Opening the Door
Read: Revelation 3:19-22 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. (v. 20) When I was six, our minister (who looked like God to me) bent down and warmly spoke to me. I felt loved and welcomed at church. At thirteen, the time had come to profess my faith and join my church as a full […]
New Life in Us
Read: John 12:16-26 Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (v. 24) My granddaughter helped me plant snow peas, poking the earth with her finger, placing a seed into each hole. For that seed to sprout, it must lose its protective […]
Suffering with Us
Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 As you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (v. 7) Everything was ready for Kathy’s leadership team dinner; her famous lasagna had just come out of the oven. That’s when the call came. Four of the student leaders, on their way to dinner, were in a serious […]
Leading and Guiding Us
Read: Psalm 23 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. (v. 4) Pastor Jon was at a crossroads. The church he had lovingly served for many years was declining in membership. His wife, Karen, was declining in health. She had not […]
Forming and Growing Us
Read: Galatians 5:16-25 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (vv. 22–23) Kara turned off the TV with a sigh. More news of conflict around the world, more fighting between people in her own community. Sometimes division and conflict felt nonstop, stirred up by leaders and the media, […]
Providing for Us
Read: Ephesians 1:3-12 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing. (v. 3) On the other end of the phoneline was someone deeply hurting, another story of harm caused by the egregious behavior of a church leader. Calls like this were not new […]
Giving Us the Spirit
Read: John 20:19-23 He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (v. 22) Leaves blew and trees swayed in the brisk wind outside. An abandoned plastic bag danced across the open clearing, swirling high and dropping low. I thought of the breath of God’s Spirit, often compared to wind. It’s a mystery, […]
Risen for Us!
Read: Luke 24:1-11 Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. (vv. 5-6) Many years ago, my then toddler asked, “Where is God?” I responded that God doesn’t live in one place; God is everywhere all at once. He promptly sat down hard on his bed, and said, […]
The Main Event
Read: Matthew 28:1-15 Dead people don’t rise. Jesus’ resurrection is the most consequential event in history. How you respond to it is the most consequential decision of your life. At the site of Jesus’ resurrection, everyone had the same reaction: fear. Who wouldn’t? The brilliance of an angel rolling back a stone causing an earthquake […]