My name is Joseph Wienen, and I'm from Georgetown Texas. I'm a college student at UNT so I'm either living in an apartment in Denton or in my hometown during breaks. One hobby I wish I was good at would be two-stepping. I love to do it with my friends up in Denton but I not too good at it beyond some basics. My icebreaker question is: What's the dumbest/funniest injury you've gotten?

"Sometimes the hardest step of faith is letting go of old versions of ourselves" really stuck out to me. It's something I've been struggling with recently. Because of what happened to me when I was a kid, I often wonder about who I would've grown up to be if I had a different upbringing. My entire personality changed after that and I haven't been completely the same since and it makes me upset sometimes. I'm working on letting that go though, because God has already renewed me! I'm exactly who He wants me to be because my identity is in Him and not the things I've been through, so there's nothing to wonder about anymore!

Hey everyone, this is HUGE news!! I will be getting our FIRST EVER MONTHLY GUEST soon! Before I reach out though, I need to figure out a day that works best with people's schedules. I was shooting to have this guest some time in January. Please select which days would work best with you!

Today’s teaching is a great reminder that we aren’t alone! He is always guiding us right here and right now! I sometimes forget to truly sit on each and every word of God and understand what true impact every word has! Jesus is a Good Shepherd right here with us all right now! Thank God for that amazing blessing! This topic reminds me of a podcast I listened to with Wendy Backlund where she compared God to a GPS! When you make a wrong turn GPS doesn’t just say oops can’t get you to your destination, it reroutes us! This makes me think God is constantly working through our mistakes and when we fall off the path He has for us, He doesn’t just leave us. He helps us reroute and get back on track! This reminder of Jesus being our shepherd gives me the faith of him being right here right now and helping me reroute every time I step off track! Do you feel like this connection of God being like a GPS resonates with you?

(TW) I grew up in a Christian household. I went to church every Wednesday and Sunday, was on the worship team, volunteered for Fall Fest and VBS every year, I was on the media team, went to youth conferences, and I helped the children’s pastor and the nursery when needed. But I wasn’t saved. When I was 8 years old something happened to me that tore me away from the Lord for a long time. My cousin, the pastor’s son, raped me. He was living with us at the time, for about 6 months, and that season of my life was full of fear and pain. Then, another cousin of mine raped me at age 10. I never spoke up until I was 14 and no one believed me. So my anger towards God only grew stronger. By 17 I was diagnosed with MDD, Anxiety Disorder, Anorexia, and Insomnia. I self-harmed and tried to kill myself. When I was a senior in HS, I was under 80lbs and would pass out sometimes. I was prescribed anti-depressants but they didn’t work, and the side effects made everything worse. I knew then that my situation was hopeless and that God was the only thing that could save me. One night I was crying after another failed attempt and God’s presence filled my room. I wasn’t praying- I wasn’t even seeking God at all. But He still showed up for me. I was laying in bed, facing the wall, and I could feel something as if someone were physically holding me in their arms. Everything calmed down and that peaceful feeling stayed until I fell asleep. Years later, at 21, I was finally seeking God with all my heart. One night as I was worshipping in my dorm, and I felt God’s presence. The next morning I went to Chapel. There was an altar call and I felt a tug so I went and I got on my knees, praying to God that one day I’ll feel okay again. That He would make a way. Then a woman came and prayed for me. I didn’t know her, but she called out my depression and anxiety and rebuked it in Jesus’ name. At that moment I felt like I needed to physically surrender, so I placed my hands on the ground. Immediately I felt a heavy weight lifted off my shoulders that I didn’t know was there. I was filled with the Spirit. God spoke to me: “You’re made new because you put your faith in Me alone.” I was also given the spiritual gift of healing that day. Since then I have never struggled with feelings of depression or anxiety; I have not harmed myself or even thought about ending my life.