Pastor Devotional
1-15-26
The Loud Cry of Love
No matter where one stands on foreign or domestic politics, it's pretty hard to ignore the loud cries over injustice ringing through this world to start the New Year. This past weekend we were so grateful to have Dr. George Knight share his seminar, "Why Be Adventist? Another Look at Bible Prophecy." In it he reminded us of the third angel's message in Revelation 14:12 which concludes by saying, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."
The Seventh-day Adventist Church found their mission and message in the mid 1800's. They saw through Scripture that Jesus is coming soon. He is finalizing His work in the Heavenly sanctuary and sending a loud cry upon the earth that His coming is near! The third angel concludes with a call to have the faith of Jesus. This is a call to be filled with Jesus' love even for lost sinners. A revelation of Jesus' love is what this world needs more than anything in its closing scenes. This is the preeminent call of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to the world.
How are we doing with patience to start the New Year? The last message to the world in the book of Revelation is for us to have patience. Seeing Christ's character in the commandments and asking for His love to flow through our lives is the greatest way to be successful in 2026 and forevermore. I'm grateful today to be a Seventh-day Adventist because the message it shares is the message of Jesus' love. How can we not have patience, when we are people united with the heart of Jesus? Let our New Year ring loud with the message of His love.
1-6-26
A Skein of Sky
It was not a very big store, a shop, really. One room was all there was too it. But as I stepped inside out of the drippy afternoon greyness, I knew I would like this place. From floor to ceiling all around the room were stacks and stacks of yarn. Wire shelves separated the balls, giving structure to what would be chaos, and threads were tucked tidily into skeins of all shapes and sizes. And the colors. They were vibrant, sky blue, lime green, sunflower yellow and chocolate brown. And there were textures, thick and chunky, thin and smooth, twisted and coarse, woven and fuzzy.
I was on a quest, to find a long-neglected creativity and escape the unrealism of a life so numbed by technology that I wasn’t sure I was really living it anymore. I hoped that the yarn might fill the place so often filled with scrolling and provide something beautiful to come out of time otherwise resultless.
As I stepped back outside, shielding from the rain the paper bag containing the chosen yarn and a hope of rediscovered creativity, I found that the world outside was no longer grey. To the north on a background of the billowing deep blue clouds, an iridescent arch of color stretched across the sky, existing at the point where the sun, peeking out from under the clouds, collided with the rain still falling. Driving across the river the clouds to the west were crusted with yellow and orange. The whole sky was burning with color so rich the colors of yarn faded from my mind. This was the work of the master creator, from whose work every creative work has been inspired.
And I remembered the God described in Genisis whose foundational identity was Creator. To create was what it meant to be God. And as his crowning act of creation, he gifted the ability to create to the created. As image bearers of God, we carry this gift. And by creating, we participate in the sacredness of the mystery of God. And so it is by creating that we might make an effort to escape what is not real and make space for what is.
-Pastor Kristen Zollbrecht
12-26-25
Good Surprises Ahead
How hopeful are you for 2026? The New Year is rapidly approaching! Approximately 57% of Americans felt hopeful for the New Year according to a poll taken last December. While it's great to hear a small majority are hopeful, that's still leaves a whole lot of people who are still unsure.
There are many who feel as if they are living an uncharmed life. If the odds seem stacked against you and one thing after another brings you down, look to the One Who promises to lift you up - Jesus. He can help anyone. Romans 10:12-13 says, "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" This promise is sure - the Lord richly blesses all who call on Him.
God's blessings come in amazingly surprising places. Whether we are on the highest mountain or the deepest valley, He can bring abundant blessings to us. God rewires our thinking, opening up our minds to see His mysterious and miraculous workings in a multitude of circumstances, making us confident and at peace no matter what is happening around us. Best of all, salvation is promised, making all things worthwhile.
Leave room for good surprises ahead in 2026. God is able to richly bless us through every situation always!
- Pastor Michael Brackett
11-13-25
Have Faith
This Youth Ignite Hailey and Harley both told how God prepared them for the death of their birth Dad by giving them their Dad Kyle. They encouraged us to believe that Dad Jesus is working to prepare and support us as well.
But in any given moment, we might not see God working. We might not feel his presence. We might see him working but don’t understand the outcome. This is where faith comes in; to believe that God is working even if we don’t perceive it.
Thomas Austin wrote a song titled London that talks about faith. Not faith in God, but faith that London exists even though he’s never been there. And I think it describes some of the same challenges we have in faith in God.
Here are some of the lyrics.
I’ve heard a lot of stories
That are set on London’s streets
Been moved to tears by songs
That sing of London in the spring
And I know facts can seem like fiction
And doubt can feel like faith
But since I’ve never been to London
Don’t expect me to explain
Why I say it’s real
But I’ve never seen it
I have my faith
Sometimes I mean it
I’ve heard it’s beautiful and busy
Full of people passing through
There are those that don’t believe it
But please don’t think I’m going crazy if I do
I might never see it
If it is a real place
And I might not even know it
If it looked me in the face
And it could be conspiracy’s
All this has ever been
But even if there is no London
I think it’s worth believing in
You can listen to the full song here: https://youtu.be/RBbAya6zYhY?si=uMztBaT7JXu2vf8M
Aren’t these the challenges of faith? Believing in God even if you don’t or have never see Him; believing even when other people think you are a little crazy for doing so; or wondering if you will even recognize Him if He was right in front of you? In the midst of the challenge of faith, the important thing to remember is what it is that we are believing in: a God that is present, loves us to the point of giving His life in the place of ours, and who is using every circumstance to bring us to greater peace and growth. I think He’s worth believing in.
- Pastor Kristen Zollbrecht
11-6-25
On the Right Side with What's Inside
Matthew 23:25-26 says, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."
Often before a person gives their life to God they are mostly worried about looking good on the outside. "Keeping up appearances" is the greatest goal - where you cannot reveal any weakness but instead only show strength. But when God enters the equation, He changes everything. It's ok to admit we don't have it all together. We are broken sinners, but He is our mighty Savior. He has everything together for us, and He promises to work within us to clean us up and make us stronger and stronger in better ways than for which we could have initially hoped.
God grinds down greed and self-indulgence and destroys it for us. In its place He builds us back with charity and self-sacrificing service. These qualities are so pure and beautiful, they are appreciated and revered by all. Best of all we know Who makes it possible and we give Him all the glory for it. Lord, thank You for changing everything within us for the better. Your way is the best. Today we give You our best knowing You will make it better.
- Pastor Michael Brackett
The Loud Cry of Love
No matter where one stands on foreign or domestic politics, it's pretty hard to ignore the loud cries over injustice ringing through this world to start the New Year. This past weekend we were so grateful to have Dr. George Knight share his seminar, "Why Be Adventist? Another Look at Bible Prophecy." In it he reminded us of the third angel's message in Revelation 14:12 which concludes by saying, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."
The Seventh-day Adventist Church found their mission and message in the mid 1800's. They saw through Scripture that Jesus is coming soon. He is finalizing His work in the Heavenly sanctuary and sending a loud cry upon the earth that His coming is near! The third angel concludes with a call to have the faith of Jesus. This is a call to be filled with Jesus' love even for lost sinners. A revelation of Jesus' love is what this world needs more than anything in its closing scenes. This is the preeminent call of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to the world.
How are we doing with patience to start the New Year? The last message to the world in the book of Revelation is for us to have patience. Seeing Christ's character in the commandments and asking for His love to flow through our lives is the greatest way to be successful in 2026 and forevermore. I'm grateful today to be a Seventh-day Adventist because the message it shares is the message of Jesus' love. How can we not have patience, when we are people united with the heart of Jesus? Let our New Year ring loud with the message of His love.
1-6-26
A Skein of Sky
It was not a very big store, a shop, really. One room was all there was too it. But as I stepped inside out of the drippy afternoon greyness, I knew I would like this place. From floor to ceiling all around the room were stacks and stacks of yarn. Wire shelves separated the balls, giving structure to what would be chaos, and threads were tucked tidily into skeins of all shapes and sizes. And the colors. They were vibrant, sky blue, lime green, sunflower yellow and chocolate brown. And there were textures, thick and chunky, thin and smooth, twisted and coarse, woven and fuzzy.
I was on a quest, to find a long-neglected creativity and escape the unrealism of a life so numbed by technology that I wasn’t sure I was really living it anymore. I hoped that the yarn might fill the place so often filled with scrolling and provide something beautiful to come out of time otherwise resultless.
As I stepped back outside, shielding from the rain the paper bag containing the chosen yarn and a hope of rediscovered creativity, I found that the world outside was no longer grey. To the north on a background of the billowing deep blue clouds, an iridescent arch of color stretched across the sky, existing at the point where the sun, peeking out from under the clouds, collided with the rain still falling. Driving across the river the clouds to the west were crusted with yellow and orange. The whole sky was burning with color so rich the colors of yarn faded from my mind. This was the work of the master creator, from whose work every creative work has been inspired.
And I remembered the God described in Genisis whose foundational identity was Creator. To create was what it meant to be God. And as his crowning act of creation, he gifted the ability to create to the created. As image bearers of God, we carry this gift. And by creating, we participate in the sacredness of the mystery of God. And so it is by creating that we might make an effort to escape what is not real and make space for what is.
-Pastor Kristen Zollbrecht
12-26-25
Good Surprises Ahead
How hopeful are you for 2026? The New Year is rapidly approaching! Approximately 57% of Americans felt hopeful for the New Year according to a poll taken last December. While it's great to hear a small majority are hopeful, that's still leaves a whole lot of people who are still unsure.
There are many who feel as if they are living an uncharmed life. If the odds seem stacked against you and one thing after another brings you down, look to the One Who promises to lift you up - Jesus. He can help anyone. Romans 10:12-13 says, "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" This promise is sure - the Lord richly blesses all who call on Him.
God's blessings come in amazingly surprising places. Whether we are on the highest mountain or the deepest valley, He can bring abundant blessings to us. God rewires our thinking, opening up our minds to see His mysterious and miraculous workings in a multitude of circumstances, making us confident and at peace no matter what is happening around us. Best of all, salvation is promised, making all things worthwhile.
Leave room for good surprises ahead in 2026. God is able to richly bless us through every situation always!
- Pastor Michael Brackett
11-13-25
Have Faith
This Youth Ignite Hailey and Harley both told how God prepared them for the death of their birth Dad by giving them their Dad Kyle. They encouraged us to believe that Dad Jesus is working to prepare and support us as well.
But in any given moment, we might not see God working. We might not feel his presence. We might see him working but don’t understand the outcome. This is where faith comes in; to believe that God is working even if we don’t perceive it.
Thomas Austin wrote a song titled London that talks about faith. Not faith in God, but faith that London exists even though he’s never been there. And I think it describes some of the same challenges we have in faith in God.
Here are some of the lyrics.
I’ve heard a lot of stories
That are set on London’s streets
Been moved to tears by songs
That sing of London in the spring
And I know facts can seem like fiction
And doubt can feel like faith
But since I’ve never been to London
Don’t expect me to explain
Why I say it’s real
But I’ve never seen it
I have my faith
Sometimes I mean it
I’ve heard it’s beautiful and busy
Full of people passing through
There are those that don’t believe it
But please don’t think I’m going crazy if I do
I might never see it
If it is a real place
And I might not even know it
If it looked me in the face
And it could be conspiracy’s
All this has ever been
But even if there is no London
I think it’s worth believing in
You can listen to the full song here: https://youtu.be/RBbAya6zYhY?si=uMztBaT7JXu2vf8M
Aren’t these the challenges of faith? Believing in God even if you don’t or have never see Him; believing even when other people think you are a little crazy for doing so; or wondering if you will even recognize Him if He was right in front of you? In the midst of the challenge of faith, the important thing to remember is what it is that we are believing in: a God that is present, loves us to the point of giving His life in the place of ours, and who is using every circumstance to bring us to greater peace and growth. I think He’s worth believing in.
- Pastor Kristen Zollbrecht
11-6-25
On the Right Side with What's Inside
Matthew 23:25-26 says, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."
Often before a person gives their life to God they are mostly worried about looking good on the outside. "Keeping up appearances" is the greatest goal - where you cannot reveal any weakness but instead only show strength. But when God enters the equation, He changes everything. It's ok to admit we don't have it all together. We are broken sinners, but He is our mighty Savior. He has everything together for us, and He promises to work within us to clean us up and make us stronger and stronger in better ways than for which we could have initially hoped.
God grinds down greed and self-indulgence and destroys it for us. In its place He builds us back with charity and self-sacrificing service. These qualities are so pure and beautiful, they are appreciated and revered by all. Best of all we know Who makes it possible and we give Him all the glory for it. Lord, thank You for changing everything within us for the better. Your way is the best. Today we give You our best knowing You will make it better.
- Pastor Michael Brackett