Posts with the category “devotionals”

No Quick FixesUsually, there aren’t quick fixes to complicated problems. And any promises of such things should be met with a fair amount of skepticism. At least, that seems to be among the convention...  Read More

A common definition of a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning” (Barclay & others).Depending on how you evaluate, the Good Book contains somewhere between 40 and 60 parables. Most of th...  Read More

It seems the buzz word for 2020 is “CLARITY,” no doubt inspired by 20/20 perfect vision. I don’t think I’m alone in craving what this word gives. In our increasingly divided culture, fast-paced lives,...  Read More

By Dorian Watson“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, t...  Read More

Have you ever felt so out of place that you were reminded of being back in middle school? You know that super awkward feeling that you just don’t fit in, and you are way too aware of your every moveme...  Read More

As a mom, I have found that the demands of this very chaotic life have shaken me to evaluate how I manage my days.In Ephesians 5:15-16, Paul urges, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but...  Read More

God is moving at College Hill: this has been the recurring theme since the beginning of our merger process a little over a year ago, and it was the overwhelming takeaway from our block party held last...  Read More

By Abby Barr, Director of OperationsI’ve found that the older I get the more forgetful I become. Just as my life has become more complicated and packed than ever, my mind has also become sleep-deprive...  Read More

As a 21st century, American culture, we have become obsessed with food and image. It takes nothing more than a scroll through social media or a walk down the magazine aisle to see that something is as...  Read More

Written by Dorian WatsonLately, I’ve been meditating on 1 Samuel 17. This chapter gives the account of David and Goliath. The Lord put these scriptures on my heart about a week ago as I was processing...  Read More

Written by Christiana BoyerI love the four seasons of the year because growing up in Houston, Texas, I never really experienced spring and fall…or winter for that matter! I basically just knew hot, fo...  Read More

By Jordan StaffordAs a senior at Liberty University, I have missed my home church for the last three years where I was plugged in with the younger kids and the middle school students. I adored being a...  Read More

By Jennifer Redmond, Communications DirectorThe passage of time is relentless. We know this reality, and yet we so often forget it, behaving as if time slows to our demands, as if by ignoring it, we c...  Read More

By Jordan StaffordImagine being so dehydrated after only drinking coffee for three days straight that you change your name to “Dehydrated.” I don’t know about you, but only drinking coffee is 100% som...  Read More

written by Dr. Jim NutterSince late March, our Steadfast class (one of GCR’s Discipleship Communities) has been doing an in depth Bible study of the sayings of Solomon; each week we’ve been reading tw...  Read More

Written by Juan Dugan, D.Min.There is a true wisdom in the way the Old Testament understood love, particularly when it comes to the topic of marriage. This wisdom and depth stands in stark contrast to...  Read More

Written by Dorian Watson, M.A.“And they remembered his words.” Luke 24:8 ESVOur modern American lives can have us running around at a mind-numbing pace. Constantly jumping from one appointment to the ...  Read More

written by Danika Delello“What more could I have done for my vineyard than I did? Why, when I expected a yield of good grapes, did it yield worthless grapes?” Isaiah 5:4In Isaiah chapter five, a song ...  Read More

written by Jordan StaffordWe are sea glass. Let me explain.Broken and shattered bottles tossed aside by undesiring hands create the beautiful sea glass found along many shores. With each pounding wave...  Read More

Written by Danika Delello “God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life.” Psalm 54:4When the Christians that I know go through trials, I hear many of them talk about how they find their comf...  Read More

by Dr. Jim NutterAs we began the New Year of 2019, many of us set goals or what some call “resolutions.” These may have involved healthier eating habits, getting more exercise, or even an increased nu...  Read More

written by Becca Bogardus, GCR Communications DirectorAs we study God’s Word, we see the Lord’s ultimate authority and power interlaced throughout Scripture. The Lord is sovereign, all-powerful, trans...  Read More

written by Dorian Watson, M.A.THE CHRIST LIGHT“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” John 1:9A white candle is lit to represent Christ during Advent. Candles give ...  Read More

by Fred Volk, Ph.D.In First Corinthians, the Apostle Paul describes what love is when he states unequivocally that no matter what we have gained in our lives in terms of accomplishments and material w...  Read More

by Juan Dugan, D.Min. – Worship LeaderJoy is a tricky thing. We often hear it described as happiness or a positive outlook, but for anyone who has ever felt joyous, we know it’s more than that. There ...  Read More

by Jennifer Redmond, M.Ed.In the protestant tradition, the focus of Advent is most often on the arrival of Jesus—Emanuel, God with us.But one season, that focus dramatically shifted for me. Five years...  Read More

by Andrew Moroz, Teaching Pastor“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Gospel Community,What is the will o...  Read More

by Andrew Moroz, Teaching PastorThanksgiving is only a few weeks away. For most people that means family, friends, and food, and, usually, at least some consideration of things that we’re thankful for...  Read More

by Christi-Anna BoyerRecently, a group of 55 women from Gospel Community Rivermont went on a weekend retreat in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While no one knew exactly what God was going to d...  Read More

by Abby Barr, M.Ed.All of us have areas of our lives where we excel. We are called into roles in which our gifts shine and our weaknesses are minimized. If you’re anything like me, you love spending t...  Read More

by Dorian Watson, M.A.My dad loves jigsaw puzzles, especially ones with 1,000 or more pieces. He recently bought several for us to put together as a family. As we worked on them, I noticed that more t...  Read More

by Juan Dugan, D.Min. – Worship LeaderSometimes we make mistakes. There are the small mistakes, like being late for a meeting or missing a typo in a blog post. These can be embarrassing but aren’t a b...  Read More

by Andrew Moroz, D.Min., Teaching and Outreach PastorHappy Fourth of July!Fourth of July is a celebration of freedom and democracy. But with freedom comes great responsibility. The freedom that has be...  Read More

by Ashley S. Davis, M.A., Resident in Counseling, Rivermont Counseling LLCWhen I think about practicing Sabbath, it can feel overwhelming, and if I’m honest, downright unrealistic. While a part of me ...  Read More

by Ashley S. Davis, M.A., Resident in Counseling, Rivermont Counseling LLCWhen I think about practicing Sabbath, it can feel overwhelming, and if I’m honest, downright unrealistic. While a part of me ...  Read More

by Ashley S. Davis, M.A., Resident in Counseling, Rivermont Counseling LLCWhen I think about practicing Sabbath, it can feel overwhelming, and if I’m honest, downright unrealistic. While a part of me ...  Read More

by Beth Joseph, Women’s Ministry LeaderEvery week, I have the blessing of nannying two children in Lynchburg. One of the children has the sweetest heart of any child I have ever known. He is constantl...  Read More

by Dorian Watson, Financial Assistant“I’m just one hundred and one, five months and a day.”“I can’t believe that!” said Alice.“Can’t you?” the Queen said in a pitying tone. “Try again: draw a long bre...  Read More

by Brandon Read, Gospel Student Ministries DirectorTime is a precious commodity. But in this day and age, we tend to move quickly from one task to another, making everything feel like a blur. Unfortun...  Read More

by Andrew Moroz, Teaching and Outreach PastorSummer technically doesn’t officially start until late June; but, at Gospel Community Church Rivermont, at the end of May, we transition from one season to...  Read More