1655 Roanoke Street, Christiansburg VA

Today, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude and awe as I joined Blue Ridge Church for their online service, marking the 113th stop on this extraordinary and amazing journey of faith.

From my home, yet united with believers across the globe, I felt the sweet presence of God reminding me once again of His love, mercy, and grace.

There is something so profound and powerful about gathering, even digitally, with brothers and sisters who share a desire to grow closer to Jesus.

Blue Ridge Church warmly invited us all, wherever we were, however we looked, whoever we were, into the heart of worship.

I tuned in to the 9:45 service and immediately felt the weight of my worries lift as the worship team sang lyrics that pierced deeply: “Goodbye pain, it’s a new horizon.” I felt the Holy Spirit whisper gently that He was ushering me into a new season, a season of renewal, healing, and restoration.

Their mission states clearly and beautifully: “To help people find and follow Jesus.” It’s a simple yet powerful vision rooted deeply in Scripture.

“Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people, even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story: ‘If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.” In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!’”

I often imagine myself as that one sheep, lost and broken, yet lovingly pursued by a Savior who never stops searching until He finds us. What boundless love is this, that heaven itself rejoices when we return to our Heavenly Father?

Today’s message by Pastor Cody Miller was part of a powerful series called “Full Disclosure,” and today’s sermon was deeply convicting yet profoundly uplifting.

Pastor Cody reminded us that Jesus confronted people in the Scriptures, but the targets of His confrontation were primarily those religious insiders who had forgotten mercy and love. How often do we fall into the same trap? How often do we judge and criticize rather than extend the grace and love we have received?

Pastor Cody emphasized that our mission as followers of Christ is not to condemn, judge, or harshly confront everyone around us.

Rather, we are called first to love radically and completely. When confrontation is needed, it’s done with a humble heart, guided by prayer and grounded firmly in the Word of God, not based on our own opinions, preferences, or biases.

Our goal, Pastor Cody declared with heartfelt clarity, must always be restoration, not condemnation.

He posed challenging questions to us all: Is our confrontation motivated by a genuine belief and desire to restore, or by a desire to feel relief or superiority? Are we confronting to lift others up or tear them down? Are we truly aligned with God’s heart, or are we slipping into pride and self-righteousness?

Today’s message deeply convicted me to examine my own heart, reminding me of the importance of confronting with gentleness, humility, and love, reflecting the very heart of Christ.

I realized how critical it is to carefully weigh our words, so we speak in ways that lead to healing rather than hurting.

Confrontation is not an opportunity to showcase our righteousness but to lovingly guide one another closer to Jesus.

Friends, what if we, as the body of Christ, lived this out daily?

Imagine the transformation within our communities, our families, our world.

What if, instead of pointing fingers, we extended hands of compassion? What if we genuinely cared more about souls than appearances, more about healing than pride?

This timely reminder filled my spirit with fresh joy and resolve.

God is continually teaching me profound lessons through this journey, lessons of humility, forgiveness, compassion, and radical love.

I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing the beautiful community of Blue Ridge Church. Their sincere desire to share the hope of Jesus is so wonderful, even online, and I cannot wait for the privilege of joining them in person soon.

Thank you, Lord, for guiding me each step of the way, for patiently teaching me, for lovingly correcting me, and for continuing to lead me into Your perfect truth. You are my everything, and I am forever grateful for the gift of Your grace.