Scripture: Roman 1:7 To those in Rome who are dearly loved by God and called to be God’s people. Thought for the Day: As part of Paul’s greeting to the Christians in Rome, he speaks of those loved by God and called by God. Those two aspects of the Christian faith are too often separated or even severed. Many people like to worship and give thanks for a
Scripture: Romans 1:1 From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for God’s good news. Thought for the Day: As I shared in my class last night, this single verse of scripture summarizes Paul and his vision of God’s calling upon his life…and maybe on all followers of Jesus as well. As we discussed, some translate slave as servant or even
Scripture: 1st John 2:17 And the world and its cravings are passing away, but the person who does the will of God remains forever. Thought for the Day: Continuing from yesterday, I want us to look at the very next verse from 1st John. In these words, it appears as if the writer is contrasting finite and eternal. The world and our worldly yearnings are passing away, but
Scripture: 1st John 2:16 Everything that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world. Thought for the Day: I am reminded of the words from Mildred Lisette Norman (aka – Peace Pilgrim) who said, Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its
Scripture: 2nd Corinthian 4:16-18 So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day. Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen.
Proverbs 28:25 Greedy people stir up conflict, but those who trust the LORD become prosperous. Prayer… Though I wish to be generous, I know generosity cannot exist without a deep and abiding trust in you, O King of Glory. Without trust, I will always reach for greed and selfishness. We as human beings were created to survive, and it is our DNA that pushes us to trust no
PRAYER… With humility and a little anxiousness, we make a request of you, O Lord. We desire to be generous. Not to gain recognition among our peers; not to get a good tax break next April; not to dissuade some unresolved guilt. We desire to be generous because Jesus, your illustration of the true human life, was generous with everything. In faith, we look to him not simply
PRAYER… O God of Heaven, O God who came to Earth – We are aware of the many individuals and families dramatically impacted by the storms. We ache for them and with them, yet we claim by faith that you are present to them and continue to be present with a love that knows no end. We are aware of those who are displaced by the storms. Their
Every Sunday, we gather around a table, a table representing your generosity. People of – different generations, different perspectives, different ethnicities, different family circumstance, find community and wholeness at that table. We are grateful for
You may have heard: We will never change the world by just going to church. We will only change it by being the church. Prayer: I hear the call of your Holy Spirit inviting me to join others in the work of your grace-filled community. Father God, draw me close – first, draw me to your amazing gift of love. Allow me to hear again your claim upon