29 APR 2024 · Today is April 29. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.      Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”         Today’s reading is from the book of Galatians, chapter 5.     So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.        As we enter into our time of prayer, chose one of the fruits of the spirit to meditate on: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Consider now how that fruit is demonstrated in the life of Jesus. Think of one New Testament story where you remember Christ showing us what it means to live by the fruit of the spirit...      I think of Jesus’ invitation once to some children to come to Him. He was kind, and gentle. The disciples were shooing the kids away, but Jesus took time to switch things up. He seemed to want to use the moment to remind everyone around Him how to walk in the Spirit. Look for a time today to intentionally practice the fruit of God’s spirit. As we end our time of prayer, ask the Lord to lead you into that time, and to give you insight into how you can be like Him in any particular moment. Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.    Music: "Empowered" - Vineyard Worship - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSToEvktXis 

27 APR 2024 · This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced. 1. Become aware of God’s presence. 2. Review the day with gratitude. 3. Pay attention to your emotions. 4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. 5. Look toward tomorrow.

26 APR 2024 · Today is April 26th.     May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.          Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John chapter 21.   Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20134;%20Exodus%2024:1-11;%20John%2021:1-14#fen-NIV-26900a]It happened this way:  Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.  “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.  He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.      Let’s take a moment and try to step into this familiar story. Some of the disciples – career fishermen – went out to fish and caught nothing. These guys weren’t fishing for sport – if they didn’t catch, they didn’t eat. Imagine how they felt: imagine their weary muscles. Imagine how exhausted they were. Imagine the smell of the air, the stink of the disciples themselves, the frustration of an empty haul, and the feeling of empty stomachs. It had been a bad night. Imagine yourself in the scene with them. What is your attitude like in frustrating moments like these?       This next bit in the story makes me laugh… these frustrated fishermen have been up all night, have nothing to show for it, and Jesus calls out to them: ‘friends, haven’t you caught any fish?’ As you listen to the passage again, consider why Jesus would ask a question that he very well knew the answer to…        “Throw your net on the other side of the boat and you’ll find fish…” What a silly thing to say! Fish don’t congregate only on one side of a boat. Plus, Jesus was a carpenter, not a fisherman. Why listen to Him? Why follow His instruction? I think that the disciples had begun to notice a pattern: when Jesus says to do something… and you do it… remarkable things happen. How do you respond to the instruction of the Lord when it doesn’t make sense to you? Have you seen enough of His goodness to just say ‘yes’? Or do you struggle to follow in faith? As we end our time of prayer, review places where you may have struggled to obey God’s instruction… and invite God back into those places with a willing and teachable heart.     Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.    Music: "We Say Yes" - Vineyard Worship - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Q3McCBDg4 

25 APR 2024 · Today is April 25th.          The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.         Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”       Today’s reading is from 1 Peter, chapter 2.  Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.     This passage offers us a picture of an exchange: impure, for pure. Evil, for good. Peter makes us think of a newborn infant, being filled up with healthy and whole nutrition that leads to their growth and development. Think for a moment about the past few days: what kinds of things are ‘filling’ you up? What has your attention? What do you watch, or listen to, or scroll past?      Are the things that fill you up things that are leading to your spiritual flourishing? Does what you watch, listen to, or scroll past lead toward spiritual maturity and Christlikeness? Or are you putting your attention in places that stir up things like malice and envy? Let’s listen to this brief scripture one more time… pay attention to the one word or phrase that stands out to you.  I have a friend who is an amazing cook. When he brings a new snack to our small group, after each bite someone literally says: “oh my gosh, this is SO GOOD!” Have you experienced that, ever? Maybe eating at your favorite restaurant? Or at your grandmom’s house? Peter is using words to remind his listeners that we’ve tasted the goodness of God himself… they’ve experienced it in a real and impactful way. And he’s remind us that we should exchange the darkness, the impurity of the world for the refreshing, revitalizing, and reassuring goodness of God. As we end our time of prayer, plan to take time today to reflect on moments in your spiritual life where you’ve ‘tasted’ the goodness of God. You might even want to journal for a few moments right now about those moments.   Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.    Music: "We Are Hungry" - Vineyard Soul - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fchqjh6UwPI 

24 APR 2024 · Today is April 24th.     The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.       Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”         Today’s reading is from Genesis chapter 18.   The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.   He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20134;%20Genesis%2018:1-14;%201%20Peter%201:23-25#fen-NIV-428a] do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”  “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.  “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”     Can you imagine yourself in this scenario? One in which you, like Sarah, feel like God is speaking something impossible, almost laughable, to you? If there a situation in your life right now that feels this way, how are you navigating it?    As you listen to the scripture again, consider all the questions that Sarah must have had running through her mind: how do these visitors know what I’m thinking? How on earth could I have a baby at this stage of life? Why now, and not earlier? Is this really God? What kind of questions to you bring to God today?      This passage ends with a question: ‘is anything too hard for the Lord?’. In our minds, we know the answer to that question is: of course not! God is all powerful. All knowing. Ever-present. God is the creator of all that is. There is nothing too difficult for God. But in our hearts? In our hearts, sometimes we feel doubt. Our circumstances lead us to wonder if we’re out of God’s ability or desire to help. And our pain, or unanswered prayer, or sense of hopelessness in difficult circumstances, can cause us to languish in a place of spiritual despair. As we end our time of prayer, can you bring that which feels beyond God’s control, or that which leads you to doubt or that which causes you to ask your own hard questions… can you bring that to God? Take a moment and bring all of your questions and doubts to God.    Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.    Music: Nothing Is Too Hard For You - Vineyard Worship - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIBv7P8pO0c

23 APR 2024 · Today is April 29. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.     Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”         Today’s reading is from the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 1.     For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For since in the wisdom of God / the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.     As you come to prayer today, spend a few moments thinking about the word foolish and the word wise. How do you feel that God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise? Or the weak things to shame the strong?      Listen again to Paul’s words and really think: what does this upside-down, counter cultural emphasis tell you about the character of God?     Do you struggle being a ‘foolish thing’? Where in your heart or your ego do you resist allowing God to be the strong one, the competent one... instead of you? I’d encourage you to ask the Lord for His gift of humility. Talk to Him about your ego, and where you might be relying on the wrong kinds of things. Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.      Music:  "God Has Been Good To Me" - Vineyard Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rCewSYT_1U 

22 APR 2024 · Today is April 22nd. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.      Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”         Today’s reading is from the book of John, chapter 12.     Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.   But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.   “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”      Take some time to play this scene back in your mind, at least what you remember of it. Maybe imagine yourself in the room as you watch this scene unfold. You see Jesus, and Martha and Lazarus. And you smell the food. You see a beautiful scene of worship as Mary washes Jesus’ feet with her hair. Then you see Judas. Notice your interior movement to what’s happening during this exchange.      I notice how Jesus acts in a kind and protective way toward Mary. He’s the guest of honor, a person with power in that space. And in this moment, he uses that privilege to tell Judas to “leave Mary alone”.  Imagine how it would have felt for her to first hear Judas’ critique. And then imagine what it’d have been like to hear Jesus’ words of protection spoken over her.     Do you ever forget that Jesus of Nazareth was a man? God in the flesh, yes. But also... Jesus of Nazareth. A carpenter. Leader of a small movement. In this scene there is much to notice but I notice the protective, big-brother-ness of Jesus. It reminds me of how he treated the woman caught in adultery. With dignity. Jesus is a remarkable example of walking in both confidence and strength and humility and kindness. As you end your time of prayer today, consider the strength of Jesus... and where you might use your own strength to serve God, and protect the vulnerable. Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.      Music:  "Among the Poor" - Vineyard Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0vpKuJUztg

20 APR 2024 · This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced. 1. Become aware of God’s presence. 2. Review the day with gratitude. 3. Pay attention to your emotions. 4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. 5. Look toward tomorrow.

19 APR 2024 · Today is April 19.   May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.    Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”       Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark chapter 12.     One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”    Do you ever feel confused by what it means to be a God follower? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the demands of being a Christian? What am I to believe and what am I to do? Today’s reading is the whole teaching of Jesus and the Bible summed up. God is who he has revealed himself to be—one God existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Spirit. We are to love God with our whole being and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the whole teaching of scripture summed up.     But we know that summing it up and living it out are two different things. Imagine for a moment that love is like a fire that can become very hot or, if unattended to, can become very cold. How warm or cool is your love for God? As you hear the passage again, ask God to blow fresh wind on your fire of love.     Now think for a moment about people you are surrounded with in your life. Family, friends, colleagues or neighbors. How warm or cool is your love for these people God has placed around you? As you go through your day today, ask God to renew you with his love that his love may flow through you into one other person’s life today.      Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.      Music:  "Fiery Love" - Vineyard Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpMk2yUSfPE

18 APR 2024 · Today is April 18.   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.    Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”       Today’s reading is from Psalm 115.   Why do the nations say,      “Where is their God?”  Our God is in heaven;      he does whatever pleases him.  But their idols are silver and gold,      made by human hands.  They have mouths, but cannot speak,      eyes, but cannot see.  They have ears, but cannot hear,      noses, but cannot smell.  They have hands, but cannot feel,      feet, but cannot walk,      nor can they utter a sound with their throats.  Those who make them will be like them,      and so will all who trust in them.  All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—      he is their help and shield.  House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—      he is their help and shield.  You who fear him, trust in the Lord—      he is their help and shield.     An idol is anything that we turn to for purpose or provision in place of God. The Israelites lived among nations who fashioned idols out of wood or stone or silver and gold. The idols often looked like a person—with hands, feet, ears and mouths. They were believed to be filled with spiritual power. But even though these idols looked like a person, they couldn’t speak, hear, or move—they were nothing but statues. Yahweh reminded the Israelites that even though he was pure spirit without a physical body, he was alive. He heard, and spoke, and moved among them and on their behalf.     We have the same challenge today as the Israelites did. We don’t see God with our physical eyes so naturally we wonder, God, do you exist? And if you do exist, how can we hear you speak and see you move? When we doubt that God is with us or when we don’t see God do what we want him to do, we naturally turn god-substitutes. As you hear the passage again, call to mind a god-substitute that you turn to for purpose or provision rather than God.     As we close our time today, can you make the refrain of the psalm your refrain? As you walk through your day today, say to the Lord, “I put my trust in you… You are my help and my shield.”      Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.      Music: "You're Carrying Me" - Vineyard Worship - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ4xFDTkVmE&list=OLAK5uy_lORjIs-fhaoAb6ot2t54vI3oFG2Cvhwms&index=2