Devotions

Jesus’ suffering is over, but his suffering is only part of the story.

How does the world know we follow Jesus – not only as individuals, but as a faith community?

Despite the welcome and hospitality shown to Judas, he still followed through on his plan to betray Jesus.

Lazarus is the clearest evidence of Jesus’ power and ability to restore life to one who was dead.

When was the last time you let down your guard and gave yourself over to the experience of hope and joy?

Read Philippians 2:5-11. In this passage, the hearers are invited to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus.… Read more: Spirit of the Living God

“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!”

In what ways has God equipped you to sustain the weary?

Rather than being paralyzed by fear and dread, Mary practices presence in the here and now.

In what ways does your faith impact the way you live, work, and move about in the world?

Read Psalm 126. Here, the psalmist is imagining what it was like for those in exile to return home. They… Read more: Reunion

In God, we find our home.

This is a story of hope for all of us

What areas of your life might still need a little “recreating”?

Guilt has a way of eating at us from the inside out.

Rituals connect us to our history, giving meaning to our current experience.

God is willing to put in the work to bring forth fruit from our lives.

“Have we learned nothing from history?”

Here, the psalmist expresses a deep, almost physical desire for God.

For what do we truly hunger and thirst?

Even as the fox preys on the hen, the hen is protecting her brood.

Spend time examining the motivations behind your spiritual practices.

In the high-speed world we have created, we expect every need to be met in an instant.

What rituals do we use today to commemorate important commitments in life?

At every turn, Jesus uses scripture to resist the temptation.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “All means all.” Here, the author is saying, “Everyone means everyone.”

Imagine yourself living in the shelter of the Most High and abiding in the shadow of the Almighty.

Moses paints a picture of abundance for the Hebrew people as they wander in the wilderness.

Sometimes, we are weighed down to the point that we miss the revelation of Jesus.

Turning to the Lord frees us from the need to pretend we are something we’re not.

God parents us with love and logic.

Read Exodus 34:29-35. In this reading, Moses is coming down from Mount Sinai for the second time after having destroyed… Read more: Removing the Veil

Truly following Jesus is demanding, but its reward is to be under the care of the One who is unfailingly merciful.

Everlasting life is beyond anything our human minds can imagine.

Are we life-givers or are we life-sappers?

Hindsight often has a way of helping us to gain a new perspective on situations.

Jesus is concerned with the lived experiences of the people to whom he is speaking.

It is the resurrection of Jesus that informs our hope that death does not have the last word.

Regular meditation on the scriptures is like sinking our roots into that which gives life and helps us to flourish.

Trusting God feels like being planted by a cool stream – refreshing, nourishing, fruitful.

How might Jesus be calling you to drop your net and let him work his power?

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”

Paul’s words are a beautiful reminder of the path the Gospel message has taken to finally arrive at your door.

“Here am I; send me!”

Here, Jesus’ community becomes enraged at his challenging words.

In what ways have these qualities of love been shown by you or to you?

When have you felt you needed a refuge or a fortress for safety and protection?

“Before you were born, I consecrated you.”

When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

Here, Paul celebrates the diversity within the body of Christ.

The words of scripture revive the soul, give wisdom, enlighten, and even give warning.

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Sometimes we need a little encouragement to step outside of our comfort zone and try something new.

Within the body of Christ, there are a variety of gifts.

There is a clear distinction between the all-too-human heart and the steadfast love of God.

Trials in life are inevitable, but we don’t pass through them on our own.

This is a story that invites us to think about what our baptism means in our lives.

An important part of baptism is that it grafts the baptized into the body of Christ.

There is nothing to fear when it comes to God.

What are the names by which you are called?

While the wise men responded to the news of Jesus’ birth with joy, Herod responded with fear.

An important ministry for Paul was taking the gospel message to the Gentiles.

What is one small step you can take to remind someone how precious they are in God’s sight?

“Arise, shine” is a call to action.

Here, Mary reacts by pondering or treasuring in her heart what God says or does.

In what ways could you better clothe your words and actions in love?

On this Christmas Day, what creative offering of praise can you make?

Can you remember the first time you became aware of God’s presence in your life?

Join us for a service of lessons, carols, and light on Tuesday, December 24th at 5:00 p.m.

The wisdom of Elizabeth’s years allowed her to bring comfort and joy to Mary.

In what tangible ways do you seek to be a blessing to others in this season?

Mary’s song is a call to step back and look at the big picture of what God might be doing.

“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

Transformation often begins with actions.

For some, practicing joy is as natural as breathing, but for the rest of us, it takes a bit more work.

What, in your life, do you celebrate joyfully?

There are consequences for our actions, but through it all is God’s steadfast love.

In the first chapter of Luke, John’s and Jesus’ births are closely tied together.

Paul celebrates with joy the change and the growth he sees among the followers of Jesus at Philippi.

“The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings, but first of all frightening news for every one who has a conscience.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Here, Zechariah sings praise for what God has done and what God will do.

Rather than looking back nostalgically at the past or longingly at the future, how can we live appreciatively and attentively in the present?

What gifts does the church bring to you?

The hope found in this psalm is that our past sins do not define us.

Are there any hopeful signs of new life springing forth?

In this discourse between Pilate and Jesus, we have a contrast between earthly kingdoms and the kingdom the Jesus taught and lived.

What gives you hope that Jesus is doing something new in this world?

What are your hopes and dreams for the church in the coming years?

It seems natural to hope that the good we’ve done outweighs the bad.

Could it be that everything we are suffering through today is leading to something new that God is birthing?

“Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds.”

This psalm is a call to praise.

Imagine wanting something so badly, you’re willing to give it back if only you can have it for a moment.

This reading has Jesus comparing two types of people.

Is there one that you seem to repeat over and over?

This is a celebration of family as it should be.

Think of the struggles your ancestors went through to secure the life you now enjoy.

What might we learn from this conversation about how to interact with someone we view as “other”?

By the shedding of Jesus’ blood, we are cleansed of the ‘dead works’ and freed to worship the living God.

A spiritual life is one of collaboration with God.