Created in Christ

"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so …

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Easter: Creation Groans

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not …

Blessed are the Merciful

One of my very favorite Jesus stories comes from Luke 18:  "He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was …

The Light of the World

Advent is a season of waiting, expectation, and hope - a season in which we are invited to navigate the darkness with trust that God navigates it alongside us, illuminating, teaching, restoring - as present and active in the dark as in the full brightness of day. I went on a walk in my neighborhood …

Time

Throughout my life, I have mostly understood time as a commodity: something that we either have or do not have. Something of which we need more; something of which we complain about when it seems likes there's not enough. In the last few years, every time I hear the word time, I think about these …

Your Kingdom Come

I have been thinking a lot, lately about a text in Luke 10 in which Jesus sends seventy disciples out into the towns and places he intends to go. He instructs them to take nothing with them and to rely on the hospitality of others. He instructs them both to announce, "Peace to this house," and …

Painting Pictures of Egypt

"From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why …

Midwives of Hope

15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.” 17 But the …

I’m Sorry

I tend to be an improver - a fixer, by nature. I have high expectations of myself and of others. If I see something that feels broken or unjust or something that could be tweaked to make better - I move toward it, leaning in and doing my best to fix it. These can be endearing qualities. …

A Broken Alleluia

The last time I drove my car anywhere public, besides two trips to Stony Creek Metro Park for hiking, was March 22. I went to Kroger. In the days after, our family decided that Brian would make all of our grocery trips for both our family and my parents, to limit those going out in …