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

Today, we want to encourage you that God is at work in the unseen places, doing things that will have eternal impact. Fasting and setting aside time to pray can feel quiet—or even ordinary—and sometimes we wonder if God is moving at all as we come before Him in surrender. But take heart: He is a covenant-keeper, and He never forgets His promises.
 
Some of the most powerful moments in the Bible happen in the quietest places. Not on the battlefield, not in the throne room—but at a table. David, Israel’s great king, had one of those moments. A simple dinner. An unexpected guest. And in that ordinary setting, God’s heart showed up in a way that still speaks to us today.
 
By 2 Samuel 9:1, David had been king for several years. One day he asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” The answer came from a man named Ziba: there was one. But he wasn’t a prince in a palace. He was a boy from Lo-debar, which means “pasture-less”. It was a place that spoke of barrenness and emptiness. And tragedy had marked his early life: when his nurse heard that his father and grandfather had been killed, she grabbed him to flee—and in the chaos, he was dropped, leaving him disabled.
 
This was Mephibosheth. A son from a barren land, unable to walk, seemingly powerless and forgotten.
 
When David received the news, he sent for Mephibosheth. As the young man bowed low—likely fearful of his family’s fate—the king did something that revealed the heart of God. He remembered his promise to care for Jonathan’s family and to restore what had been lost. And then he extended an invitation: come and eat at my table.
 
Mephibosheth’s response was one of shame: “Who is your servant, that you would show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” (v. 8). In that moment, he faced a choice—he could remain defined by his emptiness, his disability, and his past, or he could accept the king’s hand and be carried to the table.
 
Before we continue, take a moment to pause and ask yourself today:
 
• What unseen—or seemingly forgotten—places in your life might God be at work in right now?
• Where do you feel “pasture-less” or barren?
• Are you daily accepting God’s invitation to His table?
 
Mephibosheth chose to be at the King’s table. Things that were lost were restored—not just to him but to those around him. David didn’t forget the covenant he made with Jonathan. Even though years had passed, and Mephibosheth may not have even been aware of the promise, David still kept his word.
 
Yet Mephibosheth remained disabled, a reminder that our brokenness and the scars of this fallen world are not instantly erased. Still, at the King’s table, his past pain was covered. This is a picture of what happens when we come to the Lord’s table: our hardships and brokenness are met not with denial, but with redemption.
 
We do not escape suffering in this world. But God’s love transforms it. He invites us into His family, to sit close, to be nourished, and to experience fullness even in the midst of our scars. We are Mephibosheth—once forgotten, dropped and hurt by this world. But now, we are His. We sit at His table. We are covered by His provision.
 
And with God’s hand of love and restoration extended toward us, how can we not extend it to others? There are many Mephibosheths out there—people who feel forgotten, unworthy, or distant—who need to be invited in. Will we make room for them at His table? Will we reach out and call for them, even when it seems the world has forgotten them?
 
The table is a place meant to gather, to share, to encounter the miraculous. Think of all the times Jesus sat with people at a table—breaking bread, pouring wine, drawing near to the least and the overlooked.
 
Friends, as we pray for eyes to see those who are lost and hurting today, let us first be reminded of how desperately we need Him ourselves. It is at His table, in His presence, we are provided for, restored, and equipped to extend His love to others.
 
Read 2 Samuel 9 today and be reminded of God’s faithfulness.
 
What a week it’s already been—thank you for pressing in with us. We are believing for restoration and redemption in your lives, and in the lives of those you love. The church is open daily from 7am to 7pm—come, pray, take communion, or go to the cross. Join us at 6pm, we’ll gather together to pray and experience the power of coming before God as a community. Set this time apart, and He will meet you there.
 
Songs to listen to today: Heart of God, Carried to the Table, On Time God  
We also have a playlist to share if you’d like to listen this week.
 
We love you!
 
Pastors Josh + Tori

“In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song: Our city is strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” Isaiah 26:1-4 NLT
 
Here, in Isaiah’s song, we see the strength of the city is not found in stone or human effort, but in the walls God Himself has built. These walls are called salvation—protection that does not crumble, security that does not depend on circumstances. God’s salvation doesn’t merely rescue us in a moment of danger; it surrounds us, defines our boundaries, and creates a place where peace can dwell.
 
In this strong city, our safety is not something we construct—it is something we are surrounded by. The walls that hold us are God’s salvation, a fortress no human hands could ever raise. Yet we so often try. We stack our own stones—self-defense to keep from being hurt, self-promotion to feel secure, even self-deprecation to stay hidden. What we build to protect ourselves slowly becomes a prison. But what God builds around us is not confinement, but freedom and abundance.
 
What walls am I building for my own protection that may be keeping me from the peace God is offering to surround me with His salvation?
 
There is a promise in this passage that is worth lingering over:
 
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You.” Isaiah 26:3
 
The word peace here is shalom. Many of us may already be familiar with it, but it’s too rich not to revisit. God promises shalom to those who fix their thoughts on Him.
 
Shalom is far more than the absence of trouble. It speaks of:
• Completeness and wholeness
• Safety and soundness—body and soul
• Welfare, health, and well-being
• Quietness, tranquility, and contentment
• Peace in relationships, especially with God through covenant
• The ceasing of conflict and struggle
 
Shalom is a settled, whole, undivided life—one anchored in God. It is the quiet of the soul that comes not from perfect circumstances, but from a steadfast focus on Him.
 
In what areas of my life am I still restless or unsettled, even though God promises perfect peace to those who trust Him?
 
“Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” Isaiah 26:4 NLT
 
Our walk with God is not a desperate pursuit of a distant, unreachable God. He is the One who sought us first! He’s the One who stretched across eternity, broke down the walls of our sin, and made Himself known to us. We can rest in Him, not because of what we do, but because of who He is. He is the covenant God—faithful to His promises, unshakable in His love.
 
He is eternal, without beginning or end, unchanging in character, impervious to time or circumstance. He is our Rock—unyielding, immovable, and secure. On Him, we can stand when everything else crumbles. On Him, we can anchor our souls when storms rage. On Him, we can find the shalom, the wholeness, the unfractured peace that our hearts long for.
 
The passage in Isaiah today points us to more than just protection—it points us to relationship. God seeks us. He draws near. He never turns away. His presence surrounds us, guards us, and grants us rest.
 
John 10:9 deepens this truth: Jesus says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” Jesus is the doorway through which we move from striving and fear into the fullness of life God intends. The same God who builds the walls of salvation and anchors us on the Rock opens the door to abundant life. Shalom is not just the absence of struggle; it is entering into the life, freedom, and wholeness He provides through Christ.
 
We encourage you to take some time today to read John 10:1-10. Let this passage remind you of the incredible protection, guidance, and peace we have in Jesus, our Good Shepherd. He knows each of His sheep, and He is actively watching over us, leading us into safety, provision, and abundant life.
 
This text also speaks powerfully about knowing His voice. Jesus doesn’t just call us; He wants us to listen, to recognize the tone, the direction, and the guidance He gives. In the midst of life’s noise—He is speaking. He is calling us into rest, into security, into the fullness of life He designed for us.
 
Today, we encourage you to pray and reflect on your openness to hear His voice. Ask God to sharpen your spiritual ears, help you recognize when He is speaking, and trust His voice above all others. We want to follow Him into the open pastures!
 
We are praying continually for you. We are believing for testimonies of breakthrough and clarity and peace. The church is open daily from 7am to 7pm—come, pray, take communion, or go to the cross. Join us at 6pm, we’ll gather together to pray and experience the power of coming before God as a community. Set this time apart, and He will meet you there.
 
Songs to listen to today: Shepherd, Mighty Name of Jesus
 
We also have a playlist to share if you’d like to listen this week.
 
We love you!
 
Pastors Josh + Tori

Good morning, friends! We are so excited for all that God is already building in each of us as we pray and fast this week. Today, we want to talk about our foundations.
 
A house's foundation is the critical structural base that sits below ground level. In other words: it’s what you can’t see that matters most.
 
“Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:47-49

In Luke 6, Jesus tells us that anyone who comes to Him, listens to His words, and lives them out is like someone who dug deep and built their life on the rock. When the storms came—and they did—the house stood firm because it was founded on something unshakable. But the one who heard His words and didn’t respond built on unstable ground, and when the pressure came, everything collapsed.
 
What’s striking is that both people heard the Word. Both had access to truth. Both were given instruction. The difference wasn’t knowledge—it was obedience. One allowed the Word to shape how they lived; the other only listened. And Jesus makes it clear: hearing without action leaves a life vulnerable, but building on Him creates a foundation that can withstand any storm.
 
Only one of them—the wiser of the two—did something with what he had been given. He didn’t just hear the truth; he responded to it. He took God at His word and allowed it to shape the way he lived. He obeyed, and because he lived the Word, not just learned it, his life became steady and secure. He was unmovable—not because he knew the right things, but because he had walked them out and discovered for himself that God’s way is trustworthy.
 
The other man heard the very same truth, but it never moved beyond his mind. What he received stayed intellectual—it informed him, but it never transformed him. He believed what he heard, yet he felt no urgency to act on it. He never dug deep. He never anchored what he learned in real, lived obedience. He knew God’s way could work, but he never proved it by living it. And because of that, when the pressure came, there was nothing holding him steady.
 
What’s remarkable about these two men is that in seasons of ease, no one could tell them apart. Both appeared faithful. Both looked like solid believers, committed and steady on the surface. It wasn’t until the storms came—when pressure, loss, and hardship showed up—that the difference became clear. Only then could you see who was truly anchored to the Rock, Jesus Christ.
 
And that’s the sobering truth: what mattered most was never what could be seen. It was the unseen—the depth of the foundation, the quiet obedience, the hidden surrender—that determined what would stand when the storm came.
 
As we pray and reflect on these scriptures today, we encourage you to take some time to dig deep and allow the Holy Spirit to help you answer these questions:
 
• Has the Word of God shaped my habits and decisions, or mostly informed my
thinking?
• Where have I heard truth but delayed responding to it?
• What does my life reveal when pressure is applied?
• When storms come, what do I instinctively lean on?
• Have I dug deep in hidden places, or only built what others can see?
• Is my faith rooted in personal surrender to Christ, or in appearance and routine?
• What obedience is God inviting me into right now that I’ve been postponing?
• Do I trust that God’s way works enough to actually live it?

“Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands [that is what we have been talking about], having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:19-21
 
Paul reminds us that the foundation of God stands firm, and the Lord knows those who are His. Everyone who calls on the name of Christ is invited to depart from iniquity. He tells us that in a great house there are many vessels, some for honor and some for dishonor, but the one who cleanses themselves becomes a vessel for honor—sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
 
Jesus echoes this same truth when He speaks of the man who builds his house on the rock. What mattered most wasn’t what could be seen above the surface, but what was established beneath it. The storms revealed the foundation, not the appearance. In the same way, the work of God in us is often unseen—the quiet work of cleaning, refining, and shaping our character.
 
This is the work we return to. The hidden work. The laying aside of what is dishonorable so our lives can be anchored in Christ. And that secure foundation will be ready to stand, ready to host His presence, ready for whatever God desires to do!
 
Read 1 Corinthians 3:10–17 today. May we understand how the foundation we build on holds up our faith—and when that foundation is Christ, the unseen work goes deep into His love. From that place, we become unshakable.
 
We are praying that you will encounter God in fresh, deeper ways this week. The church is open daily from 7am to 7pm—come, pray, take communion, or go to the cross. Each evening at 6pm, we’ll gather together to pray—join us and experience the power of coming before God as a community. Set this time apart, and He will meet you there.
 
Songs to listen to today: Build My Life, Trust in God, Firm Foundation 
 
We also have a playlist to share if you’d like to listen this week:
 
We love you!
 
Pastors Josh + Tori

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV
 
We pray you are expectant for God to do mighty things in your life this week. We know He is ready to move, as we make ourselves available to be a people whose lives host His presence.
 
Fasting is part of our faith. Denying ourselves reflects the cross, reminding us that there must be a dying to self so Christ can fully live in us. But fasting without prayer is simply going without. It’s the union of fasting and prayer that positions us to encounter the heart and power of God. When we fast and pray, we’re not just changing our habits—we’re forming an atmosphere.
 
This is how a House of Prayer is built: noise quieted, hearts made attentive, lives set apart, and space created for the Holy Spirit to speak and lead. Fasting cultivates fertile soil within us, and prayer becomes the continual response. Together, they shape us into people—and a place—where God is welcomed, heard, and honored.
 
“Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” Matthew 21:12-17 NKJV
 
Only Jesus could do what needed to be done. God’s promises, His presence, and the forgiveness of sins were never going to be secured through rituals, sacrifices, or good intentions. No amount of effort or money could fix what was broken. That’s why Jesus came.
 
He knew His own body would become the temple—broken, crucified, and given for the sake of humanity. When Jesus cleared the Temple, it wasn’t just about anger or rules; it was about grief. The place meant for holiness had become crowded and tainted with noise, distraction, and profit.
 
Every part of the Temple was meant to lead people to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Instead, their attention was pulled toward transactions, convenience, and getting things done quickly. In the clutter of their own agendas, they missed the very One the Temple was built to reveal.
 
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

Scripture tells us we are not empty spaces—we are dwelling places. When Jesus cleared the Temple, He wasn’t just making a point, He was showing us what a sacred space looks like. The Temple was meant for righteousness and encounter with the Spirit of God—a place where hearts are aligned with God’s holiness, where prayer rises freely, and where His presence transforms everything it touches.
 
If our lives are the temple now, what has taken up the space meant for God’s presence? What would Jesus overturn in our hearts today?
 
And as a people called to be a House of Prayer, what distractions or “noises” are keeping us from creating space where God is welcomed, heard, and honored?
 
“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.’” John 2:13-18 NIV

This moment points back to Psalm 69:9, where God’s passionate love for His house is clear. As you pray and seek the Lord today, we encourage you to read Psalm 69. May that same fire be in us. May it be our prayer: Lord, let zeal for Your house consume us, shaping our hearts and our lives to honor You in all we do.
 
We are praying that you will encounter God in fresh, deeper ways this week. The church is open daily from 7am to 7pm—come, pray, take communion, or go to the cross. Each evening at 6pm, we’ll gather together to pray—join us and experience the power of coming before God as a community. Set this time apart, and He will meet you there.
 
Songs to listen to today: House of Prayer, Dwelling Place, Cathedral
 
We also have a playlist here to share if you’d like to listen this week.
 
We love you!
 
Pastors Josh + Tori