Devotional (Page 15)

Last night at church during the devotional with the children we discussed Mark 4:35-41. We focused our discussion around verses 38 and 40. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Mark 4:38   He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40 As we began our discussion I asked the children to identify what…

“Always obey the Lord and you will be happy. If you are stubborn, you will be ruined.” (Proverbs 28:14 GNB) Faith isn’t just something you talk about. It’s something you do. Faith is only activated when we act. We have faith in God when we do what he says. Proverbs 28:14 says, “Always obey the Lord and you will be happy. If you are stubborn, you will be ruined” (GNB). Obedience and stubbornness are two sides of the same coin.…

The hour has come.  The Son of Man will be lifted up.  While the betrayer gathers his associates, Jesus offers final words of comfort to the remaining eleven.  The Gospel of John offers us a unique glimpse into something sacred:  the holy intimacy between the Son and the Father.  They are one in mission:  to give eternal life- the life of the age to come- expressed in relational knowledge of the Father and Son here and now. As the prayer…

And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. “Who is this?” they asked. The crowds answered, “It’s the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21:10-11, CEB) This Sunday is Palm Sunday, which also marks the beginning of Holy Week. As I reflect on this passage from Matthew which describes the triumphal entry, the phrase that jumps out to me is, “Who is this?” In so many ways this question captures the whole progression of the gospel…

From an early age, I always looked forward to going to church because I loved to worship.  Throughout my years growing up in the church I was in the choir, sang specials, and helped lead worship. For me, worship was always connected with joining a group of people singing or just singing in front of a group of people with some of my favorite worship songs.  As I grew up I realized that worship wasn’t just raising my voice in…

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6 (NLT) When faced with the reality of a situation that is overwhelming, the best thing you can do is focus on God. The disciples, in Matthew 8, knew that Jesus could do something about the storm that threatened their lives as they were tossed on the sea. Their answer to the overwhelming storm was to ask Jesus…

“Accept the word planted in you.”  James 1:21 (NIV) If we’re going to be blessed by the Word of God, we need to be receptive. All through Scripture, God’s Word is compared to a seed.  When Jesus told the parable of the sower, he said, “The Word of God is a seed and it’s planted in our hearts” (Luke 8:11-12). Now, why is it possible to take two seeds that are exactly the same, plant them in two different locations,…

Be still before the Lord, and wait for him. (Psalm 37:7 CEB) As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, I want to take a moment to highlight the Sacred Invitation devotional many of us have started engaging through this season. Last I checked there were still a few paper copies available for pickup at the church. The devotional can also be purchased as an e-book through Amazon (the paper copies have sold out online).    Click here…

This week began our Lenten season together as we walked through our Journey to the Cross stations on Ash Wednesday. During the evening it was such a blessing to see multiple generations come together to reflect on what might be holding us back from our connection to Christ or discovering what needs to be refocused in our relationship with him. One of the stations that were incorporated into the evening was a breath prayer. This week as we start our…

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 (NIV) Each one of us needs other people to watch out for us – to defend us, protect us, and help us stay on track. In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul tells us that we should look out for each other’s interests, not just our own. What a counterculture verse! In America today, it’s all about me –…

A few years ago I realized that I spoke often of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the church, etc.  One day it occurred to me that not everyone I talk to would consciously think about the fact these present in us are “living”.  They are alive, and I decided that I should refer to them as such.  Through a process in my own life, I began to say, “The Living Christ”, “The Living God”, “The Living Church”. It seems to…

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Mark 2:8-10) On Sundays, both in the worship service and in the…