Red Oak Baptist Church

05/29/2026

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?

I saw this statement on social media and couldn’t help but pause. I like to think Jesus is my steering wheel every single moment of every day, but honesty forced me to admit that my focus can veer.

In 2005 Carrie Underwood released the award-winning song called Jesus Take the Wheel. The lyrics are powerful. I even hear folks sometimes humorously say, “Jesus, take the wheel!”

The thought that keeps spinning in my head today is, “Do we mean it?” It is so easy to say things, but it takes so much more effort to commit to doing.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We are to pray.. every day... frequently. Seek God’s will. Follow His lead. Let Him take the wheel. ❤️

05/26/2026

“Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho….” Do you remember this song from childhood? (You are welcome that it will now be on repeat in your head today 😂)

I have always loved the story of the falling of the walls of Jericho. As a child, it seemed almost the story of a superhero that horns and shouts could bring down those massive walls. (The story is in Joshua 6.)

As I was reading through it again this week, I couldn’t help but consider how much faith was required. Fact 1: the people respected and trusted Joshua enough to follow such unusual directions… faith. Fact 2: the soldiers and priests and others marched around an entire city in silence… faith. Fact 3: the process was repeated for seven entire days… faith. Fact 4: the seventh day required seven full trips around the city rather than just once… faith.

“But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.””
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Can you see the scenario today? I can imagine doubt, dissension, distraction, and desertion. Maybe Joshua experienced those things, too. It doesn’t say in the scripture. However, it does clearly give direction from God and those walls DID come tumbling down. There was obedience and faith.

Is there something in your life today in which God is calling for obedience? Is He calling for you to have faith? Trust Him… ❤️

05/25/2026

We proudly remember our military heroes! Your bravery affords us the freedom to worship today!! ❤️

05/24/2026

Come join us for VBS tonight at 5! (Bring a swimsuit for the water slide)

05/24/2026

VBS Kickoff this morning! Our kiddos leading services!

05/21/2026

Nevertheless

Quite a mouthful of a word, right? What does it mean?

I have no idea how to change this flat tire. Nevertheless, I will give it a shot!

Parenting is dang hard. Nevertheless, I’m all in!

This workplace is toxic. Nevertheless, it is how I pay my bills, so I will keep showing up and giving it my all!

In southern slang, it means in spite of whatever excuses we may have, we are on board! Let’s go!

Peter had a similar moment with Jesus. After he and his friends had fished all night with no success, Jesus shows up and asks to board the boat in order to address the crowd that was pressing in on Him.

After Jesus finished speaking, He told Peter to ease the boat on out into the deeper water and let down his nets again.

“And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Do you see it? Peter, a master fisherman, hears Jesus’s request, and likely thought it was crazy. HOWEVER, Peter trusted Him - in spite of his own doubt.

NEVERTHELESS, he followed the lead of Jesus and let down the nets.

“And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Friends, sometimes Jesus may nudge us to trust Him in ways that don’t make sense. We may have doubt.

Do it anyway. I cannot help but wonder how many blessings we have all missed because we could not embrace “nevertheless.” Choose Him. ❤️

05/18/2026

Just As I Am

Have you ever felt unworthy? Unworthy to sit in the church pew? Unworthy to lift your hands in worship? Unworthy to bow your head in prayer?

So often we let God down and we begin to think that we should hide in shame.

The thing is … there is no hiding from God. He already knows.

As I have invited people to church, I sometimes hear the response, “I will come when I get my life together.”

There is a flaw in that thinking. It is not fully in our control to get our lives together. We are imperfect humans who are full of sin. It is God who can help us “get it together.” As we build a closer relationship with Him, He directs our steps and our thoughts.

In the famous old hymn, Just As I Am, Elliott wrote,

Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

If you have a dark blot in your life, entrust it to God. He already knows and is simply waiting on us to bring it to Him and to ask for help.

Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

If you are going through a valley of worry and stress today, come - just as you are. God doesn’t want us to wait until we “have it together.” He wants to meet us right where we are and join us in the journey. Choose Him today. ❤️

05/16/2026

We were blessed to provide a meal at the Hope House this week. Peep the preacher washing dishes… his wife said it doesn’t happen often! 🤣 Thankful for service and fellowship!

05/13/2026

Have you ever told a little white lie? What about a whopping big lie or even one of those tricky lies of omission?

If we are all honest with ourselves, that answer is likely yes. We are weak humans who sometimes avoid the truth for a large variety of reasons. This makes life quite painful for all of us whether we are telling or receiving a lie.

Did you know that God does not lie? Did you know that God cannot lie? Look at this scripture:

“So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:17-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Did you see it? Because it is impossible for God to lie, we can hold fast to the hope He gives us! God’s promises are true! He loves us! He is here for us!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Take heart today! If God said it, then it is TRUE! Rest in His truth today! ❤️

05/11/2026

A friend recently commented that everyone needs to make room for the luxury of a pause. Think about it for a moment….

We are all moving in different paths each day as we balance life and its demands. Do you ever just stop to breathe? Do you pause to simply be thankful for the moment? Do you bask in the day that the Lord has made?

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭118:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

““Be still, and know that I am God.””
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭46:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The luxury of a pause…I think we need to take them more often. Pause to pray….pause to reflect… pause to rest. God loves us and created us for His purpose. It is sometimes in those pauses that we can find that real purpose. 😊

05/10/2026