Articles Tagged 'Hard'

The Blessing of Raising Teens?

Parenting teens is one of the best, hardest, most growing things I've ever done.

Melissa Troyer is back living in her crazy world with grace and reminding us that raising teenagers can be embraced as a grace from God despite being hard if it calls us to look at our brokenness and weak place.

It's the Little Moments

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

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.

When Endings Are Complicated, God Is Still Gracious

What do you do when the endings are not always happy ones?

Ron Rose reminds us that not all faith stories have happy endings and that sometimes we have to wade on through tragedy with faith.

Tough Times Toughen

Wow, tough times can be hard, but is there a payoff to them?

Tough times, even when they are filled with temptation can help us grow and better appreciate good times when they come.

It All Hinges on This

How can we know if our lives make a difference and truly matter?

Phil Ware helps us to better understand both Mark's message about where true life is found and also his outline and organization of his gospel around the hinges to the story provided by the stories of two blind men that Jesus heals.

Don't Settle for a Small Destiny

What do we let define us, call or catastrophe?

Max Lucado from his book "You'll Get Through This" encourages us to not let our disappointments define us but instead let God's destiny for us define us.

The Long, Hard Chill of Winter

Are you ready for the long hard chill of winter?

Phil Ware talks about the harshness of a long, cold, hard winter and the trials and troubles we must endure as believers.

Hope in our Messy Days

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

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!

You Will Get Through This!

Life is hard, but God is great at helping us get THROUGH life's toughest challenges and will never abandone us!

Max Lucado shares the encouragement that we can get through our tough times just like Joseph did his.

You Got Graced, Man!

I had heard of grace before, but on that day I was in the middle of it.

Ron Rose is back with his coffee and this time he is thinking and remembering and celebrating the grace a friend received that changed his life and now inspires Ron and his wife Lyn!

Finding Jesus' Heart for Ministry: Prayer

To touch the broken as Jesus did, I must learn to pray as Jesus prayed!

Phil Ware looks at Mark 1:35-45 and learning how to touch the broken as Jesus touched them by learning to pray as Jesus

Give Your Fears to the Father

How remarkable that Jesus felt such fear. But how kind that he told us about it.

Max Lucado reminds us that Jesus made all sorts of faces as he lived life much as we do, and because he has been where we are, even in the darkest of times, we can turn to him and find grace to help us in our times of need.

Overcoming the Greater Pandemic: From Hopeless to Living Hope

We can't think of a more important commitment for us as believers in our uncertain times.

James Nored and Phil Ware share a message of hope in video and word and Scripture to remind us to be ready to share our living hope for those caught in life's dark winter.

I'm Done and That's Good!

Instead of getting frustrated and pushing the assignment, I sat down with him at his desk in his superhero bedroom.

Christine Derengowski writes frankly and truthfully and encouragingly about dealing with our superheroes who have had to conquer forces unseen before for school kids in this crazy COVID world!

Purpose that Brings Meaning to Life

As human beings, we can survive almost any 'how' if we have a 'why'! — Viktor Frankl

James Nored and Phil Ware share God's message for us about purpose and meaning through words and video, focusing on Viktor Frankl and the apostle Paul.

ToGather: Intentional Godliness (September 27, 2020)

Godliness means having the commitment and the spiritual discipline to live in ways that honor and reflect the character and compassion of God.

Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware lead through worship in song, the Lord's Supper, a powerful message from God's word, and a closing blessing for worship from home with family and friends in a meaningful way - we are called to live godly lives, intentionally!

ToGather: Jesus Is Both Savior and Lord (September 20, 2020)

Jesus isn't just our Savior; he is also our Lord. As Lord, Jesus challenges us to take up our cross and follow him.

Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware lead through worship in song, the Lord's Supper, a powerful message from God's word, and a closing blessing for worship from home with family and friends in a meaningful way - we need to place our challenges in Jesus' hands!

Beyond Trite Slogans to Real Help

How can we say these things and really mean them when trying to help those who hurt?

Phil Ware writes about Romans 8:22-29, the bondage to decay that our world faces, our own troubles and hardships, and slogans that we often use and abuse to try to encourage people who are grieving, wounded, or hurt.

ToGather: Called to Receive a Blessing (June 28, 2020)

Jesus shared his love, his life, and his amazing grace with us on the cross, so will we follow Jesus and live the way of the cross in our lives?

Phil Ware and Demetrius Collins lead us into worship in song and the Word to experience, proclaim and rejoice in the power of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and his call to us to remember and renew and relive the forgiveness of the cross to our daily

Using YouTube® To Reach More People (Really!)

If the goal is to reach people who don't know much or anything about you, your church, the Bible, or God, you must meet them at the point of the question.

Lee Wilson gives us practical advice, understanding, and techniques to use our online ministry more wisely.

ToGather: Waiting in Expectation (May 3, 2020)

We can approach each day with hope and expectation because of God's faithfulness.

Phil Ware and Demetrius Collins invite us to worship God and celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit as we are transformed to be more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Questions on Our Journey of Faith

Someone who is without faith in God doesn't yearn for answers for their deepest questions from God. Our questions as believers can be signs that we are reaching out to God for reassurance.

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us in word and video that faith is not about always having the answers and never having doubts, but persevering on the journey to Jesus.

Leave, Go, and Bless

As Abraham showed us, God's greatest promises often come packaged as our greatest sacrifices, hardest challenges, and longest journeys.

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of God's incredible journey of redemption and how Abraham was the one who began this journey demonstrating great faith when he followed God for a destination he did not yet know.

It All Hinges on This

How can we know if our lives make a difference and truly matter?

Phil Ware helps us to better understand both Mark's message about where true life is found and also his outline and organization of his gospel around the hinges to the story provided by the stories of two blind men that Jesus heals.

Our Chorus is the Gospel

'The verses are the blues, the chorus is the gospel.'

Patrick Odum picks up a line from a Bruce Springsteen interview and helps us understand the need for being real about our struggles but also celebrating our hope in the gospel.