But God: A Love Demonstrated in Real Time

Easter at Seaside Chapel wasn’t just about tradition or song. It was a reminder. A shift. A holy interruption from heaven in the middle of our mess. Pastor Jerry didn’t come with a big presentation. He came with something better, a powerful simplicity rooted in Romans 5.

“While we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… But God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:6-8

These words hit differently when you realize just how powerless we are all without Him. We live in a culture obsessed with self-sufficiency. We pride ourselves on hustle and fixing our own problems. But when it comes to the brokenness in our souls, we can’t patch that up with ambition.

And that’s exactly where God steps in: not when we’ve cleaned ourselves up, but when we’re still a mess.

That phrase, “But God”, changes everything.

Pastor Jerry reminded us that Easter isn’t just a day we dress up. It’s the day history turned. It’s the moment when God’s love became more than a promise – it became a demonstration. Jesus didn’t die for us at our best; he died for us at our worst.

He didn’t just talk about love. He lived it. He bled it. He gave it.

We heard the story of the “bummer lamb”, a lamb rejected by its mother and left to die, unless the shepherd steps in. And that’s exactly what happens. The shepherd picks it up, takes it home, feeds it, nurtures it, and over time, the lamb knows that voice better than any other. When the shepherd calls, the bummer lamb is always the first to come running.

That’s you. That’s me.

We’re not too broken. We’re not too late. We’re not too far.

This Easter, we didn’t just celebrate a resurrection. We remembered that we are the ones He died and rose for. The cross wasn’t the end of the story. The tomb didn’t stay shut. And your story? It doesn’t have to stay stuck.

Because at just the right time, Jesus came. Jesus died. Jesus rose. And Jesus still saves.

So, maybe you’re in a dry season right now. Maybe you’ve got things buried that need to come back to life. Or maybe you’re like that lamb, rejected, alone, unsure of your worth.

Just listen. The Shepherd is calling. And when you know His voice, you can run to it.

Let this be your “But God” moment.

When All You See Are Bones: Why God’s Not Done Yet

There are moments in life where everything feels… dead. Your passion. Your plans. That relationship you prayed for. The spiritual fire you once had. Gone.

That’s where Ezekiel found himself in Ezekiel 37. Standing in a valley filled with dry bones – an image of God’s people who had lost their hope, lost their strength, and stopped believing for more.

But God asks Ezekiel a powerful question:
“Can these bones live again?”

Most of us would look at a pile of lifeless bones and say, “Absolutely not.” But Ezekiel’s answer is one of quiet faith: “Lord, only You know.”

And from that posture of trust, God gives Ezekiel an assignment:
“Prophesy to the bones.”

Speak to the situation, not about it. Stop rehearsing the problem and start declaring the promise.

And when Ezekiel does? Something happens. There’s a noise. A rattling. Things start moving.

But here’s what we often miss: the first word Ezekiel speaks brings structure, but not life. He has to speak again. He has to prophesy to the breath.

Sometimes we speak once and assume it didn’t work. But God might be inviting us to speak again. To try again. To believe again. There’s a process in resurrection.

What this teaches us is simple: We don’t get to control the outcome, but we do control the obedience. And obedience often sounds like declaring God’s Word, even when it doesn’t make sense.

Jesus Himself modeled this when He stood before Lazarus’s tomb. He didn’t panic. He didn’t pray a long-winded sermon. He simply spoke: “Lazarus, come forth.” And the dead man walked out.

So the real question today is not “Can God do it?” but rather, “Will we speak when He says speak?”

Maybe you’ve already buried something God’s not done with yet. Maybe it’s your calling. Maybe it’s your marriage. Maybe it’s your belief that things can change.

But if God is still speaking, and He is, then your role is to prophesy His Word over your bones. Because God still breathes life into what the world says is dead.

Let your voice echo His Word. And watch what rattles back to life.

Why You Need a Rhema Word Right Now

If you’ve ever been hangry, you know what it’s like to make bad decisions on an empty stomach. The same is true spiritually; many of us are starving and don’t even realize it. In this week’s powerful message at Seaside Chapel, Pastor Jerry delivered a timely reminder from Matthew 4:4:

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

Jesus had just fasted 40 days in the wilderness and was being tempted by Satan. His response wasn’t emotional or opinionated. He didn’t post on social media or vent to a friend. He simply said, “It is written.”

This verse introduces us to two powerful concepts: the Logos and the Rhema. Logos refers to the complete written Word of God. It’s the full counsel of Scripture. Rhema, however, is that right now, in-the-moment, fresh-from-God’s-mouth kind of word. It’s what gives you a supernatural perspective in the middle of earthly chaos.

And here’s the truth: just like our physical bodies need daily meals, our spirits desperately need daily Rhema.

Too often, we’re walking through life spiritually malnourished. We show up on Sunday, take in a sermon, and expect that one meal to last us all week. Then we wonder why we’re anxious, confused, or angry midweek. It’s because we’re running on empty.

Pastor illustrated this beautifully: life is made up of moments that create momentum, which then build experiences, and those experiences shape our lives. If we don’t speak God’s word into our moments, our flesh will start speaking from pain, fear, or the past, and those words have the power to pull us backward.

But there’s good news: one word from God can change your momentum. Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”, and that word is Rhema.

You might be reading this after receiving bad news, dealing with doubt, or feeling spiritually dry. Maybe your momentum has been heading in the wrong direction for too long. But it’s never too late to pivot. God’s not finished with your story. In fact, He’s already written it in full – Heaven is complete. Earth is just catching up. Your job is to start aligning your words, faith, and thoughts with what’s already been finished.

So what do you do?

  • Get in the Word daily. Don’t wait for a storm to start eating.
  • Ask God, “What are you saying to me right now?”
  • Pay attention to what stirs your spirit, not just your emotions.
  • Write it down. Speak it out. Build momentum.

Your spiritual strength tomorrow depends on the word you receive today. Feed your spirit. Starve your fear. And watch what happens when your momentum shifts from the pit to the promise.