Dr. Tom Pace Genesis 1:31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Romans 7:19-20 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. My wife loves to watch HGTV. The network is a series of television shows about people buying old houses and hiring clever and creative [...]
Tim Helwege 1 Samuel 16:17-19, 23 (ESV) So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David [...]
Vicki Keiser, Church Council and Stephen’s Ministry Psalm 40:1-3 (ESV) I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Reflection: Patience is defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. I think back [...]
Cindy Donaldson John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Reflection: The church I attended as a young adult had this passage from John 14:27 above the door of the sanctuary so that you’d read it upon departing the church – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” [...]
Dear Jesus, It seems obvious to say that you were born with skin on. I mean, how else would you be born among us, God? I am sure that you had that soft skin of an infant, supple and smooth. To look at it that way, knowing that it would bear the stripes of the whip, the wounds of the thorns and spear is really hard to bear. But you chose to live with the challenges a human body brings – pain, hunger, thirst, illness, weakness, vulnerability. Perhaps all that was to let us know that our bodies are sacred, just as [...]
Rachel Fisher, Children’s Ministries Communications Specialist Romans 12:1-3 (NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 3 Because of [...]
Suzi Pitts 1 Kings 19:11 The Lord said to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. It was the spring of [...]
Karen Limmer, St. Luke’s member since 2009 Proverbs 15:18 ESV A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. Romans 8:25 ESV But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Reflection: There are so many Bible verses on patience. It is clear God wants us to be patient. Yet it can be so hard! I am anything but patient. I could burst trying to wait for a response to an email. I easily give up on difficult tasks when I don’t succeed right away. God [...]
Charity Autry, Member since 2008, Families in Faith Sunday School Leader, Starting Point Leader, VBS Chair (Children’s Ministry Council) Philippians 4:11-13, 19 (New International Version) 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who [...]
Shelby Olive 2 Samuel 9:1-11 David asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and he was summoned to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “At your service!” 3 The king said, “Is there anyone remaining of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” Ziba said to the king, “There remains a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to [...]