A Pastor's Heartbeat

[3/3/2022]

Hello, hello, hello and welcome to Joy City, a weekly blog and podcast, hosted by yours truly, Stuart Welch the Lead Pastor of Life Connection Church located in Modesto, CA. I want to invite you in, to join with an amazing community of friends that are quickly becoming an intimate part of my daily life. I am your host and excited to hear your stories and deliver great content that can help YOU change your life and truly transform as we celebrate the greatness of God and His presence in the every day moments of YOUR life. Knowing that the Creator, the Grand Weaver of our lives is present with us and then leaning into that Presence can be revolutionary for YOU, so let’s enter in, to the City – Joy City. 

You see, Joy City isn’t a geographical location, it’s a place where YOU can find your joy and happiness in the kingdom of God, following hard after God and fulfilling the call of God in your life. It’s a place that welcomes us all with open arms. In Joy City faith is all important, our trust and confidence in the ways, will and word of God. Let me hip you to this; Jesus never uttered and opinion, ha ha ha, He never guessed. He didn’t give us sound wisdom or keen observation like Solomon. Not at all, Jesus’ words are the essence of truth and when we adhere and follow them intently, we become stronger, healthier and joyful. Understanding that Christ overcame the world and for YOU and every other resident of Joy City, this brings great rejoicing. 

Our goal in Joy City is GOD! Yes, God and our relationship with Him and how to maintain that relationship. It’s not about happy or sad, it’s about not allowing our situations and circumstances to determine our relationship with the Lord. The Apostle Paul reminds us in the challenges of the times, “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as having nothing yet possessing all things.” So if YOU want to make a huge difference in your circle of influence or the people you come in contact with daily, THINK ON THESE THINGS….and those people will always want you around, they will always be excited to hear from YOU and this will give YOU the chance to change a life. 

I’m joined today by my co-host John Cunningham as we discuss the war in Ukraine, the death of a mother & father just weeks apart, the loss of colleagues and the challenges that are facing so many and how to combat them with the Word of our God. 

In John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples and one important part of that prayer is when He says, “…so that they may have the FULL measure of My joy within them…” You see, Jesus is saying that in the midst of struggle, hardship and impending martyrdoom, they can have JOY within them, because they have Him. 

The Apostle Paul speaks similarly when he says, “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing and as having nothing, yet possessing all things.” 

Be blessed Beloved. 

I’ve enjoyed being your host and you can comment below, or email me at pastorstuart@lifeconnection4christ.org or call me at (209) 522-3583.