First Church Williamsport

"Our souls need more than to do nothing; they need to do restful things. In this sense, real rest takes real work." -- Justin Whitmel Earley Practice the habit of intentional rest to bring inner peace and experience restoration amidst the busyness of life. This week, take a full Sabbath rest. One of the most intimate things we can do with another is spend time with just them. Consider choosing to...

“The good life does not come from the ability to choose anything and everything; the good life comes from the ability to choose good things by setting limits.” -- Pastor Matt Lake Curating the stories we consume helps us be more intentional to experience, share, and live into all the goodness of God’s story. This week, make a commitment to compare how much time you spend in media to how much time...

"We are much less resilient when we do life alone." -- Pastor Matt Lake   We become more resilient people when we realize we are not alone. Spend at least one hour this week connecting with someone you trust in order to share highs, lows, struggles, and other places of connection. This week, make a commitment to have a one-hour conversation with someone important in your life.

"We discover who we are by seeing our reflections through God’s Word, not in handheld screens." -- Pastor Matt Lake Become more resilient by discovering your identity in God’s Words of life in Scripture rather than in anyone else’s story. Make turning to God’s Word first every day a holy habit. This week, choose to engage Scripture before anything else to start the day, even before picking up your...

"I had lived my whole life thinking that all limits ruin freedom, when all along it’s been the opposite; the right limits create freedom." -- Justin Whitmel Earley Life is formed by habits more than hopes. Develop good habits with your phone, and don't believe the lie that we can be omnipresent like God. This week, make a habit to turn your phone off for one hour a day.

"Resolutions come and go. But resiliency stands the test of time." -- Pastor Matt Lake We build resiliency through spiritual habits and disciplines, like prayer, which forms us more into God's image. This week, make a commitment to pray three times a day: in the morning (9 AM), at midday (12 PM), and in the evening (9 PM).

May we treasure the miracle and the reality of the Christ child in the days to come when our circumstances will still be unexpected.

Like the shepherds in the Christmas story, choose joy by changing perspective.

To experience anticipatory joy, be like Joseph, choose to take action.

Blessing and joy in God’s kingdom look different than in earthly kingdoms. We discover this when we choose humility and offer ourselves as servants to God.

Christmas is often described as the most joyful time of the year. But in a time when so many circumstances are weighing heavy upon our heart, can we really find joy? How do we have joy when darkness looms, when life is uncertain, and when we are unsure what tomorrow will bring?

When your identity and security is in God, it dethrones possessions as the god of your life and it replaces the twin threats of worry and desire with the blessing of satisfaction.

When our identity is shaped in the image of Christ, we become salt of the earth people who point the way to life and salvation in life’s most difficult places.

We must recognize and repent of worshipping the false gods that compromise our identity in Jesus so that we can wholeheartedly follow Him.

God is in control even when it seems like God is not in control. Worship is the most powerful way to shape our identity and remember that God is in control.

Christians live out their identity with a higher devotion to Jesus rather than the world's politics. They reflect the beauty and unity of the Gospel rather than the ugliness and division of this world.

When we embrace our identity in Christ rather than the shallow categories of this world, we are equipped to build our lives on a solid foundation that allows us to bring peace and prosperity to the world.

God calls us as God’s people to share in the alleviating of suffering in our world by actively working against injustice. Part of being close to God is to not simply worship God with our lips but to make decisions that help the least and most vulnerable among us.  International Justice Mission seeks to rescue and restore victims, bring criminals to justice, and strengthen justice systems worl...

The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to be people of hope and action. Praying together builds hope even more powerfully.

When Jesus emptied Himself by living a holy life on earth as a human, He was ultimately exalted. By living in the tension of apparent opposites, emptying and exaltation, we get a deeper understanding of living in the Holy Overlap.

Christians are those who embrace living as resident aliens in this world. We seek to live as people of heaven and earth who avoid evil, do good, and seek the flourishing of our communities.

The world should see a different reality lived out in Christians compared to the rest of the world. Let the pursuit of grace and truth be our identity.

Worship anchors us in uncertain times. It reminds us that God is present and that God will also lead us forward. Make worship a priority and practice dwelling with God regularly.

God’s grace often flows from the unlikeliest and hardest places. Drink in the waters of grace from Jesus, and find rest in amidst your struggles and anxieties.

By developing a new pattern of daily experiences with God, we can foster reliance, gratitude, and hope no matter what our circumstances. Experience God in the present and let go of biased memories of the past.