John 14:2 – “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

Last week, Hailey and I took a trip to Rhode Island. It was beautiful. We visited some of the historic mansions, and one in particular stood out—the Elms. As we walked through the grand hallways and intricate rooms, guided by people who were so excited to share their stories, I couldn’t help but think: this is just a glimpse.

A glimpse of something greater.

Jesus tells us in John 14 that in His Father’s house, there are many rooms. And He’s not just talking about space. He’s talking about belonging. About welcome. About home.

The people at the Elms couldn’t wait to show us around. Their joy made the tour come alive. I imagine heaven will be like that—but infinitely more joyful. I imagine saints who’ve gone before us saying, “You’ve got to see this room! Look at what God did here!” And Jesus, with that same loving excitement, personally walking us into the home He prepared for us, saying, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

That thought should change how we live now.

Because if Jesus is preparing a place for us, He hasn’t forgotten us. If He’s advocating for us in heaven, He’s not ignoring what we’re facing on earth. He sees every tear, every disappointment, every prayer that feels unanswered. And still—He’s working. He’s preparing. Both there… and here.

1 Corinthians 2:9 echoes this promise: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” That’s not just about heaven. That’s about today, too. The peace He gives now. The strength He offers now. The healing, the growth, the grace for the journey—we have it because Jesus is not just preparing a place, He’s preparing us.

So friend, don’t let the struggle make you forget the promise. There is a room with your name on it. A future with your soul in mind. And a Savior who never stops advocating for you.

Have you ever tried holding onto something so tightly that it became exhausting? Maybe it was control over your future, your finances, or even the opinions of others. I get it. I’ve been there. I’m a recovering control freak. I remember as a kid, playing football in the neighborhood, thinking I was the referee. Every time something didn’t go my way, I’d throw an imaginary flag. “That’s holding!” “Pass interference!” I spent more time trying to control the game than actually enjoying it.

And don’t we all do that? We try to control people, our finances, or our future. Since the Garden of Eden, we’ve been telling God, “I got this.” But when life gets overwhelming, we scramble. We numb our stress with distractions, hide our struggles, or pick up bad habits. And before we know it, we’re stuck in a cycle. “I love Jesus, but I also love ___.” Fill in the blank.

Here’s the problem — when we fill our lives with the world, there’s no room for the Spirit to work. It creates half-hearted followers who are exhausted and unfulfilled. As John Piper said, “Christians who have their foot in both worlds are miserable.”

But Jesus offers a different way. In Mark 10:17-22, a rich young ruler came to Jesus seeking eternal life. Jesus saw what held his heart — his love for money. “Sell all your possessions,” Jesus said. But the man walked away sad. He wanted both Jesus and his wealth. But whatever you cling to controls you. Cling to money, and it owns your decisions. Cling to control, and you’ll never find rest. Cling to praise, and people’s opinions will rule your heart.

Think of your life like a glove. It’s empty until something fills it. Who or what is filling your glove? When we cling to the things of this world, we block the space meant for God’s Spirit. But when we let go, we open ourselves to the fullness of Christ — His joy, peace, and freedom.

So, what’s God asking you to release? What’s the thing He’s prying from your hands? It might be pride, worry, bitterness, or an unhealthy habit. Whatever it is, surrender it. Imagine what God could do in your life if you came to Him with empty hands, ready to receive all He has for you.

You weren’t made to carry the weight of control. You were made to live in the freedom of surrender. Empty your hands — and let Him fill your life.

Memory verse for you:

Message: Jesus gives us a clear guideline for handling conflicts and concerns: go directly to the person involved. Instead of gossiping about someone’s actions or mistakes, we are called to speak with them in private, in a spirit of love and restoration. If we have been hurt by someone’s words or actions, we should seek resolution with them rather than spreading the issue to others. Addressing gossip biblically means choosing honesty over secrecy, grace over judgment, and reconciliation over division. When we handle things the way Jesus taught, we create a culture of trust and forgiveness, reflecting His love in our relationships.

Prayer: Lord, help me to follow Your wisdom in handling conflicts. Give me the patience to seek resolution in the right way, speaking with love and truth. Help me to be a person of integrity who chooses direct and honest communication rather than gossip. May my actions bring unity and peace. Amen.

Message: Stopping gossip requires courage, but it is essential for building a loving and Christ-centered community. When we hear gossip, we can gently redirect the conversation, remind others of the harm it causes, or even encourage them to speak directly to the person involved rather than talking behind their back. If gossip is happening in our friend group or workplace, we can set an example by refusing to engage in it. When we choose to protect others’ reputations rather than tearing them down, we act as peacemakers, bringing healing instead of division. A community built on love and honesty is far stronger than one filled with whispers and secrets.

Prayer: Father, help me to be a voice of peace and wisdom. When I hear gossip, give me the courage to address it with love and to redirect conversations toward truth and encouragement. Let my actions and words reflect Your love so that I may build others up rather than tear them down. Amen.

Message: Gossip spreads like wildfire, feeding off curiosity and negativity. The best way to stop it is to refuse to add fuel to the fire. This means walking away when gossip starts, changing the subject, or simply refusing to listen. Sometimes, we may need to set a boundary, letting others know that we do not want to participate in conversations that harm others. Avoiding gossip doesn’t mean ignoring problems—it means handling them the right way, with honesty and love. By refusing to engage in gossip, we help create a culture of trust, respect, and kindness, where people feel safe and valued.

Prayer: Lord, give me the wisdom and strength to turn away from gossip. Help me recognize when conversations are heading in the wrong direction and give me the courage to steer them toward kindness and truth. May my words always reflect Your love and grace. Amen.

Partnering Together,
Shahna Clark 

Message: Gossip can be sneaky. Sometimes, it’s an obvious act of spreading rumors, but other times, it’s disguised as concern or even a prayer request that exposes someone’s struggles without their permission. It might be a complaint about a friend, a teacher, or a coworker, said behind their back rather than directly to them. Gossip thrives on secrecy, negativity, and speculation. As followers of Christ, we are called to be different. Instead of speaking words that tear others down, we must ask ourselves: Are my words helpful? Would I say this if the person were standing here? When our speech reflects kindness and truth, we show the love of Christ in our everyday conversations.

Prayer: Father, guard my heart and my tongue from gossip. Show me when I am engaging in harmful talk, even when I don’t realize it. Help me to use my words to build others up, not tear them down. May I be a source of encouragement, bringing Your grace into every conversation. Amen.

Message: Gossip may seem like an innocent exchange of information, but Scripture warns that it is dangerous and deeply damaging. It often feels enticing, like a “choice morsel,” because it gives a false sense of power or connection with others. However, gossip seeps into hearts, leaving wounds of betrayal, division, and mistrust. God calls us to use our words for good—to encourage, uplift, and bring unity. When we feel tempted to share something about another person, we should pause and ask: Is this loving? Is this true? Is this necessary? Choosing to speak life instead of gossip strengthens our relationships and reflects God’s love.

Prayer: Lord, help me to recognize when my words are not honoring to You. Give me the wisdom to guard my tongue and the courage to walk away from conversations that do not build others up. Let my speech reflect Your love, and may I use my words to bring encouragement and peace. Amen.

The Psalmist writes the following in Psalm 8:1–4 (NIV): 1 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! 

You have set your glory in the heavens. 

2 Through the praise of children and infants 

you have established a stronghold against your enemies, 

to silence the foe and the avenger. 

3 When I consider your heavens, 

the work of your fingers, 

the moon and the stars, 

which you have set in place, 

4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, 

human beings that you care for them? 

As beautiful as the creation of the canyon is by a marvelous God, we are called the pinnacle of His creation. Some days it is hard to believe that we are the highest of His handiwork. I find it even harder to believe some days when we are compared to monkeys. Yet, then I see the smile of a child or the sacrifice of an adult. I see the compassion and nurture of a mother or the strength of a warrior and I am reminded that all of these moments are reflections of the God we serve and love. 

You are not an accident! You are an amazing creation of God. 

“And God saw everything He had made, and behold it was very good.” Genesis 1:31. 

You are not a cosmic accident nor a mistake. God calls his creation good. What He calls good He too takes joy in its creation. Your life matters because you are made by God. 

Pastor Aaron

My youngest daughter was playing dress up the other evening. She had on a costume that was called Queen Esther. My wife, Angel, was sharing with her about the bravery and courage of Queen Esther to stand up to the decree of the king who was about to kill all of the Jews in the nation. It was a powerful moment for me and not so sure how powerful it was for my daughter. She began calling her dog the “Royal Dog”. As I was watching her do this, the Lord placed this thought in my mind. Your dog is only royal because your daughter designated her as royal. Just like you, you are only royal because I the Lord have designated you royal because of my Son.

Later the next day I came across this passage from Deuteronomy. The part that jumped out to me is that the people of Israel were not chosen because of their righteousness. They were chosen people because of the wickedness of the other nations. Their blessing came from God designating them as His people and not because they were inherently a special people.

This day as you live your life, remember you are a royal people because God has said so and not because of your own qualities. It is humbling to receive love because He chooses to love us rather than because we deserve to be loved. It redefines my heart to be a heart of gratitude rather than a heart of enlightenment.

Pastor Aaron Kruse