Messages

Messages are topics dedicated to our evangelistic efforts and sharing the truth of Jesus with the world. The ultimate purpose and goal is to magnify the name of Jesus and to preach Him crucified so that men, women, and children may come to know the grace and mercy of God in Christ alone.

When Life Comes Crashing Down

There are some moments in life where life can come crashing down on us. Where our picture perfect lives and the daily routines come to a screeching halt. Where the unthinkable sneaks up on us from behind and changes our lives in an instant. For me this moment was March 11th 2017.

Today marks the 3rd anniversary of a car wreck that literally had my life crashing down around me. Through the screeching sounds of breaks, breaking glass, air bags being deployed (all sounds I don’t remember), every illusion I had was shattered that day. In an instant, my little girl Brynleigh left this life for the next and my wife, my son, and I stepped in to a nightmare we never expected.

Even three years later the pain is fresh. As I look at images and videos from the wreck, I still struggle to believe this is all real. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the wreck, I encourage you to watch a video I prepared called Cupcakes and Rainbows or you can read a seven day devotion I wrote called Cupcakes and Rainbows: Life After Tragedy.

On this anniversary of the wreck I feel like it would be a betrayal not to honor the memory of my late wife Cassie and my beloved daughter Brynleigh not to remember that day, to celebrate their life, and to use their tragic death as an opportunity to share these truths: life is short. Life is unexpected. Life is fragile. Sometimes our routine lives can lay shattered in ruins around us and no matter how loud we scream, how desperately we beg, or how broken our hearts, we don’t get a redo. 

Today as I write this blog post, I am comforted by the fact that God is still good. I have confidence I will see my daughter again, and hope that I will see my late wife Cassie again. Jesus tells us in Scripture that in this life we will have tribulation (John 16:33) but tells us to rejoice because He has overcome this world. I am thankful that this life is not the end of my story. It isn’t the end of Brynleigh or Cassie’s story either.

I would give anything to rewind the clock to March 10th 2017 and spend one more day with them both. I can’t go back but what I can do, what I must do, is share the truth: today may be your last day too. If today was your last day, what do you wish you would have done in life? Do it. Who do you wish you would have forgiven or made amends with? Forgive them. What do you wish you would have said to your spouse or your children? Tell them.

Scripture warns us that this life is like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow (James 4:14). Stop waiting to make it right until tomorrow, do it now. Tomorrow may never come. Speaking of no more tomorrows… if you died right now, are you prepared to stand before God? Some of you may say “there is no God”… are you sure? Most of us won’t even buy something cheap on Amazon without reading the review… but you aren’t even exploring if there is a God or not?

Had I died on March 11th 2017 along with my beloved wife and daughter, we would have all 3 entered in to God’s presence together. Scripture tells us that God loves each one of us and gave His only Son Jesus so we could be forgiven and free (John 3:16). My greatest desire for you is not to remember my name, not to remember my story, but to know a God who loves you and gave everything so you could be forgiven and free.

To all my friends, family, and brothers and sisters in Christ who have supported us, prayed for us, and walked through this nightmare with us, thank you. Keep Cassie and Brynleigh’s memories alive by speaking of them and thinking of them often. To Cassie and Brynleigh, I love you more than I ever knew possible, I’m so sorry I didn’t realize the depth of that love until you were taken from me. Kasen and I both love you, we will see you again soon.

By Daniel Higginbotham, ago

The Valley

Often I hear preachers, teachers, and speakers talk about “the valleys” of life. As they discuss the valley, the remind us that spiritually speaking this is a time in our life where God may seem distant as our suffering seems unbearable. They talk about becoming more intimate and getting to know God more in the valley than we ever could on the mountaintop, and they are right.

One thing that has often bothered me is hearing others talk about suffering in their own lives, yet feeling like they have no true perspective on real suffering. Time and time again I hear stories of times they have been in the “valley” only to think to myself… “if you only knew what a real valley is like…”

Before we all get our judgy faces out, I think these things, but never say them. The suffering each of us experience may be the worst suffering we’ve ever known. But today when I tell you that God is good, even in the valley, I need you to understand what valley I have walked through.

Often I see people say “God is good…” and I can almost hear the thoughts of those around me: “if you had walked where I’ve walked, you’d never say that.” My valley began on March 11th of 2017. If I’m being honest, the valley probably began some weeks and months before that day as I was consumed and overwhelmed by my own selfish failures.

On that tragic day, my family and I set out for vacation. Excited, looking forward to spending time together and experiencing new things. As we had so many times before, we found ourselves sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. In an instant, our lives changed forever.

I woke up inside a smoking car, blood running down in to my mouth. In a tragic moment, my four year old daughter was dead. The mother of my children would die several weeks later in the hospital. My son and I fought for life and eventually left the hospital a few months later. 

I may not be the world’s foremost expert on suffering, but I have the scars to prove that I’ve walked through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. I wish I could tell you that through each step in the valley I was faithful. I have not always been faithful. God however has never left my side, even when I screamed towards the heavens and demanded an answer He never promised to give.

Today I am thankful that I serve a mighty God. I serve a good God. I serve a patient, faithful God. I serve a God who enters in to my pain and suffering and doesn’t leave me in hopeless despair.

I don’t know what valley your walking through today, but you don’t have to face a step alone. Through faith in Jesus Christ we find forgiveness and reconciliation with God. It is through this faith that we have the promise that God is always with us, He will not leave us or forsake us. 

All those promises are beautifully true, but this promise is the one I want to leave you with today: Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)

Are you hurting in your valley? Is your heart broken? Are you frustrated and angry? Do you feel alone? Have you been faithful but some how think God has forgotten you? Have you prayed and trusted God, but for some reason tragedy has still occurred? Trust Him. Go to Him. In your deepest despair, Jesus will meet you there and give you mercy and grace to help in your time of need.

By Daniel Higginbotham, ago

Just Like You

Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! It’s… your pastor! Or at least how most people envision the pastor and other leaders in the church.

I know… you were expecting Super Man, right? I want to share a closely guarded secret in ministry that may get me kicked out of the club: pastors are just men. Like you, or maybe your husband, or some other men you may know… they struggle with life too.

This message may seem a bit silly, but the truth of it is powerfully important. Because we place our pastors, teachers, preachers, and others in leadership on pedestals, we develop unrealistic expectations about who they are (or even who they should be). Throughout Scripture, we see again and again that an extraordinary God uses ordinary people to change the world. Because we often forget this, we may find ourselves following teachers and preachers instead of who they should be pointing us to (Jesus).

If we are following the teachers and preachers more than the God they point us to, we are going to be disappointed. Time and time again I have seen, heard, or witnessed first hand how unrealistic expectations about our pastors have hurt the lives of so many. I want to share few well kept secrets you may not know:

  • Pastors have doubts and questions too
  • Pastors have struggles in their marriages
  • Pastors struggle in their relationships with their children
  • Pastors get angry
  • Pastors get hurt
  • Pastors feel overwhelmed
  • Pastors feel unappreciated
  • Pastors are people too

Hebrews Chapter 11 is a wonderful reminder of the faithful men and women God has used throughout history to change the world. These people have one thing in common: they were chosen and used by an incredible God. They also share one other important thing in common: they were all sinners that God showed incredible kindness, mercy, and love.

I want to close with this public service announcement: pray for your pastor. Love him. Support him. Look for ways to come along side him in the work God has called him to. Pray for his spouse, his children, and be there for them all. When the time comes… when they show you they are human too: love them any way. 

By Daniel Higginbotham, ago