Rocky Messages

Standing out as a Christian is not about highlighting differences. Standing out as a Christian is not arguing your faith. Standing out as a Christian is not judging or avoiding people who are different. Standing out as a Christian is posting your political views on social media… Standing out as a Christian is not protesting in front of organizations you disagree with. Standing out as a Christian i...

There is one vine (Jesus) with millions of branches (Followers of Jesus) bearing lots of fruit. Love is our fruit. Jesus passes down the love of God to us, so that we might continue to transmit that love to those around us. If you aren’t abiding in Jesus' love and then abounding in Jesus’ love for other people, you are not fully following Jesus.

God's spirit works in partnership with God's word; you won't understands the way of the spirit any more than you understand the word of God. Without Scripture there is no explanation of who God is and where we come from. Without the Holy Spirit there is no understanding of what scripture says about how we connect with God and love like him.

No matter what, God is good. When you feel like life is falling apart, you can still believe that God is good. God’s not good because of what has or happened in your life. God is good because of Jesus.

How long are you going to be a prisoner of your past? Are you so focused on what someone's done to you that you're missing what Jesus whats to do for you?

If you want healthy relationships, vulnerability is the way forward, and it starts first with vulnerability with God .

Denying our guilt, or excusing our guilt, always empowers it to wreak havoc on our relationships.  Guilt creates a debt/debtor relationship between us and other people.   Christianity is this: I hurt you. I faced my guilt. I ask God to forgive me and he gave me what I don't deserve, so the least I can do is come back to you and give you what you do deserve.

What happened to you is not your fault, but it is now your responsibility to address. Our hearts are highly susceptible to attacks from our past and left unchallenged, has the power to leave our relationships damaged

Jesus finished so that you could start a relationship with God. He loved you enough to finish what he started no matter the cost.    The biggest change you should make in this 52 day challenge is to commit your life fully to Christ. For some of you that will be to place your faith in Jesus and get baptized. If you’ve been putting that decision off, for whatever reason…Let’s do it. Let's...

What do we do when we face opposition? As you begin to see progress and success in your personal and spiritual rebuild projects, there will be people who will be uncomfortable with the direction you are moving; it’s not if critics will show up, but when. Stop listening to the wrong people.

The only reason you can be forgiven and have the hope of heaven is because Jesus chose his hard: he chose a cross as the payment for your sins. He says all who believe in him will be saved from their sins.  You get to choose your hard. You can choose hard work now or hard results later.

Grit is about building the daily habits that allow you to stick to a schedule and overcome challenges and distractions over and over and over again.   Gritty people do something that I think many of us struggle with.  They continue to “Go One More” even when it’s not comfortable.

What are you fed up with? Is there anything in your life that you have had enough of? What should you be so fed up with that you say, “Enough! This has to change!”  That’s the first key to change.  Second key to change is to confess Reality. You name the problem…you acknowledge that some area of your life is not what it should or could be.

All of God’s children are his favorites because they are His kids. If you are one of God’s kids, you are one of His favorites. Grace is the unearned favor of God that brings forgiveness and salvation and blessing. God wants to favor you, not because you are the best or the brightest or the holiest, but because you are His kid!

 Jesus says that if you believe in God, then you are one of his kids. Christmas gifted you Grace, and if you find it, it will change your life, forever. If you have placed your faith in Jesus, then yes you are one of His favorites. If not, don’t let this be just another Christmas, let it be the one where you place your faith in Jesus and receive His favor.