our children and grandchildren

This Sanctuary

by Melissa Troyer · John 4:23-24 · Sabbath · Sanctuary

Melissa Troyer writes powerfully and poignantly about the journey she and her husband, Daniel, have traveled to live love and mission and family, together, finding God as their sanctuary.

I think if I had known all we would face, I couldn't have breathed. Except for one thing. God would be with us.

What Really Matters

by Melissa Troyer · Luke 12:27 · Love

Melissa Troyer reminds us that things are just things, but if we have people we love then we have what matters most!

What would you take if our house were burning down, and, if everyone were already out of the house?

Live Beyond

by Phil Ware · Matthew 28:18-20

Phil Ware writes about leaving a legacy with his children and grandchildren to pass on faith and be passionate disciples of Jesus.

I invite you to join me in living beyond the horizon of our children's faith!

When Easter Feels Messy

by Melissa Troyer · Luke 19:1-10 · Messes

Melissa Troyer shares her busy and messy Easter morning when she arrived in a mess and exhausted from the messiness of the morning only to meet Jesus there.

Maybe your Easter was picture perfect and everything you hoped it would be. Or, maybe you found yourself too far away to see or hear anything clearly.

Time to Reclaim the Joy!

by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware · 1 Peter 1:3-9

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to glorify God as we remember Jesus' triumph over sin, death, and hell through his resurrection from the dead.

Jesus is our source of joy because he lives and he's coming back to take us home with him.

The Spirit Helps Us Pray

by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware · Romans 8:26-28 · Intercession

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to glorify God as we remember that prayer is about relationship and Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us know our hearts are heard.

Prayer can be an incredible blessing for us as God's children. However, prayer can also feel frustrating and bewildering to many who are trying to follow Jesus.

Crying Abba!

by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware · Mark 14:34-36 · Abba Father

Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to glorify God for making us his children and promising to never leave us.

Since God so carefully created our world with splendor, how much more will he not also care for us as his beloved children?

In the Face of Uncertain Odds

by Melissa Troyer · Mark 4:35-39

Melissa Troyer reminds us of Jesus who brings peace in the worst of storms, both the early disciples in a boat and us in our troubled world.

Don't focus on the building waves or let the pitching boat convince you otherwise.

Red Boots and Christmas

by Phil Ware · 2 Timothy 1:5-7 · Christmas

Phil Ware remembers his Daddy Gordon and several Christmas memories that ensured his grandfather passed on a legacy of love and faith despite his few years of life.