Category: calling

• REFRESHING MY SOUL

  

  I need to rest. This is an everyday truth for me. But it is hard to rest because I have so much to do each and every day. How will I get everything done if I take time to rest? Who will take up the slack, especially in a busy season of life? These are […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/12/2022

  ambition, belonging, calling, career, Christian Life, Christianity, glory to God, God’s grace, Life, ministry, pastor, remember, renewal, rest, Sabbath, Truth, uncategoried

  burnout is real, loving God, loving my family, refreshing my soul, signs of burnout, time to rest

• God Responds

  Click here to read 1 Samuel 8. Samuel is an interesting character. He is a mild-mannered prophet who has no problem removing the head of enemy kings. He is someone you can go to in order to hear from God, and also someone who will make sure the job gets done. (Stay with me this […]

  Ryan Stratton

  06/08/2021

  bible, Bible, calling, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conflict, confrontation, devotionals, disciples, Emotions, faith, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, holy, holy life, holy living, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, Life, methodism, methodist, ministry, praise, Prayer, prayer life, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  1 Samuel 8, God hears prayers, god is not caught off guard, God knows, God loves you, God seeks us, God’s response, Israel asks for a king, rejecting God

• Esther: “Wrong” Place, Right Time

  We have been in this series where we have been looking into the lives of biblical characters to see how we can still see ourselves on the pages of scripture. As we said last week, our way of life, and society may have changed, but human nature really hasn’t changed. We still fall prey to […]

  Ryan Stratton

  07/28/2020

  anger, awakening, beauty, belief, believe, belonging, bible, bible study, calling, Challenges, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, controversy, disciples, example, facing challenges, Failure, faith, faithful, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, judgement, Life, Lifes Journey, mercy, methodism, methodist, mindset, ministry, mission, pastor, revival, transformation, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

  book of esther, called by God, Esther, for such a time as this, God is always working, greater purpose in life, Happy with your life, Life mission, mission of God, new life in Christ, no coincidences with God, People like us, personal mission, trusting God, whats in the bible

• Discovering God through the book of Jonah (Part 2)

  

  The Book of Jonah teaches us A LOT about who God is. Chapter 2 forces us to focus and evaluate what we pray and believing God answers prayers.

  Ryan Stratton

  10/18/2019

  belief, believe, belonging, bible, Bible, bible stories, bible study, calling, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conflict, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, faith, faithful, family of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, gospel, grace, Image of God, John Wesley, journaling, journey, joy, judgement, Life, mercy, methodism, methodist, power, praise, pray, Prayer, prayer life, preaching, priorities, priority, proclaiming Christ, renewal, repent, revival, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, witnessing, worldview, worship, writing, youth ministry

  believing God, bible study on Jonah, God answers prayers, hear our prayer, how to pray, Jonah 2, Lord, power of prayer, power of the Holy Spirit, Who is God, who is Jesus?

• Discovering God through the Book of Jonah (Part 1)

  

  What can we learn about God through the short Old Testament book of Jonah?

  Ryan Stratton

  10/09/2019

  attitudes, belief, believe, bible, bible stories, bible study, calling, Challenges, character, Christian Life, Christianity, confession, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, faith, glory to God, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, Identity, Image of God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, plan, power, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, revival, trust, Truth, worship, writing, youth ministry

  bible study on Jonah, book of Jonah, discovering God, Jonah chapter 1, Jonah the prophet, knowing God, mowing the lawn, running from God, Who is God

• Loving to Life Pt 5

  

  SHOW GOD’S LOVE DAILY As we continue in loving people and organizations to life, we remember we have been praying and seeking God’s direction, we have been allowing the people to be their real selves without judgement, we have been meeting with people in small groups, and we have begun a visioning process for the […]

  Ryan Stratton

  07/27/2018

  awakening, beauty, belief, believe, bible, calling, challenge, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, compassion, conversion, Creation, Creativity, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, fruit of the spirit, gifts, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kindness, leadership, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, mission, people, pray, relationships, renewal, trust, Truth, uncategoried, value, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  finding life in Christ, following Jesus Christ, ideas to love people, know how much you care, loving God, loving people, loving to life, people have value, people have worth, pray for people, praying with others, show God’s love through you, showing God’s love, writing notes to people

• Loving to Life Pt 4

  

  VISIONING This is one of my favorite things to do – visioning for the possibilities of the future. I have said before that I do much better in bigger picture planning and thinking than I do when it comes to the minor details. The details are important. Visioning is not just about long term planning […]

  Ryan Stratton

  07/20/2018

  belief, believe, belonging, calling, challenge, Christian Life, church, Communication, disciples, faith, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, leadership, learn, learning, legacy, Life, live, memory, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, plan, possibilities, prepare, questions, revival, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  blog series, building relationships, daydreaming for the future, getting a new church, getting a new job, God’s plan, listening to God, looking at the big picture, looking to the future, moving to a new area, setting future goals, visioning for the future

• Loving to Life Pt 2

  

  MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE Last week we began a series to help us love people to life. When we go to a new place, it it easy to assume we know what people need to do. In many cases, we may be right. The best thing to do is to pray, and listen, to […]

  Ryan Stratton

  07/06/2018

  belief, believe, bible, calling, career, challenge, Christian Life, Christianity, church, Creativity, devotionals, disciples, evangelism, example, faith, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, freedom, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, Golden rule, good news, gospel, holy life, holy living, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judgement, judging, leadership, learning, Life, lifestyle, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, preparation, prepare, priorities, proclaiming Christ, redeemed, service, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Temptation, transformation, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  blog series, bringing life, calling of the disciples, grand visions from God, learning patience, loving people, loving people to life, making progress, new life in Christ, taking time in changing things, transformation begins with relationships, transforming a community, work of the Holy Spirit

• It’s About Kingdom Building

  

  Click here to read Acts 23. Paul is in a heap of trouble here. It seems the message of the gospel has touched a raw nerve with everyone he comes in contact with. Everyone, that is, except the Roman centurions watching set to watch over the apostle in chains. In one of his letters to […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/01/2017

  Apostle Paul, bible, calling, Challenges, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, conflict, controversy, devotionals, disciples, Ephesians, example, facing challenges, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, patience, preaching, proclaiming Christ, testimony, transformation, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, Worship, writing, youth ministry

  Acts 23, become all things to all people, book of Acts, building people up, building the kingdom, Ephesians 4:29, Holy Spirit, how to win friends and influence people, Jesus changes everything, Paul gives his defense, Paul is in trouble, transformed by grace, transforming the world

• Fully Devoted

  

  Click here to read Acts 18. There are times we can wonder if what we are doing is really making a difference. We can work so hard but still not see the results we desired to see. Or it can be another way, we can see incredible results but not see them continue. People are […]

  Ryan Stratton

  11/03/2017

  Apostle Paul, attitudes, belief, believe, calling, challenge, character, Christian Life, Christianity, church, confrontation, controversy, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, glory, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, humility, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lord, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, mission, pastor, peace, pray, Prayer, preaching, proclaiming Christ, relationships, Spirit, Spirit led, transformation, trials, trust, Truth, uncategoried, worship, writing, youth ministry

  Acts 1:8, Apostle Paul, fully devoted to Christ, God’s plan for redemption, shake the dust off your feet, state of humanity, what are you saved for