From Mariah Newell, Youth Minister at CCCC Prayer for the Week: There are times in our lives when we want to breeze past someone’s story. We are too busy or we just don’t want to pause. We want to believe others do not intentionally cause pain to one another. However, one of the many gifts you give is focused listening to our story, even when it is a
Scripture: Proverbs 31:6 Give strong drink to those who are perishing and wine to those whose hearts are bitter. Thought for the Day: I don’t know why, but I’ve always liked this verse of scripture. According to these words, alcoholic beverages are for those who are in pain, both physical and emotional. There is no question that alcohol can dull what hurts, and in the time in which
Scripture: Exodus 14:10-13 As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the
Scripture: Exodus 7:16 Say to Pharaoh, “The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you to say, ‘Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness.’ But until now you have not listened.” Thought for the Day: God sends people into dangerous situations. Now I will hear folks say, “God would never send God’s people into places where God could not save
Scripture: Exodus 3:13-15 But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, “What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.’
Scripture: Exodus 2:1-3 Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed
Scripture: Exodus 1:8-10 Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Thought for the Day: This will begin
Prayer for the Week: There is so much more to the stories of faith than we might first believe. There is so much depth and contextual meaning that is not visible at first glance. There is so much beauty that is lost when we read it through the lens of pithy and empty religiosity that has co-opted following Jesus. O Holy One of the Universe, there is a
Scripture: Psalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD acted; we will rejoice and celebrate in it! Thought for the Day: It is Sunday, and this is the day the LORD acted. I believe most folks know this verse as the LORD made, but the Hebrew word can be translated in a dozen or so ways. At first, I didn’t like the word acted. The poetry didn’t feel
Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 3:18 All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Thought for the Day: I have been reflecting on these words each day for