Elevate Your Day with Andi and Brian Hale

David’s Victory Plan by Joon Tavarez on YouVersion 2 Samuel 5:20 ESV And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. Have you ever been in a situation where things felt stuck—like no matter what you tried, nothing was changing? Then suddenly...

David’s Victory Plan by Joon Tavarez on YouVersion 2 Samuel 5:19 ESV And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” Have you ever been so sure about something that you didn’t even think to pray first? Maybe it was a job you felt confident in, a d...

David’s Victory Plan by Joon Tavarez on YouVersion 2 Samuel 5:17-19 ESV When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you...

There are moments and seasons in our life when we can feel utterly helpless, unable to reach out and grab the thing we desire most. Sometimes life has a way of intruding its will upon us without our permission causing conflict, unrest, and pain. The loss of loved ones. The doctors report of sickness. A marriage left in shambles. Not being accepted into this school or job.  “Do you now believe?”Jes...

“To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us. If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives. The closer we come to the heartbeat of God the more we see our need and the more we desire to be conformed to Christ.” —Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline) “If your heart hungers for souls to be saved and your nation...

All throughout the Bible we are encouraged to run this race called life. But not to just run, to run well. The healthiest of runners are those who find their rhythm with a steady pace. Pace is the determining factor for finishing well or giving up.  Most people don’t wake up each day with a desire to give up, but there are times where we all wrestle with HOW to keep moving forward. Today may have...

We all come to moments and seasons in our life where it’s time to start something new. Sometimes these seasons come by design and the choices we have made, other times they come because of circumstances outside our control. Whether it is starting a new walk of life in Christ, a new business or job role, marriage, or new school year, a season of new beginnings gives us the opportunity to take steps...

There are many seasons in our life where we can become tired, wearied, and in need of renewal. We need a strong Reboot in our life in order to keep going. Stress at work, in family, and unexpected circumstances can cause us to feel empty.   We often attempt to find fulfillment in sources that do not satisfy our spirit. We begin to stress eat or drink, we workout harder thinking it will satisfy our...

From The Joy of Belonging by Angie Moses Bible References: Genesis 6:9-22 Key Verse: “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching…” (John 14:23) Obeying God isn’t always easy. Take Noah: God told him to build a giant boat when rain wasn’t even a thing yet. People mocked him, thought he was nuts. But Noah trusted God, followed the plan, and built the ark. Good thing, too—because that obedience saved...

You get to know someone by hanging out with them—sharing meals, swapping stories, just being together. The same goes for God. David, the guy who wrote the Psalms, didn’t just know facts about God; he knew God personally. How? He spent time with Him—praying, worshiping, reading God’s Word. Through that, David learned God’s heart: His love, His power, His care. We’ve got the same chance today. The B...

Life’s noisy, isn’t it? Work, family, news, social media—all shouting for your attention. But God’s voice? It’s often quieter than the chaos. Take Elijah’s story: he was running for his life, hiding in a cave, desperate for God to speak. A wild wind tore through, then an earthquake, then a fire—but God wasn’t in any of that. Instead, He spoke in a gentle whisper, reminding Elijah he wasn’t alone....

Who knows you best? Your spouse might know your quirks, like how you take your coffee or what makes you laugh. Your friends might know your hobbies or your go-to stories. Your coworkers might see your strengths and struggles. But there’s Someone who knows you deeper than all of them—God. Before you were even born, He knew your name, your personality, your dreams. When Jesus called His disciples—Pe...

Think about a time when you felt left out—like no one noticed or cared you were there. Maybe it was at a gathering where everyone else seemed connected, or at work when you weren’t included in the conversation. That loneliness stings, doesn’t it? Now picture a lost sheep wandering through a busy town, surrounded by people yet totally alone. That’s a picture of how we can feel sometimes. But here’s...

Have you had a mid-faith crisis? Are you in one now? One of the hardest parts of this experience is the loss we feel along the way. We may have lost friends and family, church and community, beliefs and identity. We may even feel like we’ve lost Jesus. Luke 15:1-7 ESV Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man...

As we consider the signs of mid-faith crisis, there’s one that’s all too common: suffering. When we’re weighed down with pain, we often feel so alone. But the truth is, we all walk this road at some point. You are not alone. Psalm 23:4 ESV Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. One thing is f...

One of the most devastating pathways into mid-faith crisis is being harmed by the church, by Christian leaders, or by Christian communities. If you’ve experienced this, it’s hard to know which end is up. But even here, you’re not alone. Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things t...

Today, we’re looking at a second sign that you’re in a mid-faith crisis. If this sounds familiar to you, remember: You’re not alone! Sometimes, we hit a mid-faith crisis not necessarily because we doubt, but because we simply start asking questions. Why does my church teach this or that doctrine while the church down the road teaches the opposite? Why must I hold certain political or scientific vi...

Have you had a “Mid-Faith Crisis”? What did that look like for you? For many of us, it starts with wondering what happened to our faith, why we don’t think and believe the way we used to. But the good news is that, while this is a painful crisis, it can be healthy, even necessary. John 6:60-69 ESV When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Je...

In confession there is freedom, and healing, and joy, but make no mistake, confession is hard work. Confession is one part of a journey that should lead us into becoming people who are more like Christ. True confession will bring about life change, and change can be hard. In the Old Testament book of Ezra, the scribe (Ezra) is full of grief because of his people’s disobedience to God. The weight o...

We live in a world that is always trying to sell us on the supposed “perfection” around us. Advertisements tell us that our lives should look a particular way. Social media is a highlight reel displaying typically only the best of what is happening in everyone else’s life. Within all this seemingly utopic world, it can feel like there is no room for imperfection. This is what makes a habit of conf...

Confession. As daunting as confession seems in advance, its God’s remedy for a broken heart. Romans 10:9-13 ESV because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in hi...

In Days 1 & 2, we studied the words of King David in Psalm 51 and Psalm 32 as he expressed the “heart” and the “how” of confession. David’s experience is a powerful example of how darkness can envelop hidden sin, but shining the light on it can bring freedom and healing. Confession is a vitally important spiritual discipline because resistance to confession can bring the rest of your spiritual...

It is worth starting today’s discussion of how to practice confession with a bit of a warning. So here it is, our failure to practice confession is not for lack of understanding how to do it. If we are not practicing confession, it is probably that we understand the “how” and everything that entails very well. Because in essence, confession is very simple. In the words of David, it is so basic, it...

Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a glimpse of the Spiritual Fruit God wants to grow in and through us. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s a good summary of the Fruit that will grow in the life of a Christian – a Godly Character. Some of these characteristics, or “Fruits,” are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. As we deepen our relationship with...