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Church is not just a building where we go on Sundays. It's not just the people who go to church, and it certainly isn't only answering the question of "Are you going to church this weekend?" with a yes or no. Church is something that you embrace. It is an attitude, a lifestyle, and an idea of what it means to live as followers of Christ.

It is a community where believers gather together regularly in order to support each other and encourage one another in their faith (1 Corinthians 14:26).

Church should be about serving God by serving others (Matthew 25:35-36), and being willing to help those in need regardless if they are part of our congregation or not (Luke 10:25-37).

Over the past couple years, many of us stopped going to church in person, we ceased our volunteer work, and we pressed pause on our fellowship practices. It became commonplace to watch services online, meet with small groups via Zoom, and we achieved quite a comfort level with not being in the same room with each other. These options for worship were a blessing, but leaving your comfort zone is a must if you want to make progress in your spiritual life.

As a Christian, it's important to remember that our job is not just to grow ourselves, but also to help others grow as well. If all we did was focus on ourselves, it wouldn’t be so bad to enjoy church from our living room sofa, but we'd miss out on many opportunities for personal growth and transformation, and we'd fail to reach people around us with the good news of Christ's love and grace.

We’ve come full circle and it’s time to leave your comfort zone behind when it comes to your faith life. Leave it behind when you're serving others; leave it behind when you're learning more about God; leave it behind when you're helping someone else learn more about God; leave it behind when striving for holiness (which requires cutting out sin from our lives). Leave your comfort zone for the sake of returning to the church body that sustains each other. 

Embracing church will help you get plugged into a community of believers that will build you up and keep you on the right path. God created us for relationship and community. The believer’s experience has so much more depth when we pursue God alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ. It allows us to have others around us when we’re struggling, and for us to give back to them in their time of need. Of course, we all need these relationships and encouragement even when things are great in our lives.

If you're new to church or if it’s just been awhile since you’ve shown up in person, look for ways to get plugged in by connect with church leaders. One of the best things about going to church is that it's a place where you can connect with other people and enjoy discipleship opportunities such as small groups where friends can encourage one another along life’s journey together while learning more about Scripture itself.

If you ever wonder whether you matter or whether God sees you, the answer is definitively found in Psalm 139:13-16. While it may be easy to breeze through this scripture because, as Christians, we’ve seen and heard this time and again, let’s pause and be reminded of the deep meaning within the words. You matter and the Creator of All sees you and knows you better than you know yourself. 

Let’s take a look…

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.  Psalm 139:13-16

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb…

God formed every single aspect of our being. Everything inside us was formed by His hands with precision.

God combined every aspect of our being to form us into a person in His image. From our internal organs to our skin and hair, using the female womb, he knit us into being.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

It should be our joy and blessing to praise and worship God for making us to fear Him and for making us wonderfully in His image. He made us for His purpose and His glory.

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well…

We have an innate awareness of God’s creativity and perfection in the way He created our bodies. Our organs work in harmony, our brains make connections for us, and our souls are created just for Him.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth…

We are reminded that from the dust of earth we gained our humanity and only God could have constructed us from mere particles. Even though the moment of our conception is not known, God saw because He made us. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

God saw us and knew us before our conception. He knew who we would be, He knew when we would come into being, and He knew the purpose He had for us before we ever took our first breath. 

Hallelujah! It is our prayer that after considering this Psalm more deeply that you feel a renewed closeness to your Heavenly Father. His very breath is in your lungs. He made us to bless Him, yet His blessings overflow into us. How much easier is it to understand the importance of sharing the Gospel when you realize how much every single one of us means to the One who made us? 

May you be blessed and renewed for the sake of Jesus.

The boots on the ground, the turning wheels, the ones on the front lines…these are the Pregnancy Center teams who show up every day for women and their babies. You likely have not seen what goes on in the day-to-day operations of a pregnancy center. The hope that fills them is palpable. Expectation that God will move is clear. Being a pregnancy center worker is not for the faint of heart. These individuals have passion, grit, and commitment that compels them to show up every day knowing that they can make a difference in the life of a woman in need.

While pregnancy centers are a place of acceptance, a place where women can learn about their pregnancy, about help available in the community, and encouragement for choosing life, there are many who want her to believe otherwise. There are many who paint pregnancy centers in a light of confusion and deception.

It's not enough for pro-abortion-minded people to fight to maintain legal abortions for women and to further "the my body my choice" argument. They want to destroy everything that has to do with encouraging and empowering women to receive support and have conversations with people who have their well-being in mind. They say we fear what we don't understand and it would seem there are so many who don't understand that an unplanned pregnancy is not the end of the world. The commitment of pro-abortion and pro-choice people to ensure that women have the opportunity to kill their unborn children is quite honestly impressive. They will pay millions of dollars, they will bribe, they will use their power to influence lawmakers, and they will incite violence outside of pregnancy centers and abortion clinics.

What's even more impressive to us, is that no matter what type of negativity that comes against pregnancy centers and pro-lifers, we remain peaceful, we remain prayerful, and we bootstrap and crowdfund and roll up our sleeves to work together for the sake of mothers and innocent babies.

This is why we must remain vigilant in our prayers for pregnancy centers. Pregnancy centers don't receive millions of dollars in donations, they don't receive the support of lawmakers, no one is steadfastly defending them in their day-to-day operations. Please pray unceasingly for pregnancy centers to receive the funding, the security, and the people in the right places so that they can be successful in saving lives. Let their success also be found in the beacon of light that they are for women who need them. 

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7-8

For pro-life organizations, our enemies would be the abortionists at the multiple abortion clinics and Planned Parenthood clinics across the country. Our enemies would be the people who donate money to these organizations to help them provide more abortions to women facing an unplanned pregnancy. Typically, we are conditioned to distance ourselves from our enemies and we want to see them fail. While this is true we also understand the need to pray for our enemies because the only way our enemies will change is by the power of Jesus who can change hearts and minds.

We are blessed to be part of the pro-life community that follows the work that we do to help women facing an unplanned pregnancy in their time of need. we are grateful that we can call on you for your prayers for your donations for your support of ICU Mobile as a pro-life organization. We know that when you pray for us you're also praying for the women that we see, you're praying for the babies whose lives can be saved, you're praying for the teams of people on the mobile units, the volunteers, and the administrative teams who make it possible to help women.

Now, we ask that you also pray for the abortionists. Pray that they will encounter the Holy Spirit. Pray they will be moved by something, someone or a situation that will make them see the humanity of the lives that they destroy. Pray that they would completely turn away from what they think they know, pray that they will turn away from the industry that brings them their very livelihood. Pray that they would join the pro-life movement to help educate about the danger of abortion for women, the reality of life that is lost, and the pain of loss at a woman endures when her baby is gone. Pray that they would be moved to bring attention to the abortion industry as a whole and that they would feel empowered to create a new livelihood by saving lives instead of taking them.

Does this seem overwhelming? Does this seem impractical? Does this seem impossible? We understand why you would feel that way. But we also know the truth. The truth of our powerful Savior who has never been overwhelmed and who is capable of doing things that we can only imagine or pray for. When God is for us, who can be against us?

We are asking you to add every abortionist to your prayer list. Pray the big and mighty prayers that only God can answer. Ask him to do the impossible in our eyes because through him anything is possible. When it seems too big or too difficult or too unlikely, take it to God and watch him work. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:43-45

“For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?" 

2 Samuel 22:32

Samuel, a prophet and a judge in Israel, was uniquely called by God, even when he did not yet know the Lord. As we look to the first time the Lord called out to Samuel, he was lying down, resting, and he began hearing a voice calling out to him. Samuel thought it was Eli, and would present himself to Eli, saying “Here I am.” Yet Eli informed him that he was not calling for him. Samuel would then go back to lie down again, and would hear again, a voice calling him. Remember, Samuel did not yet know the voice of the Lord so he continued to think it was Eli who was calling him. By the third time of the Lord calling for Samuel, and Samuel going to Eli to ask what he needed from him, it was then that Eli instructed Samuel that it was the Lord calling him. Eli informed Samuel on how to respond to the Lord’s calling. So, Samuel went back to lie down again, and when he heard yet again the Lord calling for him, Samuel was able to reply with “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Isn't this story so relatable? How many times have we ignored the voice of the Lord, for the simple fact that we were not in tune with Him. Sometimes, we can miss the Lord’s voice if we are not making ourselves accessible and available to Him, through prayer and meditation. Life can become so busy, and full of distractions, that we can easily neglect our prayer-life, and neglect spending time with the Lord, listening for what He wants to say to us.

Clearly, Samuel made himself available after learning the voice of the Lord, and was able to fulfill his calling and purpose that God had set out before him. Samuel became a prophet and a judge in Israel, and that would not have come to pass if Samuel 

continued living from a place of disbelief, and ignorance of the Lord. Samuel chose to recognize God’s calling as that of clear direction, and command. Samuel chose to lean into all that God had for him, and turned his attention to the Lord’s direction. 

God is our rock… unchanging, steadfast, consistent. The Lord never gave up on Samuel! He never changed His calling over him, He was steadfast in His approach to Samuel, and He was consistent about calling out to Samuel until He had his attention. 

The Lord is so patient with us, isn't He? He will not give up on us, and He will continue to gently press in until we hear Him, and obey. God is the rock above all else - providing strength in our weakness, stability in our insecurity, and clarity in our confusion. The strength of the Lord is like nothing else. When we are weak, He is strong, and He is there to fight for us. When we are feeling insecure, He is our stability where we find our very identity, which all security stems from. When we are confused by the world’s messages, He is our clarity, giving us a defined, clear direction that leads us and the world back to Him. If we simply offer ourselves as servants, like Samuel did, we will be able to confidently call the Lord our rock, and respond to God’s calling over our lives just like Samuel did, with a response of “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” 

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. - 2 Samuel 22:3-4

God revealed this scripture as we considered the impact of Human Trafficking around the world. In America, it is, tragically, the central theme of the biggest stories coming out of the news today. It will continue to be revealed and the oppressors will face justice for their victims. 

Our modern-day enemies are many with the top ringleaders of human trafficking being some of the most dangerous for every single human being. Women and young girls, men and young boys, even the unborn are at risk. Women are forced into abortions and those that aren’t…well, their babies become the next generation of victims hidden from the world. 

For every care and concern, God has a promise. For every care and concern, let’s remember to turn to His word to learn what He says about it and how we should respond. Scripture clearly shows us that God saves us from violence and He saves us from our enemies. He acts through the people He has equipped on Earth to find and save His children. He saves through heart changes and through whispers in ears that are open to hearing His voice. 

It’s an unbearable thought and because of that, it’s easier to turn away than face it, fight it, and defeat it. In 2 Samuel 22:3-4, we are reminded that God fights every battle on our behalf. The unseen and unheard victims, the unborn babies, the parents desperately waiting for word from their missing children can all seek shelter under the shield of God’s refuge. Let all of us send up this scripture as a prayer on behalf of those being held hostage. Never cease praying for the innocent. 

This scripture refers to “the horn of my salvation” which is the victory of salvation. No enemy can take away the victory of salvation found in the Lord. He will save every single innocent life from the violence and oppression of their captors. He will do what He says. 

Victory may not come immediately in physical form, but it is immediate for our souls and it is ours for eternity. Let that not be lost on us when we consider the plight of the present, urgent need to physically save these innocent victims and return them home to their families where they can begin to heal. 

Let’s not rest our trust in God the way we do in man, with caution and disbelief that he will keep his word. God is the Great Overcomer showing time and again His strength, His power over evil, His steadfast love for His children, and His unwavering dedication to our salvation. He gave His son so we wouldn’t have to give up our sons and daughters. Pray your prayer with this scripture to end human trafficking and end violence and death upon our children. 

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. - Psalm 68:5

God, in His holy dwelling, is displayed best when we, His beloved children, call Him Father. In His holy dwelling, God sees and loves widows, defending their status. Such comfort from this brief scripture, that during our modern-day concerns over single mothers and women abandoned due to illness, viruses, and diseases, God is present and active.

When a man chooses to walk away from the mother of his child and deny the baby, God is there. In the midst of the many ways pain and suffering can occur with the absence of a father, the promise held in this scripture is a source of peace. We’ve seen time and time again women find comfort when we share the Gospel and they realize that their Heavenly Father is her most reliable source of acceptance is a God who is always with her and loves her unconditionally. 

When we recognize that although some of us may not have an earthly father, we all have our Heavenly Father. He is our good, good Father; He is always emotionally available to us, and He will never leave us or forsake us. God, in His holy dwelling, lifts His countenance and gives peace to His children.  

We can honor God for His role as our Father by cultivating a relationship with Him. In the ideal father/child relationship, a father protects us and teaches us. A father gives us the freedom to make mistakes and picks us up when we fall. He encourages us to keep moving forward and become independent while knowing that he’s always there for us. God never fails at this kind of relationship. 

May this be the prayer that is spoken over every person who experiences a fatherless walk of life. A prayer of hope, and of the everlasting love that is poured out by our one true Heavenly Father, who sees us and hears our cry. A prayer of gratitude that we can choose a Father that guides, instructs, loves, and finds deep joy in each of us. 

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

He said, “Go and tell this people:

‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’ 

- Isaiah 6:8-9

Deep gratitude for the miracle of healing compelled Isaiah to say “Send me!” He was a prophet who predicted the impending birth of Jesus, our Savior. He was dedicated to the Lord and would volunteer to be the one to go out and send a message from God that would expose the rebellious nature of his nation. 

It seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? God wants Isaiah to tell the people to listen, but not realize the truth, to look for signs of God, but avoid understanding. When Isaiah went out to tell the nation of God while also telling them to refuse understanding of Him, he would experience the very path Jesus would walk. He would gain an appreciation of the challenges God himself faces. 

In essence, it was a warning that Isaiah would deliver to the people. Because of their rebellious nature, their demise would be their own doing because they would not believe in God’s ability to cleanse them, heal them, and bless them. 

Praise God for the Bible! We’ve received the Word of the Lord and we don’t have to make the same mistakes. Of course, we all have a rebellious nature to some extent, but we know from the ones who have gone before us that God is for us and He made an unimaginable sacrifice for our souls. 

In the modern-day version of Isaiah’s plight, we have volunteered to go. We have answered the call to protect the unborn, saying “Send me!” and we have gone and continue to go. We share the good news of Jesus knowing that some will listen and ignore, some will look for a different, earthly kind of savior, and some will say “yes” to the living God who saves. One yes is worth the response to our calling.

In what areas of God’s calling on your life are you responding with “Here I am! Send me!”?

Friends, it is not lost on us that it is challenging to be pro-life in today’s world. It can be frustrating; it can feel hopeless, and, honestly, it can be maddening. 

We live in a fallen world where people feel more inclined to follow their feelings than hold up their values. Many are more consumed with making life easy when the “easy” route often holds more harm than good. 

Generally, most people tend to steer away from faith-based arguments because - let’s face it - it almost feels like you can’t win. Ever. So, let’s take an approach that helps us stay true to our faith instead of winning an argument. When you can (lovingly) share your pro-life views, perhaps you’ll find that even if you don’t participate in a war, you’ve at least given the other side pause to hear you out.

1. God doesn’t make mistakes. Every life is ordained and created by God, and every child conceived is on purpose. Even in the worst of situations, God has planned every life on purpose, for a purpose. The chances of getting pregnant in the best conditions are 15%-25%. Those chances aren’t all that high; throw in a stressful situation, and chances are significantly reduced. If a baby is conceived, God has a plan. 
2. A woman’s body is designed to actualize pregnancy. The hormonal changes and bodily changes a woman goes through during pregnancy were intended to progress throughout pregnancy. Cutting this process short exposes women to health issues later in life that could be avoided through actualizing the pregnancy. Even if a woman does not want to raise a child, she can save her health and baby through adoption. (And yes, miscarriage is different as this is a natural end of life that the woman’s body has prepared for versus the forced end of life.) 
3. Babies don’t ruin lives. They change lives. The most precious, innocent humans are motivators to do better, they’re joy-generators, and when given a chance, they change us for the better. 
4. Adoption allows women to continue living their lives. For nine months, they can enable the baby to develop while still working, going to school, pursuing their goals, and then, one day they give birth, and a couple of days later, they’re back to life as usual. A baby doesn’t have to die for a woman to have her own life.
5. Resources abound for women with babies. Transportation, prenatal care, child care, living expenses, health care, clothing, food, and shelter are all available in every situation. There is always a way. From social service options to local non-profits, women can be surrounded by helpful, loving people who want to help. These are all messages that every woman and her baby are important, valued, and respected.

What it comes down to is showing love for both woman and child. We live this through our Gospel-centered interactions that allow us to share the love of Jesus and that we genuinely care for the life of every baby. A woman’s future is impacted dramatically by this decision. 

Show empathy and provide solutions for women with unplanned pregnancies, and you’ll make a more positive impact on those willing to hear you out. 

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:35

Do you feel called to give? Our Loving Life Initiative is bringing more mobile units into communities in need.  https://www.icumobile.org/loving-life-initiative

You see the request for the donation. You’re pro-life, and you pray abortion will end in your lifetime, so it makes sense to provide financial support to organizations like ICU Mobile, who are working every day in communities like yours. So, why the hesitation to click that “Donate Now” button?

The biggest question most people ask is, “Where does the money go?” Great question and one you deserve the answer to when you’re trusting your hard-earned dollars to the stewardship of someone else. In your case, the question is more profound. You need to know how your donation truly saves a baby’s life. 

Your donations are part of the ICU Mobile journey. We build and distribute the mobile units containing the pregnancy ultrasound machines operated by pregnancy centers across the country. 

When you donate to ICU Mobile, you help us with the cost to build the mobile units - those large RVs that, on the outside, have our logo painted on them. The inside has been outfitted to be a place of respite where women facing an unplanned pregnancy are surrounded by people who care about her and her baby. Inside, we create a calm, welcoming environment where we can share truthful information with her. Your donation allows us to let her see, through ultrasound, the very real life of the baby growing inside her. 

When you donate to ICU Mobile, you support an effort to bring vital services to women where they are. We don’t have to hope they’ll find a pregnancy center before they’re drawn in by Planned Parenthood. We can go to them. Mobile unit operators GO to areas that are in high need in their communities. We can be found in the grocery store parking lot, on the street outside a school, at the neighborhood park - doors open with a professional team waiting inside to give free services to every woman who steps on board.

When you donate to ICU (I see you) Mobile, you make ultrasound technology available that reveals life. This first look at life is a significant factor in her decision about her baby’s fate. 

When you donate to ICU Mobile, you can save two lives. The physical life of the baby and the eternal life of the mother. The pregnancy centers that operate the mobile units in their communities are filled with teams of women who love Jesus and love the women they serve. Because of that love, they share the Gospel of Christ so that each woman has the opportunity to receive eternal life through a relationship with Jesus. 

How does your donation impact the unborn? Your dollars go on a journey, but ultimately, they end up with the unborn getting the opportunity to be seen which is their best chance to be saved.

 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” - Galatians 6:9

Do you feel called to give? Our Loving Life Initiative is bringing more mobile units into communities in need.  https://www.icumobile.org/loving-life-initiative