Ladies Worship Night

Rest... It's not just attainable, it's a promise found in the presence of God. Life can get pretty hectic and you need a retreat to the heart of God. Enjoy a brief teaching from Sarah Turner followed by worship focused on Jesus and the rest He has for you. Join us Sunday January 29th 7pm at 9100 Olmsted Dr.

Next Foundations

Foundations are important. Every beautiful building sits on a foundation that is not seen, but is vital to supporting what is seen. Trying to build without a solid foundation is a recipe for disaster. Your life is no different. You are building your life foundation decision by decision. Make sure your are building on the right foundation. This Sunday @BranchChurch we go over the foundations that will help you fulfill what's next.

• You will never fulfill your “NEXT” without a personal relationship with the risen Jesus.
• You will never fulfill your “NEXT” without the power of the Holy Spirit.
• You will never fulfill your “NEXT” without passionate patience.
• You will never fulfill your “NEXT” without a revelation of the Father’s love.
• You will never fulfill your “NEXT” without the Word of God and other people.

Listen online @BranchChurch or download the podcast on iTunes.

Next Prayer

This Sunday at the Branch we asked people to fill out cards to let us know what they are believing for in 2012. Today we added our "yes" of agreement in prayer over each and every person. Keep em coming Branch... We believe our prayers make tremendous power available for you to see breakthrough in every area of your life!

What's Next

What’s next for you? Will you seize the opportunities that come your way this year or will you find yourself in the same place in 2013? There is a path that God has for you to travel on this year. It’s a good path full of His blessing, but you have to be in the right position to find it. This path is not hidden from you, it’s hidden FOR you. You’ll find it in the Heart of God and it will cause your heart to skip a beat. How do you position yourself to get on God’s path for what’s next? It will require Passion, Sacrifice and Prayer.

"I would rather train twenty men to pray, than a thousand to preach; A minister's highest mission ought to be to teach his people to pray." -H. MacGregor

Looking forward to sharing this teaching Sunday @BranchChurch. And join us Sunday night for Second Sunday Prayer.

Simple Honest Prayer

This morning my wake up call came at 5AM via my beeping watch (I just realized that statement can be taken two ways). My watch actually beeps, but that's exactly how it felt so I stand by both meanings. I was getting used to the Christmas/New Year's break where you forget what day it is. But not today! It's back to school for my girls and back to work for me and Sarah. I have a set routine for my mornings that includes Bible reading and prayer as well as other less spiritual activities. Something was different today. I decided to kneel and pray. The act of kneeling provoked a real reverence and simplicity that I haven't felt in a while. The result was one of the most honest, heartfelt prayers I can remember. I'm not saying that my prayers are not usually honest and heartfelt, but there was just something about dropping to my knees on a dark, cold morning to talk to God. I sensed His Grace in a very powerful way. Later, I read this scripture...

Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His Grace. Matthew 6:6 The Message 

I pray that you will sense God's Grace in a greater way this year!

Strip Down 2012

The life of Faith as described in Hebrews chapter 11 focuses on many great examples like Noah, Abraham and Moses. But Hebrews chapter 12 gets a little more personal by saying these chapter 11 "Witnesses" should spur us to "strip off" things that slow us down and trip us up. Things like sin and selfishness. These weights are are like a heavy backpack on a marathon runner or rubber boots on an Olympic swimmer. The Bible is clear that it's up to us to drop the backpack and the boots. The problem is that this task is impossible on your own. It seems like the harder you try the wearier you get. The good news is that the solution is found in the next few verses.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. Hebrews 12:2-4

Faith pleases God and faith is required to live this life. But don't use your faith to get rid of the weight and sin. Use your faith to see the sinless life of Jesus. Keep your eyes on His sacrifice and the beauty of His love for you. This is the way to get rid of the backpack and boots. Strip down in 2012.

From... To...

From New Years Day 2009...

 To New Years Day 2012...

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13

Branch Kids Christmas Video

We shared this video at the Branch Christmas Eve service. Enjoy!

Peace On, Peace In, Peace Out

Because of Jesus, Sarah and I truly enjoy Peace in our family. This Christmas Eve we will be sharing that Peace with you. Let the Peace of God be your best gift this year!

Branch Family Church


Christmas Eve

Get Planted

Christmas is a time for celebration - Peace came to Earth!

Isaiah 9:6 NLT - For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:14 NKJV - Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

The gift of Peace came wrapped in an unexpected package. God’s amazing plan to establish peace with us began in His heart and culminated in the birth of a tiny baby. Once that gift was in the earth nothing could stop the Peace of God from accomplishing the greatest miracle in all creation. 

Grow Strong

Christmas is a time for hope - Peace fills your life!

Romans 15:13 NLT - I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:27 NLT - I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Isaiah 26:3 NLT - You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Philippians 4:6-9 NLT - Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise... Then the God of peace will be with you.

Branch Out

Christmas is a time for reconciliation - Peace is your mission!

Matthew 5:9 Amplified - Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous-- with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God!

2 Corinthians 5:19 NLT - For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

Peace Came

The gift of Peace came wrapped in an unexpected package. God’s amazing plan to establish peace with us began in His heart and culminated in the birth of a tiny baby. Once that gift was in the earth nothing could stop the Peace of God from accomplishing the greatest miracle in all creation.

 Join us Christmas Eve for a very special one hour service to celebrate Peace on earth.

 Festivities begin promptly at 3pm. Refreshments follow. Check BranchChurch for more info.

 Merry Christmas! Pastor Derek