Romans 8:9,14,32-39

No more carrying weight you were not intended to bear. Max Lucado's reminder, and new book, that because of God, and the work of the HOly Spirit, we are not alone and our help is here!

"Dear Faithful Follower, One of David's most beautiful praise songs, (Psalm 139:1-24), speaks of the abiding presence of your Father in heaven with..."

"Dear Father, our ultimate security and joy, Since Christ Jesus, who died, is at your right hand interceding for us, who shall separate us from your....."

Can I find a friend that is truly faithful? Friends are fickle and Jesus' friends were truly fickle and faithfless, but Jesus is a faithful friend.

How do we overcome our giants Russ Lawson shares some insights from the 12 spies, 10 of whom convinced the children of Israel to fear the future and turn back; but Russ reminds us of God's promises.

"Dear Child of the Father, All creation waits on tiptoe for the day I return and bring you home to the Father. On that day, you will experience "the....."

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or sword? No, in all these things we are more..."

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things....."

Twin towers - Remembering September 11th, 2001

Is God my treasure? If I were to lose everything but still have God in my life, would he be enough for me? Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to recognize God as our greatest treasure and that he is enough for us, even in, and especially when, the world crashes in on us.

The Lord longs to be near us when we feel most alone, especially in our last journey through the valley of shadows. Phil Ware reminds us that in our darkest times the Lord, our good Shepherd, wants to be near us and make his presence known to us.

Do you sometimes feel helpless? No matter how bad things get, we are never hopeless.

"Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry,...."

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today....."

"Dear Father, faithful God, Fill my heart with the deep conviction that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present,....."

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor..."

"I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else....."

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! - Romans 8:38-39

What is this peace? What is this overcoming Jesus talks about? Phil Ware reminds us of the great truth of Jesus' steadfastness and faithfulness, he won't let us go.

What kind of slip are you expecting? Teresa Bell Kindred shares how her daughter missed the dreaded pink slip given to many teachers in Kentucky, but she also reminds us that God doesn't give pink slips.

Yesterday, in practice, she was the only one who did it. Why was she so afraid today? Ron Rose writes about his daughter Julie from long ago and how she didn't want to swim in the deep end of the pool if her teacher wasn't there.

Jesus put his disciples into a position where they realized that they needed to lean in and lean on 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!

"Dear Disciple, I do not promise you that following Me will be easy. Some of My greatest and most faithful servants faced severe testing, hardship,..."

Young children can fall asleep anywhere and sleep peacefully, trusting that those who love them will carry them where they need to go! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead through worship in song, the Lord's Supper, a powerful message from God's word, and a blessing to enable us to worship from home or with family and friends in a meaningful way and ask this important question: Who will

"Dear Father, who is totally "for-us," How wonderfully reassuring to know that in everything you work for good with those who love you, who are called..."

Can I really know Jesus as someone who is real in my life? Phil Ware writes a two part series on Finding Jesus at Christmas and this one focuses on spending time with Jesus in the Gospels.

What's got you so down you won't even believe what God says about you? Phil Ware continues to share with his own children the values his father taught him.

"Dear Beloved, Your world can be a brutal place for good people. I never promised My disciples that life would be easy and without problems. People..."

"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God."

"...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

"...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, give us all things?"

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he..."

"We go to Christ for forgiveness, and then too often look to the law for power to fight our sins. Paul thus rebukes us, "O foolish Galatians, who hath...."

"He who was once despised and rejected of men, now occupies the honourable position of a beloved and honoured Son. The right hand of God is the place....."

"Most blessed challenge! How unanswerable it is! Every sin of the elect was laid upon the great Champion of our salvation, and by the atonement carried..."

"You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the..."

"But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this..."

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:9 -- You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:32 -- He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all -- how will he not also, along with him, give us all things?

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! - Romans 8:38

'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.

When are we going to get there? What happens to people when they die is a lot like trying to tell kids how much farther it is to granny's house!

Have you met Him in the garden lately? Leah Adams remembers a friend who had gone to be with God and a song sung at her funeral that reminds us all the God longs to walk with us and talk with us and tell us we are his very own.

Should we allow doubt in? Jim Clark talks about his confidence in God's presence being based on the Father's faithfulness and not on the way he feels.

Do you realize that you've already won? Because of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, we know that we have already won the victory.

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.

God claims us as his beloved children. He has sacrificed for us to show us his love, and he promises to walk with us into the future. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to open our hearts to God's promise to us as his people, Jesus' church, to walk with us, protect us, and lead us into the future.

What do you do when you don't feel like you have anything to offer? Tom Norvell reminds us to listen to God when we feel like we have nothing to offer, and if we do, we will realize that is enough.

What are you going to do with this third of your life? Brian McCutchen reminds us that 1/3 of our life is spent working so we need to be aware that God doesn't have us where we are by accident.

No matter what life, Satan, or circumstances suggest, we will never be forsaken by our God! Phil Ware shares his message focused on Paul's promises that the Lord will always be near us, focusing on Jesus' promises to his early disciples and to us!

"Dear Beloved, You saw My apostles fail Me during My arrest, trials, and crucifixion. One betrayed Me, another denied he knew Me, and the rest..."

"Dear Father, who indwells me, Show me that I do not really live in the flesh, since your Spirit really dwells in me, else I would not belong to you....."

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us.

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us.

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's..."

"For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who....."

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how...."

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:13-14 -- 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God

When all seems lost, where do you find hope? Phil Ware continues his series on Jesus as the UNPREDICTABLE Savior who gives life that cannot be taken away.

We are not the first generation of believers trying to find our way through challenging times, feeling alone, isolated from the crowds, and trying not to be fearful. ToGather worship segment 001, March 15, 2020 -- focusing on the presence of Jesus using VerseoftheDay.com, a communion devotional, and appropriately themed songs.

"Dear Precious One, No matter what you are facing — right now or ever in the future — please know that I care about your struggles. I will..."

"But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that..."

How can we be shaped by both our Father's nature and his nurture? Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead through worship in song, the Lord's Supper, a powerful message from God's word, and a blessing to enable us to worship from home or with family and friends in a meaningful way.

How do we get away from God? But, if we choose to allow Jesus to redeem us, save us, make us Holy, affirm that we are worthy---Then NOTHING can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Can you get out of your problems before they drag you down? God will stick by us and get us through the worse times in our lives.

So what's going to happen with all this mess? Rubel Shelly reminds us of what we need to hold onto during these uncertain times as we try to anticipate the future.

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us and how they helped define the way of Jesus through the cross to the empty tomb.

"Dear Precious One, Live animated by the power of the Father's "indwelling presence," the Holy Spirit within you! Your flesh — "your fallen,..."

"Dear Friend, To understand your verses today from the book of Acts, you need to be aware of two challenges facing My early followers in Ephesus. The..."

Fears are often more what we imagine than what is real! Ron Rose is in his mobile office and at Black Rifle Coffee having a cup of beyond black visiting with people and inviting them to share a conversation and invite God to be part of the moment.

"Dear Beloved, My resurrection from the dead changed everything! As awful as My crucifixion was for the Father and Me, the cost of that suffering..."

Don't you wish you could handle things as well? Rubel Shelly reminds us of what good fathers are like and that there are great stories out there to tell about good dads.

Let's prepare a place for Jesus Christ could have a mansion in the Bronx or any palace he chose, but he has decided to live in me. He has made a home in my heart, giving me life, guiding me in the way I should go. My job is to follow his lead and become like him, become like the one who

What do we do and how do we act in a world of critics? Rubel Shelly talks about how we all have begun to play the role of critic -- some are on the giving end and some on the receiving -- so how are we to act and respond in such a world?

Most folks don't even know about this promise about Jesus! Phillip Morrison reminds us of Jesus' incredible role in interceding for us always and living to make that intercession in our defense.

Would you know if someone didn't tell you? We are God's children and that sense of identity should be crucial in our lives.

For those on the front lines and face loss daily. Heather Gray shares a devotional on death and love and the power of God through it all for families who are deployed in harms way and she speaks with the authenticity of someone who knows because her husband David Gray was killed in Afghanistan.

Just how long is forever? When people talk about forever, it doesn't mean an eternity. But when God talks about forever, it means time without end.

We are loved by God, our faithful Shepherd, who will never abandon us but will rescue us and bring us safely home to him as his beloved children. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remind us that the LORD is our Shepherd who provides, cares, protects, and calls us home as his sheep, the guests at his table, and his belo

What season is it in your life? There are times of trials and difficulties are a long season of darkness, but in the middle, God brings times of joy.

If you can't be passionate about it, how important is it anyway? Phil Ware continues his series where he shares his dad's values with his adult children, and this one is on living with passion.

Why is it so hard to let our Father help us? Max Lucado reminds us that God wants to help us through our hardest challenges.

Who is the Holy Spirit? Phil Ware continues his SpiritFire series focusing on God getting personal with us in the Holy Spirit and addresses the question of whether the Holy Spirit is a he, she, or it.

Does God still speak and make his presence known in our lives or is he silent, leaving us to decipher our own way through our troubled world? Phil Ware continues his series on finding God's vision for our lives and living on mission for God.

God has done great things and is worthy of all of our praise. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to give us confidence in our salvation because our God is able!

To become more like Christ, we must allow the Lord to lead us in the dance of grace to the music of the Holy Spirit. Phil Ware shares article three in his four part series on being transformed to become like Jesus.

Communion is a reminder of why we belong at the Father's Table of grace. Phil Ware reminds us that the cross was personal to Jesus and to us and because of it, we come to God as our 'Abba Father.'

More than a miracle worker, Jesus is the touch of God. Phil Ware continues his series on out of the box and reminds us that Jesus is God made touchable and personal: more than a miracle worker, Jesus is the personal care of God for people in their deepest needs.

Communion was intended to be an I-can't-believe-it's-me-pinch-me-I'm-dreaming invitation to sit at God's table and be served by the King himself. Max Lucado tells about sharing communion as a boy and what it means to us now -- more than symbol, it's sacrament, a holy time of anticipation.

Imagine the audacity of Jesus to identify himself as the LORD, our shepherd, the one David praises in Psalm 23 as well the God of deliverance who identified himself to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3! Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware lead through worship in song, the Lord's Supper, a powerful message from God's word about Jesus our good shepherd, along with a closing blessing for worship from home with family and friends in a meaningful way.

What will the weather be this Christmas? Phil Ware reminds us of the weather when Jesus came, filled with the fresh wind and heavenly breezes of heaven brought by the Holy Spirit.

You used to be normal, ho-hum, and average. No longer. You are not who you used to be! Max Lucado reminds us of who God is to us and that this great and almighty God has invited us to call him our "Abba" Father!

God knows you need help to remain committed. God provides the Holy Spirit and a community of believers to help us fulfill our commitment to Him.

"Dear Child of the Father, Yes, you are a child of God! Doesn't that sound incredible? The Father in heaven, the Eternal, the Almighty, the Creator is..."

What would it mean for us to live courageously? God can help us live life courageously, to have the "Eye of the Tiger"

I want to invite you to join me in living beyond the horizon of our children's faith! Phil Ware writes about leaving a legacy with his children and grandchildren to pass on faith and be passionate disciples of Jesus.

Is there any other kind of Christian? All Christians have the Holy Spirit and are spirit-filled so their lives must demonstrate this reality.

Some of us have had good fathers. Others have had absent fathers or bad fathers. In Christ, however, we have been adopted into God's family, and we all have a loving, powerful, tender, and attentive Abba Father! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to help us honor and praise our Father in heaven on this Father's Day.

Paul's declaration to the Galatians is a racial, social, and gender earthquake. Phil Ware continues his series of articles on the role of women and God's plan for women in Jesus' church; this week focuses on Paul's liberating statements in Galatians 3:26-29 and Romans 8.

Paul blows away the confusion and declares us all equally heirs of God's promise! Phil Ware continues his series on the way God values a woman and how Pentecost begins a new humanity that is to work itself out in the life of Jesus' people, the church.

When we wait on the Holy Spirit, we are anticipating God's power to work through us to God's glory! Max Lucado reminds us to wait on the Holy Spirit to come with power.

How do we combine both reverence and familiarity, respect and intimacy? Phil Ware and Doug Peters remind us what it means to pray to God as our Abba Father and then give us some pratical ways that we can experience God as Abba in our prayer life.

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

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. 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 rose from the dead, so we choose to live based on the conviction that this world is not our home, while we long for our lasting and more glorious one! 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 the life-changing implications of Jesus' resurrection.

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

What can we really expect the Spirit to do for us, today, in our world? Phil Ware writes about Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit focusing on John 14 and Jesus' promise to not leave us as orphans but to come to us and show himself to us and be in us and make his home with us.

With all the voices telling you who you are, who will you trust? Max Lucado uses the woman caught in adultery to remind us of the accusing voices we hear in our head and in our life and reminds us that this is from the adversary, the devil and challenges us to listen to the voice of Jesus.

What can we expect the Spirit to do for us? Phil Ware continues a short series on the Holy Spirit focusing on John 14 and what it means for Jesus to not leave us as orphans, but to come to us and show himself to us and be in us and make his home with us.

Without the Holy Spirit, how can there be new life? Phil Ware continues his series on the Holy Spirit with a focus on being born of the Spirit and its ties to faith, baptism, and repentance.