EastLake Church Chula Vista

When was the last time something left you in awe?In the final week of Pray First... and Always, Pastor Kevin McPeak explores the fourth simple prayer: Wow. Sometimes we experience something so beautiful, powerful, or unexpected that words fail us. All we can say is, “Wow.” And that sense of marvel and wonder can become a prayer. Through Psalm 8, we discover that we can marvel at who God is, what God has done, why God cares for us, and what God will do. Creation points us toward His glory, but even more remarkable is that the God who created everything knows us, loves us, and allows us to know Him personally. Even when life doesn’t feel worthy of a “wow,” we can hold onto the promise that the way things are is not the way things will always be. Revelation 21 gives us a picture of the day when God will make all things new, wiping away every tear and bringing an end to death, mourning, crying, and pain. Prayer isn’t only about asking God for help, thanking Him, or confessing our sins. Sometimes prayer is simply stopping long enough to recognize how great God is and respond with wonder: Wow.#EastLakeChurch #PrayFirst #PrayFirstAndAlways #Prayer #Worship #Wonder #Faith #Jesus #Christianity

In week two of Pray First… and Always, Pastor James Grogan continues our journey through four simple prayers: Help, Thanks, Sorry, and Wow. This week, we focus on THANKS and discover one of the biggest obstacles to gratitude: entitlement. The mindsets of “I want it now” and “I deserve more” can quietly rob us of joy and keep us from recognizing what God has already given us.Through Jesus’ story of the prodigal son and Paul’s words in Philippians 4, we learn that contentment isn’t something we either have or don’t have. It’s a path we can practice. We may not be thankful for every circumstance we face, but we can learn to give thanks to God in every circumstance, trusting that He is present and at work even in difficult seasons.Gratitude also means being quick to turn every blessing back into praise. Instead of taking the credit for what we have, we can recognize God’s faithfulness, live with open hands, and continually respond with thanks.When Jesus healed ten men with leprosy, only one came back to thank Him. The challenge for us is simple: Be the one. Be the one who keeps coming back to Jesus with gratitude for His love, His grace, and His faithfulness.

What if prayer didn’t have to be complicated? Sometimes we don’t have the perfect words, or even many words at all. Sometimes all we can say is, “Help.”In week one of Pray First... and Always, Pastor Hosanna Wong reminds us that the way we see God shapes the way we speak to God. Throughout this series, we’re using four simple words to help us grow in prayer: HELP, THANKS, SORRY, and WOW. We begin with HELP, learning that God invites us to bring Him specific needs through prayers of petition and to carry the needs of others through prayers of intercession. Through the story of the blind man calling out to Jesus in Luke 18, we see that we can come honestly and specifically to God with what we need. And even when His answer doesn’t look exactly like the outcome we hoped for, we can trust His character and continue bringing Him the desires of our hearts. We’re also called to pray for one another, carrying each other’s burdens and allowing others to help carry ours. Prayer isn’t about having the right words. It’s about knowing the God we’re talking to, a God who hears us, loves us, and loves to help. This week, wherever you find yourself, try starting with one simple prayer: God, help me. God, help them.

Every story has an ending, but the ending often reveals what the story was really about all along. As we conclude God Intended It For Good, Pastor James Grogan looks at the final chapter of Joseph's life and uncovers the truth that carried him through betrayal, suffering, success, and restoration. Joseph's story reminds us that unresolved guilt can distort our view of God's grace, but God's forgiveness is complete through Jesus. We also discover Joseph's "secret sauce": trusting that God is in control, believing He can use even painful circumstances for good, and living to help others through what we've experienced. Finally, Joseph challenges us to finish well by holding onto God's promises, even when we don't see their fulfillment in our lifetime. Whether you're walking through a season of waiting, carrying the weight of past mistakes, or wondering if God is still at work in your story, this message is a powerful reminder that He is faithful to every promise and is still working all things together for good.

Forgiveness can be one of the hardest parts of following Jesus, especially when the wound is deep or the person we need to forgive is ourselves. In Week 6 of God Intended It For Good, Jake Vayda looks at Joseph’s reunion with the brothers who betrayed him and how forgiveness changed who held the power in his story.Through Joseph’s example, we discover that our wounds don’t have the power to define us, our offenders don’t have the power to write our ending, and revenge doesn’t have the power to direct our response. Forgiveness doesn’t erase what happened, but through Jesus, it can free us from allowing what happened to control what comes next.

What happens when the past you've tried to leave behind suddenly shows up right in front of you?In week 5 of our God Intended It For Good series, Karla Sanchez-Renfro continues Joseph's story through Genesis 42-44, where years after being betrayed by his brothers, Joseph comes face-to-face with them again. The famine that brought them to Egypt also forces this broken family to confront decades of pain, guilt, and unresolved hurt.Rather than rushing to reconciliation, Joseph carefully tests his brothers, looking for evidence that they have truly changed. Along the way, we see a powerful picture of what healing actually requires—not pretending the past never happened, but facing it with honesty, wisdom, and God's grace.This message explores four important lessons for navigating broken relationships:• Relational damage from the past shows up in the present.Unresolved wounds don't simply disappear. God invites us to acknowledge what's broken instead of pretending it isn't there.• Be open and wise while looking for evidence of growth.Forgiveness and trust are not the same thing. Healthy relationships require both compassion and discernment.• Face the truth and take ownership.Real healing begins when we stop shifting blame and honestly acknowledge our part in the story.• Demonstrate change.Repentance is more than feeling sorry. It's allowing God to transform our hearts so our actions begin to reflect genuine growth.Ultimately, Joseph's story reminds us that God's grace doesn't just forgive our past—it restores what has been broken. As we bring our wounds, failures, and relationships before Him, He continues His work of healing us from the inside out.Whether you're carrying pain from your past, rebuilding trust, or learning what it means to grow, this message offers hope that God is still at work in your story.If this message encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could use this reminder of God's restoring grace.

What if the season you're trying to escape is actually the place where God is preparing you?In week 4 of our God Intended It For Good series, Chris Muller-Tabaneras walks through Genesis 41, where Joseph's story takes a dramatic turn from prison to the palace. But beneath the incredible promotion is a much deeper story about God's presence, wisdom, and purpose.After years of betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and prison, Joseph is finally called before Pharaoh to interpret a troubling dream. In a single day, he goes from forgotten prisoner to second-in-command over all of Egypt. Yet this isn't simply a story of overnight success. It's the story of a God who faithfully prepares His people long before He promotes them.This message explores four powerful truths from Joseph's life:• God is present in the prison.Even when life feels stalled, God hasn't forgotten you. He is often doing His deepest work in seasons of waiting and hardship.• God provides wisdom in the moment.Joseph refused to take credit for what only God could do. Instead, he trusted God to provide both the interpretation and the wisdom to respond.• God positions His people for His purposes.Joseph's promotion wasn't the destination. It was a new assignment. God places us where we are so we can faithfully serve His greater mission.• God blesses many through one.The blessings God gives us are never meant to stop with us. Like Joseph, we're called to become channels of God's provision, hope, and grace to others.Ultimately, Joseph's story points beyond himself to Jesus, the true Bread of Life. Just as people came to Joseph for food during a famine, we come to Christ for the life that only He can give.If you're wondering why God has you in your current season, this message is an invitation to trust that His presence is with you, His wisdom is available to you, and His purpose is bigger than you can currently see.If this message encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs hope today.

What do you do when life feels like it's going in circles? When your prayers seem unanswered, your circumstances won't change, and you're left wondering if God has forgotten you.In week 3 of our God Intended It For Good series, Kristian Mendoza and Judy Otero continue the story of Joseph in Genesis 40. Wrongfully imprisoned and forgotten by the very person who promised to help him, Joseph finds himself in a long season of waiting. Yet even there, God is still at work.This message explores how we can remain faithful when we're stuck between where we are and where we hoped we'd be.You'll discover three practices for waiting well:• Move from self-focused to servant-focused.Even after years in prison, Joseph noticed the needs of others. Waiting doesn't have to stop us from serving the people God has placed around us.• Move from self-reliant to God-reliant.Joseph trusted God more than his own understanding, relying on God's wisdom even when the future remained uncertain.• Move from trying to change your circumstances to allowing God to build your character.The waiting wasn't wasted. God was preparing Joseph long before He promoted him.Whether you're waiting for healing, restoration, direction, a breakthrough, or an answered prayer, this message is a reminder that God's presence doesn't disappear in the waiting. He is still working, even when you can't yet see it.One of the most powerful truths from Joseph's story is this:Forgotten by people does not mean forgotten by God.If you're in a difficult season, don't give up. God may be doing His deepest work in the very place you feel stuck.If this message encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs hope while they wait.