Pursue the Promises | Highlights (January-July)
A summary of some of our favorite Blog post highlights from January-July.
We are halfway through 2024, which means we are halfway through our Pursue the Promises 2024 all-church theme. Pastor Shane has been encouraging us to hold onto these promises and to anchor our lives to them. He’s also encouraged us to memorize each of the key Scriptures.
Members of our team have shared Blog posts related to each promise. We pray these posts, along with video posts by Pastor Shane, have been meaningful to you as you reflect on the promises of God.
Below please find a summary of our promises so far, key verses and just a few of our favorite highlights from the Blog posts to date.
To access the full posts, visit our Blog page.
July | God Promises to Protect Us
“This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” (Psalm 91:2)
Karin Baker
The foundation of this verse lies in the phrase, "My God, in whom I trust." Trust is fundamental to our relationship with the Lord. It's not just a distant feeling, but a call to action. Trusting in God means surrendering our fears, plans, desires and even our control. It's about placing our faith in His wisdom and care.
June | God Promises to Work Everything out for Our Good
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)
Pastor Lee
When we choose to follow Jesus, it is not about having the easy, pain-free life. What I have found and have been blessed with is the building of my faith through the most turbulent storms in this life. And I have done so because I have never been alone through any of them. God has been with me, and He has brought the most amazing people to walk beside me, to encourage me, to hold me up when I couldn’t take another step.
Sydney Wilson
I know that in my life, many times I’ve been shocked by my suffering and questioned God about why He would allow something to happen. I know many times that I’ve pretended that life with Jesus meant no suffering…that as a result of my faith, that was almost owed to me. I have a feeling everyone has felt or thought something similar in their life. None of these emotions are new, none of them are unique to you, and none of them make you any less of a follower of Jesus.
Cristen Crossley
The point is, we are not protected from bad – that is not the promise. The promise is that God will work all situations for His good, which means we have to choose to find the good in the bad. We must trust that God loves us more than we can imagine and realize that we are to glorify Him in ALL situations.
May | God Promises to Deliver Us from All Fear
“For I hold you by your right hand – I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’” (Isaiah 41:13)
Erin Arva
When we stop to pause and remember that, above all else, a relationship with Jesus is personal, it changes things. I love the imagery of the God of the universe reaching down to hold my right hand and saying to me to not be afraid and that He is here to help me.
Pastor Denny
So, the next time you feel anxious, take hold of God’s Word and be courageous. Your Heavenly Father has promised that “He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). He calls us to serve Him out of a desire to fellowship with us and bless us – not to frighten or dominate us. Therefore, we need to trust in Him and experience a resounding victory over fear. Only when we trust the reality of God's presence, protection and provision for our lives can we share the joy God intends for us.
Pastor Dan
But God's promise doesn't end with mere comfort. He goes a step further, promising to deliver us from all fear. This doesn't mean that we'll never experience fear again, but rather, it means that fear doesn't have to control us. With God by our side, we have the power to overcome our fears and step into a future filled with hope and confidence.
April | God Promises to Answer Our Prayers
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)
Melissa Ball
In the same way, when we pray, we “sow” our prayers like seeds. We tend to our prayer seed by watering it with more prayers, day after day. We pull out weeds of unbelief that threaten to discourage us. It is a persistent work that takes time and effort.
Set your heart on God and be diligent and persistent in your prayers. Trust your life to Him and the purposes that He has for you. He knows what you need and when you need it. You will be amazed at the beautiful and abundant fruit that grows from your seeds of prayer.
Dave Reed
One might argue that it is easy to see how God has answered many prayers in my life. While this is definitely the case…if I was to be completely transparent, most days, with the velocity of a life with four kids…two who play multiple sports, one who is currently in college, and our oldest is arguably one of the best and busiest barbers in Central Pennsylvania…it can be really easy to turn on auto pilot.
I personally have to be really intentional about connecting and hearing from the Holy Spirit and the direction He wants me to proceed with in every aspect of my life.
Pastor Katie
Instead of waiting anxiously and frustrated – let’s wait with anticipation that He hears us, and He will answer! He knows what we need when we need it, and how we need to receive it…more than we do. Prayer is much more than a search bar and delivery system. Prayer is an expression of sincere desire sparked out of a deep relationship with God – it's believing He is able and willing to answer our prayers.
March | God Promises to Give Us Rest
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’” (Matthew 11:28-29)
Amy Stuter
You may think that your burdens are too heavy, your grief too deep and your life too messed up to go to Him. No matter what you are going through, Jesus waits with open arms to give you His rest and His peace…to give you freedom in Him! All you need to do is turn to Jesus, and you will find rest.
Pastor Amanda
Have you ever seen a yoke? When you picture them on oxen, they look heavy and restricting. So, at first thought, taking on Jesus’ yoke could give us the impression of taking on weight to carry. Yet what does a yoke do? It keeps the oxen side by side, pulling together for the same purpose, so they can be far more effective together than what one could accomplish on their own. Doesn’t that sound like relief? You can take on Jesus’ yoke and walk with Him.
February | God Promises to Meet Our Needs
“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)
Jamey McClintock
As a new widow, I know hardship firsthand. I can tell you that concerns for practical things like finances and what our future will look like without my husband are definitely on my mind.
However, the peace that God has given surpasses those concerns. I have the history of His faithfulness to draw from. I have knowledge of His love for me and my children. I am blessed with wisdom by hearing the testimonies of those who have gone before me. I treasure His Word that reminds me of God’s power and provision. I am surrounded not only by an angelic army, but also by an army of God’s people who I know pray for us.
Pastor Scott
There are so many stories of God’s miraculous provision. So many who had almost given up, but God came through. I bet if we sat down, you could tell me dozens of stories of how God has shown up for you in unexpected ways. I could fill libraries with the stories of how God has provided for me and my family in my life.
I could talk about how before I even knew Him – He loved me enough to send someone brave enough to invite me to church. I could talk about the pastors in my life over the years who have fanned the flame of God in my life. I could talk about how at, just the perfect time, God provided a helpmate for me in Melissa, or how God has given us three amazing kids. God is our provider.
Pastor David
You belong to Him. He knows you inside and out. Yet we often try to force God’s hand or put an unrealistic timeframe on Him when we need something. Throughout my life, I have seen time and again how people wait for God’s blessing without pursuing Him. We can’t expect God to fulfill His promises if we don’t have some skin in the game. And it starts with a relationship with Him. So, I ask you: What are you doing to show that you believe Him? What steps daily are you taking?
January | God Promises to Be with Us
“No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” (Joshua 1:5)
Pastor Matt
As we pursue God’s promises this year, what are some action steps we can take? I would encourage you to identify several mentors in your life. (Do they point you to Jesus?) I also challenge you to make your local church an important, centering place in your life. Commit to being a parent or friend who helps others to know that God is with them.
Members of our team have shared Blog posts related to each promise. We pray these posts, along with video posts by Pastor Shane, have been meaningful to you as you reflect on the promises of God.
Below please find a summary of our promises so far, key verses and just a few of our favorite highlights from the Blog posts to date.
To access the full posts, visit our Blog page.
July | God Promises to Protect Us
“This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” (Psalm 91:2)
Karin Baker
The foundation of this verse lies in the phrase, "My God, in whom I trust." Trust is fundamental to our relationship with the Lord. It's not just a distant feeling, but a call to action. Trusting in God means surrendering our fears, plans, desires and even our control. It's about placing our faith in His wisdom and care.
June | God Promises to Work Everything out for Our Good
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)
Pastor Lee
When we choose to follow Jesus, it is not about having the easy, pain-free life. What I have found and have been blessed with is the building of my faith through the most turbulent storms in this life. And I have done so because I have never been alone through any of them. God has been with me, and He has brought the most amazing people to walk beside me, to encourage me, to hold me up when I couldn’t take another step.
Sydney Wilson
I know that in my life, many times I’ve been shocked by my suffering and questioned God about why He would allow something to happen. I know many times that I’ve pretended that life with Jesus meant no suffering…that as a result of my faith, that was almost owed to me. I have a feeling everyone has felt or thought something similar in their life. None of these emotions are new, none of them are unique to you, and none of them make you any less of a follower of Jesus.
Cristen Crossley
The point is, we are not protected from bad – that is not the promise. The promise is that God will work all situations for His good, which means we have to choose to find the good in the bad. We must trust that God loves us more than we can imagine and realize that we are to glorify Him in ALL situations.
May | God Promises to Deliver Us from All Fear
“For I hold you by your right hand – I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’” (Isaiah 41:13)
Erin Arva
When we stop to pause and remember that, above all else, a relationship with Jesus is personal, it changes things. I love the imagery of the God of the universe reaching down to hold my right hand and saying to me to not be afraid and that He is here to help me.
Pastor Denny
So, the next time you feel anxious, take hold of God’s Word and be courageous. Your Heavenly Father has promised that “He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). He calls us to serve Him out of a desire to fellowship with us and bless us – not to frighten or dominate us. Therefore, we need to trust in Him and experience a resounding victory over fear. Only when we trust the reality of God's presence, protection and provision for our lives can we share the joy God intends for us.
Pastor Dan
But God's promise doesn't end with mere comfort. He goes a step further, promising to deliver us from all fear. This doesn't mean that we'll never experience fear again, but rather, it means that fear doesn't have to control us. With God by our side, we have the power to overcome our fears and step into a future filled with hope and confidence.
April | God Promises to Answer Our Prayers
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)
Melissa Ball
In the same way, when we pray, we “sow” our prayers like seeds. We tend to our prayer seed by watering it with more prayers, day after day. We pull out weeds of unbelief that threaten to discourage us. It is a persistent work that takes time and effort.
Set your heart on God and be diligent and persistent in your prayers. Trust your life to Him and the purposes that He has for you. He knows what you need and when you need it. You will be amazed at the beautiful and abundant fruit that grows from your seeds of prayer.
Dave Reed
One might argue that it is easy to see how God has answered many prayers in my life. While this is definitely the case…if I was to be completely transparent, most days, with the velocity of a life with four kids…two who play multiple sports, one who is currently in college, and our oldest is arguably one of the best and busiest barbers in Central Pennsylvania…it can be really easy to turn on auto pilot.
I personally have to be really intentional about connecting and hearing from the Holy Spirit and the direction He wants me to proceed with in every aspect of my life.
Pastor Katie
Instead of waiting anxiously and frustrated – let’s wait with anticipation that He hears us, and He will answer! He knows what we need when we need it, and how we need to receive it…more than we do. Prayer is much more than a search bar and delivery system. Prayer is an expression of sincere desire sparked out of a deep relationship with God – it's believing He is able and willing to answer our prayers.
March | God Promises to Give Us Rest
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’” (Matthew 11:28-29)
Amy Stuter
You may think that your burdens are too heavy, your grief too deep and your life too messed up to go to Him. No matter what you are going through, Jesus waits with open arms to give you His rest and His peace…to give you freedom in Him! All you need to do is turn to Jesus, and you will find rest.
Pastor Amanda
Have you ever seen a yoke? When you picture them on oxen, they look heavy and restricting. So, at first thought, taking on Jesus’ yoke could give us the impression of taking on weight to carry. Yet what does a yoke do? It keeps the oxen side by side, pulling together for the same purpose, so they can be far more effective together than what one could accomplish on their own. Doesn’t that sound like relief? You can take on Jesus’ yoke and walk with Him.
February | God Promises to Meet Our Needs
“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)
Jamey McClintock
As a new widow, I know hardship firsthand. I can tell you that concerns for practical things like finances and what our future will look like without my husband are definitely on my mind.
However, the peace that God has given surpasses those concerns. I have the history of His faithfulness to draw from. I have knowledge of His love for me and my children. I am blessed with wisdom by hearing the testimonies of those who have gone before me. I treasure His Word that reminds me of God’s power and provision. I am surrounded not only by an angelic army, but also by an army of God’s people who I know pray for us.
Pastor Scott
There are so many stories of God’s miraculous provision. So many who had almost given up, but God came through. I bet if we sat down, you could tell me dozens of stories of how God has shown up for you in unexpected ways. I could fill libraries with the stories of how God has provided for me and my family in my life.
I could talk about how before I even knew Him – He loved me enough to send someone brave enough to invite me to church. I could talk about the pastors in my life over the years who have fanned the flame of God in my life. I could talk about how at, just the perfect time, God provided a helpmate for me in Melissa, or how God has given us three amazing kids. God is our provider.
Pastor David
You belong to Him. He knows you inside and out. Yet we often try to force God’s hand or put an unrealistic timeframe on Him when we need something. Throughout my life, I have seen time and again how people wait for God’s blessing without pursuing Him. We can’t expect God to fulfill His promises if we don’t have some skin in the game. And it starts with a relationship with Him. So, I ask you: What are you doing to show that you believe Him? What steps daily are you taking?
January | God Promises to Be with Us
“No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” (Joshua 1:5)
Pastor Matt
As we pursue God’s promises this year, what are some action steps we can take? I would encourage you to identify several mentors in your life. (Do they point you to Jesus?) I also challenge you to make your local church an important, centering place in your life. Commit to being a parent or friend who helps others to know that God is with them.
Pursue the Promises
Throughout 2024, every Monday morning by 7:00 AM, we will post a new video from Pastor Shane or an article written by a member of our staff that connects to that month’s featured promise. Learn more.
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