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Every single day, you're either making a decision — or drifting into one. In this episode of Midweek Motivation, Jess and Rachel unpack one of the most honest conversations about faith, focus, and following Jesus you'll hear. Using Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" as a jumping-off point, they dig into what it actually looks like to choose a direction — and what pulls us off course when we're not paying attention.

Discover:

• The real difference between decision and drift — and why "not deciding" is still a choice
• What analysis paralysis, people pleasing, and comfort have in common (and how they stall your faith)
• Why knowing your target is the first step to staying on course
• The power of protecting intentional space for God — including spiritual retreats, daily Scripture, and prayer
• What it looks and feels like to experience God in a way that moves faith from your head to your heart to your feet
• How Rachel's house offer, Jess's financial decisions, and a late-night chip craving all connect to the same spiritual principle
• What Matthew and the rich young ruler teach us about going all in versus almost leaning in

Reflection paragraph: Drift doesn't announce itself. It's the slow pull of comfort, distraction, and urgency that gradually moves you away from the direction you chose. But the good news is that every moment is an invitation to re-engage — to quiet the noise, ask Jesus to lead, and take one intentional step forward. Decision isn't a one-time moment. It's a posture you choose over and over again.

Key Takeaways:

• Not deciding is deciding — drift is always the default when intention is absent
• Know your target: vague goals make drift easy; clear direction makes decisions for you
• Protect your space with God — experiences with him move faith from head to heart to feet
• Filter decisions through Scripture, trusted community, and prayer — not just what feels right
• Faith over fear is a choice you have to keep making, not a feeling you wait for
• Leaning in requires ownership — receiving the gift of Jesus means engaging with what that actually means

Question for you to think about: Where in your life right now are you drifting — and what would it look like to make an intentional decision instead?

Calls to Action: If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who's standing at a fork right now — and subscribe so you never miss a new episode. Drop a comment below: What's one area of your life where you're choosing decision over drift?

• LINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give
• STAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx

Hashtags: #MidweekMotivation #WestsideCommunitychurch #DecisionOrDrift #ChristianPodcast #FaithOverFear #FollowingJesus #ChristianLiving #SpiritualGrowth #Intentional #Discipleship #BiblicalDecisions #FaithWalk #JesusFollower #TakeTheLeap #RoadNotTaken

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Welcome to Westside! Engage in the chat and Follow along with message notes at https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/notes-resources

Join us as Stephen Radie brings us a message about foundation over feelings.

#foundationoverfeelings #firmfoundation #builddaily #yourstory #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2026sermon #churchonline #stephenradie

Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today.

LINKS & RESOURCES:
SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1
Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give

STAY CONNECTED:
Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

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Follow along with message notes at https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/notes-resources

Join us as Gabe Kolstad brings us a message about how this is Our Moment.

#time #now #thetimeisnow #godstiming #yourstory #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2026sermon #churchonline #gabekolstad

Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today.

LINKS & RESOURCES:
SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1
Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give

STAY CONNECTED:
Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

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What if the students in your community were the ones leading their families back to church? That's exactly what's happening at Westside — and it's not an accident. In this episode of Midweek Motivation, Jess sits down with Tim Wooten, a 30-year financial advisor, youth pastor, and son of Westside's founding pastor, to talk about what it really means to invest in the next generation — one kid, one conversation, and one sacrifice at a time.

Discover:

• How Tim went from teenager in the youth group to leading it for over two decades
• Why "stick and stay" is the most underrated strategy in ministry — and in life
• The story of a student who wakes up at 3AM to make pizza dough so he can make it to church by 10:30
• How dozens of students have brought their entire families to church — and why that's flipping the script on discipleship
• What truth and love actually looks like when you're sitting across from a 15-year-old making hard decisions
• Why legacy requires letting go — and what Tim's dad modeled by passing the torch
• A real, honest conversation about sacrifice, finances, and why you probably can give more than you think

Reflection paragraph: Legacy isn't built in a moment — it's built in years of showing up, sticking around, and investing in people who don't yet know what they're capable of. Tim's story is a reminder that the voices playing in someone's head at the right moment came from a person who chose not to quit. Whether it's time, money, relationships, or leadership — the question isn't whether you can afford to invest. It's whether you can afford not to.

Key Takeaways:

• Readers are leaders — invest in your own growth so you can pour into others
• Stick and stay: trust and legacy are built over years, not months
• The next generation is hungry for truth — biblical truth spoken in love changes lives
• Legacy requires releasing control and training up the people around you to carry it forward
• You cannot out-give God — that's not a slogan, it's a promise
• Every sacrifice looks different — what matters is that it costs you something

Question for you to think about: Who invested in you — and who are you investing in right now?

Calls to Action: If this episode encouraged or challenged you, share it with someone who needs to hear it — and subscribe so you never miss a new episode. Drop a comment below: Who's a person who invested in you and helped shape who you are today?

• LINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give
• STAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx

Hashtags: #MidweekMotivation #WestsideCommunitychurch #YouthMinistry #NextGeneration #ChristianPodcast #Legacy #Discipleship #FaithInAction #InvestInOthers #ChristianLiving #StudentMinistry #GenerosityChallenge #YouCannotOutgiveGod #StickyFaith #ChurchGrowth

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Welcome to Westside! Engage in the chat and Follow along with message notes at https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/notes-resources

Join us as Gabe Kolstad brings us a message about Building for the Future.

#time #now #thetimeisnow #godstiming #yourstory #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2026sermon #churchonline #gabekolstad

Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today.

LINKS & RESOURCES:
SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1
Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give

STAY CONNECTED:
Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

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Every parent knows the pre-Christmas closet clean out — toss the old stuff, make room for the new. It feels generous. But what if that same instinct is quietly shaping the way we give to God? In this episode of Midweek Motivation, we take an honest look at what our sacrifices actually reveal about our hearts — and why God isn't after what we were planning to get rid of anyway.

Discover:

• The two very different heart postures behind the classic closet clean out
• What Abel and Cain's offerings in Genesis 4 reveal about sacrifice and the heart
• Why the widow's two coins in Mark 12 is the ultimate "toy chest vs. closet" moment
• The difference between giving from your closet versus unlocking your safe
• A practical, personal audit of what God might actually be asking you to give — time, money, gifts, relationships, control, and more
• Why some of the hardest sacrifices live inside wounds — and what to do with that

It's easy to give what we're ready to let go of. It costs us nothing — and deep down, we know it. But real sacrifice? That's what's locked in the safe. The thing you're protecting with everything you have because it matters. Your time, your plans, your relationships, your reputation, your need for control. God's not asking for your clutter. He's asking for your best. And the invitation today is to pause, pray, and ask Him honestly — what's He calling you to unlock?

Key Takeaways:

• God sees the heart behind the gift — not just the gift itself
• First and best is the standard Abel modeled, and it still applies today
• Giving from abundance is easy; giving from sacrifice is what honors God
• The "safe" represents whatever you're holding onto most tightly — that might be exactly what God is asking for
• This applies to more than money: time, gifts, relationships, rest, plans, reputation, and rights all count
• Surrender isn't loss — it's an invitation for God to do more than you could imagine

Question for you to think about:
What's in your safe right now — and what would it look like to unlock it and offer it to God?

If this episode challenged you, share it with someone who needs to hear it — and subscribe so you never miss a new episode. Drop a comment below: What's one area where God is calling you to give your best instead of your leftovers?

LINKS & RESOURCES:
SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1
Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give

STAY CONNECTED:
Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx

#MidweekMotivation #ChristianPodcast #Sacrifice #Generosity #FaithInAction #WestsideCommunitychurch #GivingToGod #ChristianLiving #BiblicalGenerosity #Genesis4 #OpenHanded #SpiritualGrowth #Stewardship #JesusFollower #Surrender

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Follow along with message notes at https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/notes-resources

Join us as Gabe Kolstad brings us a message about the chain reaction.

#time #now #thetimeisnow #godstiming #yourstory #Jesus #fullservice #fullchurchservice #christian #sermon #worship #westside #church #2026sermon #churchonline #gabekolstad

Westside is a place made up of real people from all walks of life. We are a “come as you are” church that strives to be a safe place for people to investigate faith. No matter your story, questions, doubts or struggles, we’re glad you’re here today.

LINKS & RESOURCES:
SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1
Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give

STAY CONNECTED:
Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx/

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What do you do when you're standing in front of a decision and you're not sure if it's God opening a door — or if you're forcing one open yourself? In this episode, Pastor Jess and Pastor Gabe unpack a framework for discerning God's will that has shaped Westside's biggest current decision as a church, and works just as well for parenting, marriage, career, and the everyday moments where you're asking, "Is this from the Lord, or is this just me?"

Discover:

• The "painted doorway on a brick wall" picture and what it reveals about forcing God's hand
• The 5-filter framework for discernment: Word, Spirit, Counsel, Circumstances, Spiritual Unity
• Why God's will never contradicts God's Word — and why that has to be filter number one
• How to tell the difference between the Holy Spirit's confirmation and His conviction
• The "rudder vs. rowing against the current" picture for Spirit-led living
• Why every believer needs a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy in their corner
• The "squeeze the lime" principle — stewarding what you already have before asking for more
• Why favorable circumstances alone aren't enough to confirm an open door
• How spiritual unity protects big decisions in marriage, family, and the church
• Real examples from parenting school choices, waiting on a spouse, and Westside's current building decision

Most of us have tried to muscle our way through a wall we painted to look like a door. It hurts, it doesn't work, and it leaves us exhausted. The good news is that God isn't hiding His will from you. He's already given you His Word, His Spirit, godly people, real-life circumstances, and a community to walk with. When you slow down enough to let those five things speak together, what felt foggy starts to feel clear — and when an actual door opens, you'll recognize it because you won't have to break it down.

Key Takeaways:

• God's will never contradicts God's Word — if it fails filter one, you don't pass go
• The Holy Spirit is your rudder; peace and dissonance both have something to teach you
• Counsel that never challenges you isn't counsel — it's an echo chamber
• Don't mistake favorable circumstances for confirmation; run them through the other filters first
• Steward what's already in your hand before you ask God for more
• When the wind is in the sail, you know it — stop trying to blow into your own sails

Question for you to think about: What's a decision in front of you right now where you've been forcing a door — and what would change if you ran it through all five filters this week?

Calls to Action:

• Subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode
• Drop a comment with the decision you're discerning right now — we'll pray for you
• Share this with someone in a season of big decisions
• Connect with us at Westside Community Church

LINKS & RESOURCES: SUBSCRIBE to always see our content and let us reach more people for Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx?sub_confirmation=1 Give to support this ministry and help us reach people all around the world: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com/give

STAY CONNECTED: Website: https://www.westsidecommunitychurch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsidecommunitychurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecommunitychurchpdx

#MidweekMotivation #WestsideCommunityChurch #GodsWill #Discernment #OpenDoors #HolySpirit #ChristianPodcast #FaithDecisions #HearingGod #ChristianLiving #BiblicalWisdom #WalkingWithGod #ChristianCommunity #FaithAndLife #SurrenderToGod