I Work for Flourishing
God is into flourishing. Flourishing for you, for me, for our neighbors, communities, indeed all of creation. So draw near through scripture, prayer and song. Allow the Spirit to refresh and heal your inner-most being. And then step out and be instruments of God's flourishing to others.
WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Mar 17, 2019I Work for Flourishing
I Work for FlourishingGod is into flourishing. Flourishing for you, for me, for our neighbors, communities, indeed all of creation. So draw near through scripture, prayer and song. Allow the Spirit to refresh and heal your inner-most being. And then step out and be instruments of God's flourishing to others.
- Mar 10, 2019I Know Who I Am
I Know Who I Am"We're invited/challenged by Jesus to root our identity in God's claim upon us in the waters of baptism...you are my BELOVED. With that as our core identity we live life saying YES to values, deeds, and systems that promote flourishing in our lives and communities. We say NO to the opposite...as they bring decay and deprivation to individuals and communities. So we live as people flourishing in God's grace and promoting that flourishing in our neighbors as well. May you be a source of flourishing to someone this week!
- Mar 3, 2019Blown Away
Blown AwayDoes Jesus blow you away? Does he take your breath away? The story of the Transfiguration asks this question of us. The story calls us to move toward the place/reality where Jesus is the central formational person and relationship in our lives. You're invited to move closer to Jesus as we make our Lenten journey.
- Feb 24, 2019To Be Like Him
To Be Like Him"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and (therefore) left untried." The call of Jesus to love our enemies, those who really irritate, is hard and therefore we rationalize our unforgiveness. How are you doing with this? From what or whom does the Holy Spirit need to free you? Call out...cry out...pursue with brutal honesty the One who can liberate and transform your life.
- Feb 17, 2019The Character of Those Who Follow
The Character of Those Who FollowThose who follow Jesus the Lion of Judah are to allow the Lion to rule. Abraham Kuyper put it this way, "There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” We should ask, "Where is Christ reigning/ruling in my life today? What places remain out-of-bounds to his rule? What keeps me from releasing those places to Jesus? What can and will I do about this?
- Feb 10, 2019Word & Deed
Word & DeedThe Jesus-Lion seeks to move into the spaces and places of our lives and once there, we are transformed. Sometimes we welcome this and at others we are surprised and possibly frightened as Peter was. Will you give Jesus, the Lion of Judah, permission... even intentionally invite him into the fullness of your life? Perhaps there are places of wounding and disappointment or aspirations and longings. The Lion is untamed but he is good. You can trust him as he enters these new places and spaces of your life.
- Feb 3, 2019When God Strips Off My Mask
When God Strips Off My MaskThe Jesus-Lion will sometimes roar and it will either command our attention and obedience or make us really mad. Sunday's Gospel story made a lot of faithful synagogue attendees so mad they tried to kill Jesus. Can you imagine!? Yet the same Jesus-Lion roars today and calls God's people to be light and salt to the world.
- Jan 27, 2019He’s the King, I Tell You!
He’s the King, I Tell You!Jesus, the lion isn't safe but he's good. He's not the cuddly pet many like to make him. As a lion he'll challenge and roar and gain our attention and response. Join us as we worship the Lion of Judah and invite him to transform our lives.
- Jan 20, 2019Love the Lord Your God
Love the Lord Your God"Crown of Beauty," "My Delight," "Rejoiced Over:" these are words God longs to speak over us. God is crazy in love with you and longs for you to experience the depths of his love. Are you falling in love with Christ? Are you learning to drink deeply from the wedding wine of joy? Invite the Holy Spirit to open your mind and heart to this divine love that excels all other loves.
- Jan 13, 2019Baptized
Baptized(the audio doesn't start until about 15 seconds in)On Sunday we reaffirmed our baptisms. Baptism is an outward sign of internal reality...that by God's amazing grace we are CHOSEN and called BELOVED by God. 2 words, 2 truths, which when deeply embraced will transform our identities and lives. Give thanks to God this week for your baptism and invite the Holy Spirit to empower you to claim your identity in Jesus!
- Jan 6, 2019Living a New & Glorious Life
Living a New & Glorious LifeEPIPHANY - It means revealing like when a light bulb goes off and we now understand something. The Season of Epiphany invites us to see and understand Jesus afresh, anew and to follow therefore more deeply. Simeon is a model for living into an Epiphany life. He desired to be fully devoted to God. He learned how to actively look for where God was showing up. When he saw God showing up/acting, Simeon moved to be where God was working. Lastly he talked about God to other people. What might it look like for you to grow in one of these steps? Are you wiling to take that step? When will you begin your Epiphany journey?
- Dec 16, 2018Outsiders are Welcomed
Outsiders are WelcomedIt's never fun to be left out of something good. On Sunday we heard the story of how God is seeking the outsiders and inviting them into relationship. Might there be some friends, relatives, acquaintances and/or neighbors you can "seek" and invite to Christmas Eve worship? Perhaps someone who used to worship with us but drifted away. Christmas is a season when people are especially open to attending a sacred gathering filled with popular songs and hope.
- Dec 9, 2018My World Gets Complicated
My World Gets ComplicatedToday, we walk through Matthew's account of Jesus' birth and find ourselves in the Story.
- Dec 2, 2018Hope Arrives
Hope ArrivesGod cares about people just trying to survive, victims of sexual abuse/assault, and people who have made ruinous life decisions. God not only cares about these but also wants to hang out with them, redeem their lives, and partner with them to heal a broken world.
