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"I have been crucified with Christ."Galatians 2:19 (Originally published in October 2020, this week's devotionals were part of the Real Identity sermon series.) Why is identity so important, and sometimes so difficult? It's important because it's the way we live: I live according to my understanding of who I am. If I know myself as a zero, a nothing, a mistake that shoul...
Keep Reading"Do not set aside the grace of God."Galatians 2:21 (Originally published in October 2020, this week's devotionals were part of the Real Identity sermon series.)Real IDis the TSA-compliant identification needed to board a flight beginning May 2025. It is proof, stamped with a gold star, to validate I am who my government ID says I am.Real IDis freeprovided I have offered p...
Keep ReadingI do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,Christ died for nothing!"Galatians 2:21 (Originally published in October 2020, this week's devotionals were part of the Real Identity sermon series.) Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I'm found, Was blind, but now I see! Ama...
Keep ReadingFor through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have beencrucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I livein the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me andgave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousnesscould be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!Galatians 2:19...
Keep ReadingOur current Connect Devotional team is taking a hiatus for the summer, and we'll be reprinting archived devotionals until they return to regularly scheduled writing in August. While the archives won't necessarily align with the current sermon series, they are certainly still applicable. We hope you enjoy these "blasts from the past!" "For through the law I died to the law...
Keep Reading"All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall treeand make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it." Ezekiel 17:24 [Originally published in August of 2020, this series combined with Pastor Alex's and Pastor Jaime's sermons to kickstart the Noble Cedar story that has...
Keep Reading"'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'I myself will take a shoot from the very topof a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shootsand plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of IsraelI will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar.Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will fi...
Keep Reading"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shootfrom the very top of a cedar and plant it I will plant it I will plant it;it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble cedar."Ezekiel 17:22-23 [Originally published in August of 2020, this series combined with Pastor Alex's and Pastor Jaime's sermons to kickstart the Noble Cedar story that ha...
Keep Reading"I (the Lord) will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruitand become a noble cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it;they will find shelter in the shade of its branches."Ezekiel 17:23b [Originally published in August of 2020, this series combined with Pastor Alex's and Pastor Jaime's sermons to kickstart the Noble Cedar story that has become the vision for Ch...
Keep ReadingOur current Connect Devotional team is taking a hiatus for the summer, and we'll be reprinting archived devotionals until they return to regularly scheduled writing in August. While the archives won't necessarily align with the current sermon series, they are certainly still applicable. We hope you enjoy these "blasts from the past!" Ezekiel 17:22-24 [Originally publishe...
Keep ReadingJosiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites,and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God (2 Chronicles 34:33). "Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better" (Maya Angelou). This week, our study focused on Josiah, the 16th king of Judah. During his rule, "he did what was ri...
Keep ReadingSo Hilkiah and those whom the king had sent went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter) and spoke to her to that effect (2 Chronicles 34:22). The prophetess Huldah not quite one of the Old Testament prophets we hear very much about. But don't let the brevity...
Keep Reading"But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have inde...
Keep Reading"Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord which is poured out on us because our fathers have not observed the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book." So Hilkiah and those whom the king had told went to Huldah th...
Keep ReadingJosiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father David,not turning aside to the left or the right (2 Chronicles 34:2). As we continue our Signature Moments series, we look this week at Josiah, king of Judah for 31 years (~640-609 BC). Israel's experience with kings was mixed, with many more bad kings than good. The nation ping-ponged ...
Keep Reading"As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by theLevitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be adistance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that youmay know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before" (Joshua 3:4). The beginnin...
Keep Reading"Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." (Joshua 3:5) When I look at Joshua, the charismatic warrior, leader, and successor of Moses, he seems so mature. He has a faith in God that is so strong, he believes God will do a miracle and doesn't hesitate to prepare for it. He tells the priests to prepare and giv...
Keep Reading"And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river'" Joshua 3:7-8. It was finally time for God's people to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Lan...
Keep Reading'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'" Joshua 3:8b I don't have a lot of firsthand knowledge about the ocean or even lakes, but I do know rivers and creeks and streams; I grew up swimming and fishing and playing in or near all of them. The creeks closest to my childhood home flooded often when it rained. The waters would rise and tur...
Keep ReadingJoshua 3:10-13 ESV How many times do you think you've signed your signature on something? Maybe it was on a check at a restaurant, or the paperwork for a car, or simply just the closing of a Happy Birthday letter to a friend. Every time you go to sign your signature though, do you notice that it is always a teeny tiny bit different than last time you did it? Or maybe you...
Keep ReadingSo he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel."Genesis 32:27-28. I recently attended a Christian retreat at the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove in Asheville. I was by myself and didn't know any of the other attendees. It was a little awkward and I felt lonely at first, but we all wore tags w...
Keep Reading"So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome." (Genesis 32:22-32) I'm...
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