Live Free with Josh Howerton

A chain represents something that tightly holds onto one's life. In biblical terms, a chain is often referred to as a stronghold. When we find ourselves entangled in these chains - whether it's bitterness, anger, substance abuse, or an eating disorder - we experience a sense of being trapped in an endless spin cycle. But Jesus came to break chains. For more biblical teaching and worship, join us for our Church Online live weekend services on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

We do not want salvation for the purpose of behavior modifications but to be transformed so that we can walk in freedom. Committing is not the same as surrendering; just like trying is not the same as trusting. You need to have humility. Humility is the key to everything, every situation, and every relationship. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Being so focused on yourself will lead you to self-destruct. Forgiveness of sin and transformation needs a humble heart without pride. Put yourself under God’s love and authority today; you don’t have to be the one calling all the shots. God does know better, and He wants better for you. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Want to impress God or want to truly amaze Jesus? Then, be humbled, surrender, and recognize the authority of God’s word. “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.’ Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.” (Luke 7: 9-10 NIV) For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

The Centurion Soldier mentioned in Luke 7 wasn't a flawless religious figure, yet he profoundly understood true authority and leadership. He recognized the extraordinary power within Jesus because both leaders grasped the importance of valuing individuals regardless of their position in society. “So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: ‘Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.’” (Luke 7:6-7 NIV) For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Genuine leaders are distinguished by their authority, which is not derived from titles but from how they interact with others. Authority cannot be forced or assumed through promotion; it must be voluntarily acknowledged by those who submit. The culture dictates that individuals in authority should hold others accountable, acknowledge their achievements, and accept them as they are. Reflecting on Luke 7 reveals how Jesus consistently defies societal norms to demonstrate love and engage deeply with each individual encountered. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

When we encounter God, our lives undergo miraculous transformations. As our hearts and lives are altered, we feel a calling to share our stories so that others may also experience the gifts of healing, peace, joy, and love that we have found in Jesus. Who do you need to share your story with today? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Encountering God and experiencing His love ignites a profound transformation in our lives, making it nearly impossible to remain silent. This personal encounter fills us with an infectious joy and gratitude that has the power to positively impact any situation. With humility and the peace of His presence, we are inspired to share with others the remarkable work God has done in our lives and what He is capable of doing in theirs.

Jesus responds to people's suffering with a personal encounter. Before He spoke healing into the man with leprosy in Luke 5, Jesus conveyed his compassion through a simple gesture - reaching out his hand and touching him. It is a reminder that many individuals we encounter daily long for that caring touch, seeking reassurance of their value and significance. Today, take a moment to consider whom you can embrace and uplift with positive words. Who needs to hear about the transformative impact of Jesus in your life? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Jesus was not just an accessible rabbi, but also the most approachable man to ever walk the earth. Even those considered untouchable during that era, like lepers, could have a close and personal interaction with Jesus. Individuals afflicted with leprosy in those days faced severe consequences - loss of employment, reputation, relationships, health, and, worst of all, a loss of hope. Despite these challenges, Jesus extended His hand, as seen in Luke 5:13: “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him.” For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

You will never be seen as an untouchable in the eyes of the Heavenly Father. “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him.” ( Luke 5:13). God could, and He would if He was sought after. In the narrative found in Luke 5, Jesus comes across a man afflicted with leprosy. Notably, Jesus did not partake in cancel culture; instead, His actions focused on canceling sin. Reflecting on this, ask yourself: What aspects of your life require you to seek out Jesus today? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Jesus has the power to redeem any life. Following her redemption, the woman at the well found the confidence and joy to openly share her story with a community that had previously shamed her. Redemption, often considered a “churchy” term, can be understood in four distinct facets: making someone acceptable, restoring reputation, atonement, or reclaiming what was lost. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Jesus won’t get distracted by your change of subject and shallow conversations. Jesus sees beyond the surface, embracing your past and present with compassion. He offers a safe haven for genuine conversations. Jesus is ready to understand you deeply today; spend some time with him in deep conversation. “ The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When He comes, He will explain everything to us.’ ‘I am He,’ Jesus told her, ‘the One speaking to you.’” (John 4:25-26) For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

What is your soul really thirsty for? Where are you drawing your water to fill up your bucket? In John 4, water from the well symbolizes surface-level solutions, like overachievement, substance abuse, shallow relationships, or image management; these will always leave us thirsty. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

In John 4:10, Jesus told the Samaritan women at the well, “If you knew the gift of God…” Jesus doesn’t refuse anyone. He genuinely loves everyone, no matter what baggage they may carry. Jesus will break every barrier to be with you. He loves to have you in His company, so don’t wait to be perfect to be in His presence. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Throughout the book of John, Jesus encounters disenfranchised people who desperately need to know they are loved. Jesus goes out of his way to break religious and societal norms to show kindness and courageous acts of love, as seen in John 4 with the Samaritan women at the well. Jesus had to go to Samaria to reach her. Who are you called to be kind to today? What steps of courage do you need to take to show someone the love of God? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Three separate stories in Luke 15 show God’s heart for the lost. God embraces, loves, and shares meals with the lost and wants us to do the same. Pull up an extra seat at the table; don’t let your heart grow smug or self-righteous towards the lost; rejoice with God at the greatest dinner party. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

God is ready to place lonely people into communities and restore the idea of family through missional hospitality and you. This is why God calls us to draw our family circles a little bigger and fire up our grills, just like the church in Acts 2. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Being at a tailgate is electrifying. The parking lot becomes a joy-filled community with good food, camaraderie, and people you love. The early church had a word for this, koinonia, which means fellowship or shared life. God built us and his church for this kind of community. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Kitchens are what typically sells the house and what makes your house a home. When we share a meal, we are living on mission like how Jesus exemplified in Matthew 9. Today, ask yourself how you are hosting your table, who is welcomed into your kitchen, and who needs to be invited in. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

This week, we are exploring the importance of extending our dinner tables. When we sit around the table, we laugh, share life’s moments, and show who we care for and value. Jesus intentionally shared meals and sat with those he loved, as seen in Matthew 9:9-13. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Jesus knocking at the door in Revelation is often interpreted as a call for unbelievers to let him into their lives, but in reality, he speaks to churchgoers in Laodicea. Despite their outward religious practices, Jesus sees that they have left him outside. The verse emphasizes the need for intentional pursuit of intimacy with God rather than just going through religious motions. Jesus' message challenges believers to listen and allow him into their hearts for true connection and relationship. Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

If you’re a Christian, you need to keep this in mind, God responds to 100% of your prayers. Sometimes, he does so by saying YES. Other times he does so, by saying NO. And often, he does so by saying NOT YET. What happens when we ask, as Jesus taught us, and it seems God is not responding to our prayers, even good prayers? John 14:13-14 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

God is not angry with you, tired of you messing up, or exhausted by you. We rejoice that His thoughts and His ways are not the same as our thoughts and our ways. Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Most people assume that prayer should be primarily a way to “get God to give me what I want”, but Jesus teaches that prayer is primarily us, aligning our will with God’s. Today, take your time and meditate on what you’re praying. Fix your mind first and your Heavenly Father’s name, his kingdom, and what His will is. Then, pour out your heart as you ask for forgiveness and protection and as you share your needs with him. Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Paul is saying your heart can be satisfied whether you have much or little, whether you have achieved your goals or not, and whether things seem to be going well or not. Philippians 4:13 speaks primarily of how, with Christ, your heart can find contentment, satisfaction, and confidence regardless of your circumstances. Contentment doesn’t come when you have everything you want; it comes when you realize that in Christ, you have everything you need. Philippians 4:11-13 (NTV), Paul says this: “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

In this podcast episode, we conclude our discussion on the 5 principles of Godly parenting. Today's focus is on the importance of praying for godly discernment at every stage of your child's life. Discernment is a precious gift that should be cherished, and it blossoms through instilling God's word in their heart. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

God calls parents to guide their children in walking the path of righteousness. By leaving your footprints heading in the right direction, you instill valuable lessons. Among these teachings is the importance of personal discipline—a crucial skill parents can impart to their children. It's essential that godly discipline is taught with both compassion and unwavering consistency. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Trade the concept of your dream house for God's vision of a dream home. It's not just about the exterior beauty of your house; it's about creating meaningful moments under its roof. While spending quality time with your kids is important, remember that true family bonding occurs during those everyday shared experiences. Today's parental challenge is to shift focus from pursuing a certain lifestyle to actively engaging in life alongside your children. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

At every stage, parents are called by God to nurture their children's dreams and support them in following God's unique path for their lives. Trust that God will guide you as you assist your children in pursuing their aspirations; do not hesitate to dream big alongside your child. Remember, it is not the parent's role to shape children into what they desire them to become; instead, recognize that God has destined your child for a life beyond any plans you may have envisioned. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

The Bible is rich with stories that remind us that family, despite its imperfections, is part of God’s original plan. Did you know that children’s natural curiosity is a gift from God and part of his family plan? One of God's plans for families was to help raise kids in a safe environment to explore and discover freely; this can be seen in Proverbs 11:27. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Today's podcast reminds you that you have permission to be brutally honest and completely open with God in every circumstance. God can handle your vulnerability and all of your emotions. In Psalms, the writers follow a particular pattern of verbally vomiting out all their feelings, pain, frustrations, and deep sorrow. Then, the writers land on the truth about God, his character, and his goodness. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

When you take a roadtrip, you typically have a few songs ready to play as you travel. In the Old Testament, people also sang songs to pass the time, one of which was Psalms 121, a song of ascents. They sang this song as a reminder of God’s protection as they headed towards Jerusalem. God is just as present with us in the journey as in the final destination. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Rest with God and find joy when you delight in his presence day and night. In Psalm 1, the trees' job is to be planted by the river banks, rooted deep and not just fruitful. Today, ignore what culture says about chasing your desires; focus on resting and sitting with God. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Reading Psalm 100, we discover our purpose is not to be a consumer. Our purpose is to be consumed by the goodness of God when we are in his presence. Your challenge today is to shout with joy and loudly sing your favorite worship song! (Maybe find a new song from the new Lakepointe Music album Fear No Evil.) For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Have you ever thought being a good person was utterly pointless when you compare your life to someone else living so carefree? Or have you wondered is my heart pure for nothing? Always remember, God's goodness remains steadfast, and those individuals you compare yourself to may not be leading as carefree a life as it seems. When we grapple with feelings of envy, we often fall into the trap of constantly comparing ourselves to others. Envy: When you resent God’s goodness in someone else's life while ignoring God’s goodness in your own. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

How do I reverse my drift and put my hope back with God? Dive into Psalm 42 today as we learn how to reverse the drift and drop anchor with God. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

How does drifting happen? Drifting occurs when we stop counting our blessings, gathering together, resting, praying, and climbing. Today, let’s hear how to drop anchor with God and stop the drifting. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

We all drift in our relationships, passions, and purposes. The key to being anchored in God and avoiding drifting is to take inventory of your life, retrace your steps, and pray for God to search your heart. David prayed for God to search his heart in Psalms 139. Today, ask yourself, where have I drifted? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Dirty laundry piles up quickly, and stains set in when you never address them. The same is true with our shame and sin, but your failures are not fatal. There is real freedom with Christ! Today, let God bleach your record clean with His grace. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Ever wonder how I can say “that,” think “that,” or act like “that”? Psalm 51 contains King David's prayer for restoration—his confession and plea for forgiveness came after he drifted with lust and power and hid from God. Our unaddressed shame and guilt from our past can drift us away from God and can change our character. Daily, we must drop anchor with God, take ownership of our actions, and embrace His grace. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

When processing grief, sometimes the best thing we can do is eat with others. It is healing to gather around the table of gratitude, share a meal with loved ones, laugh, cry, and reminisce. In Psalms 23:5 it says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Who is your enemy across the table: anger, depression, anxiety, or grief? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Light is amazing; it warms, guides, and always wins against the darkness. The enemy tries to use your grief to steal, kill, and destroy your life, but the light of truth always will chase away the darkness. Let Psalm 23 give you hope as you walk through your dark valley. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Biblical sheep are not cowardly blind followers. They trust and follow a good shepherd who wants to protect and provide for them. When we think of green pastures, we picture a field of rolling green grass, but in reality, the Bible depicts patches of grass that are just big enough to feed the herd that day. Today, trust God to lead you to what you need. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Psalm 23 is the most beautiful Psalm ever written. It is written for those burdened with grief trying to find comfort in difficult circumstances. This scripture depicts how God meets us right where we are as the good shepherd. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

You can put your hope in God’s unfailing love. God cares for the lonely, heals the brokenhearted, and uplifts the humbled. In today’s message, we will discuss Psalm 25 and the truths of the 3Ps of anxiety: Personal, Pervasive, and Permanent. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Q: Where do all the lonely people belong? A: Psalms 68 How are you doing today? Are you feeling lonely? Loneliness is feeling alone no matter how much social contact you may have, and it’s one of the scariest feelings in life. We were all designed to be in relationships; belonging is the most fundamental human need beyond food and shelter. Today, we will leave the shadow of loneliness and ask God to help us connect. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

When we work out, we like to have the perfect playlist ready. In our life’s battles, the Book of Psalms has the perfect beats. Today, we will download what Psalms 13, 27, and 126 have to offer as we head towards desire and delight and move up the staircase of disappointment. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Have you ever not gotten the job you wanted, missed an event because you were sick, didn’t get into the program you wanted, or faced rejection? At one point, we all had to face disappointment in life, but what defines the moment is how we deal with the emotions that come from the pain. If we don’t face the emotions that come with disappointment, we will end up facing discouragement, which can turn into depression. God loves you and wants you to be honest with him. He is still good. He hears your prayers and sits with you in your pain, all while He is working behind the scenes in the midst of your disappointment. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Today, you need to download some Psalms from the Bible to the playlist of your heart because what you download into your mind makes a huge difference in the direction of your life. The Jewish nation would sing Psalms as they headed into battle. What battle are you facing today: anxiety, shame, panic, depression, confusion? David, the author of many of the scriptures found in Psalms, faced all of these same feelings. David’s life pattern was to get brutally honest about himself and what he was facing, and as he cried out, he would land in the truth of God. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive