Search Results for: hard times

Posted: 03 Jan, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

Each of us has our own unique path in life, but suffering is not unknown to any of us. Not only do we have past hurts, but we have a span of life looming in front of us which is undoubtedly seasoned with unknown types and intensities of grief. In this message, Steve shares some […]

Posted: 16 May, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

As we continue our series through Philippians, we’re going to take a look at the place of suffering in a Christian’s life. Suffering is very real, not only in the sense of the persecuted church, but also in the sense of the day-to-day struggles and battles that we face regularly. These sufferings, in whatever form, […]

Posted: 25 Aug, 2019 | Author: Dove Cranson

Sometimes life is impossible and overwhelming. Because God is with us, those times can refine us like gold into something beautiful.

Posted: 25 Mar, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ESV Sometimes in the midst of difficulty we can feel like something must be wrong. We aren’t naive. We know life is hard; but we don’t expect it to be this hard. When we try to make […]

Posted: 25 Feb, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ESV In human relationships, when we assess someone’s love, we don’t just take their word for it. It is not enough. We consider a wide variety of factors. How have they treated us? How have […]

Posted: 03 Jun, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV Is that the kind of love you desire? Sometimes instead of being “protected,” we get hurt by those we love. “Trust” is something that we value, but once that trust gets violated, it is hard to get it back. As long as […]

Posted: 20 May, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Having healthy relationships with every coworker, friend, and neighbor is nearly impossible. There is no way. It’s too hard. And that is why we need supernatural help. Thankfully, with God’s help, he can transform us (not them) into lovers of people. Download Handout: With blanks / Without blanks

Posted: 15 Sep, 2019 | Author: Steve Nelson

A counterintuitive approach to a fulfilling life is to live for God and spend your life loving his people. Then you can truly take hold of life!

Posted: 19 Jul, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson

As hard as the race may be, the finish line ends suffering and starts an amazing eternity. Understanding that the end is near helps us run well.

Posted: 16 Dec, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

Life is hard.  It is not what it was intended to be.  Because of the brokenness in this world, we all experience pain, loss, and suffering.  Grief is a path we must all walk through in this broken life.  It is a product of the broken world we live in.  When we are aware of […]

Posted: 23 Sep, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Proverbs 23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path. NIV11 Once, when I was a kid, my family went to church at a drive-in theater. My dad pulled up, put the speaker on his partially rolled-down window, and we quietly sat through the service. We were on vacation […]

Posted: 24 Jun, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

The words that come out of our mouths have the potential to bring good to someone else’s life or the potential to bring harm.  Sometimes things are hard to say but we should say them.  In those situations, how can we speak the truth with love? Download Handout

Posted: 26 Mar, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson

A fundamental way to fix our eyes on the unseen is to be continually aware that God is with us. It is a great comfort to us in times of grief and loss when we are aware of God’s loving presence. It also gives us confidence to do things that are greater than ourselves when […]

Posted: 26 Feb, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson

We should never be surprised when we find ourselves discouraged or even despondent. After all, we live in terrible times. Yet God offers hope in the midst of our trials. Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” We can find life from God even […]

Posted: 11 Dec, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

We can love people who are hard for us, but to do so we must see God’s good in ourselves, in others, and in His overarching plan for His people. In this message we look at spiritual gifts and how God has shaped each of us ways in various ways so that we can each […]

Posted: 29 May, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

It’s one thing to follow God when God asks something easy of us, but it is another thing to follow God when we have a completely different plan that we think is easier or better. To help us make good choices in these situations it is helpful to understand how we think. We need to […]

Posted: 14 May, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

If you had to play a game of high-stakes chess, would you accept the advice of a grandmaster? Would you even go so far as to taking the advice of the grandmaster even when it seemed like it was going to cost you dearly? This is similar to our wrestle of faith. There are times […]

Posted: 05 Apr, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

The Bible tells us that we will reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-9). It’s a basic concept that’s not too hard to understand. But why do some people do evil things and not seem to reap any negative consequences? And why is it that some people make the right choice and do not get a […]

Posted: 04 Jan, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

To experience genuine love and deep relationships we have to make some tough choices in our own lives. As hard as that is, those decisions we make to be patient, humble, protective, trusting, and hopeful produce a love that is tough enough to last.   Download Handout PDF

Posted: 10 Nov, 2019 | Author: Steve Nelson

In the midst of the heartache of life, we are loved by a God who gives us a living hope. And for that, we can give thanks.

Posted: 02 Feb, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson

In in times of struggle, it helps us to take heart when we remember the power, sovereignty, and compassion of God.

Posted: 10 May, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson and Dove Cranson

In this message, Dove and Steve highlight some timeless relational wisdom from the book of Proverbs.

Posted: 17 May, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson and Dove Cranson

In this message, Dove and Steve highlight some timeless relational wisdom from the book of Proverbs. Part 2.

Posted: 20 Mar, 2022 | Author: Dove Cranson

Loving others is not just a matter of mustering up more strength to love, but rather, to allow God to love you, and then to love through you.

Posted: 01 May, 2022 | Author: Steve Nelson

Putting on the armor of God is not hard or mysterious. It is resting in what Christ has done for us and living accordingly.

Posted: 17 Feb, 2019 | Author: Steve Nelson

Romans 2:13b-15 It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their heart, for their own conscience and thoughts […]

Posted: 24 Nov, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

This message looks at the fear and anxiety that can be in all of our lives at times.  It describes the process turning towards trust in an amazing and loving God.  This process involves realizing the anxiety, giving it to God in honest, worshipful prayer, asking God for what we need and then trusting in […]

Posted: 14 Oct, 2018 | Author: Tom Schwieger

Do you ever feel out of place? Although we are still in the world, we don’t have to be of it. We don’t have to fit in and be just like everyone else. God has called us to a different lifestyle. Although that may make us feel out of place at times, the blessing is […]

Posted: 26 Aug, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. NIV11 Sometimes suffering is […]

Posted: 22 Jul, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

At times, it seems like the solution to the pain of life and the path to find happiness is to change our circumstances, our bodies, our habits, our relationships, our jobs, our pastimes, or at least change something.  This message shows the potential to thrive wherever we are at in life—enjoying thankfulness for the little […]