Blog
Weekly posts from pastor Jay Johnston to encourage, educate, and equip you with lessons from the Scriptures

Our Daily Bread
August 14, 2025
This prayer reminds us that we are supported in every way by God's gracious provision. Jesus directs us not to worry about tomorrow but to focus on living in the present, taking each day as it comes and trusting Him for today's needs.

Your Kingdom Come
August 8, 2025
We have a verse given to us as both a declaration and an invitation that captures the core of our prayer life. When we pray, "Your kingdom come," we are asking for God's divine rule and reign to take over our world, starting within our hearts.

Our Father in Heaven
July 30, 2025
Friends, when we say, “Our Father,” we declare that we are not just people wandering alone; we are loved members of God’s family. This truth gives us great comfort and a sense of belonging, and assures us that we’re never alone in our struggles or joys.

Teach Us to Pray
July 24, 2025
This series will explore the Lord's Prayer verse by verse. I pray that the Lord will use this to encourage you, renew your heart for God, and give you a fresh sense of God's power in your life and in the lives of others.

Rejoicing in the Fire
July 18, 2025
In the face of adversity, Jesus invites us to do the unthinkable: rejoice in the face of persecution. This radical perspective on suffering is rooted in the assurance of our eternal reward.

Blessed are Those Who are Persecuted
July 10, 2025
Living for Christ in this world can be challenging. Standing for truth, integrity, and biblical values may bring rejection, ridicule, or resistance. But Jesus calls those who endure such persecution blessed. Why? Because theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the Peacemakers
June 27, 2025
When we embody peace, we reflect the heart of God and demonstrate our identity as His children.

Blessed are the Pure in Heart
June 20, 2025
Purity of the heart is more than moral discipline; it reflects the heart's desire to live in harmony with God. It signifies surrender and undivided devotion to Him.

Blessed are the Merciful
June 12, 2025
Jesus calls us to practice mercy in our relationships with others. Offering mercy is a decision of the heart that motivates us to be kind, gentle, and merciful, even toward people who don’t deserve it.

Blessed are those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
June 6, 2025
Hunger and thirst are signs that emphasize a deep longing. Jesus calls us to hunger for righteousness, promising that we will be satisfied.

Blessed are the Meek
May 29, 2025
In our world today, we find people telling others to be stern and forceful, believing it's acceptable to step on others as they ascend what they perceive to be the ladder of success. Those who exhibit meekness are often misunderstood and considered weak.

Blessed are Those Who Mourn
May 27, 2025
During our second week of meditating on the Beatitudes, we focus on the meaning of being “poor in spirit.” Mourning is often viewed as a weakness in our world, and in the fast-paced lives we live, many do not take the time to mourn.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
May 16, 2025
Matthew 5:3 dares us to deal with an important reality: the emptiness of our own life and relationship with God. It's about admitting our limitations and that we cannot work our way into His kingdom by our own efforts.

Get to Know the Beatitudes
May 9, 2025
The Beatitudes list the attributes of those who are children of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 5:11-12). We are called to seek humility, mercy, and righteousness and challenged to reorient ourselves from worldly values to those of God.

A Prayerful Heart of Gratitude
December 6, 2024
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4

Praying for the Church
November 15, 2024
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Don't Give Up
November 8, 2024
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Hope in Jesus
October 4, 2024
We live in a world full of uncertainty; it's so easy to become overwhelmed and anxious. Yet Romans 15:13 reminds us of where our hope originates: Jesus Christ.

Praising God Through Prayer
August 9, 2024
As intercessors, we understand that prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God. The teachings on prayer reveal its diverse forms, including repenting, pleading, yielding, and laboring in prayer for others.

Praying for Prodigals: A Journey of Hope and Faith
July 26, 2024
In Luke 15:11-32, we find the parable of the Prodigal Son. Through this parable, we see that praying for prodigals is not a one-and-done prayer, but rather a journey in prayer with love, hope, and faith.

Praying 4Life
July 22, 2024
Today, we are faced with a decision to choose between life and death. This decision encompasses our entire journey from the moment we are conceived until our last breath.

Finding Strength in Psalm 121:1-2
July 12, 2024
I want to share a word of encouragement based on a verse from Psalm 121:1-2, which says: I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Unwavering in Prayer
June 18, 2024
Dear friends in Christ, let us remain unwavering in our prayers for the family of God and for those who have yet to experience the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ.