Every January, many of us set ambitious one-year goals, only to feel overwhelmed by the end of the month and discouraged by the end of February. The problem isn’t motivation; it’s scale. One-year goals often feel distant, daunting, and disconnected from daily life. That’s why quarterly goals are so effective.

There’s an empty chair at a lot of tables this Christmas.

For some, it’s the first holiday without a spouse, a parent, a child, or a close friend. For others, the chair has been empty for years, but the ache still rears its head every December.

Christmas has a way of bringing both joy and grief into the same room.

And here’s the quiet grace of God in this season:

He does not avoid our grief. He enters it.

Here’s the thing about my singing, though: I’m pretty tone-deaf. I struggle to stay on pitch, and I’m usually behind when the congregation starts clapping.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the church needs my voice just as much as it needs the pitch-perfect ones.

We are shocked and grieving the sudden death of Charlie Kirk. Our hearts ache for Iryna Zarutska and her brutal public murder on a train in Charlotte a few days ago. And on this September 11th, we pause to remember the thousands who died in the attacks 24 years ago, along with the families who still carry that pain.

Have you ever heard the phrase "silence is golden"? It's true in many situations, when a newborn finally stops crying, when the neighbor's dog stops barking at 2am, or during those peaceful early mornings with your Bible and coffee. But there are times when silence is not golden. When someone is desperately searching for truth, grace, peace, and forgiveness, silence from Christians is a missed opportunity.

God never designed the Christian life to be lived in isolation. Christianity is both private and public - private in the sense that you must personally decide to follow Jesus, but public in that it's meant to be lived out in community with other believers.

How do you worship God by serving others? In our culture, we often embrace the "have it your way" mentality. From Burger King's famous slogan to the Backstreet Boys' lyrics, the desire to do things our way is deeply ingrained in human nature.

Do you believe that what others meant for evil, God can use for good? Read the sermon recap post to find out how Joseph trusted God and how you can as well!

In God’s Upside Down Kingdom, we see God building His kingdom by His grace and not our greatness. Read this sermon recap from Genesis chapters 48-49.

Life is constantly changing. Whether we like it or not, transitions are inevitable - from changing schools or jobs to moving homes, starting new relationships, or facing health challenges. These transitions test our faith and can leave us feeling uncertain about the future. In Genesis 46, we find Jacob and his family facing a major transition. At 130 years old, Jacob is uprooting his entire life to move to Egypt after discovering his long-lost son Joseph is alive. This wasn't a simple change - it meant leaving the promised land of Canaan, abandoning familiar routines, and starting over in a foreign country.

In Genesis 44–45, Joseph’s story reaches a powerful turning point. After years of betrayal, separation, and pain, God’s grace breaks through in unexpected ways, bringing healing.

In the story of Joseph, we find a powerful reminder that God meets us in our mess with His mercy. When God's mercy enters our messy lives, bringing hope even in the darkest circumstances. Joseph's story demonstrates how God works through broken families, painful betrayals, and seemingly hopeless situations to bring about redemption.

There's a kind of pain we rarely talk about—not the pain of tragedy, but the pain of silence.

It's the ache that settles in when your prayers seem to hit the ceiling. When the breakthrough you've been waiting for doesn't come. When all you seem to be hearing from God is…nothing!

Where am I seeking immediate validation instead of trusting God's timing? Who around me needs serving, even though I feel overlooked? How can I point others to God through my faithful service, even under challenging circumstances?

Man may forget you, but God never will. That's a promise you can build your life upon.

Life handed Joseph a series of unfair blows—betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and later falsely accused and imprisoned. Yet his story reveals a powerful truth: when life isn't fair, God is still there.

Life often presents us with unexpected challenges and painful realities, such as the death of a loved one, painful breakups, personal failures, or betrayal by friends. In these moments, we often find ourselves asking, “God, where are you?”

What if the answer to your deepest prayer was just one more prayer away—but you gave up too soon? Too often, we quit praying right before the breakthrough, like a runner stopping on the last lap or a hiker turning back just before reaching the summit.

How can you run a race of faith with endurance? Work through this prayer guide and listen to the sermon from 11-24-24 at Heights Baptist Church YouTube page.

How can you help the gospel spread to others? Take time each day to learn about how you can fulfill God’s call to take the gospel to all people!

Check out this short 5 day devotional to help you connect with God and His mission for your life!