You have an incredibly amazing story. Yes...YOU!  Maybe you're thinking your story is anything but amazing or incredible. Not so! Your story was written by the Lord God creator of  Heaven and Earth before you were even born. He is The Author of your story. He knows every twist of the plot. He knows every unexpected turn you've taken. He knows every tear you cried. He knows every joy that floods your heart. He knows each heartache and every fear and regret that  overwhelms your soul. There are no surprises to The Author of your story. He has already been where you have been. Your future? He's already there! Psalm 139:16 says..."All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  No matter how wonderful your story may have been or still is...or how messy and broken your story may have been or still is...doesn't matter to God The Author. There is purpose on every page of your book...that will be used for His Glory. This Author not only brings hope to each page of your life now...but promises you a Happily (Heavenly) forever after. Something the New York times bestseller list can never do. Grace...Pastor Dave!

We see SO many times in God's word how the movement of our God  unfolds in powerful and absolute unexpected ways. His moving isn't attached to a time slot alloted Him, committee or chance. The movement of  God unfolds NOW. Faith unfolds NOW. The ministry of the The Holy Spirit unfolds NOW. Often it's easy to get hung up on the mechanics of it all. What ministry looks like. What outreach look like. We never done this before. Who's going to do it. We "normalize" defeat by deciding what God can and cannot do. As a result nothing happens. Zero. Zip. Nada. Often churches become "comfortable" with powerless services, empty altars, broken lives and the many lost souls among us. The church universal has settled too long with this mind set and you'd have to live on an island not see it happening today. Isaiah 6:8...Isaiah speaking: "Here I am send me!" It's Isaiah's response to God's call! I think about this with our Trinity Youth. God is calling to their young heart's and our youth proclaim boldly and unashamedly "Here WE are send US!" The Fire of The Holy Spirit is moving and bringing REVIVAL all across this land, the world and Oak Hill Ohio through heart's of young people everywhere right NOW. At TWC we are totally blessed and rejoice with the teens and young adults who are desperately longing for and experiencing The Holy Spirit's Fire. The blaze is just starting!!! When you get youth who are over the top excited for Jesus and The Holy Spirit together look out! Heart's with a passion for Jesus and other's and a longing to see God's hand move...is straight up REVIVAL!  Isaiah 43:18-19 says..."See I AM doing a NEW thing; NOW...it  springs up. Do you not perceive it? I AM making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."  When it says "Do you not perceive it?" Basically this means "Can't you see the power of God moving?"  I can! Let's cover our youth in prayer and celebrate ALL that God is doing and will do at TWC and beyond. Grace..Pastor Dave

New Year, New Love

Matthew 5:43-48 "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."


The bible study I'm working on talked about love for a solid week! There is one type of love which we can't manifest without God, and it's called 'agape' love.

Agape love is Godly love. He loves us without conditions or limitations. He calls us to love not only our church family this way, but also our enemies! Love like the Samaritan had for the Jew when he was beaten and left on the side of the road.

This love isn't just a feeling, it's an action. It's stepping out when you don't feel any love. God shoes His love for us and the biggest way he showed us was this:

Romans 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

While we make new years resolutions, let one of the most important ones be to love others with 'agape' love. Don't just tell someone you love them, move in action and with intention! Visit the lonely, pray for everyone that God puts on your heart, comfort those in affliction, give what and where you can whether that be time or donating to a food pantry. Let's love like God and show others the path to Jesus Christ.

All glory to God! Praise Him today! Kylee Hayes

Jesus speaking..."I give them ETERNAL  LIFE, and they shall NEVER perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10:28.
I love to read. But I'm wondering is it just me or do you ever skip to the last couple pages of a book you are interested in reading just to see how it all ends? Did good prevail? Did the family reunite? Did the dream come true? Did the butler do it? Did the guy get the girl? Even when you know exactly how it ends in the the last couple  pages of a book, you still remain totally clueless because you don't know the beginning, middle, the whens, how's, why's and where's of the whole story. The book scenario is kind of like life. With Jesus we can absolutely  know the end of of our story because He promises His children a glorious and eternal forever. But we don't know the chapters of our story as they unfold each day.  We don't know the whole story of our lives yet being written. The twists and turns. The life  detours. The struggling chapters. The overwhelming chapters. The victorious chapters. The chapters we'd rather not have in our story. Though we can't know our whole story we CAN  know the last chapter. No matter what the rest of our life story which is  still  being written holds for us...we can be sure of the final chapter because Jesus the Author of life and our story promises (John 10:28) an eternity with Him! Oh yes this is the best ending (or should I say beginning??) to our story any child of God could ever hope for. There is only One Author that could ever make this promise. The Author of life and your story...Jesus. You are eternally His! Grace! Pastor Dave

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18.  Scars. Some you can see and others are invisible but deeply felt nonetheless. The truth is everyone has scars. Some are physical scars and others are painful  scars of the heart. There are people that may choose to avoid you because of your scars. They may use the scars you have against you. They may judge you, make you feel unworthy and sadly because of your scars, see you as "less than." But NOT God! He embraces all of who you are. Every part of YOU. There are no  physical scars or scars of the heart that will lessen His love for you. In fact, God uses each and every scar both visible and invisible ones (scars of the heart) to pour out His healing love and loving grace all over you. The scripture says "He is close to the brokenhearted..." He will meet you at the very place of your brokeness to draw you close to His heart and His healing! You have a savior who is crazy in love with you...scars and all! Grace! Pastor Dave

Ephesians 2:10 says "YOU are God's masterpiece". You are one of a kind! You're not a duplicate...but an original!  Know that any joy or peace you experience  will go right out the door when you submerge yourself in  the comparison trap. Comparison is a very effective and major weapon in satan's arsenal, with the sole purpose of absolutely undermining who God says YOU are. Comparison paints a false picture that everyone has it better than you. Other's husband's, wives  finances, homes, kid's,  jobs, cars, vacations and even churches leave you wanting to have the "perfect" life that others appear to be living. Obviously social media can be HUGE avenue (and contributor) that leads the way in  getting your heart entangled in comparison. When your  goal is trying to  measure up to everyone else's  "perfect life"  (instead of being there for your own) the guaranteed outcome is a joyless life filled with jealousy,  resentment and defeat. In a "filtered" world its easy to lose ourselves in trying to be who we are not. Stop pursuing and chasing the lives of others through comparison and embrace the YOU God made YOU to be. You are the only you there will ever be...and since Ephesians 2:10 says "YOU are God's   masterpiece"...be assured you are the best and only version of you ever created. Grace! Pastor Dave

 "Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did." (1st John 2:6 )  "Live as Jesus did" four simple but powerfully life changing words. (Live as Jesus did) Straight up even though we may fail to do this at times...this should be every Christian's deepest desire and greatest goal.When  you think about Peter and forgive the friend who may have hurt and deserted you. When you think about  Zaccheus and look beyond a person's past and present and offer them hope to become the person they can truly be  in Jesus. When you think about the Samaritan woman at the well and offer THE water of life to those heart's who other's would cast aside and have nothing to do with. When  you think about  the woman humiliated and  frightened beyond words being  thrown on the ground before an angry mob and you gently reach down to lift up the one who has fallen. When you think about and care for the very "least of these"  (whoever the very least of these in your world may be) when nobody else ever will. When you reach out to the unnoticed, cry with the hurting, encourage the broken and love the unlovable. May our heart's each and everyday grow to be more like our Savior and live out these four life changjng words "live as Jesus did". Rejoicing in His Grace! Pastor Dave.

"Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father In heaven." Matthew 5:16  What shines brighter than any star? What reaches to the darkest of places and brings hope?  It's the light of God's love. When we let God's love  shine through  our lives this hurting and dying world catches a glimpse of His presence  in us. So what are we waiting for? Lets allow the awesome  love of God  to  shine through us EVERYDAY.

 Rejoicing  in His Grace! Pastor Dave

"People look at the outward appearance,  but the Lord looks at the heart." 1Samuel 16:7.  When we give our hearts and lives to Jesus He changes the way we see ourselves and the way we see others.  We begin to see the pain behind the smile. The loneliness behind the rejection and the desperation buried in brokeness. Outward appearances mean NOTHING to God. And...they should mean nothing to us as well. Today let's see others as God sees them...loved, cherished and valued.

All the Days

"ALL the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16. You have an  awesome  story. How can you know? Because your story was written by God Himself  before  you were even born. No matter where on the journey of life you go, God has already been. You can have hope, joy, peace and assurance  as you entrust your story to Him.

Pastor Dave

" He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart." Isaiah 40:11 For those who are soul-weary, falling apart, overwhelmed,  broken AND cry out..."I just can't do this anymore!" Reach out  to God and He will scoop you up in His arms and carry YOU close to His heart just like the verse says. There is NO safer place to be then close to the heart of God. And even with all the brokeness, uncertainty, fear, overwhelmed,  angry, frustrated and anxious  things that flood your heart...there is NO heart He  longs more to hold close to HIS and love on and heal...than your ♥ Rejoicing in His Grace!  Pastor  Dave

Love Conquers All

   God tells us in his word that Love is the most important thing in your life. His love for us of coarse, but our love for others and their brokenness and feelings of hopelessness. Love at times defies logic. When you look at it from a worldly perspective. People will ask you why are you putting yourselves through these things? Well, just push that person to the side. They have too many issues and are nothing but a problem. They are taking too much of your time.You must ask yourself. Is this how Jesus would act in this situation? I am so glad Jesus didn’t do that to me.

     Jesus has compassion for those who don’t measure up and have many issues. He went to where they were. He talked with them and walked with them. He would sit down among them and show them love for those who were not pictures of perfection. They needed much help in a lot of areas. I am still not perfect today. But I serve a God who is! I am covered by his blood because he loved me. He LOVED me! A sinner that was headed to HELL.

    God gives us a mission to help others who are in the struggle. Sometimes it won’t be easy and there are trials you will go through because you are showing love to someone who doesn’t even love themselves. Jesus put that all aside. The struggles, the pain, the burdens and went to the cross for all of humanity. What love he showed us and is our example. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
[4] Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud [5] or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. [6] It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. [7] Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Just when you might think I can’t do it anymore. It’s not worth it. I have reached my end with trying to help. Remember what Christ did for us.

Pain is not without purpose. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10). “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).


Blessings, Pastor Kevin

Faith

Hebrews 11:1-3 NLT
[1] Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. [2] Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. [3] By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.


  By Faith all things our possible. By faith I came to Christ at age 36. By faith I believe that God created this world and everything I see in it. By faith I’ve seen miraculous healings. By faith I’ve seen people saved that I never thought would have had a chance.

  It never ceases to amaze me that science tries to prove that God doesn’t exist or the creation started from some toad in the water. Just have them ask a person that came from a life of drug addiction, a thief, a drunk, a person caught up in pornography, an adulterer, a lier, or any other sin imaginable. What Jesus has done for them in their lives. Turning the old man into a completely different man through faith. Science can’t see it because the faith has to be there to have it revealed to them.

  You can’t see the unseen without faith first.
It is an amazing concept that only a Christian can attain. The book of Hebrews chapter 11 is the faith chapter. Set down a read the wonderful things that happened because of their faith in God. Maybe your at that point caught between what the world says and what the Bible says. You are seeking and searching trying to figure it all out. You are at faiths doorstep. Jesus is right there to help you through the door. No matter where you are in life. It starts with FAITH!

Have a Blessed Day!

Pastor Kevin

 Tears! There are tears of joy. Tears of anger. Tears of frustration. Tears of being overwhelmed by God's presence. Tears of gratitude. And... tears of a broken heart. Tears from brokenness can weigh so heavy and be so overwhelming that often they seem endless. Each day is a challenge as you try to hide the tears your heart is overflowing with. When actually there is NO reason to hide them at all. In the New Testament book of John chapter 11 there is a powerful story of Jesus meeting with two sisters Mary and Martha because their brother and a dear friend of Jesus...Lazarus died. A mighty miracle was JUST around the corner where Jesus was going to call Lazarus back to life. But verse thirty- five in John chapter 11 ...simply says "Jesus wept" Why would Jesus' weep with the miracle of calling Lazarus back to life just about to happen?  Here's why...the tender heart of Jesus felt the pain, the sorrow and the brokenness that overwhelmed the hearts of Mary and Martha. Please know it's not because Jesus wants to see our pain and struggle but it's in the sorrow and pain that His tears join ours.  He enters into our place of brokenness knowing our tears OFTEN draw us closer to Him. Allow Jesus to embrace you when your heart feels broken beyond words. And when your sorrow is so deep that the only voice you have is spoken through tears...then let Jesus do what He does best. As One who is familiar with tears, pain and overwhelming sorrow He will weep right along with you. The depths of your sorrow will never go unnoticed by a savior who loves you beyond measure. Why? Because...Jesus wept! Rejoicing in His Grace. Pastor Dave

Sometimes you just need to release AND rest! Often it's difficult to release and find rest from what has maybe defined you for so long. Things like over committing, never saying no, and feeling guilty if you're not locked into a busy "panic state." Admittedly it may appear you're on it... not shaken... got it all together... seriously strong. When in reality you're one step a way from losing your marbles and collapsing in tears ...because (and its okay to admit and YOU should) you just cant do it ALL. You'll never actually be your best for others or yourself if you can't release and rest from what's overflowing your already full plate. What are some things you really need to release and find rest from? Release and rest from an over committed schedule. Release and rest from living for people's approval. Release and rest from the stress of being consumed by "What's next." Release and rest from trying to fix everything. Release and rest from feeling you have to explain everything. Release and rest from comparing yourself to others. Release and rest from thinking you are not mom enough or dad enough. Release and rest from feeling you failed by not having a spotless house like those you see on social media. Which F.Y.I. say nothing about the absolute turmoil many hearts in those spotless house's may be experiencing. Just release and rest! In fact did you know you have a personal invitation to release and rest? You do...it's from Jesus and is found in Matthew 11:28 Jesus speaking "Come to me ALL you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." Who doesn't struggle with weariness? And life straight up seems to go from one burden to the next. Instead of letting your heart and head be overwhelmed with a million things crying out "what now?" answer His invitation. The reality check here is this...physical and emotional burnout are REAL. And Jesus created and designed a VERY special gift He knows we ALL need called REST. It's found in His invitation...to give the burdened and weary rest. This is a no strings attached totally guilt free invitation. One all our hearts need to answer sooner than later. Besides Jesus just loves it when you come to Him with all the world throws your way. Because when rest can be found no where else...it's found in Him. Jesus needed times of rest. What makes our hearts think we don't? Let Him love on you. Let Him heal you. Who wouldn't love an invitation to rest? Exactly! Let's answer His. Rejoicing in His Grace! Pastor Dave