I'm surprised it took me this long to share...

From the Pastor's Desk

A few weeks ago, I was asked to be on a testimony podcast called The Unseen Story where I told my story of being called into ministry, NOT obeying the call, and the wild ride we went on that led us to where we are now. It was surprisingly emotional to tell the whole story like this, so after the episode was released, I didn't promote it or share it much. I sent it to Miguel, who originally connected me with the podcast, and I sent it to my parents, who sent it to about 400 of their friends! 

I haven't even shared it with the church yet, but we have Stories and Songs coming up NEXT Sunday (December 8), so I figured this was the perfect time to testify about what God has done. 

The story is on YouTube on The Unseen Story page, but the podcast version is better because the hosts of the podcast actually talk about the story before and after. 

Enjoy my story, Overcoming Idols, on The Unseen Story podcast.

Notes from the Sermon







Sermon Title: A Sign for You: Celebration and Longing
Sermon Video: A Sign for You
Scriptures: | Luke 1:26-38 | 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 | Isaiah 9:6-7 | Corinthians 5:2-5 |


What to Believe

  • What is impossible from a human standpoint is possible for God.

  • Even though we are fickle and forgetful, prone to wander and to stray, God is faithful. He fulfills His promises. He even comes to us.

  • Jesus has been put on the throne that God has established. He cannot be removed from His place above all authority. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. This is according to God's will. It cannot be undone. It is done. 

  • He was faithful to His people in His first coming. God is faithful to His people and faithful to keep His promises. 

  • God will be faithful to His people as in His second coming. He came to us and fulfilled the promise. He paid the cost of our sins and rose again to have us follow Him into new life. He will be faithful again to fulfill the promise of calling us into eternal life with Him. 

  • The Holy Spirit has been given to us to guarantee that eternal life is our future.

  • There are two responses to the truth of God's second coming. First, we celebrate His faithfulness as the unified body of Christ, a response that causes us to praise Him and encourage one another to keep pressing into Him. A second response is a yearning for Him, a desperation that causes us to ask Him to contrast our discouragement and heaviness with the anticipation for the new life as citizens of Heaven. 

  • His faithfulness in the scriptures encourages us and causes us to yearn for Him to show His faithfulness to us in our present circumstances. 

  • There will be a day when our tents (our bodies) will be swallowed up, and we will put on immortality, but until then, we still experience pain and brokenness.

How to Obey

  • Like Mary, respond to the will of the Lord accordingly, "I am the Lord's servant; let it be done to me as you have said." 

  • Ask the Lord for a desire to submit to His will. Pray for His hand to shift your heart to be open to His plan for your life. Ask Him to fill you with joyful anticipation for His Son and the coming kingdom.

How to Walk Intimately with God

  • God made a way to come to you, and He made a way to remain among you. Jesus, who is Emmanuel–meaning “God with Us”–died to make those who believe in Him right with God. Through the Holy Spirit, those believers are empowered to walk with Him and serve Him according to His ways. Find your identity in this. Make this truth foundational in your life. God came to you and now lives within you. 

  • Submit your fears and rest in Him. He has made promises to you and will be faithful in fulfilling them. Submit your heaviness to Him and take upon your shoulders the lightness He offers. Submit to Him, and He will bless you. He will allow you to see how tender and lovingly He has already cared for you. Release the grip you have on your life. Submit it all to He who loves you so tenderly and mercifully. His heart is so tender to His people. 

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