The Waymaker's Misfit

Theme Verse: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10 (NIV) Welcome & Intentional Start Take a deep breath and welcome God into this sacred moment. Let it be a time of refreshment and renewal. Opening Prayer: Father, we come to You with open hearts. Wash us clean, restore our joy, and renew our spirit. Where we are weary, bring strength. Where we are discouraged, bring hope. May Your presence refresh our souls and set us on the path of life again. In Jesus' name, amen. Worship These songs and Scripture focus on restoration and renewal: “Clean” – Natalie Grant “Give Me a Clean Heart” – Fred Hammond Psalm 23:1–3 – "He restores my soul... He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake." Let the music guide you into a place of surrender and new beginnings. Scripture Reading Start with the theme verse , Psalm 51:10. To see David's full heart of repentance and longing for restorati...

After you begin questioning and testing your beliefs, it helps to have a repeatable framework to guide you. Sometimes we hold onto things because they’re familiar, not because they’re biblical. This post is a tool to help you evaluate any teaching, tradition, or idea in light of God’s truth. Step 1: Ask for God’s Guidance Before diving into the process, stop and pray: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” —Psalm 139:23-24 Invite the Holy Spirit to be your guide, not just your emotions, logic, or background. Step 2: Ask Honest Questions Use these questions to examine a belief or practice: Can I clearly find this in Scripture? Is this taught by Jesus or the apostles? Is this part of the new covenant, or an old tradition carried forward? Does this point me to Christ or distract me from Him? Is this bearing good fruit? (Galatians 5:22-23) Would I...

If you’ve ever felt like something was off in the modern church—like you were going through the motions but not growing—you’re not alone. This space was created for believers who love Jesus but are ready to return to what the Bible actually says about faith, discipleship, worship, and community. Whether you’re currently in a traditional church, in transition, or quietly walking this out with Jesus on your own, this blog exists to remind you: God is still moving. He still speaks. And He always preserves a remnant. What You'll Find Here This blog is built around two main types of content: Weekly Gathering Posts Simple, Scripture-based guides for worshiping at home with your spouse, your family, or even on your own. These are released every Sunday morning and include: A weekly Scripture theme Worship suggestions Prayer prompts Reflection questions A challenge to live out your faith If you're looking for a way to stay grounded each week without needing...

Being on fire for Jesus feels amazing—until it doesn’t. At first, you feel unstoppable. Your eyes have been opened, your heart is burning, and you want to live out your faith in a real, tangible way . But then, you hit resistance. Not from unbelievers, but from fellow believers. Why Are People Threatened by Passion? Many people feel threatened when they see someone on fire for Jesus. Instead of encouraging that fire, they step in to stop it . Once you recognize the shortcomings in how we “do church,” it’s tempting to immediately start pointing them out to your church family and leadership. I’ve been there. And in my experience, this usually doesn’t end well. No one likes to be corrected. No one wants to be put in check. The typical response is to put YOU in your place instead. I’ve been labeled many things: “She’s causing division.” “She thinks she’s so holy.” “She has a rebellious spirit and needs to learn to submit.” And of course, there’s that wonderful...

Theme Verse: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” — Galatians 5:22 (NIV) Welcome & Intentional Start Let’s begin by asking the Holy Spirit to shape our hearts and make us fruitful for God’s glory. Opening Prayer: Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Grow in us the fruit that reflects Your presence in our lives. Help us to walk in step with You and to live in a way that brings honor to Jesus. Let our hearts be fertile ground for Your work. In Jesus' name, amen. Worship These worship songs and Scripture celebrate the work of the Spirit in our lives: “Holy Spirit” – Francesca Battistelli “Spirit Lead Me” – Influence Music & Michael Ketterer Psalm 92:12–14 – "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree... they will still bear fruit in old age." Use this time to invite the Spirit to move freely in your heart and life. Scripture Reading Start with the theme verse , Galatians 5:22. For the ful...

It’s one thing to recognize that the modern church has drifted from what God intended. It’s another to respond in a way that actually honors God and builds something better. So what do we not do? Don’t Try to Overturn Every Aspect of an Existing Congregation We’re not here to tear down what others have built. We’re not looking to storm in and demand change . Trying to force an entire congregation into a new way of thinking only leads to conflict, frustration, and resistance . And in many cases, it causes church splits . That’s why I walked away. I’m not trying to cause unnecessary division. I just know that sometimes the best way forward is to start from scratch. Don’t Try to Burn the System Down It’s tempting to get angry at what the church has become. To want to call everything out and expose the flaws . But if we only focus on what’s wrong, we lose sight of what we should be building instead. God’s people don’t need more destruction —they need a better example. Don’t F...

Theme Verse: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” — 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) Welcome & Intentional Start Let’s enter this time with a desire to grow deeper in our walk with Christ. Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for saving us and inviting us into a life of transformation. Help us to grow in Your grace and in the knowledge of who You are. Give us a hunger for Your Word and a desire to become more like You each day. In Your name, amen. Worship These songs and Scripture passages encourage growth and surrender: “More Like Jesus” – Passion “Open the Eyes of My Heart” – Paul Baloche Psalm 1:1–3 – "They are like a tree planted by streams of water..." Let your worship reflect a willingness to be shaped and nourished by God. Scripture Reading Start with the theme verse , 2 Peter 3:18. For deeper reflection, read 2 Peter 1:3–11 , which outlines the steps of spiritual growth and how to be effective and fruitful in your ...

I don’t have all the answers. But I do know this: church isn’t what it’s supposed to be, and we’re missing the mark. I’ve reached a point where I can’t just go along with things the way they are. I love Jesus. I love His people. But I can’t keep doing “church as usual.” And I know I’m not alone. So what do you do when your church refuses to change? When leadership digs in instead of listening? When programs replace true discipleship? When structure stifles the Spirit? The Options We Face Most people in this situation end up with one of a few choices: Stay and submit – even when you know something is off. Maybe you hope you can make a difference. Maybe you feel called to be a light in the darkness. But how long can you stay when nothing changes? Find another congregation – but what happens when you experience the same thing there? The same traditions, the same power struggles, the same resistance to real discipleship? Start something new – maybe a home church, an online gather...

Theme Verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) Welcome & Intentional Start Let’s begin this time by laying down our worries and lifting our hearts to God. Opening Prayer: Father, You are faithful and true. We come to You today with our hopes, our fears, and our questions. Teach us to trust You completely. Help us to release control and rest in the knowledge that You are good and You are with us. In Jesus' name, amen. Worship These songs and Scripture can help center your heart on trusting God: “Trust in You” – Lauren Daigle Psalm 37:3–5 – "Trust in the Lord and do good... He will make your righteous reward shine." Sing or listen with the posture of surrender and confidence in God's plans. Scripture Reading Begin with the theme verse , Proverbs 3:5. Then read Proverbs 3:5–6 , which completes the thought: "In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straig...

When you start seeing the need for change in the church, it can feel isolating . You might wonder, Am I the only one who sees this? Am I just being difficult? But throughout history, God has always preserved a faithful remnant —a group of people who remain true to Him, even when the majority resists. If you feel alone, you’re not. Biblical Examples of the Remnant God’s people have often found themselves in the minority , standing for truth while others went along with compromise. Noah – When the entire world turned to evil, Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord ( Genesis 6:8 ). He stood alone in obedience. Elijah – He thought he was the only faithful one left, but God told him, “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed to Baal” ( 1 Kings 19:18 ). Daniel & His Friends – They refused to bow to idols, even when everyone else complied ( Daniel 3, Daniel 6 ). The Early Church – They were a remnant within Judaism, following Jesus even when rel...

Theme Verse: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” — James 1:2 (NIV) Welcome & Intentional Start Let’s begin by turning our focus to God, our strength and our refuge. Opening Prayer: Lord, we come to You with open hearts, knowing that life brings challenges. Help us to see trials through the lens of faith. Strengthen us, grow us, and fill us with Your peace in every season. May we trust You more deeply, even when things are hard. In Jesus' name, amen. Worship Let these songs and Scripture remind you of God’s presence in the storm: “Even If” – MercyMe “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” – Hillsong UNITED Psalm 46:1–3 – "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Worship Him not for the absence of trials, but for His nearness through them. Scripture Reading Begin with the theme verse , James 1:2. To explore more fully, read James 1:2–8 , which speaks of perseverance, wisdom...