But strive first for the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 A few weeks ago, Shane offered a Words with the Young People with a vivid metaphor for “putting first things first.” He started with two identical vases, each with a few larger […]
Devotionals
Through the Storm
What are human beings, that you make so much of them, that you set your mind on them, visit them every morning, test them every moment? Job 7:17-18 I worked alongside and became friends with Andy several years before I learned his backstory. I knew him to be a deeply faithful man, a very supportive […]
Spiral Mollusk
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in divine and human favor. Luke 2:52 Art Norton sent this photo following our worship service on Sunday, March 11th, in which the choir sang a piece based on a poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., using the growth of the shell of a nautilus shell as […]
Hard to Feel Spiritual…
God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 It’s hard to feel spiritual when…there’s a bug in your bra! This story was written in response to a […]
Castle Bravo
Then they came to Jerusalem. Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. […]
Making Space (A Verse for Lent)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. John 8:12 Sometimes time drags her feet And barely seems to move That ticking tocking Front porch rocking Lazy summer days. Other times life seems a blur […]
Body of Christ
Now y’all are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 In the Sunday Morning Bible Study, lately we’ve been going through Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. The church in Corinth is a troubled one; we believe this is so because the advice that Paul gives throughout the letter points to […]
Joy in Giving
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44 Jesus tells us repeatedly that to enter God’s Kingdom, we must give up everything else. There is this parable, and the […]
Traveling Light
“Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money–not even an extra tunic. Whatever […]
House of God
Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” So Jacob rose early in the morning, and […]