Live Free with Josh Howerton

Throughout the book of John, Jesus encounters disenfranchised people who desperately need to know they are loved. Jesus goes out of his way to break religious and societal norms to show kindness and courageous acts of love, as seen in John 4 with the Samaritan women at the well. Jesus had to go to Samaria to reach her. Who are you called to be kind to today? What steps of courage do you need to ta...

Three separate stories in Luke 15 show God’s heart for the lost. God embraces, loves, and shares meals with the lost and wants us to do the same. Pull up an extra seat at the table; don’t let your heart grow smug or self-righteous towards the lost; rejoice with God at the greatest dinner party. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

God is ready to place lonely people into communities and restore the idea of family through missional hospitality and you. This is why God calls us to draw our family circles a little bigger and fire up our grills, just like the church in Acts 2. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Being at a tailgate is electrifying. The parking lot becomes a joy-filled community with good food, camaraderie, and people you love. The early church had a word for this, koinonia, which means fellowship or shared life. God built us and his church for this kind of community. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Kitchens are what typically sells the house and what makes your house a home. When we share a meal, we are living on mission like how Jesus exemplified in Matthew 9. Today, ask yourself how you are hosting your table, who is welcomed into your kitchen, and who needs to be invited in. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

This week, we are exploring the importance of extending our dinner tables. When we sit around the table, we laugh, share life’s moments, and show who we care for and value. Jesus intentionally shared meals and sat with those he loved, as seen in Matthew 9:9-13. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Jesus knocking at the door in Revelation is often interpreted as a call for unbelievers to let him into their lives, but in reality, he speaks to churchgoers in Laodicea. Despite their outward religious practices, Jesus sees that they have left him outside. The verse emphasizes the need for intentional pursuit of intimacy with God rather than just going through religious motions. Jesus' message ch...

If you’re a Christian, you need to keep this in mind, God responds to 100% of your prayers. Sometimes, he does so by saying YES. Other times he does so, by saying NO. And often, he does so by saying NOT YET. What happens when we ask, as Jesus taught us, and it seems God is not responding to our prayers, even good prayers? John 14:13-14 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father...

God is not angry with you, tired of you messing up, or exhausted by you. We rejoice that His thoughts and His ways are not the same as our thoughts and our ways. Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” For more informati...

Most people assume that prayer should be primarily a way to “get God to give me what I want”, but Jesus teaches that prayer is primarily us, aligning our will with God’s. Today, take your time and meditate on what you’re praying. Fix your mind first and your Heavenly Father’s name, his kingdom, and what His will is. Then, pour out your heart as you ask for forgiveness and protection and as you sha...

Paul is saying your heart can be satisfied whether you have much or little, whether you have achieved your goals or not, and whether things seem to be going well or not. Philippians 4:13 speaks primarily of how, with Christ, your heart can find contentment, satisfaction, and confidence regardless of your circumstances. Contentment doesn’t come when you have everything you want; it comes when you r...

In this podcast episode, we conclude our discussion on the 5 principles of Godly parenting. Today's focus is on the importance of praying for godly discernment at every stage of your child's life. Discernment is a precious gift that should be cherished, and it blossoms through instilling God's word in their heart. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

God calls parents to guide their children in walking the path of righteousness. By leaving your footprints heading in the right direction, you instill valuable lessons. Among these teachings is the importance of personal discipline—a crucial skill parents can impart to their children. It's essential that godly discipline is taught with both compassion and unwavering consistency. For more informati...

Trade the concept of your dream house for God's vision of a dream home. It's not just about the exterior beauty of your house; it's about creating meaningful moments under its roof. While spending quality time with your kids is important, remember that true family bonding occurs during those everyday shared experiences. Today's parental challenge is to shift focus from pursuing a certain lifestyle...

At every stage, parents are called by God to nurture their children's dreams and support them in following God's unique path for their lives. Trust that God will guide you as you assist your children in pursuing their aspirations; do not hesitate to dream big alongside your child. Remember, it is not the parent's role to shape children into what they desire them to become; instead, recognize that...

The Bible is rich with stories that remind us that family, despite its imperfections, is part of God’s original plan. Did you know that children’s natural curiosity is a gift from God and part of his family plan? One of God's plans for families was to help raise kids in a safe environment to explore and discover freely; this can be seen in Proverbs 11:27. For more information, visit lakepointe.chu...

Today's podcast reminds you that you have permission to be brutally honest and completely open with God in every circumstance. God can handle your vulnerability and all of your emotions. In Psalms, the writers follow a particular pattern of verbally vomiting out all their feelings, pain, frustrations, and deep sorrow. Then, the writers land on the truth about God, his character, and his goodness....

When you take a roadtrip, you typically have a few songs ready to play as you travel. In the Old Testament, people also sang songs to pass the time, one of which was Psalms 121, a song of ascents. They sang this song as a reminder of God’s protection as they headed towards Jerusalem. God is just as present with us in the journey as in the final destination. For more information, visit lakepointe.c...

Rest with God and find joy when you delight in his presence day and night. In Psalm 1, the trees' job is to be planted by the river banks, rooted deep and not just fruitful. Today, ignore what culture says about chasing your desires; focus on resting and sitting with God. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Reading Psalm 100, we discover our purpose is not to be a consumer. Our purpose is to be consumed by the goodness of God when we are in his presence. Your challenge today is to shout with joy and loudly sing your favorite worship song! (Maybe find a new song from the new Lakepointe Music album Fear No Evil.) For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Have you ever thought being a good person was utterly pointless when you compare your life to someone else living so carefree? Or have you wondered is my heart pure for nothing? Always remember, God's goodness remains steadfast, and those individuals you compare yourself to may not be leading as carefree a life as it seems. When we grapple with feelings of envy, we often fall into the trap of cons...

How do I reverse my drift and put my hope back with God? Dive into Psalm 42 today as we learn how to reverse the drift and drop anchor with God. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

How does drifting happen? Drifting occurs when we stop counting our blessings, gathering together, resting, praying, and climbing. Today, let’s hear how to drop anchor with God and stop the drifting. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

We all drift in our relationships, passions, and purposes. The key to being anchored in God and avoiding drifting is to take inventory of your life, retrace your steps, and pray for God to search your heart. David prayed for God to search his heart in Psalms 139. Today, ask yourself, where have I drifted? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Dirty laundry piles up quickly, and stains set in when you never address them. The same is true with our shame and sin, but your failures are not fatal. There is real freedom with Christ! Today, let God bleach your record clean with His grace. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive