Rachel Fisher, Children’s Ministries Communications Specialist Lamentations 3:19-24 (NIV) 19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,     the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them,     and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind    and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,     for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning;     great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;     therefore I will wait for him.” Reflection: Do you ever wish time could be bottled up [...]

Martha Hill Jamison, Member Luke 24: 13-16 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  Reflection: “I can’t wait until everything gets back to normal.” How many times have I said or heard this phrase since COVID-19 made its presence known?  We have put much of our lives on hold. [Almost] No traveling, [...]

Amy Kelley, Dir. of Program Ministries, Gethsemane Jeremiah 18:1-6 (CEB) 1 Jeremiah received the Lord’s word: 2 Go down to the potter’s house, and I’ll give you instructions about what to do there. 3 So I went down to the potter’s house; he was working on the potter’s wheel. 4 But the piece he was making was flawed while still in his hands, so the potter started on another, as seemed best to him. 5 Then the Lord’s word came to me: 6 House of Israel, can’t I deal with you like this potter, declares the Lord? Like clay [...]

Pat Deckert, Good Will class, Docent, Night Prayer Circle John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.    Psalm 71:23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered.  Reflection:   Regardless of how much we love our jobs, who of us has not experienced a season– maybe a day, a week, a year, or more–of discontent whether we are at work in [...]

Charity Autry, Member since 2008, Families in Faith Sunday School Leader, Starting Point Leader, VBS Chair (Children’s Ministry Council) Genesis 33:1-17 (English Standard Version) 3 He (Jacob) himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.  8  Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?””To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. 10  “No, please! Said Jacob. “If I have found [...]

Vicki Keiser, Stephen’s Ministry and Church Council Hebrews 11:31 (NLT) It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. Reflection: You may remember the story of Rahab. She was an interesting resident of Jericho at the time of the siege of the City by the Israelites.  She found herself in a position to help two spies sent into Jericho by Joshua, the leader of Israelite tribes after Moses died.  When the King of Jericho sent soldiers [...]

Ashley Bandara, Contemporary Worship Leader  Job 4:7-9 (NRSV) 7 “For there is hope for a tree,     if it is cut down, that it will sprout again,     and that its shoots will not cease. 8 Though its root grows old in the earth,     and its stump dies in the ground, 9 yet at the scent of water it will bud     and put forth branches like a young plant.  Reflection: You may have heard the phrase “hurt people hurt people.” It’s a phrase that elicits empathy reminding us that we can’t know what is happening internally with someone else. We can’t [...]

JoBeth Hawkins, Small Group Leader Luke‬ ‭23:32-43‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬ “Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The [...]

Cindy Donaldson, St. Luke’s member since 2012, Children’s Council chair, Moms of Littles Bible study co-leader Ezekiel 37:4-6 “Actually, I do. Prophesy to these bones. Tell them to listen to what the Eternal Lord says to them: “Dry bones, I will breathe breath into you, and you will come alive. I will attach muscles and tendons to you, cause flesh to grow over them, and cover you with skin. I will breathe breath into you, and you will come alive. After this happens, you will know that I am the Eternal.”  Reflection: As I’m writing this in February, I’m [...]