Dwelling Place Anaheim

This week we begin our journey toward our Thanksgiving Offering — a sacred moment to open our hearts wider and let compassion rise.   When government systems pause, compassion must not. Because compassion was never meant to depend on a program — it was meant to flow through people. When compassion is only structural, it can be stopped. But when compassion becomes personal, it's unstoppable.   Isaiah 61 reminds us that the Spirit of the Lord is upon us — to bring good news to the poor, healing to the brokenhearted, and freedom to the captive. God's compassion isn't something we run; it's something we carry. It doesn't start with a pantry or a program — it starts with a person. It begins with the Spirit of God resting on a son or daughter willing to be moved by His heart.   This is the Way of Compassion: Spirit-filled compassion. Spontaneous compassion. Sustained compassion.   In this season, God is building not just a people who serve, but a house of priests — sons and daughters marked by mercy, ministers of His presence in ordinary places.   Because for us, the poor are not our projects; they are our partners. The rescued become rescuers. And every act of compassion becomes an altar — a place where heaven touches earth.   The Divine Dream is a Dwelling Place — a House of ministers before God. His House filled with His Presence. His Presence upon His People.

What if the person you refuse to forgive is the very thing keeping you from freedom? In this week's message from our Good News for Hurting Hearts series, we explore Jesus' words: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." Mercy isn't about excusing what's wrong — it's about releasing what's holding you back. Alan helps us see that resentment doesn't heal us, it hardens us. Bitterness isn't a strategy for life — it's a slow poison for the soul. Unforgiveness may feel like protection, but it closes the door on how God wants to show up for us. When we choose mercy, our hearts open again. When we forgive, we make room for God's grace to flow. As Scripture says, "With the merciful, You show Yourself merciful." (Psalm 18:25) If you've ever asked, "How do I let go?" or "Can I really forgive them?" — this is the good news: God has shown us mercy so we can live mercifully. And every time we forgive, we experience again the mercy that first found us.

What if the thing you're hiding is the very thing keeping you from healing? In this week's message from our Good News for Hurting Hearts series, we explore Jesus' words: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Purity isn't about perfection it's about honesty before God. True freedom doesn't come from covering sin but from confessing it. Alan helps us see that God cannot heal what we conceal but He can forgive what we confess. When we bring our brokenness into the light, we discover mercy. When we stop managing our image, we start experiencing His grace. Through the cross, every sin is covered, every guilt removed, every heart made new. If you've ever wondered, "Is there forgiveness for me? This is the good news: Through Jesus, forgiveness is proclaimed, and everyone who believes is set free. Learn how confession leads to cleansing, surrender leads to sight, and purity of heart leads to seeing God.

What if the very thing you're trying to control is what's keeping your soul captive? In this week's message, we continue our series Good News for Hurting Hearts by looking at Jesus' words: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." True meekness isn't weakness — it's power under God's control. It's the moment you stop striving to fix, manage, or prove — and start trusting the One who holds it all. Alan helps us discover that when we surrender control, we don't lose peace — we gain it. God strengthens those who wait, guides those who yield, and gives rest to every soul that trusts Him. If you've been exhausted from trying to manage outcomes, defend yourself, or carry what was never yours to control—hear the invitation. Learn how surrender leads to freedom, waiting leads to renewal, and meekness leads to blessing.

What do you do when life leaves your soul shattered? When grief feels unending, and the pain of the past won't let you go? In this week's message from our Good News for Hurting Hearts series, we turn to Jesus' words: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Through Isaiah 61 and Matthew 5, we discover that God doesn't restore every heart that's broken—He restores every heart that's open. His comfort isn't sentimental; it's supernatural. He draws near to the brokenhearted, breathes life into dust, and gives beauty for ashes. If you've ever felt crushed, silenced, or trapped by your trauma - learn how to stop repressing or rehearsing the pain—and start releasing it to the God who heals the shattered soul.

What do you do when your heart is crushed? When you come to the end of your rope? When life hurts more than you can bear? In this new series, Good News for Hurting Hearts, we begin with Jesus' words in Matthew 5: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The poor in spirit are those who know they're not in control — who've stopped playing God and started trusting Him. They're not hiding their pain or denying their humanity. They've come to the end of themselves, and found that God meets them there. The kingdom of God isn't for the strong, but for those who admit their weakness. It's for every heart that's hurting, tired, and ready to let go. There's good news for every hurting heart — and it begins with surrender.

Alan continues our Invested series with a message on generosity. Generosity isn't automatic—it's not the default. If we want to build bigger hearts, we have to be intentional and get trained in it. Hebrews 13:16 reminds us: "Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." In Luke 12, Jesus warns us that life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. We face two life strategies—will we store, or will we share? True generosity is purposeful—not giving when there's an appeal or out of obligation, but giving the first fruits to the Lord and seeking every opportunity to live generously. From interested to invested, take your next step in generosity today

Today, Kathryn continued our Invested series with a message called "Thankful." From Hebrews 12 and 1 Thessalonians 5, we're reminded to give thanks in all circumstances, and to let gratitude shape our language and our life together as community. Thanksgiving banishes complaint, unites us as family, and positions us for God's salvation to break in. Psalm 50:23 declares that offering thanks honors God and prepares the way for Him to reveal His salvation. Gratitude isn't just a response—it's a step of faith that makes room for the kingdom that cannot be shaken. Take your next step today, and join us as we learn what it means to live fully invested—in community, as community, with thankful hearts.

This week, Alan and Kathryn continue our new series on 'Invested' and share on the theme of Worship and Prayer. Worship is all about Jesus—it's not about what we get, but what we give. We give Him our best, and we give it fresh. We don't hold anything back, and we don't let anything get in the way. Worship is meant to be steeped in praise, not stuck in ritual. Hebrews 13 reminds us: "Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God", True worship means going "outside the camp" with Jesus, bearing His reproach and offering Him everything. Isaiah echoes this call: "Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise from the ends of the earth". As we give ourselves in worship and prayer, we align our hearts with His Kingdom and prepare room for the new things He wants to do.