Friday, May 10, 2019 | Reflections
If Jesus looked at your faith, what would he see? What do others see? When these followers of Jesus bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, they are certain he can heal their friend. They tear the roof off of the house where Jesus is teaching and lower...
Thursday, May 9, 2019 | Reflections
Lord, sometimes you call us into the deep where untold treasures dwell. For reasons of your own, you have us venture beyond where we have gone before, leaving behind things we have relied upon and sailing away from the shoreline. Faith’s journey requires us to get in...
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 | Reflections
Some days, I can feel the covering of prayers once prayed for meReaching to me in the here-and-now from the knees upon which she once knelt,From love so deeply feltPrayed with the quiet murmurs of her heart or some agonizing plea Carried before the Almighty on behalf...
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 | Reflections
Why is it so hard for us to believe Jesus? Why are we always looking for a sign or further proof of Jesus being who he says he is? While the possessed people recognize Jesus, recognition alone does not cause the demons to follow Jesus. Once banished, the...
Monday, May 6, 2019 | Reflections
A woman shouted an enthusiastic “Amen!” each time her preacher pointed out the ways other parishioners stumbled in their Christian walk. When her own shortcoming was named, the woman mumbled, “Now, you’re just meddling.” During Jesus’ inaugural ….(View this...
Sunday, May 5, 2019 | Reflections
The disciples’ plan is to go fishing, but they don’t catch a thing. However, when they follow the direction given to them by Jesus, they catch more than they know what to do with. How often do we make our plans without including Jesus—even when we are planning to do...
Saturday, May 4, 2019 | Reflections
Recently, I saw a good news story. As a mother and her young son were about to leave an outdoor concert, he began to randomly hug other concertgoers. While his mother kept close watch, the toddler hugged everyone nearby. Initially some people were taken by surprise,...
Friday, May 3, 2019 | Reflections
What a bold declaration of faith Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego make: Lord, we’re going to trust you, even if you don’t answer our prayer the way we want it answered. For their refusal to worship idols and other gods, the three are condemned t….(View this...
Thursday, May 2, 2019 | Reflections
When John speaks to the crowds waiting to be baptized, he tells them that this blessing of baptism is going to cost them something—changed lives. The waters of baptism are not of the soak-in-the-tub luxury bubble bath or quick-cleansing variety. They are waters meant...
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 | Reflections
The sturdiest tree does not grow in the shadeBut it is out in open air that its sturdiness is made.There is where the tree is firmed and formed to become shelter and shade.As well, a thing of beauty.Its roots watered by adversity….(View this reading and more...
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 | Reflections
Storytelling is a part of life, and this activity helps us make sense of the world, teaching us how to handle the hard days. Stories educate, inspire, and build relationships. The story of Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is one of our essential stories of...
Monday, April 29, 2019 | Reflections
Mark places the baptism of Jesus right at the very beginning of his gospel—no annunciation, no nativity story, just straight into the action—telling us about a voice from heaven declaring Jesus as God’s beloved son. Mark’s story sounds very much like the way we...
Sunday, April 28, 2019 | Reflections
Every once in a while, we come across a story that we just cannot believe, and the disciples are no different. Thomas is slow to believe the good news of Jesus’ resurrection—but he is not slow to grasp its implications as he cries out, “My Lord and my God!”...
Saturday, April 27, 2019 | Reflections
Each of us is called into ministry with Jesus in some way that uses our special gifts and talents. Jesus’ last instructions to his apostles are to proclaim the good news of salvation to the people of Israel and all the nations. God’s love and gift of salvation is for...
Friday, April 26, 2019 | Reflections
Think for a moment about people you truly love—heroines and heroes, family members, teachers, or camp counselors. When we love people, we have special thoughts or memories tied to them. So it is natural for the psalmist to speak of a deep, personal love for God. Psalm...
