January 23rd, 2026
Have you ever been homesick?
We have four wonderfully independent children, and two of them now live far from “home.” I’ll never forget the first time our oldest called and said, “Mom, I’m homesick.” He was more than seven hours away, but we would have done anything to bring him home in that moment. Then there’s our second-born, who moved even farther. All it took was one call—“Mom, I miss you”—and I was on a plane flying over the Pacific to be with her. Being away from home is hard—and it’s rarely the place you miss most. It’s the people.
Home is where you belong. It’s where you can be most genuinely yourself, where you are known and loved without condition—or at least, that’s what home is meant to be. But in this broken world, we know that isn’t always the case. Even places that should feel safe can hold hurt and pain, and many of us are left searching for a place of true rest and connection.
For some, that sense of homesickness lingers in quiet ways we can’t quite ease. That longing to belong doesn’t disappear as we get older—it deepens. We spend much of our lives trying to recreate “home” in relationships, careers, places, or routines, hoping something will finally settle our hearts. Yet even our best moments are often touched with the feeling that something is still missing.
That ache in our hearts isn’t accidental. It reminds us that we were made for more than this world can offer. Deep down, we’re homesick—not just for a place, but for Him. Scripture tells us that our true citizenship is in heaven, where we will finally be home (Philippians 3:20).
Earthly homes, no matter how beautiful or secure, do not last—they can be sold, torn down, swept away, even burned down. Nothing man builds is permanent. But there’s good news: the temple of our spirits is eternal, safe in His kingdom.
Trials and difficulties can feel endless, consuming our thoughts and energy. Yet the only true remedy for that heaviness is to dwell on eternity, to anchor our hearts in the promise that what is lasting is not here on earth, but in Him.
Jesus came to bring us home, to a life that lasts forever, beyond the temporary things of this world. In other words, the Owner of the home I long for became an exile in my place. He was pierced for my transgressions and crushed for my iniquities (Isaiah 53:5), all so that I might be welcomed into His family—as an heir joyfully awaited at Home.
But here and now—there is nothing He desires more than for us to be fully present, truly alive in the gift of salvation He so freely gave. Because we can’t yet be with Him face to face, He has made us a temple in which He can dwell. What a God—who doesn’t leave us longing but instead comes to live within us!
Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23 NIV).
Through faith and the Holy Spirit, God dwells in every believer, offering comfort in our trials, guidance in our decisions, and the profound assurance of His eternal presence. In this way, we are transformed—not just saved, but made a living home for the Creator of the universe, a place where heaven touches earth even today.
This week, it has been our desire to cleanse our temples so that He can freely dwell in our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits. We’ve turned some tables, stood firm within the walls of His salvation, walked through the Door into abundance, been welcomed to His table, and—prayerfully—been forever changed.
Our deepest desire is that you would live free—fully in the open space of His love. But we pray it won’t stop there. May the fire of His presence burn brightly in your temple, igniting a desire to invite others into His provision, His power, and His life-transforming grace.
Home is not a place; it’s a person—and He is Jesus, the One we long for.
As we close this week, here are some questions to consider:
If God is dwelling in you as His temple, how might your life look different as you fully surrender every corner of your heart, mind, and body to Him?
How can the deep aches of your own heart become a way to recognize and invite others who are searching for “home” in Jesus?
Read John 14:1-21 today.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1 NIV
Be encouraged, friends. God has done things within us this week that will have eternal fruit. We want to praise Him in a big way tonight, so join us at 7PM for Worship Night. Invite others and come expectant! The church will still be open at 7am— so come, pray, take communion, or go to the cross. We’ll see you TONIGHT!
Songs to listen to today: More Than This // Sanctuary, Consider Him
Let this be a HOUSE OF PRAYER!
Pastors Josh + Tori
We have four wonderfully independent children, and two of them now live far from “home.” I’ll never forget the first time our oldest called and said, “Mom, I’m homesick.” He was more than seven hours away, but we would have done anything to bring him home in that moment. Then there’s our second-born, who moved even farther. All it took was one call—“Mom, I miss you”—and I was on a plane flying over the Pacific to be with her. Being away from home is hard—and it’s rarely the place you miss most. It’s the people.
Home is where you belong. It’s where you can be most genuinely yourself, where you are known and loved without condition—or at least, that’s what home is meant to be. But in this broken world, we know that isn’t always the case. Even places that should feel safe can hold hurt and pain, and many of us are left searching for a place of true rest and connection.
For some, that sense of homesickness lingers in quiet ways we can’t quite ease. That longing to belong doesn’t disappear as we get older—it deepens. We spend much of our lives trying to recreate “home” in relationships, careers, places, or routines, hoping something will finally settle our hearts. Yet even our best moments are often touched with the feeling that something is still missing.
That ache in our hearts isn’t accidental. It reminds us that we were made for more than this world can offer. Deep down, we’re homesick—not just for a place, but for Him. Scripture tells us that our true citizenship is in heaven, where we will finally be home (Philippians 3:20).
Earthly homes, no matter how beautiful or secure, do not last—they can be sold, torn down, swept away, even burned down. Nothing man builds is permanent. But there’s good news: the temple of our spirits is eternal, safe in His kingdom.
Trials and difficulties can feel endless, consuming our thoughts and energy. Yet the only true remedy for that heaviness is to dwell on eternity, to anchor our hearts in the promise that what is lasting is not here on earth, but in Him.
Jesus came to bring us home, to a life that lasts forever, beyond the temporary things of this world. In other words, the Owner of the home I long for became an exile in my place. He was pierced for my transgressions and crushed for my iniquities (Isaiah 53:5), all so that I might be welcomed into His family—as an heir joyfully awaited at Home.
But here and now—there is nothing He desires more than for us to be fully present, truly alive in the gift of salvation He so freely gave. Because we can’t yet be with Him face to face, He has made us a temple in which He can dwell. What a God—who doesn’t leave us longing but instead comes to live within us!
Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23 NIV).
Through faith and the Holy Spirit, God dwells in every believer, offering comfort in our trials, guidance in our decisions, and the profound assurance of His eternal presence. In this way, we are transformed—not just saved, but made a living home for the Creator of the universe, a place where heaven touches earth even today.
This week, it has been our desire to cleanse our temples so that He can freely dwell in our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits. We’ve turned some tables, stood firm within the walls of His salvation, walked through the Door into abundance, been welcomed to His table, and—prayerfully—been forever changed.
Our deepest desire is that you would live free—fully in the open space of His love. But we pray it won’t stop there. May the fire of His presence burn brightly in your temple, igniting a desire to invite others into His provision, His power, and His life-transforming grace.
Home is not a place; it’s a person—and He is Jesus, the One we long for.
As we close this week, here are some questions to consider:
If God is dwelling in you as His temple, how might your life look different as you fully surrender every corner of your heart, mind, and body to Him?
How can the deep aches of your own heart become a way to recognize and invite others who are searching for “home” in Jesus?
Read John 14:1-21 today.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1 NIV
Be encouraged, friends. God has done things within us this week that will have eternal fruit. We want to praise Him in a big way tonight, so join us at 7PM for Worship Night. Invite others and come expectant! The church will still be open at 7am— so come, pray, take communion, or go to the cross. We’ll see you TONIGHT!
Songs to listen to today: More Than This // Sanctuary, Consider Him
Let this be a HOUSE OF PRAYER!
Pastors Josh + Tori
No Comments