HOPE Restoration Ministries

09/04/2026

BECOMING AN OVERCOMER

When God Starts Working on You

I’ve really been thinking about starting a podcast or doing some live videos where we can just talk about the real stuff, becoming an overcomer through the Lord Jesus Christ, walking in freedom from the things that once had us bound, and being transparent about what that journey actually looks like.

Because I’m going to tell you right now: I do not have it all together.

I’m a preacher. I love Jesus. I want to help people. I want to reach into somebody’s darkness and help pull them toward the light.

But that doesn’t mean I’m immune from life.

It doesn’t mean I never struggle.

It doesn’t mean my flesh never rises up.

It doesn’t mean the enemy never puts temptation in front of me.

And it certainly doesn’t mean I’ve perfectly learned how to die to my flesh every single day.

I am still a work in progress.

I think sometimes preachers and pastors are afraid to talk about this stuff because somebody might look at them and say, “Oh my goodness! I thought he was a preacher!”

Well, I am.

But being called by God doesn’t mean I’ve arrived. It means God is still working on me while He uses me to help somebody else.

Paul said,

“I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31

There have been times when I’m trying my best to help somebody else out of their darkness while finding myself fighting a battle of my own.

There have been moments when God has provided a way of escape at what seemed like the very last second, and afterward I’ve had to look at myself and say,

“God, why did I even allow myself to get that close? Why did I put myself in a position where I could have fallen?”

“God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able… but will with the temptation also make a way to escape.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

But here’s where growth begins.

It isn’t enough for me to thank God for the escape. I need to let God deal with whatever was inside of me that allowed me to get into that position in the first place.

God, search my heart.

Why was I attracted to it?

Why did I entertain it?

Why did I get that close?

What is still living inside of me that You are trying to remove?

Because if something in my life can hurt somebody else, damage my testimony, interfere with my calling, or pull me away from Jesus, then I need to be willing to put it on the altar.

David prayed,

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” Psalm 139:23

We say, “Jesus, I want to be closer to You.”

We say, “Jesus, make me more like You.”

We say, “God, use my life.”

But what happens when Jesus starts answering that prayer?

What happens when He shines His light into the places we’ve kept hidden?

What happens when He starts showing us the pride, lust, anger, bitterness, selfishness, unforgiveness, or desires of the flesh that are still hanging around?

Do we defend them?

Do we make excuses?

Or do we finally say:

“Oh my goodness, Lord—take it. I don’t want anything inside of me that keeps me from becoming who You’ve called me to be.”

That’s part of becoming an overcomer.

An overcomer isn’t somebody who never struggles.

An overcomer isn’t somebody who never gets tempted.

An overcomer isn’t somebody who has never made a terrible decision.

An overcomer is somebody who keeps surrendering those places to Jesus and refuses to let yesterday’s bo***ge become tomorrow’s identity.

Jesus said,

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

So maybe this podcast isn’t going to be about people who have everything figured out.

Maybe it’s for the broken.

Maybe it’s for the recovering addict.

Maybe it’s for the preacher who’s struggling behind the pulpit.

Maybe it’s for the person who loves Jesus but is fighting something they’re ashamed to tell anybody about.

Maybe it’s for somebody who fell yesterday and is wondering whether God can still use them tomorrow.

I want you to know something:

Jesus is still working.

Don’t hide from what He’s showing you.

Don’t run from conviction.

Don’t mistake conviction for rejection.

Bring it to Him.

Let Him expose it.

Let Him remove it.

Let Him rebuild you.

And when He gives you that way of escape, TAKE IT.

Then turn around and ask Him to change your heart so deeply that the next time that same door opens, you don’t even want to walk through it.

That’s freedom.

That’s growth.

That’s sanctification.

That’s becoming an overcomer.

And that’s the kind of real conversation I believe we need to start having.

09/04/2026

08/27/2026

I thank the Lord that I woke up this morning with Him on my mind, ready to stay focused, motivated, and keep moving forward in God.

It doesn’t matter how things look. It doesn’t matter how they feel. And it doesn’t matter how other people portray you or what they may be saying about you. What matters is how we live today and what we do for Christ.

So today, let’s choose to be the example. Let’s love people, walk in integrity, extend grace, and keep our eyes on Jesus. We don’t have to defend ourselves against every opinion or respond to every voice. Just keep living for God. Keep trusting God. Keep moving forward.

When you know who you are in Christ, you don’t have to let somebody else’s opinion determine your direction. Stay faithful to what God has called you to do and trust Him with the rest.

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

Keep going. Keep believing. Keep your heart right. God has your back, and what He has for you is greater than anything behind you.

08/22/2026

Thank God that He doesn’t see us only for who we have been, He sees us for who we can become. He sees beyond our failures, beyond our mistakes, and beyond every broken place in our past.

Where others may see our history, God sees our purpose. Where we see weakness, He sees potential. I’m grateful that our past doesn’t get the final say, God does!

And thank You, God, for Your purpose! Even when it seemed like there was no hope and no way out, Your purpose was still working. When we couldn’t see a way forward, Your purpose manifested itself and brought us out!

What looked like it was going to destroy us became part of the testimony You would use to reveal Your glory. You had a purpose in the pain, a purpose in the struggle, and a purpose even in the places where we thought it was over.

Thank You, Jesus, that You are still shaping us, growing us, and calling us into everything You created us to become.

There was a way out. There was still hope. There was still purpose, because You were there the whole time!

08/10/2026

WE ARE EXCITED FOR THIS SATURDAY!
Hope Restoration Ministries!

We are coming together expecting God to show up and have His way like He always does!

This Saturday, we are blessed to have Kristen Bridgham from ChyAnne’s Heart Prayer Ministries sharing her testimony, and I’m telling you, this is one you do NOT want to miss!

Come expecting. Come believing. Come just as you are.

Bring your struggles.
Bring your burdens.
Bring the things you’ve been fighting in silence.
Bring it all to the altar and leave it there.

There is nothing too broken that God cannot restore, nothing too heavy that He cannot carry, and no situation too impossible for Him to turn around!

We’re not looking for just another service, we’re expecting a MOVE OF GOD!

Come ready to worship. Come ready to surrender. Come ready to watch God do the miraculous in your life!

We hope to see you this Saturday!

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37

08/07/2026

DON’T MISS THIS SATURDAY!

We’re in for a TREAT! Come out expecting a move of God and believing that He is going to meet you right where you are.

Whatever you’re facing, whatever you’ve been praying about, whatever you need bring it to Jesus. Come expecting, come believing, and come ready to worship!

God is still healing.
God is still restoring.
God is still delivering.
God is still setting people free!

With God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

Don’t just come looking for a moment, come expecting a MOVEMENT that can transform your life!

“With God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Come expecting. Come believing. Come ready for God to MOVE!

08/03/2026

YOUR WORSHIP CHANGES THE ATMOSPHERE

I’ve been saying this for a while now: sometimes we’re waiting on God to move, while God is waiting on us to step out in faith.

I tell my team all the time, STEP INTO THE RIVER!

Begin to worship God.
Begin to praise Him.
Begin to thank Him.
Begin to lift His name above the situation.

Don’t just thank God for what you can already see, thank Him for what you can’t see yet! Thank Him for the doors He’s preparing. Thank Him for the breakthrough that hasn’t manifested yet. Thank Him because even when you can’t see His hand, you can still trust His heart.

There is something powerful that happens when we stop magnifying the storm and start magnifying the One who has authority over the storm.

Paul and Silas didn’t wait until the prison doors opened to praise God. They praised Him while they were still in chains! And as they prayed and sang praises, suddenly there was an earthquake, the foundations were shaken, the doors opened, and the chains came loose!
Acts 16:25–26

THE PRAISE CAME BEFORE THE BREAKTHROUGH!

So if you’re in a storm today, worship in the storm.

If you’re waiting on an answer, worship while you wait.

If you’re walking through uncertainty, praise Him before you see the outcome.

If everything around you looks impossible, lift your hands anyway and declare, “God, I still trust You!”

Worship doesn’t manipulate God or force His hand, worship aligns our hearts with Him. It shifts our attention from the size of our problem to the greatness of our God.

Sometimes we keep asking, “God, when are You going to move?”

And maybe the invitation is: “Will you worship Me right where you are?”

Stop waiting for the storm to cease before you praise Him.

PRAISE HIM IN THE WIND.
WORSHIP HIM IN THE RAIN.
THANK HIM IN THE WAITING.
TRUST HIM IN THE UNKNOWN.

Because your God is still God in the middle of the storm.

You want to see God move? Worship Him with everything that is within you!

Not because worship guarantees that God will do exactly what you want, but because worship declares:

“God, whether the storm stops today or not, You are still worthy. Whether I see the breakthrough yet or not, You are still faithful. And I will praise You before I ever see the answer!”

DON’T WAIT FOR THE BREAKTHROUGH TO WORSHIP, WORSHIP WHILE YOU’RE WAITING FOR THE BREAKTHROUGH!

08/02/2026

What a GREAT night of worship!

Such a powerful move of God! You can never go wrong when you trust God, listen for His voice, and move when He says move. When we surrender our plans and allow Him to have His way, He always shows up!

Thank You, Jesus, for Your presence tonight. Thank you for the powerful testimony that was shared and for the reminder that God is still changing lives, restoring hearts, breaking chains, and fulfilling His purpose.

Sometimes we may not understand what God is doing, but we can trust that His plan and His purpose are always moving forward.

Tonight was another reminder: when God says move we MOVE. When God says trust we TRUST. When God says wait we WAIT.

His timing is perfect. His presence is powerful. And His plan is greater than anything we could ever put together ourselves.

God is moving. God is showing up. And the best is still ahead!

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!

07/28/2026

Don’t miss this Saturday!

Join us for an incredible night of passionate worship, followed by a powerful testimony and an opportunity to experience the life changing presence of God.

Come expecting God to move in a mighty way. Bring your family, invite your friends, and don’t miss what God has in store. We can’t wait to worship with you!

May God touch hearts, change lives, and remind us all that one encounter with Jesus can change everything. We hope to see you there!