The connect devotional is a great way to stay connected spiritually to what our community is learning about God right now. It is in step with the current sermon series, studying the scripture through the lens of life application.
Clicking here to subscribe and receive the Connect Devotional in your inbox
To see past posts, click the "All Posts" button above
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby,he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother."From that time on, this disciple took her into his home(John 19:25-27). COVID has messed with so many aspects of our lives. Now, as we are just beginning to slowly and carefully emerge from the pandemic's sha...
Keep Reading"We [have] become the children of God [we] are all one in Jesus Christ." (John 1:12, Gal. 3:28) What are the hallmarks of your family? An intimate, laughing tangle of cousins, parents, and grandparents protecting, supporting, and comforting each other, worshipping together, and offering hospitality to others? A distant father, quarrelsome siblings, an atmosphere of critic...
Keep ReadingNear the cross of Jesus stood his motherWhen Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home (John 19:25a-27). You know, mothers don't necessarily like Mother's Day. (Apologies here to you mo...
Keep ReadingNear the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.John 19:25-27 We met Esther the first time...
Keep ReadingWhen Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby,he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother."From that time on, this disciple took her into his home(John 19:25-27). Slowly the pandemic appears to be loosening its grip. Slowly life is "returning" to "normal." We still have a way to go before COVID is ...
Keep ReadingThe disciples asked Jesus, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" ."Men of Galilee," [the angels] said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky?" (Acts 1:6, 11). I suppose there's nothing inherently wrong with gazing into the sky, especially if you've just been watching Jesus ascend to heaven! But the time comes when continuing to gaze at...
Keep Reading"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8) Do you try to influence others by raising your voice? Texting in ALL CAPS? Emailing with an abundance of exclamation points? Flooding your Instagram feed with motivational (always scripturally-based, of course) sayings? What's behind that desire? In other words, who or what...
Keep Reading"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). I am not a naturally take-charge person. If someone else wants to lead, I'm more than fine with that. Which is perhaps why the Holy Spirit has, at times, had to sneak up on me with His opportuniti...
Keep Reading"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? Acts 1:11a One of our children allows things to become messier than the others do, and when the mess reaches an overwhelming level doesn't know where or how to begin cleaning it up...so just does something else instead. The mess gets messier, mom's blood pressure rises, chaos takes over, and the ent...
Keep ReadingIn my first book, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach (Acts 1:1) As we begin this final week of our Influence series, we'll move from influences to being influencers. So far, we've looked at being shaped and formed ("influenced") by paying close attention to who God really is, by learning how to come under the influence of the wisdom of God rather than the...
Keep Reading