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You know the voice of your parent. If you have a child or spouse, you know their voice when they call to you. These people are special to you and, for the most part, are trustworthy. When they call, your heart causes you to respond. The same is true for everyone else you hold in your heart. Before listening to them, perhaps we should evaluate whether they should be there in the first place. Protect your heart by cultivating what you hold dear. If it is good, listen to your heart when it prompts you to respond. John 10:7–10; John 9:13–34; 1 Peter 5:8–9; Romans 8:31–34; Ecclesiastes 2:1–11; Ecclesiastes 3:9–14; Psalm 51:10

Some cannot comprehend how God could relate to their joy or their pain. We must remember that He bundled himself in flesh, walked this dirty earth, and sweat under the sun. His mourned the death of loved ones, starved in the desert, shared meals with His closest friends as well and a crowd of thousands. In this way He can relate to every sorrow and every joy we have, except the guilt of being a sinner. Instead, He felt the pain and abandonment of a brief separation from the Glory of God that He did not deserve. He went out of His way to prevent any of us from realizing that fate. In His life of examples of how we should be, that compassion is included. Deacon Locklear shares with us some starters on how to be, and how to find, compassion. Galatians 6:2–5; Ruth 2:13; 2 Corinthians 1:4; Genesis 33:8–13; Psalm 55:22; Matthew 11:29–30; 2 Corinthians 12:6–10; Isaiah 43:2–3

In the second book of Revelation, Jesus tells of the persecution some of us will endure and that we are to be faithful in these times. After which we will be given a “victor’s crown.” That faithfulness will make these times easier to endure. In this message, Pastor Harrison shows us what comes before faithfulness. The prerequisite to trusting The Lord, His Word, His Son, and His Spirit. Matthew 16:24–27; Psalm 92:14; Jeremiah 29:4–14; Micah 6:8; Jonah 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Timothy 4:7; Matthew 27:50–51

What do you know? What don’t you know? Over the course of our lives, we are given facts. And we either form, or are also given, opinions on what to do with those facts. At least once in each of our lifetimes, some fact is found to be false or there is additional information that changes how we use that knowledge. Chaplain Mitchell shares with us why we should occasionally question what we know and how to confirm or disprove long-held opinions. Romans 10:9–11; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 4:1–5

We recognize Memorial Day in today’s service. Honoring the men and women who have knowingly gone into danger to protect the lives and freedoms of America and its allies and ultimately sacrificing themselves to that cause. We correlate their sacrifice to the One who gave His life so that every human has the chance to receive His gift of eternal live. Pastor Harrison talks of the love that it takes to make such a sacrifice, and how we might honor both those who did so wearing a uniform, and the One who wore a thorny crown. John 15:13; Ephesians 3:18–19; Romans 5:8; Isaiah 53:5; John 10:24–30; Matthew 25:31–46; John 13:34–35

Water is generally known as the essence of life. Water can also bring death. It can clean or carry in dirt. It can erode and cut. It can overwhelm you with its power and you can use that power to your advantage. It can run from you or take you along for the ride. If you are going to have to deal with the water, take The Lord with you. In all instances you will be better off with the encounter. Isaiah 43:1–2; 1 Peter 1:17–19; Exodus 14

Mothers do for us far more than the eye can see or the ear can hear, especially when she gets God in on the action. Pastor Harrison gives us many examples of mothers in the Bible, in our church, and throughout his life that have been putting in work asking God to act on our behalf. He also tells us about one of the very first times a mother was recognized and honored publicly. 2 Timothy 1:3–5; Psalm 145; 1 Samuel 1:1–20

Receiving a gift is usually a good thing. Think of the exclamation, the thanks, and the joy a gift brings us. Especially those gifts that have much more meaning or use than what appears to be a single object. God decided to forgive Adam and Eve instead of ending humanity right there. Each day since is a gift to us. That day is a box containing light to see and land to walk on. Every other little thing we come across each day is a gift. The hug of a child. The chance to buy gas. Everything. This sums up today’s message. But if you listen to the stories Pastor Harrison shares, the reason to ‘rejoice in it’ will stick you with far beyond this read. Psalm 118:24; Hebrews 4:12; Ecclesiastes 3:1–8; Nehemiah 8:10; Philippians 4:4; Isaiah 61:10; 2 Corinthians 12:6–10

Why do you pray? There are plenty of ways to answer that question. Are we sure any of them are correct? In today’s message, Deacon Locklear gives us a little reminder of what we already know but may have forgotten to think about over the years. When we consider the power of prayer, the why, when, and how can be correctly applied. Matthew 6:5–15; John 15:1–8