We trade ice storm stories for a deeper look at waiting on God and why delay can be holy. From Nehemiah’s four months to personal callings and a new church building, we show how prayer, preparation, and small faithfulness build strength for the right time.

• member shoutout to Lane Minchew for faithful tech service and joyful presence
• Why waiting is active trust rooted in prayer
• Nehemiah’s holy burden and the four‑month pause before action
• personal stories of calling, dating, and growth through delay
• preparation over the platform and leading one person well
• Psalm 27:14 as a framework for courage in waiting
• church building progress as a picture of spiritual formation
• shifting energy from worry to prayer and discipleship

We swap sick-day movie picks and celebrate a quiet hero in our church, then dig into how to respond when weather, schedules, and life blow up our plans. Trust replaces control, gratitude disarms anxiety, and service turns calm faith into action.

• shout-out to volunteer leader Laura Higgins and first impressions work
• how social media fuels fear during storms
• the difference between concern and worry
• practical adjustments without losing mission
• Mary and Martha as a frame for priorities
• gratitude, prayer, and guarded peace from Philippians 4
• serving neighbors with warmth and presence
• finding joy and memory in forced slowness

Stay warm

We celebrate episode 100 with a new tradition: honoring a GBC member who models quiet faithfulness, starting with security leader and servant-heart, Bart Perry. Then we preview our Nehemiah “rebuilding” series, share why process beats quick fixes, and map out 2026 priorities from service to Sunday night formation.

• Nehemiah as roadmap for rebuilding people, not just walls
• Prayer first, unity through opposition, mission continues
• Buildings vs Church: sanctification as ongoing process
• Embracing small wins over instant gratification
• 2026 vision: new volunteers and first impressions
• Sunday nights: Regen recovery, discipleship.
• Growth defined as spiritual maturity and service
• Mobilizing committees and teams in prayerful unity

We mark Ep 99 with laughter and then lean into childlike wonder, tackling honest Christmas questions about Jesus’ birth, humanity, and the meaning behind the Magi’s gifts.

• why a king was born in a barn
• the humanity of Jesus and whether he cried
• whether animals “knew” and what Scripture does and does not say
• who could see the star and why the wise men followed it
• the meaning of gold, frankincense, and myrrh
• the trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem and its cost
• how Mary parented Jesus
• whether Jesus celebrated Christmas in any form

Join Jake and Maverick as we dive deeper into making Jesus the center of our Christmas celebration and our lives.

- Reading Scripture with your family

- Spending time with your family and setting the example

- Pointing everyday things back to Christ.

- Being intentional

We talk about gratitude, calling out the moments, meals, and mentors that shape our lives. From cornbread dressing to discipleship, we explore how honesty, prayer, and community guide us in choosing depth over hype this holiday season.

• sports that pull families together.
• Thanksgiving foods that carry memory and meaning, from dressing to sourdough rolls
• honest, ungrateful list, including late nights and the myth of Black Friday
• a church growing in prayer, worship, hunger, and patient discernment
• the Paul, Barnabas, Timothy model for everyday discipleship
• small groups as the engine of trust, care, and spiritual growth
• gratitude for spouses, mentors, and the people sustaining us

Think about what you’re thankful for. Ask yourself these questions as you enter this season of gratitude.

A grounded look at prayer through Hannah’s vow in 1 Samuel, asking how personal desires align with God’s will and serve His kingdom. We lay out a simple framework: pray biblically, trust God’s timing, and aim for answers that honor Him.

• Hannah’s longing and vow set within God’s larger plan
• praying within Scripture’s boundaries and language
• trusting God’s will and timing even when delayed
• asking if the answer would honor God and serve His kingdom
• reframing requests for home, work, and family toward mission
• shifting parenting prayers from comfort to consecration
• learning from misaligned prayers and growing in maturity
• gratitude for who God is and how He shapes desire

• Paul’s warning to elders and why vigilance matters
• Government persecution abroad and legal pressure at home
• Works-based religion versus grace as the root
• Secular ethics challenging Christian identity and practice
• Scripture twisting and the need for context and testing
• Sheep stealing and protecting unity in mission
• Secularized Christ and guarding core doctrine
• Practical steps for discernment and hope

Show up to church on Sunday because Jake will dive more into it!