Podcast Azure Hills Church

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 9:2 We can relate to the people of God at the time of Isaiah the prophet: oppression and darkness seem to rule the day. For them, and for us, a light dawns. Hope rises because of Jesus. Pastor Tara VinCross will tur…

You matter to Jesus! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

Brené Brown said, “What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” Every year, we pause as a community for gratitude, in our annual Gratitude and Missions Sabbath. We recognize that we give because we have received from the lavish love of God (1 John 3). Paul says in Ephesians 5:20 to "Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, i…

Our words and actions have the power to make a difference in someone’s life! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

It’s irrational to buy a lottery ticket. Yet millions do, even more when the prize gets huge. According to Seth Godin, the odds of winning the $1.6 billion MegaMillions lottery are minuscule. You’re 400 times more likely to be hit by lightening. He points out that for some people, paying for the ticket is a bargain because it offers them something …

What are you grateful for? We are invited to remember. Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

Lieutenant Commander Tom Smith, Chaplain, US Navy (retired) will be our speaker this Veterans Day Sabbath. Chaplain Smith has been in pastoral ministry for 45+ years; 12 as a pastor, 20 as a Navy Chaplain and 15 years serving as the Chief of Chaplains at the Loma Linda VA. He is the husband of Sue Smith, the father of four children and five grandch…

We hold on to the hope that there will be a grand reunion one day. Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross.Oleh Azure Hills Church

Lawrence Kutner said, "Children learn and remember at least as much from the context of the classroom as from the content of the coursework.” This holds true for the letter written to the church in Laodicea. The context matters just as much as the content of the message. Pastor Tara VinCross concludes our sermon series in the Book of Revelation, ta…

God will reveal to us what we don't know on our own. Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

What does it mean to be rich? You might immediately point to the things that we possess. What we own and the stuff we manage. Yet, being rich is about so much more. A rich life is about opportunities… open doors… real connection. These are the unshakable things that hold in the chaotic earthquakes and eruptions of life. Pastor Tara VinCross continu…

Is there some work of your hands that the Lord is inviting you to celebrate? Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

How many of the things that you do really matter? The message to the church in Sardis is not an easy one. As we dig into the history of this city, we hear God’s wake up call for believers then and now to pay attention to what will last. Are you alive or dead? God’s invitation is to freedom, purity, and victory. What a beautiful invitation it is! Wh…

The feel of someone's hand in yours, a back rub from your spouse, a warm hug from an old friend, a high-five from a teammate, a reassuring touch from a member of your small group--in whatever form it takes, a welcome touch feels good and often brings us healing. But why? This Sabbath, discover how giving and receiving meaningful touch can increase …

We use words to encourage and affirm. We use words to criticize and diminish. We use words to communicate approval or disapproval, delight or disappointment. We use words to express heartfelt appreciation. Each one of our relationships--personal or professional--hinges on the words we say. Join us this Sabbath morning as we listen to and learn from…

Our God shows us the way! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

God is watching you in love! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

We are experiencing a crisis of discipleship in our churches because we’ve prioritized baptisms over spiritual transformations and productions over connections; we’ve reduced the Gospel to an information-transference, and we’ve emphasized doing things for Jesus and His teachings, yet we’ve neglected His friendship and the way He’d invited us to liv…

Are you feeling worn down? Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross.Oleh Azure Hills Church

Pastor Tara VinCross continues in our sermon series in the Book of Revelation, taking us deeper into the letter to the church in Thyatira. It’s easy for us to forget to factor in evil. We go about our lives day-by-day, and miss the fact that there is an enemy who is distracting you from the things of God. This letter helps us to see the evil around…

What is a good gift that God has given you? Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

Pastor Tara VinCross continues in our new sermon series in the Book of Revelation, taking us deeper into the letter to the church in Pergamum. In this letter written to the people who live in “the city where Satan has his throne,” we are reminded of God’s reign. When everything around you causes you to question that God is Sovereign, God reminds us…

Where is God? He's closer than you think. Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

Reading the letters to the seven churches is like reading other people’s mail. These letters in the book of Revelation are profoundly personal and contextual for the people in the churches they were written to in a specific time and place. Yet, because they are inspired by the Holy Spirit, they are also for us, deeply applicable to our lives today.…

You can rest in knowing that our God is holding you! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

Reading the letters to the seven churches is like reading other people’s mail. These letters in the book of Revelation are profoundly personal and contextual for the people in the churches they were written to in a specific time and place. Yet, because they are inspired by the Holy Spirit, they are also for us, deeply applicable to our lives today.…

We remember those who served on this 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross.Oleh Azure Hills Church

This Sabbath we conclude our 12-part Psalms of Summer Series with a focus on Psalm 71 with Pastor Linda at the helm. In this Psalm, we see King David singing out to God with wails of despair, begging God to remember and protect him! Yet, as he sings his song, and remembers God's goodness, his faith is renewed and his strength restored, because God.…

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it as if doing it for the Lord! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

Our society has more time saving devices than ever, yet they’re commonly used to fill our time -- every single second. Hopefully you cherish sitting still and being in the company of others, or yourself, or God. Or do you struggle to even sit, feeling more comfortable moving or accomplishing? What would happen if you actually sat still … to breathe…

The sacred work we’re called to do can’t just be received by humans but also by God. Take a moment to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross.Oleh Azure Hills Church

There are times when it’s easy to see tracks of God’s goodness and other times we fight to hang on in the turmoil in life. The truth of living is that it’s not always easy to see where and how God is at work in our lives. The Psalmist invites us to hear an intimate and heartfelt song, arising from their pain.This psalm provides an answer for what t…

The Word of God in our lives can cause things to shift. It might even cause some discomfort. Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross.Oleh Azure Hills Church

On the cross Jesus cried out, quoting the first line of Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Was this an admission of defeat? Was God really abandoning him? One of the most profound elements of the gospel is that Jesus won by losing. He gained victory by being defeated. But what difference does that make for us? We will consider Je…

God is ready to direct us to what faithfulness looks like today! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

Pastor Gabriel Morales will speak from Psalm 121 where we're reminded that “Through all of life’s journeys, God faithfully watches and defends who He loves.”Oleh Azure Hills Church

Keep coming back to the joy of our God! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

The Shepherd’s Psalm (23rd Psalm) offers us the refreshment of verdant pastures and still waters. We all long for that, but is there a way that we can hold the peace of this pastoral portrait in our hearts? Join Pastor Starla as we discover the Good Shepherd’s restoration of our souls.Oleh Azure Hills Church

You are known. There is a God who sees you, loves you, and names you. Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross.Oleh Azure Hills Church

Did David have a bad week? Psalm 69:3 in Today’s English Version reads, "I am worn out from calling for help, and my throat is aching. I have strained my eyes, looking for your help.” Did David have a good week? He continues in verse 30, "I will praise God with a song; I will proclaim his greatness by giving him thanks.” This Sabbath we are reminde…

God is with us even in the most unlikely places. Take a minute to Thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross.Oleh Azure Hills Church

Taste and See that the Lord Is Good! What do you do when you feel like the walls are closing in and you have nowhere to turn? That was David’s experience. He had saved the king’s life and reputation multiple times. Yet, he was still hunted, an outcast, a man without a country. He couldn’t fight for his country. He wouldn’t fight against his country…

Sometimes growing spiritual fruit takes time. Will you trust the process? Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

This Psalm shifts from trial, to deliverance, to impending trial, all declared or sung in the community of believers. Both praise and lament belong in the Christian community. But is that what we expect to find in church? Hearing authentic, vulnerable stories about challenges God delivered us from and first-hand experiences of trials we have not ye…

There is a day coming when all things will be made new. Take a minute to Thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross.Oleh Azure Hills Church

Are you growing a garden this summer? Or even a tomato growing in a pot on your doorstep? It takes work! Dirt, plus water equals soil. Soil plus seed equals life. We want to cut out parts of the process or oversimplify. Yet we don’t get life (ie the taste of a juicy tomato) without dirt or tears or seeds. Daniel knew this from personal experience. …

In Jesus Christ, there is freedom! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

Have you ever been in a hard place? Feeling like the “enemies” against you are multiplying? That there is no way out? Wondering if God is listening to you? David is in that place. He is fleeing. He’s on the run from his own son. This journey shapes the language of this lament-turned-psalm-of-praise. Even before David knows how things will end, he c…

What does it mean to pray, "Thy Will Be Done?" Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!Oleh Azure Hills Church

Fear often leads us to places, some, very unhelpful. David reminds us that the real antidote to fear that we experience is God’s Presence. This weekend, we kick off our Summer sermon series on the book of Psalms. I invite you to join me in reading Psalm 27 and glean how we can best deal with fear by leaning on the everlasting arms of God.…