Women of Faith, Hope, & Love

09/07/2026

Verses of the day:

John 8:31-32 ESV
[31] So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

09/06/2026

Verse of the day:

Psalm 121:2 ESV
[2] My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

09/05/2026

Devotional:
Road Trip
Part 3
Pastor Seth
Road to emmaus or disappointment

Luke 24:13-35 ESV
[13] That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, [14] and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. [15] While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. [16] But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. [17] And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. [18] Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” [19] And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, [20] and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. [21] But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. [22] Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, [23] and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. [24] Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” [25] And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. [28] So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, [29] but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. [31] And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. [32] They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” [33] And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, [34] saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” [35] Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

We look for the problem not the solution. The enemy is good at making us see the pain.

Psalm 34:18 ESV
[18] The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Jesus is not afraid of our disappointments, hurts, etc.

God wants us to be real!

Prayer is not pretending everything is fine.

Isaiah 55:8-9
Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Points:
1. Disappointment Can Distort Our vision.
2. Jesus Invites Us to Tell Him What hurts.
3. Our expectations Can Keep Us From Seeing God’s Plan.
4. Scripture Helps Us Understand the journey.
5. Jesus Often Reveals Himself in Ordinary Moments.
6. An Encounter With Jesus Changes Our direction.

I want to challenge you to invite Jesus into the ordinary moments of your life. Every day of the week, Sunday - Saturday, mornings, afternoons, and evenings and every quiet moment in between. He is speaking more than we are listening, and He is showing Himself more than we are looking. Make room for Him!

09/05/2026

Verse of the day:

Proverbs 1:7 ESV
[7] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

09/04/2026

Road Trip
Part 2
Seth Barber

Running From God Usually Begins With Resistance to God’s Command.
Every Wrong Turn Has a cost.
God May Use a storm to Get Our Attention.
You Cannot Outrun God’s presence.
God Gives second Chances.
God’s Mercy Is Bigger than our preferences.

Here's the story of Jonah and his attempt to run from God's calling—a road trip gone completely wrong. Through Jonah's journey from deliberate disobedience to divine redirection, we that God's pursuit of us is relentless, not to punish us, but to rescue us. We learned that running from God always costs more than we want to pay and keeps us longer than we want to stay. Yet the beautiful truth remains: God is a God of second chances who meets us even in the deepest, darkest places of our lives. We are challenged to examine where we might be resisting God's will and reminded that His mercy is bigger than our preferences—and available to anyone who turns back to Him.

Points:

1. Admit where you're resisting God.
Disobedience often starts when our will becomes more important than God's will. Call sin what it is—sin. Whether it's forgiveness you're withholding, a relationship you need to leave, or a calling you're ignoring. It's time to get honest about where you're running. Turn around and receive God's mercy.

2. Repentance means changing both your direction and your mind. The quickest way back to peace is to stop running and start obeying. None of us deserve God's grace—that's what makes it grace. But it's freely available the moment we turn back to Him.

3. Extend mercy to others, even those you think don't deserve it.
We haven't fully understood grace until we're willing to see it given to people we don't think deserve it. Just as God showed mercy to Nineveh (and to Jonah), we're called to be people who extend that same grace to everyone around us.

Challenge:
Take time to honestly ask yourself: "Where is God trying to redirect me today?" Maybe it's a difficult conversation you've been avoiding, a habit you need to surrender, or a place of service He's calling you to.

Don't wait for the storm to get worse, turn around now.
And remember—if you've been running, you're not beyond God's reach. His hand will always find you, not to destroy you, but to rescue you.

09/04/2026

Verses of the day:

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

09/03/2026

Devotional:
By pastor Seth
Road Trip
Part 1
Lessons from biblical journeys

Exodus 33:15 ESV
[15] And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.

Matthew 16:24 ESV
[24] Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

In Genesis 12, we saw how God called Abram to leave everything comfortable and familiar without giving him details about where he was going. A road trip with no destination, no map, and no GPS.

Just as God blessed America because it was founded on His principles, He desires to bless our lives when we're willing to step out in obedience and follow Him into the uncomfortable and unfamiliar.

Points:
1. God Calls Us Out Of comfort.

Following Christ always involves leaving things behind—places, people, or comforts that keep us from God's plan. We can't step into God's future while clinging to our old comforts. The question isn't whether it will be comfortable, but whether we trust Him enough to go.

2. God Gives Promises Before He Gives details.

Everything we know about Abraham hinges on Genesis 12:4—"So Abram departed as the Lord instructed." He didn't debate, delay, or demand details. Disobedience blocks blessings, but obedience opens the door. God may be waiting to bless you, but first He needs you to leave that place, that relationship, or that habit He's already spoken to you about.

3. Obedience Opens The Door TO God’s blessings.

4. The Journey Will Include difficult Stops.

In just nine verses, Abraham stopped twice to build altars and worship God. Before he had a permanent home, he made worship a priority. The journey will include difficult stops and obstacles, but worship keeps us grounded. If we don't worship along the journey, we'll lose perspective on the destination.

5. Worship Along The journey.

What is God calling me to leave behind? What next step am I struggling to trust Him with? Remember, you can be afraid and still obey. You can doubt and still take the next step. God doesn't need you to be smart or capable—He just needs you to be obedient.

We have to trust God knowing He will take care of us.

God will lead you to something not always comfortable.

Genesis 12:1-9 ESV
[1] Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. [2] And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. [3] I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” [4] So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. [5] And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, [6] Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. [7] Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. [8] From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. [9] And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.

When many gods are displayed we diminish the real true God.

God calls us to leave things behind: places, people, things. This may be uncomfortable.

You can’t go into Gods future while staying in your comfort zone.

Have you lately had God to ask you to step out of your comfort zone?

God’s plan does not look like our plans.

Faith isn’t having all the answers it’s trusting.

Disobedience will block blessings and obedience will bless us.

God won’t speak to you sometimes when you don’t listen.

And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.

09/03/2026

Verses of the day:

Psalm 18:1-2 ESV
[1] I love you, O Lord, my strength. [2] The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

09/02/2026

Devotional:
From the Bible App
Reading through the Bible Lamentations
Part 3
Restore Us, Renew Us

Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old
Lamentations 5:21 (ESV)

When things are not going right, when we are down and weak, we start to feel a distance between us and God. We feel like His presence is fading from our life. Even as Christian we are exposed to sin that can lead to suffering.

But in reality, in our time of difficulties, pain, and grief, God promises us to be our anchor. In every situation, God is in control and we can go to Him through faithful prayer for repentance, forgiveness, and restoration.

We should have Godly sorrow over our sin. Our repentance always leads us back to His sovereignty and unchanged love. We should sincerely ask God to change our hearts, and to renew us. We can have complete faith and trust in Him.

Prayer:

Lord, we pray that You restore us to Yourself. By Your grace, may our restoration bring hope in the future that You have for us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Lamentations 5:1-22 ESV
[1] Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace! [2] Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. [3] We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows. [4] We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought. [5] Our pursuers are at our necks; we are weary; we are given no rest. [6] We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Assyria, to get bread enough. [7] Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities. [8] Slaves rule over us; there is none to deliver us from their hand. [9] We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness. [10] Our skin is hot as an oven with the burning heat of famine. [11] Women are r***d in Zion, young women in the towns of Judah. [12] Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders. [13] Young men are compelled to grind at the mill, and boys stagger under loads of wood. [14] The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music. [15] The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning. [16] The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned! [17] For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim, [18] for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it. [19] But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations. [20] Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days? [21] Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old— [22] unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.

09/02/2026

Verse of the day :

Matthew 6:34 ESV
[34] “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.