In the Book of Genesis there is mention about how God put a rainbow in the sky to remind himself that he would never again destroy the earth. Some people tend to stress the words ‘with a flood’ – But I am one who thinks God doesn’t want to destroy the earth or anything that our Good Lord has…..
This morning, while reflecting on the daily reading of my choice I was lead to a passage in James Chapter 2. James, a brother of Jesus is writing ‘To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:’ This is part of what he writes:
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it ways. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face…..
The reading today is from John 18:1-19,42 What stands out to me is a six word sentence. “I find no case against him.” (18:13)
Pilate finds no case against Jesus and yet he follows the custom of asking the people who to release instead of releasing Jesus himself. There are some hard things to read in this entire passage…..
Today’s reading is John13:1-17 and 31b-35. What stands out to me most isn’t all the dialogue and action around the washing of the disciples feet. I’m a little surprised by that, probably because that’s what I’m most familiar with and the tradition held in the church I have attended through the years. I’ve had my feet washed…..
We live in a very fast paced world and slowing down doesn’t come easy to the vast majority of people. Besides being fast paced, many people are competitive. I spent a number of years as a wife and mother in a direct sales career where I succeeded mostly by competing with…..
Reading about the merciful in the Sermon on the Mount connects me to Jesus’ later teachings about forgiveness. In the Lord’s prayer he taught his disciples to pray, ‘forgive us …. as we forgive others.” In forgiveness there is great mercy, but in order to receive something it must be given to you. A hard-hearted person struggles with forgiveness……
Perhaps you’ve heard someone say: “He/She’s so meek.” More than likely you were thinking that in terms of emotional or social weakness of some sort – maybe being shy. But the biblical meaning of the word meek is different than what this generation of English speaking people understand it to be. When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount the word meek meant humble…..
By the mercies of God, Paul asks the church members to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.
When I read the opening lines of this letter written by the Apostle Paul I can’t help but think about his conversion. From being a man who had been hurling murderous threats against the church to now asking it’s members to become ‘living sacrifices.’ It’s a remarkable transformation! Proof that people can change and that the power of…..
Have you ever spoken to someone and it seemed they didn’t even hear you? Or have you ever listened to someone speak and not heard them? I’m guessing your answer is yes to both questions, I know mine would be. What causes people to hear us, to pay attention to what we are saying? What helps us to pay attention to other people so that…..
