Devotional

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you…

Memorial weekend is kind of fun for us in a small town.  It’s easy to be involved, and as a Minister, it makes it very easy!  It starts at the American Legion Hall for breakfast.  This year there were probably 30 or so bikers, maybe more.  They started at the Canadian border and riding down to Seaside, Oregon and stopping at all the American Legion Halls on the way.   After breakfast we headed to the Cemetery to help put up…

Ephesians 5:31-32 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the Church.” The apostle Paul has been giving instruction on marriage and marriage relationships and then he switches the script and says he’s really talking about Christ and the church. I went to the doctor today for a checkup where I…

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more…

That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love…Colossians 2:2 I visited a coffee shop recently and as I was enjoying a beverage with several members of my family, an eclectic gentleman entered, purchased a cup of coffee and sat down on a couch just slightly to my left. I noticed him when he first entered because of his unique garb. He was wearing dingy trousers, too short for him, but too long to not be considered pants;…

1 Lord, hear my prayer; let my cry for help come before You. 2 Do not hide Your face from me in my day of trouble. Listen closely to me; answer me quickly when I call.   Psalm 102:1-2   There have been times in my life that I’ve needed to hear from God.  Times that I needed to know I was doing the right thing.  Times I needed confirmation from God. I am not alone.  Throughout scripture, especially in the Psalms,…

Luke 24:13-35 The Lenten season is in the rearview mirror, and Easter decorations have been stored for another year.  It is easy to move from one season to another without fully processing what has just passed.  As a therapist I practice a form of therapy called Lifespan Integration.  It is a therapy that works to build new neuropathways for those who have experienced trauma.  What strikes me about that work is how the brain continues to process the session for…

A while back a movie was recommended to me called “The Walk”.  It told the true story of a French high wire artist by the name of Philippe Petit, who, in 1974 became the only human, that has ever “scaled the immense void between the World Trade Center towers”.  You read that correctly!  Mr. Petit, along with a team of accomplices, was able to covertly suspend a high wire between the towers and successfully traverse it, not once, but 8 times!  His planning had…

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word. That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and…

Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “That’s what you say.” (Luke 23:3, CEB) As we continue the journey through Lent and consider the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, this scene in scripture where Jesus is brought before Pilate always draws me into the narrative. Pilate was told Jesus had claimed to be a king, but this was a label that was given to him. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ longer reply to Pilate explains,…

We all know the weight of guilt, the nagging feeling that lingers when we fall short or mess up. In Psalm 32, David reflects on the powerful gift of God’s forgiveness and the peace that comes with it. He begins by proclaiming, “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven,” reminding us that true joy comes from experiencing God’s grace and mercy. David knows what it’s like to carry the burden of unconfessed sin. In verses 3-4, he describes how…

It was a short friendship. He walked into the church, and I introduced myself to the newcomer as Pastor Wanda. We instantly became friends, and everyone introduced themselves that first day. He said he felt like family.  I told him he was family.  He loved coming to church and only missed when he was ill. He loved eating the noon meal with us and I tried to always send food home with him.  He sat at the same table every…