“You are sent into this world to believe in yourself as God’s chosen one and then to help your brothers and sisters to know that they also are beloved sons and daughters of God who belong together.”—Finding My Way Home The Bible is unambiguous about God’s concern for those in need. “Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your
Peter would never forget that terrible moment when their eyes met. Did he see in Jesus’ gaze some hint of disappointment or reproach? We cannot venture so far; the inspired record says only that “the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.” (Luke 22:61) But in that one glance, Peter saw the depth of his own failure. He realized that he had just done the very thing that Jesus had foretold,
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego firmly refused to bow to the king. Could we stand as firmly? It is easier when in church, but how about on other turf? They trusted God’s deliverance. Do we have that kind of faith – especially if we are struggling to see where God is at work? And even if God didn’t do what they hoped, they’d still refuse to worship any other god. The
As believers, we are called on a journey with Christ—and even those who may not yet know Jesus, are called as well. For believers, this journey began early in life with Baptism. Our parents and families made sure we were raised in the church, learning about God through life in the community of faith. And along the way on this journey, you and I hear the Lord calling us, saying,
This week’s Gospel lesson brings us the story of the ten lepers who appeal to Christ Jesus for healing that He alone could give. While all ten were healed of this dreaded plague, only one came back to Jesus, bowed himself before Him who offers abundant life unconditionally to all people, and praised God for the healing he had received. You and I are like one of those lepers: we
“At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him
Have you ever, when reading a book, snuck a peek at the end of the book to see how it ends? Apparently, there are people who do. It's like Billy Crystal's character says in the movie When Harry Met Sally—"When I buy a new book, I read the last page first. That way, in case something happens to me before I finish, at least I know how it ends." What
"At once the Spirit made him go into the wilderness, where he stayed forty days, being tempted by Satan." [Mark 1:12-13] It's a humble journey, the one we begin to look at this week—Unlike other journeys in our lives, journeys that start off with the excitement of loaded suitcases, wedding licenses or retirement gifts. It's a humble journey we begin, this Jesus-journey. Humble? Really? This scripture from the gospel of
This week at Sedona United Methodist Church we celebrate the festival of the Baptism of Our Lord—Each year this Holy Gospel reading brings us the account of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan at the start of his earthly ministry. This year we hear the account from the 3rd Chapter in the Gospel of Matthew— “At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be
