Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

I love to greet people. Whether it is welcoming them into our home, at church, or in the grocery store, it’s one of the things I miss most from this past year of social distancing. There is just something about offering a warm hello that brings a sense of human kindness and love. I find myself wanting to offer a handshake or even an unmasked smile.

In the verse above, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to show love, not just to our brothers and sisters, but also to strangers. The words “keep on” and “do not forget” seem to indicate that these acts of kindness were a part of the early Christians’ everyday life. From the first century to today, the practice of hospitality continues to be an integral part of following Jesus.

So, as you go about your day, even wearing a mask or looking through a plexiglass window, on the phone or on a computer screen, think about how your presence can impact another person in a positive way. Ask God to give you eyes to see neighbors, colleagues, and strangers the way He sees them.

Pastor William Del Casale

2 Samuel 7:8-9

God is reviewing the hand He has played in David’s life. Over the years, David had gone from lowly shepherd boy to the conquering king of Israel. It was God who won David’s military battles and who made David’s name great. The power of God was displayed in David’s life. We too have the power of God available to us, but often do not lay hold of it because our human nature wants to rely on our own strength in order to handle things on our own.

Ephesians 1:19 refers to the, “exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” Ephesians 3:20 mentions, “Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” And Colossians 1:9 says, “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy.” God wants us dependent on Him and promises His power in our lives. Rather than doing it on our own, let us be diligent to enter His rest, for God promises a rest for His people (Hebrews 11:9-11). God has a peace not available anywhere else. Through the power of Christ’s blood, we have peace concerning our eternal security and, while we remain here on earth, we have peace as we walk with Him in dependence on His power in our lives.

Jeff Mericle

When I really believe, understand, and remember that God is good, it will change the way I live!

When I read David’s words in Psalm 34:8, it reminded me of the story of Joseph who must have had a “God is Good” t-shirt on under his tunic, because he definitely lived his life knowing that. And it affected the way he lived.

In chapter 40 of the book of Genesis, we see Joseph sitting in prison, having been falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. He was probably still thinking about how his brothers had sold him into slavery. How did he handle all this? Well, we don’t see anywhere in the scriptures where he complains about his life or feels sorry for himself, like I might have. Despite all Joseph went through, he didn’t lose sight of the fact that God is good.

You might be going through a tough time where people have treated you poorly. You’ve been doing your best, but things just don’t seem to have worked out. Well, God’s plan and will for your life will make sense one day when the story is complete. And when you see the whole story, you will say, like David and like Joseph, “God is good!”

Trusting in Him,

Rich Kikuchi

Psalm 62:11

The pursuit of power is funny because all of man’s effort to seek power and exercise it are always chasing an illusion. Power gives us this idea of freedom because we think it grants us control. If you can control people or systems, you have power, or so one would think. But in reality, you don’t actually have power, what you do have is the opposite of power.

To be in bondage simply means to be controlled by something or someone else. And to those that think they are in control exercising power, they are ultimately being controlled by fears or lusts that are at the root of their desire for power. Those include fear of failure, fear of looking weak, fear of the unknown, or lusts for pleasure, lusts to be revered, lusts of all sorts that require a form of “power” to acquire these lusts or conquer such fears.

If we don’t have power, then who does? GOD! Power belongs to God and God alone. And for us to operate in any real power, is to submit to God and rely on His power to achieve or accomplish. That means our power comes in the form of submission and humility and power gained through any other means is bondage in disguise.

It is an easy thing to fall in to the trap of thinking you have power whether it be in your job, your marriage, or at church, so guard your heart and remind yourself regularly that ALL power belongs to God.

Pastor Jason Witt

Ephesians 4:29-32

I have heard the saying growing up “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.” This is only partly true because sometimes you need to say things that are not nice. For example, if there is something that needs to be corrected or called out. Through prayer, we want to correct that behavior and do it in a way that would encourage them and build them up with an element of grace. The world would love to use their words to tear down.

Paul reminds his readers, we are not like the Gentiles. They are given to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness (Ephesians 4:19). If we are indeed taught by Christ (Ephesians 4:21) then we are to put off the old man. Put off the old self with things like lying and let us speak truth to one another. Be angry but do not let your anger cause you to sin. These things grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30)

So join me today in putting off the old man with its corrupt way and put on the new man. Then when we speak, others are blessed.

Joshua Navarro

James 2:1

How many of you would say that you are a pretty good judge of people, that you can look at someone, maybe talk with them a little bit, and pretty much tell what they are all about? I know that in certain occupations this is a useful ability, with police officers, for instance. They look for body language, speech, nervous tics and other distinguishing signs to determine what a person might be up to. But for the rest of us in our day-to-day dealings with others, the habit of judging or pre-judging others is less than useful, it is downright sinful. James 2:9 says, “If you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

We are to be ambassadors for Christ, and as such there is no room in our lives for both faith and partiality, and the church is the first place to start because if we can’t show impartial love here in church, how can we expect to be lights out in the world? Jesus said in John 13:34-35 to His disciples, “…you love one another; as I have loved you,… By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Pastor Doug Hardin

Psalm 57:1-3

There are times when the pressures of life become a crushing weight upon you. You feel the waves crashing over you, pushing you deeper and deeper and when you finally catch your breath, a new set of waves come. The Christian life is not immune from trials and difficult seasons of life. When David wrote this Psalm, he was on the run for his life. Although David’s calamities were great, he knew he could take refuge in God. David was able to rest in God because he knew God would perform all things for Him and would send from heaven and save him.

Whatever situation you are going through, know that you have a refuge in God. It doesn’t matter what you have done to get into your situation or who the person persecuting you is. We serve a God who performs all things for us. The same God who sent Jesus from heaven to save us is still able to do the same today. Whatever calamities you face, cry out to the Lord and take refuge in the only One who can save!

For the King,

Pastor Daniel Batistelli

Ephesians 1:7a

A usual tactic that Satan tries to use against us as believers is convincing us that our redemption doesn’t come through Christ alone. I don’t mean to the point where we are trying to earn salvation, but maybe it’s to the point where you are trying to get back into “God’s good graces.” You have been redeemed through the blood of Christ forever and therefore have now had your life exchanged for the life of Christ!

Jesus is not just enough for your sin, He is more than enough and you are made perfect through Him. Dust off, go before the Lord and confess, and move forward because you have redemption through the blood of Christ and are perfectly loved by the Father.

Resting in Him,

Pastor Sean Boehm

John 15:1

We are all called to abide in Christ, but how do we do that? First, it’s helpful to understand the image Jesus is setting up in John 15. In the city of Riverside, California, there is an orange tree that is over 100 years old and is the original navel orange tree from which all the other groves were grafted and transplanted.

When Jesus says He is the true vine, it should be viewed as the original vine from which all others are transplanted. And the Father watches over the vine and tends it. Like He did when He told Joseph to take Mary as his wife and later told him to flee to Egypt to protect young Jesus from Herod’s wrath (Psalm 80:8-9).

So take some time today to meditate on the true vine, which is Jesus Himself and know that as living branches we too will be cared for by the Father.

Hanging on the vine,

Pastor Gerard Deleeuw

Jeremiah 33:3

Many Bible greats drew closer to the Lord while in prison. Joseph was able to interpret dreams while in prison and those interpretations led to him getting out and being made second in command over Egypt. Paul wrote many of his epistles while in shackles in Rome.

Jeremiah received the above verse from the Lord while in prison. It was a reassurance to the prophet that God had not forsaken him. Even though Jeremiah might feel alone and defeated, the Lord reminds him He’s still there and He wants to hear his prayers.

If you’re going through difficult times, remember this promise to the Weeping Prophet. When we call to God, He will answer us and show us things that will blow our minds!

Trusting in God and His promises,

Pastor Ron Kitchell