Local Church Forsyth

The cross was painful to Jesus both physically and spiritually. Yet, it was not an accident. It was God's plan that was prophesied hundreds of years earlier by Isaiah. Because of the cross, we can realign our lives to Jesus, walk confidently because of His love, and allow that love to shape our lives.

Have you ever felt like you couldn't catch a break? Like you go from one disaster to the next? Even in those times, God can do more with your thread of faith than you can with your thoughts of doubt and despair.

Being self-centered comes naturally. So, it's no surprise Jesus spoke directly about the condition of our hearts. He knew our selfishness and showiness would directly reflect the cleanliness of our hearts.

It's easier to ignore the mess. But for change to happen, you must walk into the mess and deal with it. Jesus showed us how to do this. He walked directly into the mess of people's lives and offered them hope and redemption.

Praying is not just about asking for a good day and thanking God for dinner on the table. It's being  persistent  in our prayers, seeking  reassurance  from what God has done in the past, being  aware  of what God is doing in ourselves and others, and genuinely  yearning  for God to show up in our every moment.

An aware prayer life is open and mindful of what God is doing in your life and the lives around you.

Jesus told us there would be trouble in this world. During those days, remember that the Lord is with you as you walk through it.

Ever feel like everyone else knows the right words to say and how to do something, but you are just winging it? The disciples lived with Jesus and still had questions about how to pray.

The Wisemen came across two kings in one day. One was the right king, and the other was wrong. They had a choice to make, as do we. There is a right King, singular, that should get our allegiance. And many wrong kings, plural, that will try to pull us away.

After the shepherds visited Jesus, they returned with glory and praise to God in their hearts because of all they had heard and seen. Nothing externally changed, but everything internally did. It was the same sheep, fields, and social status…but everything was different because of Jesus.

Mary, Jesus' mother, submitted her life to whatever the Lord wanted for her and ultimately helped change the course of history. If only we would do the same. If only we would live under the power, divinity, kingship, and eternity of Jesus…what a difference it would make

When people move at our pace, schedule, and desires…it just is so much better. When they don't, it's an opportunity to work on our human relationship skills…but here is the question..   What do you do when God doesn't do what you want Him to do?

God doesn't use perfect pictures. He uses real people!!

Some seasons in life are difficult, like don't want to finish the assignment difficult. But Paul encourages Timothy and us to finish well. Are we relying on Jesus when we face those times? Are we looking at what matters in eternity because that changes our perspective and helps us find the perseverance to finish well?

We can all agree that life is complex, full of drama, challenging, and anything but blue skies and sunshine all the time. Sometimes we need something to grasp. Scripture is God-breathed to help us better understand the character and nature of God. He uses it to mold and shape us into the person He wants us to be even as we walk through the day-to-day here on earth.

Running after vs. Running away. If you are running after something it means you are running away from something. Weight loss, financial health, scholarships. So, what do you run after in the Christian life? Run after the things of God. Run after truth Run after Purity Run after Peace Questions for reflection this week: Where do you look for truth? What do your friends inspire you to do? Who is the...

Jesus said the path to follow Me will have pain and suffering. It won't always be blue sky and sunshine. Sometimes there are dark days full of storm clouds. We walk through seasons of pain and suffering. Mental, relational, financial, physical…so what do you do in your suffering? Honor Jesus in your suffering Remember Jesus in your suffering Identify with Jesus in your suffering

Paul's final words to Timothy were personal, heartfelt, and enduring. He wanted Timothy to remember his own faith story, embrace the gift God placed in him, and find his purpose here on earth. Paul knew that following Jesus was bigger than just believing in Him. Questions for Today: What's your faith story? What's your God given gift? What's your Holy purpose?

Our Mission: To lead people to fully follow Jesus Our Vision: To create local churches with local pastors in local communities

Our Heavenly Father wants more, FAR MORE, for us than we can even imagine for ourselves. Don't limit God with questions of why, how, and when.