God forms us when our obedience comes before the parting of the waters. At the Red Sea (Exodus 15), God moved the waters before the people entered.
 They were trapped.
 They were powerless.
 They were being rescued. That was grace. But at the Jordan River (Joshua 3), God is doing something different. No enemy is chasing them.
 The promise is in front of them. 
 And God waits for them.  What is a step of faith is God inviting/ challenging/ calling you to take… even though the outcome may not seem entirely clear?

We’re back in the habit—returning to the Good Word that keeps pointing us to Jesus. This week we were reminded that disciples don’t grow through chronic activity, but by living daily in the steady stream of Scripture. God’s Word grounds our worldview, shapes our obedience, and carries us into real seasons of fruitfulness. There was a quiet but clear invitation to slow down, stay rooted, and let the Bible do its deep work in us again. If you missed it—or want to sit with it a little longer—the message is available online and well worth your time.

Slow down, and step into the story of Jesus' birth... Not as observers but as participants. May our church rest in the vulnerability of God's arrival and makes room for Him... and one another.

Light finds its greatest contrast against dark textures. And so often, we come to Jesus—the Lord of Light— when we find ourselves in the darkest corners. Most of us grip Jesus more tightly in the dark. Not because the light is absent, but because we finally notice how much we need it. As you reflect on this year… Where did you experience Christ’s light in the darkest pockets of 2025? What was a shadowed moment when God faithfully chose to shine? Please see attached liturgy.

One of the greatest truths of Christmas is that God shows up in the midst. One of the greatest mysteries today is that God still does this… all the time. May we be curious, asking the helpful question, "How WILL God show up today?"

Jesus’ earthly (adoptive) father, Joseph, carried a quiet strength (Matthew 1:18-25). What does a quiet strength embody?     Quiet strength… … remains undefended while defending others. Matt. 1:19. … obeys God without needing to announce it. Matt. 1:24. … entrusts everything and everyone to God. Matt. 1:25. This earthly father shows us that strength is not loud; it is loving.

Biblical humility is more than obedience, and it’s certainly not simply indifference either. It is identification with the Humble One—our born, living, dying, and risen Lord Jesus. Download the Week One Advent Liturgy to linger with the Scriptures and prayers that shape us into His likeness. Download the doc and spend time with our Advent liturgy for week one.

"I am the Resurrection and the Life" "Jesus Wept." Two verses that are almost inseparable. Why is this? Have a listen.

There are no true christians without some measure of fruit. As Jesus says and James repeats, Fruitfulness (or works) is the unmistakable evidence of genuine faith. Fruit/ Works doesn’t save us. However, like grapes on a well-nourished, well-lit, well-groomed vine, fruit/ Work is a natural by-product of someone who has that faith that is meant to grow. So what does it look like when a life naturally bears the supernatural fruit of faith?

Which door do we trust to be source of our life? Isolation or Relationship? Scarcity and Everything? Jesus is the door. This door brings life with joy and abundance.

“I am the way and the truth and the life.”  This may be the most doctrinal or theological “I AM” statement of Jesus.  Unquestionably clear.  Not easily forgotten.  Yet, in the culture of today’s church, we can easily forget (certain aspects of) ...  … Jesus’ Unconventional Way,  … His Eternal Truth  … and the Life today Jesus offers.

Are you ever within the most ordinary action or a familiar routine and receive a sense of love/joy/ peace that is completely without cause? … a calming "Good" seemingly out of nowhere with no explanation other than the beauty of God? This is the Fresh Presence of the Bread of Life. And it is MEANS and the END. What keeps us from this bread? ... from Jesus?

As We need to be reminded who we are and more importantly: Whose We Are. … We belong to, We worship, We submit to… The God of the New Testament Who is the God of the Old Testament Who is our God of today. What is the Heart of God like?

Why retire early when we can rest now? We are not in control. So let’s give it up and rest together. BUT... this is why we say "Amen!" to rest but did not rest well... or at all.

What is hospitality? “Hospitality, therefore, means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place… And when W.E. are hospitable, we lower other’s defenses.

For many, the Bible can represent a place that brings many different feelings for many different people. To name a few, the Scripture may feel like… -Foreign Territory -Fool's Paradise -Hostile Terrain and finally... a Welcome Home. What is the purpose of God's Holy Scriptures?

What is the Kingdom? One of the most prolific scholars NT Wright understands the Kingdom of God as God’s sovereign, saving rule coming into the world through Jesus, fulfilling Israel’s story, defeating evil, and launching a new creation. It’s the New Creation that is easily missed in the modern church. What does the Kingdom of God look like? What does THIS new Creation mean to us?... mean to you?

In the Bible, we find what defines “love” by knowing what love defines. Love defines Who God is… In John’s 1st letter, the author writes “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Therefore God’s love defines what true love is. But what does this love look like practically?

This Sunday we are serving at Rising Tide Ranch, a Christ-centered, sober living farm that is so much more. We are also using this Sunday to conclude our series is called Witness: How a Grassroots Movements Changes the World. Water’s Edge spent the good part of year studying the early church and asking the questions that a lot of people have been asking these days: What is the church? What’s her purpose? Is she necessary? On this final day, It feels right to the Holy Spirit to respond with the following: As witnesses, the church is called to grow in both welcoming kindness and loving truth. Welcoming Kindness and Loving Truth. We will encounter men today at the ranch who have experienced both exceptional hospitality and deeply-convicting yet loving truth. And it is that type of hospitality/ truth-in-love ministry that changes the world.