Live Free with Josh Howerton

In Joshua 5, we see the people of Israel finally make it to the Promised Land after 40 days of wandering in the wilderness. The old generation who had been circumcised died, so before they could go any further, God commanded Joshua to circumcise the new generation. In a different way, God may be asking you to cut away something in your life so that you can move into what He has next for you. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

As we close out this week, we will look at John 9. The apostle John tells us that Jesus saw a blind man and chose to show the power of God through this man by healing him, but it was not immediate. Sometimes, God asks us to cooperate with the miracle He wants to do in our lives. How is God asking you to cooperate with Him this week? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Tune in today as we continue looking at the Gospel of John. In chapter 8, Jesus declares that He is the light of the world. When the religious leaders confronted Him about it, Jesus stood firm in His identity and relationship with His Father. He wants everyone to know the truth of who He is because it will set them free. Do you know this truth? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Guilt is a strange emotion to deal with. It can be a good thing when we realize we have sinned against a holy God and it draws us to Him. However, our enemy, Satan, can twist it and use it against us until it turns into shame. Guilt points out what we’ve done, while shame attacks who we are. But shame has an enemy: grace. Grace from our good God sets us free and reminds us who we really are. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

When the Pharisees brought a woman caught in sin to Jesus, He refused to play their game. Jesus challenged them by saying that the one without sin can cast the first stone. The crowd faded away until Jesus was alone with the woman. He, the only one without sin, forgave her and called her to leave her life of sin. We, too, can be forgiven and set free from our past because of His great love for us. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Start your week with us in John 8, where the Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus in an attempt to trap Him. Despite the Pharisees' selfish motivation to use the woman for their own purposes, Jesus saw this woman with love and stooped down to her. Jesus does the same with you and me. No matter what ditch you find yourself in, He will be with you. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

We close out our week by walking through the rest of John 7. The crowds feared the Pharisees and the Pharisees feared the crowds. Jesus alone was confident in who He was. He did not seek anyone’s approval except the Father who had sent Him. Who have you tried to seek approval from this week? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

In John chapter 7, we are introduced to Jesus’ brothers. What do you think it was like to have the perfect Son of God as a brother? At that point, none of them believed He was the Messiah. Despite their coaxing, Jesus did not let their expectations determine what He did or when He did it. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Jesus asked His disciples a question that we often come face-to-face with in our own lives: “Do you want to leave, too?” Just as the disciples may have been tempted to abandon Jesus in the hard times, things will happen in our lives that are painful and difficult. It is in those moments we have to remember, as Peter did, there is no one like Jesus. No one else offers us eternal life and unconditional love. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

The crowds misunderstood the miracle meal in John 6 and demanded that Jesus keep showing them signs. However, Jesus knew what they really needed and saw their spiritual emptiness. With compassion, He called them to follow Him, but the crowds did not understand the amazing life He was calling them to and turned from the one who could truly satisfy them. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

In John chapter 6, John tells us another amazing miracle of Jesus that shows us more of who He is. With just a few loaves and fish, Jesus fed a multitude. The crowds got so excited about what Jesus did that they missed who He really was. Do you get more excited about who Jesus is or what He can do for you? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

The Pharisees thought Jesus was a problem because He challenged their system by caring more for people than their man-made rules. Jesus told them that anyone who listens to Him will live, including them. They had all the knowledge but missed the truth of who Jesus is. How might you value knowledge more than truth? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Instead of celebrating Jesus' miracles, the Pharisees focused on anyone who might be breaking their rules. The Sabbath was supposed to be a gift to humanity, but the Pharisees turned it into a burden. Trying to follow the rules won’t save us, but following the one, true Savior will. Don’t miss the miracle Jesus wants to work in your life. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

When Jesus healed the man at the pool, He told him to pick up his mat and walk. Why? His mat was a story, a reminder of what Jesus healed him from. We all have a mat, a story of what Jesus saved us from. How might Jesus be calling you to use your story to reach others who need to be healed with the gospel? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Join us as we jump into the Gospel of John this week. As a close friend of Jesus, John wants to illuminate that Jesus came for everyone. He wants us to believe in who Jesus is, not just what He does. At the end of chapter 4, John shows us the heart of a hurting father who believed Jesus and His word without seeing the miracle. Do you believe God’s word even if you cannot see how He is working in your life? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

The power that allowed Jesus to cast out demons is the same power offered to you today through prayer. How? God has clothed us in the authority of Jesus through the cross. You may not feel like much, but your prayers are received and responded to by our all-powerful God. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

What do you believe God thinks about you when you come to Him? God is not disappointed in you. He delights in you! Yes, you! He is your Father and wants to hear your voice because He loves you. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you any more or any less. Bring all your prayers to Him, believing you are His delight. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He told them to ask, seek and knock. But what if those three actions aren’t the point of prayer? What if the ultimate point of prayer is encountering and receiving answers from God? Pray today with expectation and faith that God hears you and will respond. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Join us as we jump back into Luke 11 and Jesus’ masterclass on prayer. Jesus said that when we approach God, we can come to Him with shameless audacity. God loves us and wants us to come to Him with our requests. What have you been holding back from Him out of fear or doubt? Bring that to Him today. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

If you had been a disciple of Jesus, what would you have asked Him? The disciples didn’t ask Jesus to teach them how to heal people or calm storms. They recognized that His power came from His life of prayer, so they asked, “Lord, teach us how to pray.” Join us this week as we look at what Jesus taught in response to His disciples’ request. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Shame attacks your identity. Because of shame, the woman at the well tried to hide her sin from Jesus. Yet Jesus lovingly reveals that He already knows her sins but still loves her. Isn’t it amazing knowing our Savior can free us from our shame? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

If we only knew what God has in store for us. Just like the woman at the well, we can become so distracted that we miss all that God is doing for us. Yet, God is patient and waits for us to release our deepest needs to Him. Come and be refreshed by the living water today. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Jesus is a rule-breaker. He went to the well when no one else would, in a land no Jew would go to, to a woman no man would talk to, with a reputation no one would want to be around. Our Savior pursues us just like the woman at the well, with love despite all we have done. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Jesus never saw anyone as “those people.” He showed this when He walked through a place no Jew would dare go: Samaria. May we be like Him and see people as immeasurably valuable. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Do you love to win? It’s easy to start prioritizing victory over humbly placing others before yourself. John the Baptist shows us an example of how honoring Jesus before ourselves is where our real victory comes from. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

What does a changed life look like? Nicodemus went from a questioner of the faith to a defender of the faith after his encounter with Jesus. Don’t hold back on your relationship with the Lord. Spend time today encountering Jesus and His word. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Do you know who Jesus was talking to when He said the famous words found in John 3:16? This nighttime conversation with Nicodemus gives the full picture of these snippets we hear all the time. Take a second to learn why God so loved the world. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Do you doubt God or struggle with questions? God loves your honesty and invites you to come to Him in your uncertainty. Nicodemus, one of the most educated men of the day, came to Jesus wrestling with questions and we can too. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Simplicity is a powerful tool. Jesus uses normal situations, normal means and normal problems to show that He can make anything new. Listen and learn as we look at the faith of His mother and the power of the Savior. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

If Jesus was standing in front of you and asked, “What do you want?” What would you say? Jesus asked this of His first disciples, and they chose to leave everything and follow Him. Whether you are looking for acceptance, truth or hope, Jesus is the one worth following because He is the only one who can satisfy our deepest longings. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Join us today as we continue looking at Jesus through the eyes of John, His disciple. Another John, John the Baptist, pointed the way to Jesus and helped people see that He is the Lamb of God. When people believe and accept that Jesus is who He says He is, they become children of God. If you choose to accept Jesus, you too can be called His. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Each of the four Gospels writes from a different perspective to give us a deeper view of who Jesus is. John writes to teach us about Jesus being the eternal God who dwelt among us. God’s desire has always been to be with us because He loves us. Ask Him to help you walk with Him and live with grace and truth today. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

If you had lived during the time Jesus was on earth, what is the first thing you would have written to others? John starts his Gospel by telling us that Jesus is the Word, the eternal one, who created everything. Jesus is God in the flesh, the ruler of all and the light in our dark world. Through Him, we can have hope and life. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

One of the most important kinds of changes in our lives is the kind that comes from the inside out. Jesus is the author of this change. When we get to know Jesus and follow Him, we will never be the same! Join us as we take a look at the book of John and get to know Jesus through the eyes of one of His closest friends. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

God chooses the ordinary to do extraordinary things so His power can be magnified. When the King was welcomed into the world, only ordinary people surrounded Him: a teenage girl, a poor carpenter, and lowly shepherds. Yet, all of them were chosen by God to play an extraordinary role in His story. God doesn’t ask us to be impressive but to be thankful and faithful. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Just as Mary surrendered to the Lord’s will for her life, we are also called to surrender to whatever He has planned for us. Following Jesus isn’t always easy, but it is never complicated. He will help us love Him and love others when we fully surrender to Him. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Luke tells us that Mary sang praises to God when she found out she was to be the mother of her Savior. She was so full of gratitude that it came out in song. When was the last time you were so overwhelmed with thankfulness that you couldn’t help but share it with others? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

How many amazing moments do we miss in life because we are moving too fast? When we slow down and look, we can see the beautiful little gifts God gives us every day. Take a moment today to ponder the goodness of God and thank Him for the life He has given you. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Today is a gift. Instead of dwelling on your past or moving too quickly onto the next thing, pause and enjoy the moment God is giving you right now. Use Mary as your example: ponder the amazing things that are happening in your life and treasure them in your heart. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Do you know the meaning of your name? One of Jesus’ names, Immanuel, means God with us. He, the Word, became flesh and dwelled on earth with sinful humanity out of His infinite love for us. Because Jesus came to be with us, we can be with Him forever. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

There are fears that reside in all of us that try to keep us trapped. When anxieties grip your heart, turn to the Prince of Peace. He was born into a broken world and willingly died on a cross for us. But because of His resurrection and who He is, we can have perfect, eternal peace. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Have you ever tried to measure how long “everlasting” is? Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the great I AM, the visible image of the invisible God who created everything. He has no beginning and no end. The same is true for His love for you; it will never run out. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Our names describe different aspects of who we are. The same thing is true about Jesus. He is our Mighty God, the Creator who spoke everything into existence. He has no rival and no equal. That means He is mighty over any difficult situation you may be facing today. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Join us this week as we talk through Isaiah 9:6 and what it tells us about the character of Jesus. He is our Wonderful Counselor and wants us to draw near to Him daily. He welcomes our every thought and concern, offering a listening ear because He cares deeply for us. Don’t hold back with Jesus. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Sometimes becoming good doesn’t feel very good, but suffering can connect our pain to God’s Word. Seeking comfort from anyone or anything other than God will only be a temporary fix. God’s Word is a priceless treasure because it teaches us the truth of our very good God, the eternal comfort He offers and how much He loves us. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Suffering expands our hearts toward other people. It helps us see the suffering others are going through and enables us to reach out to them during their pain. God makes us wounded healers so that we can comfort others with the comfort He has given us. Who do you know that you can share God’s comfort with today? For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

How do you define good? God’s definition of good is anything that shapes us to look more like Jesus. His love will never leave us and He will walk with us through the pain of “not good” things. When we remember that, we can respond with gratitude and joy in any circumstance. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Suffering cultivates humility and draws us into a deeper dependence on God. Join us today as we take a look at scripture that reminds us what God can do in and through us in the midst of suffering. When everything falls apart, God will be there with you and wants you to run to Him. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive