When You’re Marginalized
Marginalized, isolated, abandoned, everyone has a story. Whether it is the dominant or micro-culture like the workplace or home people can find themselves cast out and cut off. The story of Jesus is the story of the marginalized being welcomed, embraced, affirmed and restored. "Daughter, your faith made you well; go in peace" are words we need to hear and receive today. What story in your life needs to hear Jesus' words?
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- Feb 16, 2020When You’re Marginalized
When You’re MarginalizedMarginalized, isolated, abandoned, everyone has a story. Whether it is the dominant or micro-culture like the workplace or home people can find themselves cast out and cut off. The story of Jesus is the story of the marginalized being welcomed, embraced, affirmed and restored. "Daughter, your faith made you well; go in peace" are words we need to hear and receive today. What story in your life needs to hear Jesus' words?
- Feb 9, 2020When You’re Afraid
When You’re AfraidCoronavirus, climate change, health concerns, finances...the list of concerns, global and personal, can be overwhelming. Fear rises up and like a fierce taskmaster it drives us to exhaustion of body, mind, and spirit. This is Elijah's story. But his story has another voice. This voice invites us to remember we are never alone. God is with us. This voice invites us to lie down in green pastures, to be restored by God's presence and love. Elijah, driven and harried, finds himself renewed and able to face the same circumstances that had driven him to despair. So it can be for us too if we listen for the still small voice amidst the clamor of fear-inducing circumstances. Peace be with you.
- Feb 2, 2020When You’re Broken
When You’re Broken"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions." These words from Psalm 51 are a chapter of David's story. They remind us, sometimes we choose wrong paths. Those paths lead to oppression, darkness and alienation...brokenness. Psalm 51 lets us know, there is a way home. Restoration, reconciliation and flourishing can be found again. In David's beautiful poem he lays out this pathway. Reveal- tell the truth; Repent- turn away from the wrong paths and toward relationship with God; Reorient- wrong paths are created by unhealthy habits. New habits are needed to create new and healthy paths. Primary among new habits is Scripture. Like an artificial horizon or carpenter's level, Scripture reveals objective truth to fashion how we live our lives.
- Jan 26, 2020When You’re Oh So Right
When You’re Oh So RightPeter, a devout Torah-keeping Jewish follower of Jesus, was fueled by deep convictions. As we walked through his story on Sunday we discovered that God leads us to new and unexpected understandings of faith and life. We sang of a God who opens blind eyes! Peter's story is our story. We dig our heels in, resist...sometimes loudly, insisting, openly or quietly, that God is on our side. Yet God comes and gives us new eyes to see what he is doing.
- Jan 19, 2020When It’s Disappointing
When It’s DisappointingDisappointment. It happens to all of us in varying degrees...minor to major. The story of Hagar is a story of disappointment. But her story doesn't stop there. Her story of disappointment is also her story of discovery. Hagar discovered that God hears (Ishmael), God sees (El Roi) and, amidst a culture that discounted her life, God sees ME (Beer-lahai-roi). Hagar's story is encouragement to us. While time and culture separate us, we find common ground in disappointment. We find common ground in Ishmael, El Roi and Beer-lahai-Roi. God hears and sees. God sees you and me. We are valued. God is present with us. We are not abandoned. We are not alone.
God is with us. - Jan 12, 2020When It’s Good
When It’s GoodThe story of Mary and Joseph invites us to see how God can show up and take life in new and unexpected...even initially unwanted directions. God speaks saying, "Don't be afraid." Mary and Joseph were courageous. They let go of precious things that made life good for them. In faith and obedience they stepped out of their boat and partnered with God in His redemptive work. Let's remember Mary and Joseph as we begin to discuss our future. Might God be calling us to a new and vibrant chapter of life and ministry?