Pine Level Church

10/04/2026

Want a Clean Heart?

King David made some great decisions, but he also made some terrible ones.

During his reign, David chose to abuse his power by sleeping with the wife of one of his military leaders, and then arranging for him to be pushed to the front lines of battle—where he was killed. For someone who was considered “a man after God’s own heart,” David really messed up.

In 2 Samuel 12:13, we see David confess his sin against the Lord and in Psalm 51, we see his prayer to be made new:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

David failed, but God redeems. God restores. David still had to face the consequences of his decisions, but in that journey, God met him there.

If you want to be made new by God but believe that your past is too messed up, you can follow the path David showed us—confess, repent, and ask God to make you new. You can even use David’s exact words as you pray: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

When we seek God, we realize that He’s already been seeking us.

God is faithful. He loves you. He can make your heart clean. In Him, you can become a new creation.

10/03/2026

Set Apart

In modern language, "holy" often means something religious or spiritual. But in the Bible, “holy” simply means “set apart.” It means something (or someone) different and distinct from everything else.

God is unlike any other gods the nations knew. The Lord is holy, and called His people to be distinct—or holy—too.

Some of the distinctions that set the Israelite practices apart were religious and spiritual. They offered sacrifices in a certain way and had specific instructions for how priests, worship, and the temple operated. Other practices that set Israel apart involved everyday things like food, clothing, and their weekly calendars. These habits and customs were meant to reflect and reinforce that they were truly different—or holy—because they belonged to God.

The fourth commandment given to Israel is to "remember the Sabbath day" and keep it holy—a reminder to Israel of the blessed pattern God laid out in Creation. Just as our Holy Creator worked for six days and rested on a seventh, He calls His holy people to do the same.

What's holy about the Sabbath? It's a day set apart to be different from all the other days of the week. God intends for one day a week to look and feel different. As people who belong to Him, we can delight in His designation of some days as productive days for work and then other days set apart for reflection and refreshment.

Remember, God created special times for rest—keep those times set apart.

10/02/2026

Love One Another

Jesus said two important things about our love for each other. First, that all people will know we are His disciples if we love one another (John 13:34). Second, our unity in Him will let the world know that God had sent Him into the world (John 17:23).

Jesus said the world will know He has come by how His followers love each other. We should love one another in such a way that those who do not believe in Jesus would be astounded and curious to learn more about Him.

Jesus knew this world would be full of anger, strife, and conflict. This is all the more reason it should be a priority to love other people with the same love God has for us. Loving others unveils to the world the great and loving God who loved us first.

Years after Jesus’ resurrection, the apostle John wrote three short letters to followers of Jesus. And in his first letter, he takes the time to talk to them about how to love, and why it matters. John wrote: “...love is from God … if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another … we love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:7, 11, 19)

He even goes as far as to say, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20, ESV)

There’s no way around this. John makes it clear that our love for one another is proof that God’s love is in us. So if we say that we love God, then we should be committed to showing love to each other.

As you reflect on today’s verse, ask yourself: Is there anyone in my life that I need to show love to today? Is there anyone I need to forgive? In what ways can I love my brothers and sisters in Jesus?

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

Limitless Riches

Writing from prison to the believers in Philippi, the apostle Paul divulged that he’d learned the secret to being content no matter the situation.

Because of the faithfulness of God and the generosity of the Philippians, Paul’s needs had been met—even while in jail. He went on to say:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬

What an incredible perspective from captivity—where Paul was placed for spreading the truth about Jesus.

God had given Paul peace, his friends had sent supplies, and Paul’s joy was unapologetically obvious—despite his imperfect circumstances.

Paul knew that the same God who was taking care of Him would also take care of his friends. He knew that—because Jesus had already made a way—they could access the storehouses of heaven. He knew that—because of God’s generous character—they were covered in His grace.

Have you ever considered what a treasure trove of riches God has? And it’s not just what He has, but also who He is. God’s glorious riches, never-ending resources, and both visible and invisible qualities are limitless, bottomless, boundless, and inexhaustible.

Think about that for a moment.
The amazing thing is: He’s granted us access.

In His kindness, God fashioned raspberries and puppies. In His brilliance, He crafted the human eye and hung the earth on nothing. By His creativity, He made hammerhead sharks and sparkling fireflies. By His power, He designed galaxies that even the smartest of scientists are just now discovering.

The same God who cares for His creation will also provide for you.

When we become His children, we are given the key to eternal riches, to incorruptible goods, and to traits of His Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Do you need peace? You have a God who brings peace. Do you need provision? You have a God who offers provision. Do you need rest? You have a God who extends rest.

The ways in which God shows up are literally countless, and it’s all because of His gloriously limitless riches.

09/29/2026

What’s Inside of You?

Have you ever made a poor decision and thought, "Why did I do that?”

In the Old Testament, the heart was considered the center of inner life, and people believed it dictated thoughts, emotions, and actions. It was essentially a combination of someone’s soul and mind.

When Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “guard our hearts," what it’s essentially saying is "pay careful attention to how you fill your inner life.”

What goes into your soul and mind determines what comes out of your mouth. And what you say influences your actions and decisions. While you might not notice the effect your choices have on you today—over time, they will impact the direction of your life.

So how do we intentionally take care of our inner lives?

Our bodies were made by God, which means the thing they need most is God. He is the One who sustains us. Some of the best things we can do for ourselves is to intentionally seek God through prayer, studying Scripture, reflecting on His blessings, and inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to us throughout our day.

The best way to guard our hearts is by giving our hearts to God. When we make Him the center of our lives and the source of our strength, what we do will flow out from Him.

So instead of fitting God into our daily routines, let’s create our daily routines around our relationship with God. Let’s create space for God to speak to us and restore us. Let’s allow God to heal the parts of our lives that are broken—so that what comes out of us is good, encouraging, and leads to an abundant life.

09/25/2026

A Way for Us to Rest

It feels intimidating to start something new without knowing how it will work out—whether a new relationship, job, project, or even traveling to a new place. We never know what challenges we might face along the way.

After God met the people of Israel at Mount Sinai, He gave them a new identity (people belonging to Him), new values (the Ten Commandments), and a new destination (the Promised Land). They had no idea where to go or how long it would take. As God led them further into the wilderness, He also gave these desert-weary people a promise to be with them and give them rest.

They had a lot of questions—about everything! Would they be able to find food and water? Would they meet enemies on their journey? How would they live their lives?

Anytime we find ourselves in a new season, place, or situation, we cannot anticipate what we will need, and we get to benefit from the same promise God made to Israel then: His presence is enough, and we can trust Him.

No matter what happens or where we go, He will be with us, and He makes a way for us to rest.

You can trust that God will lead you into a future where rest is possible. Just as He provided Israel with manna to eat when they needed food, He provides for you, too. He is with you. He is for you.

09/24/2026

Plant Generously

In his second letter to the believers in Corinth, Greece, the apostle Paul expressed His gratefulness for their commitment to generosity before challenging them with this statement:

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul knew that God had established some common-sense principles when it came to generosity. All throughout Scripture, we see both natural and spiritual implications of this cycle.

Natural: If you plant a few seeds in the ground, you will reap a small harvest. If you plant hundreds or thousands of seeds in the ground, you will reap a large harvest.

Spiritual: If you spend your time, money, talents, or energy investing in a friend, a stranger, a ministry, or the next generation, God can certainly multiply those efforts.

But Paul also makes it clear in the surrounding verses that you shouldn’t just give to get. If you do give, you should do so willingly and cheerfully—not begrudgingly.

What we sow with the right heart, God will surely multiply.

Proverbs 11:18 says, “…the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.” Hosea 10:13 says, “You have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception...”

Instead of seeds of selfishness, anger, or pride, let’s plant seeds of selflessness, peace, and humility.

Ask yourself: How am I investing my life? What types of seeds am I planting? Am I trusting that God will multiply my efforts when invested with the right heart?

Take some time to reflect on what you’re planting and reaping today, and ask God to direct your steps.

09/23/2026

Hey Pine Level Community!

https://www.youtube.com/live/C5r6zyii8Ds?si=U2HI3K346RjAibL8

The link for this past Sundays service is fixed! It was our first time using YouTube so a little growing pains 😊

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.