Menu

Pastor Josh Baird

About Pastor Josh Baird

Josh Baird is the lead pastor of Love Church along with his wife, Brittney. He's the proud dad to one beautiful daughter, Raylee, and three sons, Roman, Judah, & Israel. A visionary leader, he's passionate about helping people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

Posts by Pastor Josh Baird:

Day 22

Day 22

, , ,

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”-82px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||12px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||||false|false”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Day22_Insta.jpg” title_text=”PJBblog_Insta” disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||8px|||” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Neue Montreal||||||||” custom_padding=”||25px|||” inline_fonts=”Ogg Medium”]

As we close out the 21 Days of Prayer, I want to encourage you to keep praying, keep trusting, and keep believing. Let these 21 days propel you into a new level of faith in your prayer life. Don’t let this be merely an event that you took part in to start the year. Let it become your new normal.

One of the most low-key, but powerful prayer verses in all of the Bible is found in Daniel chapter 10. At this point in the story, Daniel has been fasting and praying for 21 days. On the 22nd day (yes, after his 21 Days of Prayer had concluded) he had a vision. In this vision, an angelic being sent by God visits Daniel. He is terrified at first, but once he gathers himself, he begins to listen to the words that were being spoken. In Daniel 10:12, Daniel says, “Then he said to me, ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel! For from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come because of your words. However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me for 21 days, but behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I had been detained there with the kings of Persia,” (emphasis added).

Here is what you need to know today: your prayer was heard the first day you prayed it.

Did you catch that? Daniel prayed on day 1 for something that didn’t seem to come to pass during the entire 21 days. But here on day 22, God comes to tell him that his prayer from day 1 had been heard. And although Daniel might not have seen anything happening, there was heavenly activity happening the whole time. In other words, God was working even when Daniel couldn’t see it.

Here is what you need to know today: your prayer was heard the first day you prayed it. There is much activity in heaven as a result of your prayers. God is working. God is moving. God is directing. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean He isn’t doing it. God is doing more than you can see. Your prayers are working more than you know. So, don’t stop believing now. Don’t give up. You don’t know which day is going to be your “day 22”. Our job is to pray and then keep showing up. It’s God’s job to answer.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_width=”1920px” module_alignment=”center” locked=”off”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ background_color=”#ffffff” width=”100%” max_width=”1920px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” custom_padding=”51px|60px|51px|60px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”60px|40px|60px|40px|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”40px|20px|40px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)” locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.3″][et_pb_blurb title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiJCeSAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9mZiIsImxpbmtfZGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJhdXRob3JfYXJjaGl2ZSJ9fQ==@” image=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/joshbairdblog.png” image_max_width=”150px” content_max_width=”860px” image_tablet=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/joshbairdblog.png” image_phone=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ShawnBaird2.png” image_last_edited=”off|tablet” image_max_width_tablet=”150px” image_max_width_phone=”150px” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”title,content” header_font=”New Montreal Medium|600|||||||” header_text_color=”#333333″ header_font_size=”22px” header_line_height=”1.4em” body_font=”Neue Montreal||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.9em” text_orientation=”center” animation=”off” header_font_size_tablet=”18px” header_font_size_phone=”17px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” body_font_size_tablet=”15px” body_font_size_phone=”17px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_main_element=”font-weight: 400;” border_radii_image=”on|200px|200px|200px|200px” box_shadow_style_image=”preset1″ box_shadow_vertical_image=”10px” box_shadow_blur_image=”20px” box_shadow_color_image=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfYmlvIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

The Year of Redemption

The Year of Redemption

,

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-82px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||12px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px||||false|false”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/PJBblog_Insta.jpg” title_text=”PJBblog_Insta” disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||8px|||” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Neue Montreal||||||||” inline_fonts=”Ogg Medium”]

The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost…” – Joel 2:25 NLT

We stand here, at the beginning of a new year, quite different than the one we were at one year ago. I think it is safe to say that every year brings some level of change, but this past year was a once in a lifetime type of year. One of those years you wish to forget, but likely never will.  I see many people that have less this January than they had last January. Less optimism. Less patience. Less passion. Less friendships. Less finances. Less faith. In many ways, last year was a thief. It stole so much from so many. 

But, I’m grateful that last year was not the last chapter of the story. As the year turns, so does the page, and God has so much more to write! Why? Because He gives you back what has been stolen. If it was taken from you, it’s coming back to you in His timing because that is who He is. It is what He does. There are 149 instances in the Old Testament of God being a “Redeemer” of His people. And if He is a Redeemer, then we can surely expect Him to redeem the things we have lost. If it is His will for you to have it, then He will give it back to you bigger and better than it was before. That’s not just positive thinking, that’s Biblical thinking. I believe 2021 will be the year of redemption for you and your family. 

The prophet Joel writes in his book, which is a prophecy to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, about a locust plague that has ravaged the people of Judah. It has destroyed everything. It has stolen their grain and crops, which was not only their sustenance, but their livelihood as well. It was a devastating plague that left them hopeless. And in chapter 1 as Joel is describing this plague, he begins to transition his message from describing an actual plague, to a metaphorical one that has even bigger consequences: the plague of sin that was bringing the wrath of God to His people. Joel is saying, the destruction that you are experiencing physically is a parallel to the destruction you are about to experience spiritually, and all of it is a result of the sin in your life. And his solution for this problem is repentance.

As the year turns, so does the page, and God has so much more to write! Why? Because He gives you back what has been stolen.
 

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is still time. Give me your hearts.” – Joel 2:12 NLT 

He says if you turn your heart towards God, He will have mercy on you and restore what you’ve lost. God says through Joel that if they will turn to Him, He will restore all the years of harvest that the locusts have stolen.

I believe this message is a “now” message for us at the beginning of this year. I believe God is saying, “I am the God who restores the years that have been stolen, but I’m asking for one thing: turn your hearts to me.” We must realize that every bad thing that happens to us is not necessarily a direct result of a particular sin in our lives. But all bad things that happen are an overarching result of our sin, which has fractured humanity since the first sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. So, what is the solution? Repentance. Turn to Him. Turn every part of your heart to Him. Give everything over to Him. Surrender. What is His response? Restoration and redemption. He restores. He redeems. 

His job is redemption. Our job is repentance.

As we embark on a new year, let’s not try to fix everything. Don’t carry the weight of making everything better or making up for seemingly lost time. You don’t have the power to do that anyway. What you do have the power to do is surrender. What have you hidden from God? What have you held back from God? Why have you been calloused towards God or the things of God? What has caused you to pull back or turn away? As we turn the page on a year, let’s turn around in our hearts. Face Him. Run to Him. Come back to Him. He will do the rest. 

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_width=”1920px” module_alignment=”center” locked=”off”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ background_color=”#ffffff” width=”100%” max_width=”1920px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” custom_padding=”51px|60px|51px|60px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”60px|40px|60px|40px|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”40px|20px|40px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)” locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.3″][et_pb_blurb title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiJCeSAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9mZiIsImxpbmtfZGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJhdXRob3JfYXJjaGl2ZSJ9fQ==@” image=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/joshbairdblog.png” image_max_width=”150px” content_max_width=”860px” image_tablet=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/joshbairdblog.png” image_phone=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/joshbairdblog.png” image_last_edited=”on|desktop” image_max_width_tablet=”150px” image_max_width_phone=”150px” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”title,content” header_font=”New Montreal Medium|600|||||||” header_text_color=”#333333″ header_font_size=”22px” header_line_height=”1.4em” body_font=”Neue Montreal||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.9em” text_orientation=”center” animation=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”18px” header_font_size_phone=”17px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” body_font_size_tablet=”15px” body_font_size_phone=”17px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_main_element=”font-weight: 400;” border_radii_image=”on|200px|200px|200px|200px” box_shadow_style_image=”preset1″ box_shadow_vertical_image=”10px” box_shadow_blur_image=”20px” box_shadow_color_image=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)” sticky_enabled=”0″ title_text=”joshbairdblog”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfYmlvIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

NameChangeBlog_1920x1080

The Story Behind Love Church’s Name Change

,

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-82px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||12px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px||||false|false”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NameChangeBlogInsta.jpg” disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||8px|||” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Neue Montreal||||||||” inline_fonts=”Ogg Medium”]

A couple of years ago, God started speaking to me about a new name for our church. I remember doing what I always do when God is speaking something big – go talk to my wife. I jokingly say that I get Brittney confused with the Holy Spirit sometimes, because she is so wise, decisive, and discerning in the midst of important decisions. We both immediately felt like God was confirming that we should change the name of our church sometime in the near future, but we didn’t feel like it was the right time. We decided we would just put the name change idea on the “back burner” and wait until we felt God show us the right time to do it. 

In the meantime, we started to talk about what the new name would be. I will never forget the very first idea that ever came out of my mouth. It was in a conversation we were having in the car. I reminded Brittney of one of my all-time favorite verses, John 13:35, where Jesus says, “This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples – when they see the LOVE you have for each other”. I vividly remember turning to her and saying, “I mean, the best church name of all time would be Love Church, but I don’t think we could ever name it that”. Brittney said, “Why not?”

In the following months, we spent countless hours trying to think of reasons why “Love Church” would not work and tried to think of better names. Not because we didn’t like the name, but because we wanted to be thoroughly convinced and at peace that we had made the right decision. I assembled a small team of people that met throughout the spring and summer of 2019 to help with vetting the new name. As time went on, “Love Church” became the name that we couldn’t get rid of. Every time someone thought of a reason that it wasn’t a good name, there was an even better counter argument in support of it. Love is the central theme of the Bible, of the Gospel, of God Himself. The name is a simple, powerful, and accurate representation of who God is and who we are called to be. So finally, we stopped the searching and vetting: it was a done deal. We would one day be called “Love Church”. But what we still didn’t know was when the right time would be. 

Fast forward to 2020 and the global pandemic. It was late April and we had been meeting online-only for about 6 weeks. That’s when Brittney and I started feeling like this year might be the year to launch the new name. In many ways, it’s been a year of pain, loss, and heartache. But it’s also a year of opportunity for the Church (capital “C”) to step up and take our place in the midst of the turmoil and show the love of Christ. As the events of 2020 continued to unfold, we were more and more convinced that this was the time. 

The name is a simple, powerful, and accurate representation of who God is and who we are called to be.

 

So, here we are! Love is here. 

We truly believe that God has ordained this name and this time. That we are here for such a time as this. If the world ever needed to see the love of God on display, it is now. The time is upon us to love God and love people like never before. 

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”– 1 John 4:7-12

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_width=”1920px” module_alignment=”center” locked=”off”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.6.0″ background_color=”#ffffff” width=”100%” max_width=”1920px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” custom_padding=”51px|60px|51px|60px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”60px|40px|60px|40px|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”40px|20px|40px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)” locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.3″][et_pb_blurb title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiJCeSAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9mZiIsImxpbmtfZGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJhdXRob3JfYXJjaGl2ZSJ9fQ==@” image=”https://8kwd60.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pastorjoshbio2.png” image_max_width=”150px” content_max_width=”860px” image_max_width_tablet=”150px” image_max_width_phone=”150px” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.6.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”title,content” header_font=”New Montreal Medium|600|||||||” header_text_color=”#333333″ header_font_size=”22px” header_line_height=”1.4em” body_font=”Neue Montreal||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.9em” text_orientation=”center” animation=”off” header_font_size_tablet=”18px” header_font_size_phone=”17px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” body_font_size_tablet=”15px” body_font_size_phone=”17px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_main_element=”font-weight: 400;” border_radii_image=”on|200px|200px|200px|200px” box_shadow_style_image=”preset1″ box_shadow_vertical_image=”10px” box_shadow_blur_image=”20px” box_shadow_color_image=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfYmlvIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

21DOPfinal

Not a Sermon Just a Thought

,

[et_pb_section transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” custom_padding=”19px|0px|54px|0px” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” admin_label=”section” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” admin_label=”row” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ disabled=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” admin_label=”Text” text_font_size=”16px” text_font_size_phone=”17px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_phone=”2em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off”]

“Day 22”

Well, today is day 21 of our annual 21 Days of Prayer! It’s been an incredible time and we have seen God move in amazing ways. Tonight we will close it out with a night of worship, healing and breakthrough. Tonight, I’m believing for God to perform significant miracles and bring substantial breakthrough in your life. It is the culmination of these three weeks and will be a powerful time in God’s presence. Hopefully you can join us at 6pm at our Winchester Campus. 

Although today is the last of the 21 days, I’m believing it will be a first in your life, a brand new level of faith that you will continue to live in throughout this year and beyond. I want to take a moment and encourage you on “day 22” and beyond. 

Day 22 represents a new way of living for you. New flows. New rhythms. New priorities. New levels. New blessings. New mindsets. New perspectives. New favor.

Be intentional in making 21 Days of Prayer more than a one-time event. Let it be a catalyst for a new way of living in 2020. We won’t be gathering corporately every day again until next January, but what if you continue the flow in your own life? Take an hour of each day and worship God, read your Bible, cry out to God, still your soul, listen to His voice.

How much better will your life look on December 31, 2020 if you make a decision on day 22 to continue this rhythm instead of making it a one-time thing? I would contend that your life will look drastically different, for the better. Go after it. Be deliberate. Be intentional. Be consistent. Let’s make 2020 the best year of our lives when it comes to our relationship with God. 

Church, I love you. I’m proud of you. I’m excited about this year. Let’s do it! 

-Pastor Josh

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]