This is the fourth article in The Gathering 2017 Summer Devotional Series. The entire series can be viewed here.
“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. You make known to me the path of life; you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” —Psalm 16:8-9, 11
It’s always about what we’re seeing, isn’t it? Read More
This is the third article in The Gathering 2017 Summer Devotional Series. The entire series can be viewed here.
I have no idea when it happened, because I thought I had been paying closer attention. But when I looked over at my oldest daughter, with her legs crossed, her hair tucked, and her cheeks thinner than they used to be, I could almost feel the wind blow across my face from the years that have somehow flown by.
I can look into a mirror and count the lines on my forehead, and recount the years that put them there. How can faces change like that? How can the years evaporate just. like. that? Read More
This is the second article in The Gathering 2017 Summer Devotional Series. The entire series can be viewed here.
I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint, you kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of my past; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked you:
“Will you reject me forever? Will you never show your favor again? Has your unfailing love vanished forever? Has your promise failed for all time? Have you forgotten to be merciful? Have you, in anger, withheld your compassion?”
Then I thought, “I will make myself remember the years when you stretched out your hand. I will remember what you’ve done, I will remember how you’ve helped me. I will remember all your works and meditate on all your mighty ways.”
Because your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? (Psalm 77:1-13, NIV, author’s paraphrase)
There are lines of demarcation in every life—before and after something happened—that mark and divide our years, making a life feel split in two. Read More
This is the first article in The Gathering 2017 Summer Devotional Series. The entire series can be viewed here.
C.S. Lewis wrote:
“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.”
As if nothing had yet been done.
As if we didn’t feel like we’ve failed at this whole thing.
As if we hadn’t ripped a soul apart with what we said.
As if we weren’t carrying the pain that has made us heavy and tired. Read More
Yesterday was an exciting day for me. As a pastor, I have always been invigorated by seeing lives changed, families restored, and people finding hope. As I shared stories of people who call Relevant their church home, I looked out and saw the hundreds more in every service that I know of who have been impacted through our church. It has been an incredible six years as we have watched God move in our community and we have had the opportunity to be a part of it. As we now embark on year seven of the journey of Relevant Church, we are asking God to “DO IT AGAIN.” Read More
Week of Grand Opening
As Relevant’s Grand Opening weekend comes and goes, we realize that all of our collective efforts would fall short without God’s help and our utter dependence upon him. Over the next six days, would you pray specifically for our staff team and for those with whom you serve—that God would enable, empower, and protect them and their families? Let’s do it together!
Day 1 – SaturDATE Night Services
Day 2 – Pastor Carl and Julie Nichols (Jase and Trey) – Lead Pastor
Day 3 – Pastor Brandon and Laura Conn (Ava, Ellia, and Jack) – Worship Pastor
Day 4 – Pastor Mark and Melissa Einersen (Olivia, Natalie, and Brook) – Operations Pastor
Day 5 – Pastor Daniel and Tiffany Mead (Cooper) – Campus Pastor
Day 6 – Dream Team Volunteers – If you currently serve, pray for the people with whom you serve.
Remember…THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
DAY 20
Wear your t-shirt when you go out today and hand out at least 10 invites to people you come in contact with. Don’t force it, be natural. Put invites on cars, invite your child’s baseball team, or hand a card to a cashier.
DAY 19
From Newspring Church.
Read 1 Samuel 17:1-37.
David was not an “overnight success.” The unknown shepherd laid the groundwork for his victory against Goliath long before the epic showdown that made him a legend.
Before defeating Goliath, David was tasked with tending sheep (1 Samuel 17:15). Hardly heroic, the assignment was mostly unremarkable.
But David’s responsibilities required him to fend off bear and lion attacks. Read More
DAY 18
From Newspring Church.
Read 1 Peter 1:1-5.
A lot of people today make promises they can’t keep. They write checks they can’t cash. They say they’ll love you forever then leave. But that’s not the case with God. Our God is a promise maker and a promise keeper. God not only writes big checks, he can cash them, too. Read More
DAY 17
From Pastor Rick Warren.
“When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4 NLT)
You already know a lot of things God wants you to do with your life. So why haven’t you done them? God is not obligated to give you step 2 until you’ve already done step 1. Some of you keep saying, “I want to know God’s will for my career/marriage,” and God’s says, “Let’s get to the basics. Are you reading your Bible? Are you in a small group? Are you tithing? Are you talking with me?” You need to start doing what you already know to be the revealed will of God for your life. Read More
