Embrace Podcast

In the last four weeks we've learned what we're made for: generosity, rest, work, and community. But before anything else, what we're really made for is Jesus. As fall begins and our schedules get crazy, we're made to set Jesus as the cornerstone of our days, of our lives. We were made to start with Jesus.

We're all made for community—to share our lives with other people. The community Jesus wants for us is one where the people in our lives show up, when no ones else does. It's having people who will do anything to drag us to Jesus. Do you have this kind of community? Are you showing this kind of community to others? We were made for this kind of community, let's go out and create it.

Sometimes it's hard to think that we're made for work. But just like how we're made for rest, we're also made to glorify God through our work the other 6 days of the week! We were each created to work, using our talents to give God, not ourselves, glory. We were made for Monday!

We know we're all made for something, but how is it possible to be made for rest? Like, I have so much to do, who has time for rest? But the truth is, we were each made to have Sabbath in our lives—to take a day each week to rest and remember, and to do it regularly. Rest isn't optional, we were made for it.

We're all made for something, it's the way God designed us, but what does it mean to be made for generosity? Oftentimes we associate generosity with money and giving financially, but Paul paints a different picture for us in the book of Romans. Generosity applies to how we live our lives, holding everything we have loosely and being willing to give what we have to others. This is generos...

God is faithful to us in all kinds of situations, but what about when we're unfaithful to Him— when we've walked away, replaced Him with other people, things, or passions, let our addictions rule us? God is still faithful, even when we're unfaithful. He will continue to rescue us, time and again, the only thing we need to do is cry out to Him.

Where is God when our health is failing? Is He really faithful in the midst of cancer, chronic pain, miscarriage, loss of a loved one? Here's the truth: God's faithfulness never ends, even when our health does. Our pain may not end in healing, but it can end in His peace.

God's faithfulness is something we all wrestle with at different points in our lives. Especially when it comes to the future, we're quick to doubt that God will be there with us. But here's the truth: God is faithful even when the future is uncertain—His protection, provision, and love will always be there, no matter what the future holds.

As followers of Jesus, we're following him for a purpose: to reach spiritual maturity. How do we get there? By resisting idols, being wary of busyness, and taking responsibility. As followers of Jesus we're meant to grow closer to him. We know how to get there, now let's follow!

As followers of Jesus we’re called not only to follow Jesus, but also to make followers of Jesus. How do we do this? Tell others what Jesus has done for us. This might sound intimidating at first, but it just means to show people with our lives what Jesus has done in our own life.

As followers of Jesus we're called to take action—to not only listen to God's Words, but also to practice them. What is one way we can put the Word of God into practice? By listening to the Holy Spirit: following the fruit of the spirit, being consistent, and even sometimes, doing things we don't want to do.

Once our heart is pointing toward following Jesus what's the second step in our walk with him? Listening to his Word and practicing what he says. But anyone can listen to Jesus, it's the wise person that puts his teachings into practice. How do we truly follow Jesus? Just do it. Simply do what Jesus says and watch to see where he leads.

Jesus extends a simple invitation to all of us: "Come follow me." No matter where we are—new Christian, old Christian, or not a Christian at all—we're all heading in a direction, either toward or away from Jesus. So what direction are you headed? What direction is the arrow of your life pointed?

Does God calm my storm even if I caused it?

Saying that we will take off our mask is much easier than actually doing it. How do we not only take off our masks, but keep them off and fully grasp how much Jesus loves who we really are?

Sometimes we wear masks because we don't want God to see who we really are. But the truth is, in Jesus, God not only sees us, but He also delights in us and approves of us. Good news, right? The world may love your mask, but God doesn't. God loves you. And He sees you as you are.

We all tend to wear masks in our lives. Whether it's out of pride, to prove how great we are, or out of shame, to cover up perceived flaws, masks have become part of who we are. But what if we didn't have to put on a mask everyday? What if God already sees us for who we are and loves us anyway? What if He saw us behind the mask all along?

Church can be weird. Ever felt awkward and uncomfortable at church? Doubted that the Bible could be relevant today? Felt judged & didn't want a bunch of religious people to tell you how to change? Thought that all your pastor wanted from you was money? These are the elephants in the room, some of the reasons why church may not be the place we want to be on Sunday.  

This Easter we celebrate the fact that Jesus' death and resurrection aren't the end of the story. Instead, Jesus rose to give us new life—a forgiven life, a changed life, and a life spent with him. That's not just a celebration for today, but one we can celebrate every day when we choose to lay down our lives for Jesus.   

On that first Palm Sunday, people lay their coats down as Jesus rode past them. This was everything they had, they were giving it all to Jesus. Jesus may not ride down the street on a donkey this Sunday, but we're still called to give our everything to him, to lay down our lives. Because when we lay down everything before Jesus, we find everything in him.

The tricky thing about influence is that we may never see its impact. Moses, one of the most influential people in the Bible, never saw the promised land. But does that mean we should stop trying to influence others for Jesus? No. Instead, we are called to chase faithfulness that lasts, not influence that fades.

The power of influence is so much greater than we think. It doesn't just happen by mistake. To have true influence we need to be intentional with our actions.

Moses' story is one of influence: standing up to Pharaoh, freeing the Israelites from Egypt, leading his people into battle. But though Moses lived a life of remarkable influence, that influence wouldn't have been possible without people by his side holding him up. We too have influence. But when we're tired, when we're restless, when we're needing to step out spiritually,...

We all struggle to make sense of life sometimes. It feels as if chaos is emerging and there is little that we can do to put things in order. So we fight. It is in these moments of darkness that we are reminded that the purpose of wrestling God is to be changed, to find life and find it abundantly.

The story of Jacob and Esau is one of hurt transforming to healing. But how do we begin to heal when someone in our own life has hurt us like Jacob hurt Esau? It all starts with forgiveness, realizing that payback will never pay us back and working to cancel debt because God first canceled ours. Who do you need to forgive today?