Live Free with Josh Howerton

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