THE FEED

A very hard thing I’ve had to do in ministry was step away from something I absolutely loved. I loved the people. I loved serving. I was comfortable there, and I knew what I was doing. There wasn’t anything wrong with it, so when I started feeling it heavy on my heart that God was asking me to move, I struggled. And when I say struggled, I mean I cried at the altar asking Him to let me stay. I kept praying about it and talking with women I trusted. This was something I wrestl

Hi! If you don’t remember me, I'm Cai! It’s been a minute, I know. I took a break after the passing of my grandfather, and in that time, I struggled to understand God’s plan, what He was doing in my family, and why it didn’t exactly make sense to me. I want you to reflect on yourself too. How many times have you asked, “Why God?” How many times have you asked, “What are you doing?” And how many times have you been humbled by His response? Today, I want to talk to you all ab

Trigger warning: this content contains references of domestic violence. It was the summer of 1995. I was eleven years old, and I honestly don’t remember a whole lot about that year other than the O.J. Simpson trial had been going on all summer. It was also the last summer I got to spend with my younger brothers and really most of my father’s side of the family. My parents divorced shortly after I was born. Contrary to a few opinions, no one had to convince me my father was a

I’m walking through one of the hardest seasons I have ever physically walked through while somehow also walking through one of the most beautiful seasons I have ever spiritually walked through. I know. That sounds crazy even typing it. But it’s true. If you read about my hidden season, then you already know that story, and I’m not going to tell it again. But I do need to take you back there for just a second because I’m starting to understand something now that I couldn’t und

Have you ever found yourself in a season where you wondered, “God, where are You?” Maybe you're facing something you never saw coming. Maybe you're dealing with disappointment, temptation, loss, financial pressure, an unhealthy habit or a situation that feels completely out of your control. You prayed for God to change it but nothing seems to be happening. Sometimes life puts us in a fire. And when we're there, we have a choice. Will we trust God, or will we bow to the situat

Something that God has been teaching me here lately: Being strong and courageous doesn't always look like holding a megaphone on a mountaintop. Sometimes it looks like getting out of the bed when the world feels very heavy. Sometimes it looks like holding your babies when you're unsure of a health diagnosis. Sometimes it looks like believing for a miracle when your spouse has reached his breaking point. Sometimes it looks like folding the laundry when you can barely stand. So

Whew. (*trigger warning*) Okay, the breaking birthed something. It was the afternoon my stepdad had been drinking for quite some time, and I was painting my toe nails in the bathroom at 16. I had just received salvation, and he began to curse the Lord and scream profanity. I threw my nail polish, stood up, and stood up to the man who had been tormenting my family for years and preying on me. He didn't come near me after that encounter, and the Lord totally reworked his schedu

I’ve thought a lot about what I wanted to share for Tell It Tuesday, and honestly, I almost picked something else because this one is hard. Like, really hard. And before I even get into it, I want to say this because I don’t want this to sound like THIS is my whole testimony or the one big thing I’ve ever had to repent for. Goodness no. There is so, so much in my life that I have gotten wrong. Things I’ve done. Things I’ve said. People I’ve hurt. Times I’ve been selfish. Time

I was never supposed to win. At least that’s what my circumstances told me. The house I grew up in told me one thing. The pain I carried told me another. The battles I faced tried to convince me that my future was already decided. The statistics said I would become another product of my environment. My past tried to convince me that it had the authority to define me. But what I didn’t know then was that while I was trying to survive, God was already writing a story I couldn

Hi! In case you don’t remember me, I’m Cai! If you DO know me, then you know I am a big movie guy, which means you also know that this summer has been absolutely incredible for me. From titles like ‘Toy Story 5’ and ‘Supergirl’ (my 4th favorite superhero) in June to ‘The Odyssey’ and ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ (the best superhero ever) in July. But the biggest Hollywood spectacle of the 4 was ‘The Odyssey.’ And to be totally honest with you, that was the one I had the least

Has God ever asked you to be both courageous and joyful? I’m not talking about on a mountain top where the sun is shining and all is well. I’m talking about the deepest valley in immense heartbreak? Today I'd like to share with you a moment where He asked me to be very courageous and count it pure joy when my son would be leaving me here on earth and joining Him in heaven. Twenty-one years ago, I was begging God to heal my baby boy. Night after night, I knelt at the altar in

Hi! I’m Tosha. First and foremost, I want you to understand something about anything I share. Most of what I share comes from a place of seeking the Lord and listening to the Holy Spirit. I don’t say that to boast or to make myself look spiritual. I say it because I want you to know that the same Holy Spirit who speaks, convicts, and leads me is available to you too. God wants a relationship with every one of us. And if there is one thing I have learned, it is this: when God

I thought faith would say, I’ll take away the pain and discomfort, but what it ended up saying was, I’ll sit with you in it. — Brene Brown Fear makes the gap between where I am and trusting God seem impossible. Paralyzing fear. Been there? I have. I’ve been SO fearful that I remember mentally and emotionally crawling into a hole. I know fear. I know fear as a child. I know fear as an adult. I know fear as a parent. I know paralyzing fear. I’m so thankful that is only a faded

After the fall of Babylon, the Israelites returned to their home. In 446 BC, Nehemiah received word from Hanani about Jerusalem. Saying that, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” Nehemiah began to weep and mourn for days when he heard this. The once great nation that he took pride in was destroyed, but he continued to fast and pray before God. Ne

Hi, I’m Chauntelle, let me be the first to tell you, I am a recovering control freak. I truly thought I was the only one capable of holding everything in my life together, and God just gave me the strength to do it. Truthfully, my desire to control everything was my greatest weakness, and it held me back the most from being obedient in what God was calling me to do…Women’s Ministry. I can’t help but think back to that season where God was calling me away from the very career

What do you mean “be strong and courageous?” Listen, can I just be real? When I used to read this story about Joshua and read Joshua 1:9, I would think to myself, “Oh, that’s nice–God is reminding Joshua right here to be strong and courageous as He approached the promised land. Homie had a lot going on—so yeah, that makes sense.” LITTLE DID I KNOW, that God would use this to totally flip the script on me. See, in 2024 into the start of 2025, God laid it on my heart to launch

This is not forever. This is just your “not yet” season. Let’s check out Hannah really quick. So, In I Samuel 1:1-28, we learn that Elkanah, Hannah’s husband, was also married to Peninnah (we’ll call her Mrs. P), and they lived in the mountains of Ephraim (yeah, literally in the middle of nowhere). And off the bat, we learn that God closed Hannah’s womb, while Mrs. P consistently emotionally and verbally abused her because Hannah was barren. So, Hannah was totally inconsolabl

Hey y’all! My name is Mackenzie Rhode! I am 26 years old, I am a wife to my incredible husband Wesley, and momma to my sweet boy Malachi! I was born and raised in East Tennessee & grew up heavily involved in church and in ministry! If the church doors were open, my family was there! (IYKYK!) I am a second-generation Youth Pastor and am passionate about raising up a generation to be on fire for Jesus no matter their age! God laid a word on my heart for The J19 community today,

By Sam Rivers Jones When it comes to the story of Moses, of course, all of our main attention and focus is typically on Moses, right ?!...

By Sam Rivers Jones Have you ever wondered how stained glass windows are made? I literally didn’t know anything about this until a few...