HBC service for January 21st are Canceled ...  Read More

Lighthouse 3: PrayerDoes God hear me? Does He see my pain? And … will He help me? These are common questions, especially for those of us wrestling with our mental health.Verses like this one that we just saw today offer hope:Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NIVThis tells us that we c...  Read More

Lighthouse 2: Trusted FriendsOut at sea in the middle of the storm, you’re losing confidence that you’ll make it through. But then you see some light in the distance and feel a sense of hope. Why? You know you’re not alone.Do you ever feel alone? Like your unique mental health has isolated you from others? If you can relate, know this: You’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate your mental h...  Read More

LighthousesMental health challenges can make you feel like your mind is caught out in the open ocean. Some days are peaceful, while others are chaotic. Any day could bring moments of peace, terrifying storms, or aimless drifting.How can we navigate our unpredictable mental health? And how can we move forward when we don’t know if our minds will cooperate with our plans, responsibilities, and dream...  Read More

Fruitful life‘By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.’ John 15:8 NKJVDo you want to know the will of God for your life? Listen: ‘I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain’ (John 15:16 NKJV). ‘But what if my branch is barren and my basket is empty?’ you ask. Listen: ‘Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away’ ...  Read More

How can I change?‘Be transformed (changed) by that [entire] renewal of your mind.’ Romans 12:2 AMPCAre you wrestling with a certain problem, thinking, ‘If I could just get beyond this, everything would be all right?’ Sorry to disappoint you, but when you’ve conquered this particular problem, God will reveal something else that needs to be dealt with. Relax – you’re always going to be working on so...  Read More

Ezra 8:21-23Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.  For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him...  Read More

Dealing with your weakness‘He remembered that they were but flesh.’ Psalm 78:39 NIVWe all have weaknesses, but the ones we refuse to deal with: a) draw us magnetically toward the wrong things, b) give Satan a foothold, which quickly becomes a stronghold and c) schedule tragedy down the line. Be warned: your weakness can emerge at any time, including your closing years! What you fail to master now ...  Read More

Replace bad habits with good ones‘O God...guide me on the road to eternal life.’ Psalm 139:23-24 MSGAny habit you keep feeding will only strengthen its grip on your life. Ask a recovering alcoholic – they only change when they ‘hit bottom’. Prodigals don’t come home until they’ve lost everything (see Luke 15:32). But that doesn’t have to be your story, for your Father is waiting to welcome you bac...  Read More

Do what pleases God‘Do what is right.’ Psalm 4:5 NCVDay after day Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he said no. He gave her no time, no attention, no chitchat, and no reason for hope. ‘He did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her’ (Genesis 39:10 NKJV). When she called, he didn’t answer the phone. When she texted, he didn’t text back. When she showed up, he ‘fled and ran outside...  Read More

Does anyone else get frustrated when their prayers don’t get immediately answered?Me too.My prayers are desperate when I’m starting over because I don’t want to repeat the pain of the past and I don’t want to deal with any more regret in the future. I long for God to move powerfully in this present moment as I begin again.Truthfully, I’m coming to God with an ASAP attitude - “God, please give me w...  Read More

Ten years ago, my wife and I took a trip for our anniversary. The cute little bed and breakfast we stayed in offered us a free wine-tasting card. As young parents of a toddler, we stretched every bit out of that free card!At one particular winery, we were offered a tour with a brilliant and patient guide. I asked him a zillion questions and gained tremendous insight into the significance of what J...  Read More