Author: familyworshipctr

Dreams…Some are just thoughts we don’t put into action.  And some, people say are too big to happen.

For Joseph, “The Dreamer” dreams were his gift from God.  He dreamed dreams, lived them, and interpreted them.  His dreams were what propelled him from prison to the palace.  Joseph’s story is told in Genesis 37-50.  We learn that at the time when he was still in his father’s home, he was the youngest son born to his father, Jacob, at a very old age.  He was also the son of Jacob’s beloved wife, Rachel, who was barren for years before she got pregnant with Joseph.  Joseph sounds like a miracle child everyone would want to welcome with open arms, but it wasn’t exactly that way when it came to his brothers.  Joseph was given the infamous coat of many colors robe from his father, dreamed prophetic dreams that translated that he was superior to his family, and so much more that his brothers despised him for.  The hatred amongst his brothers got so much that they gathered up a plan to kill him.

Jesus wasn’t the only one who was betrayed by people he thought he could trust.  Joseph clearly had experienced betrayal as well.  The ones they both thought would’ve had their back, defending and supporting them…didn’t.  Their “loved ones” didn’t just leave them, they lied about them and sent them off to die.

Joseph ends up not dying but instead being sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s royal guard.  Later, Joseph was imprisoned for being falsely accused of an action he didn’t commit.  Sounds familiar- Jesus too was being plotted to be killed, chained and being falsely accused.

God wasn’t planning these set ups for a setback.  He was setting apart Jesus and Joseph to stand them up.  Sometimes your separation from the things that were once comfortable to you is really God sanctifying you for the biggest plan of your life.

God delivered Joseph out of prison by making him Pharaoh’s right-hand man.  Genesis 41:40-41 says, “You [Joseph] will be in charge of my court and all my people will take order from you… I put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”

What a faithful God we serve.  God raised up Jesus and Joseph above their enemies, trouble, hurt and disappointment.  At Jesus’ resurrection He even had His enemies right at His feet.  Joseph’s story ends similarly with his brothers bowing down to his feet as well.  But no matter what their enemies had done to them, both Jesus and Joseph forgave them.

Child of God, first don’t allow your enemies to steal your dreams.  Secondly, if you have enemies right now, rejoice because that just means your destiny is awaiting your arrival!  Lastly, forgive your enemies today.  Jesus innocently hung on the cross and with his final breaths whispered, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to forgive the ones who have wronged me.  Heal my broken and hurting heart.  Strengthen me so that I may be able to step in my destiny and dreams that are waiting for me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

*written by Megan Cochran

..because of the finished work of Christ, He promises to give us, “everything in abundance,” and more than we could ever expect!

            I think one of the best feelings on earth is when somebody pays for your food. (I know what Jesus said. Just hear me out.) I love food. I love people. So, of course, I love getting food (or coffee) with people. It’s one of the ways I get to see people I love, connect and grow a deeper relationship with those people. Many times, I set up a lunch date with a friend or a group and I expect to just eat, talk and go about my day. But, sometimes what I thought would just be “lunch” ended up being some of the best days of my life.

            I went to lunch with a friend I have not seen in years. We ate at Sonny’s (and I love Sonny’s), got caught up in each other’s lives, and had great conversation! What I thought would be the end of that, my friend ended up paying for my food and invited me to his house right after. I agreed. We get to his house, and we end up on his parents boat, ate some more good food and we ended up spending the entire day together. What I thought would be an awesome lunch, ended up being one of the most cherished memories and best adventures of my life!

            I think too often, we miss out on the fullness of what God has for us (especially me). Sometimes, I see Jesus as my ticket to Heaven and the One to forgive me when I slip up. Jesus did become our way to eternity in the presence of God, and He did die for us to be forgiven. In John 10:9-10, Jesus evens says He is the gateway. But Jesus follows that up with so much more.

            Jesus says, “to enter through me is to experience life, freedom and satisfaction.” We think Jesus is our way to Heaven, but because of the finished work of Christ, He promises to give us, “everything in abundance,” and more than we could ever expect!

            Of course, Christ died for us to be washed clean of our sin and so we can spend eternity with God. But Jesus also died so we no longer have to live in shame. Jesus died so we can have purpose here on earth. Jesus died so we have hope. Jesus died so we can be made whole. Jesus did not take the beating He did, shed the blood He shed, die the death He died just to be our ticket to Heaven. Christ did and always will always exceed our expectation. What Jesus did, did not stop at the cross.

            I want to challenge you during this sacred season to truly reflect on what Christ did. When you pray, ask God to show you how Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection influences your life today.

⁹ I am the Gateway. To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction. ¹⁰ A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect — life in its fullness until you overflow!

– John 10:9-10 (TPT)

*written by Chris Alvarez

Even though we might let go of His hand and become bitter, wild, and senseless; Jesus still reaches out for us.

As I’m chasing after him, yelling his name to stop and dragging our 5-year-old daughter with me, I see a truck backing out of a space right where he’s heading. The driver sees the sight heading for his tires and immediately stops just as I grab my son. The sound of the tires squealing scared him and he was balling his eyes out and had his face buried in my neck. I sank to my knees in the parking lot rocking him and thanking God he didn’t get hurt. I pulled him back a bit and looked into his scared, tear stained face and said, “That’s why you have to hold my hand”.

“Hold my hand”! I told our almost 2-year-old son as we crossed the street in the grocery store parking lot. He was going through this “really fun” phase of not wanting to hold our hands. He was wanting to run wild and free everywhere we went. As I grabbed his little, squirmy hand he did his best to wiggle away as was the usual these days for him but I knew all his tricks so he never got away. He was starting to whine and cry, making a scene as all toddlers do when they don’t get what they want. He really started to pull away and his little hand was just sweaty enough that he was able to break free of my grip. He realized he was free and immediately he was on the run!

How many times has this happened to you? How many times have you let go of Jesus’ hand? How many unanswered prayers have you been frustrated over? How many times have you tried to do things your way? How many times have you ran the opposite direction God wanted you to go and ran right into trouble? More times than you would like to admit I’m sure. Psalm 73: 21-22 says “Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant- I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you”. When my toddler son let go of my hand he immediately ran towards a dangerous situation. Like a wild animal, he didn’t want to be held and confined to one area! When we let our hearts become bitter and our actions become foolish we take off in every direction but the one God has laid out for us. We set ourselves up for sin and danger.

Jesus doesn’t just want to come alongside you. Jesus wants to hold your hand. He wants to keep you safe. He wants to grip you tighter when you start to drift. I could not fully protect my son by just having him by my side. He was too tempted to run off in every direction. By holding his hand in mine I knew I could keep him safe, that when he started to pull away I could pull him back towards me. Jesus wants that same relationship with you. For you to trust him enough that you let him take hold of your hand and grip it tight. Psalm 73: 23-24, “Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny”.

Those verses paint such a beautiful picture for us and how desperately we need Jesus. That even though we might let go of his hand and become bitter, wild, and senseless; Jesus still reaches out for us. He takes us by our hand and leads us to our destiny, our future. And that future is full of hope and goodness. (Jeremiah 29:11) Brothers and sisters don’t fight the hand that is holding yours. Let Jesus’ tender yet strong hands take yours and lead you into the destiny that has been appointed to you long before you were even born. Take encouragement and comfort in the knowledge that even if you do start to stray and you end up hurt or scared Jesus will be right there, taking you up in his arms saying “That’s why I told you to hold my hand”.

written by: Krissy Hairston

Do not just look “out” to who you can go help, look around to see if there is someone God has put close to you that you can add value to today.

Have you ever thought about how significant movements, choices and actions are to our culture? We have entire television stations, tremendous websites & apps, reporters and writers – all focused on tracking people’s movements, choices and actions. From sports to celebrities to musicians and politicians, everyone is looking at their actions to analyze and judge. This season I find myself doing the same with Jesus on the Thursday night He was taken to be crucified.

Jesus tells the disciples in Luke 22:15 how He was “..eager to have this meal with them..” and His movements and choices undoubtedly show us why. It was at this dinner Jesus would teach communion, and it was at this dinner Jesus makes a choice that should challenge us all…the choice to wash the disciples feet.

To give context, during this day and time they were not catching Ubers, or Lyfts, or riding in their pick-up truck. No, they were mostly walking…everywhere. They also typically wore sandals, so through the travels their feet were usually covered in dirt and filth from the roads and paths. When they would enter into a home or room for a meal the host would have a servant at the door with a basin to wash feet. But this night, it was not so…

Everyone entered the room but no one took care of the need of washing feet, and instead just went to the table – they just went on with what they were doing. But not Jesus. Jesus gets up and washes everyone’s feet. This is kind of absurd! Jesus did not need to do this! He had His assignment and He had His purpose. But Jesus responded to the need.

Then He tells them in verse 15 of John chapter 13, “I have given you an example to follow..”

What a move by Jesus! What a choice! To stop what He was doing and respond to what was in need and filthy around Him. It certainly leaves us with a choice, when we see a need that is out of place, dirty and broken…what will we choose?

These final actions of Jesus on Holy Thursday challenge us still to this day, what will we do with the need around us? As followers of Jesus we know what He has given us an example to do, but what will we do and honestly, where do we start?! I want to encourage you with this today…

Jesus started with those in the room with Him; He started with those around Him. Do not just look out to who you can go help, look around to see if there is someone God has put close to you that you can add value to today. God had Jesus around these disciples for a reason, to serve them so they would excel in their next. Guess what, God has people around you that you can serve and add value to where it sets them up to excel in their next.

I don’t know this to be fact, but I would imagine in that day when the feet were washed they could enjoy life a little more. They could go a little further in their travels and their next steps were a little easier. If it happened then, what could you serving someone around you do for them in their journey called life right now? So, what will you choose?

*written by Trevor Hersey

The Easter season is a time when we are reminded in vivid, even graphic, detail what Jesus went through for us.

In our everyday lives, it’s natural for us to be focused on our own struggles, challenges, failures and accomplishments. We are at times blinded by our worldly surroundings and put too much importance on the mundane. All the while Jesus went through hell for us, for our salvation; a living sacrifice to pay the ultimate price for our eternity in heaven. He did it without hesitation, without complaint, without protesting.

One of the most relatable human aspects of Jesus is He did ask God to take this cup of suffering, if it be God’s will (He did so in Luke 22:42). This is something we all can connect to and use as a lesson. When He realized this cup of suffering was in fact God’s will, as foretold in Isaiah 53, He didn’t question it. He accepted it. Such unimaginable bravery, considering what was ahead of Him, such immeasurable and boundless love.

This should put our worldly circumstances into perspective. Jesus literally overcame the world. All of it. Suffering, brutal torture and agonizing death. In so doing, saved us all from eternal damnation and empowered us for today. Every one of us.

Here’s the great news – if He fulfilled His assignment (as great as it was) that means so can you. As you read the scriptures below, see the reality of what Jesus endured and think “Am I really going to worry about the stress of my life today and tomorrow?”

—

Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord ’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord ’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord ’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Isaiah 53:1-12 NLT

written by Jason Davis

That night I was awakened to this truth: Jesus carried His cross and fully expects me to carry mine too.

I was a few months in my newly sold out walk with Christ. Like, over the top, 120% going after God! Of course one of my favorite things was to feed my spirit and listen to teaching of God’s Word. Needless to say, every time the church doors were open – I was there!

The church I was attending at the time was having a special guest speaker on this particular Wednesday night. I was excited because it was not a “typical” preacher, instead he was a business man. A business man from South Florida that drove all the way up to Palm Compton (also known as Palm Coast) to share with our church about God in the workplace.

I was excited! I got to the campus as soon as I could, found myself on the front left row of the sanctuary with notepad in hand. As he took the stage he said it…said something that shook me…

He quoted Jesus, in all 4 Gospels, saying “..pick up your cross and follow me..” Now, I’m sure I heard it said before, I’m sure I heard sermons include these scriptures. I actually even knew “carry your cross” meant “die to my selfish ways”, but this night was different and full of fresh revelation.

This was the night I was awakened to the truth: Jesus carried His cross and fully expects me to carry mine too.

That night I began to see how Jesus carried His cross as a picture, as an example for us to carry our cross. Jesus, in His assignment, did what I could never do by taking away the sins of the world, and in doing so He freed me to carry my cross and fulfill my assignment. Think about this, the cross was the reason Jesus left Heaven, so it represents the assignment Jesus had on the earth. In the same way our cross we are called to carry represents our assignment.

Every one of us have a divine assignment to carry out while we are on this side of eternity! To raise the stakes even more, every one of us have a part to play in healing broken humanity through the good-news of Jesus! What’s your part you may ask? It’s the cross you’ve been purposed to carry, it’s the assignment God has given to you. It is the thing that breaks your heart when you see it. That is your cross you have been assigned to, been purposed to carry.

I will never forget how God used the business man that night to speak with such grace and clarity. In a nutshell his sermon was “..assignments are not just on a platform, or on a social media post…assignments are the crosses you have been called to carry that will impact the very people around you.”

That night I went from “..wait, what cross?” to “Jesus, thank you for your cross & help me see mine.”

Pray this today,

Holy Spirit, show me my assignment, my cross I have been called to carry in this season. My heart is to serve You, Lord.

Let me see my clear next step in carrying my cross.

*written by Trevor Hersey

He loves every person on earth with that deep, personal love. So, during this sacred season, I want to encourage you to reflect on the depth of God’s loves for you.

I remember when I was in 6^th grade I entered a raffle at a local surf shop to win a brand new long board worth over $400. Tickets were $5 a piece and I figured it would boost my chances if I bought a few tickets. I did not have a lot of money but I spent $50…everything I had. If I had more money, I would have spent more money. I really, really wanted that longboard!

      A few weeks go by and my mom answers the phone, and turns out I won the board! What was interesting though is there were 10 entries. Tickets were $5. I spent $50. I was the only person in that raffle. I think it speaks a lot to how we view God and how God views us.

      We all get caught in the trap of “increasing” our chances of earning God’s love. We do well to others, we try stay away from curse words, go to church and hope that we can gain God’s love. It logically makes sense: we give our best and God will love us. We increase our chances, and maybe we’ll win. That might work in a raffle, but not in the heart of God.

Isaiah 49:16 says this: “Indeed, I have inscribed a picture of you on the palm of my hands.”

      God has your face on the palm of His hands. Let that sink in. Psalm 139:17 says that God is thinking of you every single moment! God is obsessed with you. He’s so obsessed that He sent His son to die for you.

      The craziest thing to grasp is how personal His love is for you and me. Just like how I was the only person in the raffle, God loves you like you’re the only one on earth. His love is so great and personal, that He loves each and every person on earth like they were the only ones there.

When Jesus died on the cross, He did not think of the world as a whole. He thought of every single soul He was saving through His suffering. The pictures engraved on the hands of God are not pictures of your family. It’s pictures of you, your spouse, your child, your mother, your father, etc. I really believe He looks at each picture individually, and does not think of who you are associated with. He thinks of you and how much He loves you.

God does not love the groups or organizations you are a part of. He loves you. He loves every person on earth with that deep, personal love. So, during this sacred season, I want to encourage you to reflect on the depth of God’s loves for you. Understand that you were not just included by association. God delights in you. Jesus came to defeat sin, death and shame because He loves YOU.

*written by Chris Alvarez

We need to remember He’s no longer on the cross or in the tomb!

Annual celebrations can become redundant, ritualistic, emotionless moments that we check off our task list as a completed project rather than its intended reason to remember. We mark things on a calendar because we want to remember. We have national holidays as an opportunity to gather around a day symbolically to remember, to commune, to learn or to simply celebrate.

Let us remember what God did, how Jesus hung there for us, was bruised, beaten and humiliated for our sins as He hung there sinless and blameless as we approach Resurrection Sunday.

We also need to remember He’s no longer on the cross or in the tomb! Praise the Lord! He has RISEN! He is ALIVE! He is preparing a place for you in eternity until His triumphant return. The last supper was intended to help His disciples, the ones that followed Him then and the ones that follow Him now, remember:

• to serve John 13:1 the washing of their feet was an expression of “eis telos” Greek word for love without limits
• to be an example of our faith in action and in attitude John 13:2-10 the whole foot washing experience was symbolic of the spiritual cleansing and serving one another regardless of, title or position. Christ having the highest position possible put into action how to act as well as the attitude of humility
• to fulfill prophecy from previous scripture known as the new commandment John 13:34-35 God had prepared for this moment from before the fall of Adam and Eve. God never gave up on His beloved creation, that’s you and that’s me.
• to be aware of satan’s influence while we are here waiting, serving and believing; remember there are still ones that will reject, betray, lie, steal and harden their hearts to Jesus. John 13: 27
• to remember we have a purpose and God’s plan is the same yesterday, today and forever. Though the commandment to love is not new the Hebrew word here is “kainen” meaning to be fresh, vibrantly new. The call hasn’t changed on our lives but sometimes we need fresh eyes to see it. John 13:34-35

All of this to say that the greatest love story ever written is you. You were created by the uncreated one that created everything. But you, sweet one, were created to be loved by Him.

³⁴ So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35

written by: Kelliann Howard

New life, restoration, renewed hope, and new beginnings is ours. This is the Resurrection season!

Jesus’ Resurrection gives us the power to have our own death to life experience and this season is the perfect time to remind ourselves of this truth.  No matter how far we’ve strayed, how dry, burned out, exhausted, stressed and depressed we are.  We have this hope as the anchor for our souls (Heb. 6:19).  New life, restoration, renewed hope, and new beginnings is ours.

In Ezekiel 37:1-14, we read that the Spirit of the Lord took Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones.  These dry bones represented the people of Israel’s spiritual death.  These bones said to be old, completely dried out and all hope gone from them.  To my interpretation these people had nothing left to give.  They were done and all hope that they once had had ran out.  Have you been there?  Of course, you have, we all have been there or maybe we are there at this very moment.  God saw these people that had built themselves a grave.  He saw their hurt and distress; and spoke to them.  “Dry bones, listen to the Word of the Lord! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!” Eke. 37:4. God doesn’t leave you the same as you once were.  These bones were not only now covered with new flesh and muscle, but God called forth winds to breathe new life into these dead bodies so that they may live again.

A great army arose, stood up on their very own feet, and came to life once again.  This concluded with God releasing this army from their graves of exile and returning them home.  He returned and activated them on assignment.

I hear of the sound of rushing wind searching to and fro looking for people who need this living breath to help them arise and feel alive again.  God is calling you out of that grave that you have either buried yourself or the enemy has suffocated you into.  Arise, child of God.  Return and activate on your assignment from the living God.  He sees you, He is calling you and He is speaking to you.

Your comeback is coming with a roar.  When Jesus took His last breath on the cross the earth shook, and tombs were opened.  The dead were raised to life even then.  And again, when He was raised to life on the third day, there was a great earthquake.  Child of God, the enemy is going to know that you have won this battle.  That you are alive and living well in Jesus Christ!  Make a loud roar for no grave can hold you down nor hold you back.

Dear Heavenly Father, I open my ears for you to speak to me.  I pray that you will breathe your living breath on the inside of me so that I may feel alive again.  Restore me, renew me, and use me.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

written by: Megan Cochran