Squirrels are amazing animals. They prepare for winter every year by hiding acorns during the summer months. Then, when winter arrives, they retrieve the hidden acorns. Survival mode – how do they know where to locate their hidden acorns?Even under heavy snow, the squirrels remember the locations of their buried treasures. At times, we as human beings have difficulty remembering where we left our ...

Psalm 139 is very dear to my heart, as it is the one God used to break through my stubborn resistance to God's call for me to serve in ministry. I had many excuses, and each one convinced me that I was not capable or prepared. Self-doubt consumed me, but God remained steadfast in God's belief in me. After years of struggling with my fears and shedding countless tears, God directed me to Psalm 139....

As I contemplate this month’s sermon series, “Rising Strong,” and couldn’t help but think about all of the group exercises I attended. Usually, as you approach the final few minutes of the forty-minute workout, I can almost guarantee that my instructor will yell out, “Finish strong!” Every personal trainer or group fitness leader I’ve known uses the phrase a few minutes before cooling down. They k...

A friend has been battling heart problems for several years. Her journey has seen periods of good health followed by times of immense struggle. Recently, her health issues took a turn for the worse, and her doctors determined that she needed extensive open-heart surgery. This wasn’t just a routine procedure; it involved valve replacements, ablations, hole repairs, and more.In the early hours befor...

We have many seasons that we observe as we go through this life, and the most obvious ones are of course the seasons of Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall. There are certain characteristics that can define each season even if a person doesn’t live in an area where they are extremely evident.For those who are sports fans, perhaps some of the seasons above don’t ring a bell, but your seasons consist o...

Where is God in our suffering? Has He forgotten about us? How will we ever get through this? Sometimes when we are going through situations, we feel like we are the only ones going through it.  We feel alone and abandoned. It can often feel like during our darkest nights God is nowhere to be found.   Are you feeling alone or lonely today? At some point in our lives, everyone will feel alone or exp...

Have you ever responded with “It is good to be seen” when someone said, “it’s good to see you”? This response means we’re happy to be alive. But it can sometimes make others wonder if we’re glad to see them too or if it was all about us. I mention this because sometimes we’re so busy thinking about ourselves that there’s no room for others. We all have a desire to be seen. We ache to be, not only,...

Any person who knows me well, knows that I am an early riser. I like to wake up early, have my cup of tea and meditate on God’s word before leaving for work.Individuals have asked, how can I be so cheerful in the mornings? The Word of God says “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” This joy I have did not happen overnight; it took lots of prayers, fasting and meditation. Learning to praise God dur...

Fill With AweActs 2: 43Written by Rev. Kay DubuissonTwo weeks ago, I had a life-changing experience at the Proctor Institute in Clinton, Tennessee. Over 450 faith leaders and activists gathered at CDF Haley Farm. It was a peaceful place where people from diverse backgrounds came together for one purpose - to support children’s well-being in their communities across the country.Each morning, we had...

Most of us have felt like we have been backed into a corner at one time or another. We wake up one morning to a multitude of unplanned events: weather disasters, illness, loss of a loved one, loss of income, and even costly mistakes. Things can look hopeless; however, it is what we do next that counts.When Elisha’s servant (Gehazi) woke one morning and saw the overwhelming odds against the two of ...