Oh oh, that scary monster that rules the weeks before the Easter Bunny pops up is upon us! LENT, the miser who wants to damper fun and trample pleasure has reared his head again, ready to make any Jesus follower feel bad for not engaging in the practice at all, or for finding practicing it a struggle each and every day. I jest, but with that kernel of truth still irritatingly poking under the
1 Timothy 5:8 But those who won't care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. Reflection: The people of God are called to care deeply about their family. This makes sense since God himself is somehow one Divine Being, yet simultaneously a family of three persons. It is a mystery we can't fully comprehend, but it helps us understand why loving family
Genesis 33:9-11 9 But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself." 10 "No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favour in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favourably. Reflection: One of the best places we can find God is in the faces of other people. When we receive forgiveness,
Psalm 62: 5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Reflection: In our work-weary culture, true rest is hard to find. Too often we can make our life with Jesus reflect the whirlwind around us. We try to do good, be better, and strive to be righteous. It is not that we
Have you ever read a verse or passage in the Bible, one that you've read or heard so many times you thought you had it all figured out, only to see it in a new and fresh way? It's happened to me before and it happened again this week, and for some reason I'm always surprised. Imagine that, I don't have it all figured out... This week in Hebrews I read the often quoted chapter
Good, Good Father, We come to you with thankful hearts, ready to start a new year in your Son's strength. There is so much to do oh Lord, and yet we know if we do not do it by keeping in step with your Holy Spirit that we will labour in vain. And so we ask God that you would attune us to your voice. May our choices reflect your will. We ask and pray
A LAMENT FROM THE PEOPLE: The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - Matthew 4:16 Father, how much we need the reminder of our family history! - the good part, where You, the friend of sinners, call us Your friends, where You tell us
A LAMENT FROM THE PEOPLE... Oh, King of Peace, Prince of Peace! Oh, this world needs You. Peace isn’t something that we’ve got too much of, that’s for sure. If we’re looking at the big picture of the world or the little picture of our own lives- to have peace characterize our lives and our relationships sounds like a dream. And that it would take a miracle. We know it’s not supposed to depend on
A LAMENT FROM THE PEOPLE... So here we are, God. Our calendars tell us it's Advent and that we're to be celebrating. But frankly, God - and forgive our complaining - or perhaps it's truth-telling - but one quick look around the globe and the conflict and killing and the cruel way we treat each other - and it just reminds us how busted we are. We read the newspapers in the morning and the headlines
When Jesus last spoke to his disciples he charged them to go and tell the Good News, making disciples locally (Jerusalem), nationally (Judea & Samaria), and globally (to the ends of the earth). This is the mission of the church, and each of us have role to play in sharing our faith in Him. It can be disconcerting, even frightening at times, to talk about Jesus in a secular and often antagonistic culture. We will
