Each time I make a trip back home to Kenya, I know something will be waiting that needs to be fixed. That’s one of the reasons I go home—to put things in order. On my last trip, we were doing many things at once, but one particular issue robbed me of peace.

Encouragement is the basis for having hard talks. Start with thanks and love when you confront someone. It gets the heart ready to forgive.

Think of it: Jesus gave up His place of honor in heaven so that you and I could have a seat at God’s eternal table. The cross was the lowest location for the person who should have asked for the highest seat. God raised Him up by humbling Himself, giving Him the name beyond all names (Philippians 2:8–9).

Listen: God never calls you by accident.

Sometimes in life, the chances are not in our favor. The Bible says that the Israelites were stuck between the sea and Pharaoh’s army. There was no way out, no bridge, no boats—only God. And at that point, they decided to trust Him, and He made a way when there was none.

Some of us have stood in that kind of situation before.

Today’s reading encourages us to think about the lives of people who lived by this kind of faith, especially Abraham, who obeyed God and saw beyond what was seen. As you think about our patriarchs’ faith journey, I challenge you to think about your journey as well.

So, what does it mean to be rich in God’s eyes?

Today, we’re going to talk about prayer, which is an important but frequently misunderstood part of being a Christian. A lot of us have trouble figuring out how, when, or even why to pray. Jesus stressed the value of prayer throughout His mission. He told His followers to pray when they were spiritually sleeping. He also questioned how some people prayed, whether it was for show or for their own gain. But bless God, one disciple was brave enough to say, “Lord, teach us to pray.” In response, Jesus not only taught us how to pray, but he also told us why prayer is important and what it shows about our relationship with God.

Gratitude reminds us of our connection, our reliance on an awesome God and those around us to make our lives meaningful. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for feeding me, for clothing me, for making me laugh, and for holding me while I cry. Thank you for being there for me. And, wonder of wonders, thank you for wanting to.

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,  and you restored my health.

I had a conversation last week that made me think deeply about something: that we need to start preparing other people for our roles, especially in the church. The church’s biggest challenge right now is the making of disciples.

1 Kings 19 talks about one of the Lord’s greatest prophets, Elijah, who had recently done something amazing. He bravely stood alone against 400 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel to show who the real God is. Elijah prayed to the Lord, and God answered with fire from heaven, which burned up the sacrifice. What a win! The false prophets lost, and God’s strength was seen.

But then…

The Holy Spirit leads us in every part of our lives. The Spirit leads us to what God wants us to do. He helps us grasp the Bible and figure out what’s good and wrong, which is extremely important in a world full of misunderstanding and false teaching.

Beloved, pay attention! The Holy Spirit sweeps among us, binding us together as family in Christ.

There are times in life when everything changes in an instant. These are the times that surprise us, change our habits, and make us see the world in a new way.

A mother prayed, a church prayed, or a friend stepped in the gap when we couldn’t pray for ourselves. That’s why some of us are here today. Their prayers may not have solved everything right away, but they gave us strength. They made things calm. They sometimes brought healing. They always took us to see God.

Today, we gather not only to remember, but to respond. Memorial Sunday is a sacred pause—a moment to honor those who have gone before us in service and sacrifice. They were men and women of quiet strength and deep humility- those who served their nation with honor and returned to serve their community with grace. They showed bravery, sacrifice, and unshakable faith. Their experiences of service remind us of the price of freedom.

The Spirit is moving; will we follow? The scripture today serves as a reminder that the gospel is for everyone. Who are we to stand in God’s way if He is moving among those we formerly dismissed or feared? Let us not be a people who, by our choices or biases, restrict God’s grace.

In a small town, there lived a mother named Mama Ruth. She raised five children on her own after her husband passed away early. She wasn’t famous, never traveled far, and didn’t have much money. But her kitchen was always warm, her prayers always powerful, and her home always open.

At her funeral, each of her children placed a simple cloth on the altar: her apron. That apron had fed the hungry, wiped away tears, carried the smell of love and sacrifice. The pastor stood up and said, “This apron is the ministry of motherhood. Who will wear it now?”