One of the important ways to grow into becoming the kind of person we want to be is by choosing a mentor and patterning our life after theirs. We are making such choices whenever we click on “Like,” “Follow,” or “Subscribe.” But are we being thoughtful and intentional about who we allow to influence us and the depth of influence that we give to them? Will following them lead us into the life that we want to live? Jesus is both the ideal human and our Savior and he will lead us into a life that w...
Oct 08, 2023•27 min
There is a lot of emphasis on rule-based living these days. While having some basic rules for our life can be helpful, for we all need some structure in our lives, it is important for us to remember that the rules are not our life, and neither is living without any rules. What we really need for fruitful living is to be enlivened, empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit. Our best life is lived with the Holy Spirit. (Based on Galatians 5:13-26.)
Oct 01, 2023•32 min
God is on the move. He is always on the move! Can you see what He is doing around you? Did you know that the Holy Spirit is working all the time as He continues to work in your life and mine. He is working on all those people in your sphere of influence. Can you see Him working and how He equips you to be His mentor to others as He is working in their lives? Are you ready? God is on the Move, in Isaiah's time, with St Paul in prison, in Africa today and here in Canada, at Walnut Grove. Come and ...
Sep 24, 2023•43 min
The standard human operating system is to live life in this world guided by what we see and for our own personal enrichment. The hollowness of this OS is revealed when we come to the end of life in this world and end up with nothing. But Jesus paid the full cost of our forgiveness so that we could be reconciled to God and have life with him. Therefore, we live differently in this world. We are guided by faith, not sight, and our goal is for there to be more people in God’s Kingdom. So we serve a...
Sep 17, 2023•27 min
We usually think of freedom as the ability to do whatever we want, but that kind of freedom can lead us to harm others and ourselves. With Jesus, we have been freed from feeding our sinful, self-centered desires. In the freedom we have from Jesus, we mold ourselves to connect with others so they might know him and the freedom he gives. (Based on 1 Cor. 9:19-27, 10:23-11:2.)
Sep 03, 2023•28 min
A lot of the challenging issues in our society these days, such as sexuality, gender, and abortion, pertain to the human body and who controls what we do with our bodies. Is it the government or the individual? A common response is to say, “It’s my body and I can do whatever I want with it!” As we look at Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, we will see that this isn’t even the right question to ask or the right answer to give. God thinks more highly of us and our bodies than we do, and throu...
Aug 27, 2023•30 min
With all the challenges we face, it is easy for us to become discouraged and cynical about life. Our hearts are empty, and we have no use for other people, unless they can give us what we need. But Jesus gives us the endurance and encouragement we need to keep moving forward in this challenging world. He makes sure that all our needs are met and his love fills our hearts to over-flowing. Fully loved and cared for by Jesus, we are able to be truly selfless and love and accept others just as Jesus...
Aug 20, 2023•24 min
Central to the Christian journey is the faithful reading of Scripture and fellowship with Jesus and his followers. This is vividly illustrated in the dramatic encounter between two disciples and the risen Jesus on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). The disciples recognize who Jesus is, and are able to proclaim the gospel, only after he explains Scripture in relation to himself and when they share a meal in communion together.
Aug 13, 2023•24 min
We humans inherently try to justify ourselves on the basis of what we do, who we are, or what we have. But none of those human-centered approaches work. Thankfully, because of his own goodness and love, God has reconciled himself to us by sending Jesus to pay the full cost of humanity's forgiveness for our sins and give us his righteousness in return. Therefore, we abandon our efforts to justify ourselves and, freed from that fruitless burden, live in the peace and joy of a reconciled life with ...
Aug 06, 2023•30 min
In times past, the surrounding society supported and encouraged faith in Jesus. But not anymore. In times of pressure or persecution, we may forget the power of the Gospel and be tempted to hide our faith to preserve our life in this world. But there is more power in the Gospel than there is in us. The Gospel message about Jesus has the power to create faith in our hearts, and through that faith we receive salvation. (Based on Romans 1:1-17.)
Jul 30, 2023•30 min
Human life is like a funnel. When we are younger, we have lots of opportunities to make choices. As we grow older, our opportunities to make choices narrows up to the point that, at the end of our life, we have almost no opportunities left. Without help, we will inevitably have regrets at life's end. But Jesus forgives us for all our failures, redeems our mistakes and gives us the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. Therefore, we seek the Spirit's guidance in determining our main goals in tasks ...
Jul 23, 2023•29 min
In our part of the world, we live in a time where Christianity seems to be in decline and there is resistance to the Christian message. But God has placed within each culture a connecting point for the Gospel message. So we nourish ourselves with the true Christian faith and also learn about the surrounding culture. With the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, we can build bridges with our non-Christian friends that Jesus walk across to them. (Based on Acts 17:22-34.)
Jul 16, 2023•33 min
There is no one who is beyond God's grace. Even Paul, a former enemy of Christians, was transformed by Jesus to become the most prominent Christian missionary in New Testament times. Regardless of how deep or dark our sin may be, Jesus invites us to come into the light of his forgiveness. Like Paul, it is there that we find new life, new hope and new purpose. (Based on Acts 9:1-19.)
Jul 09, 2023•29 min
For some of us, having someone tell us not to worry is like telling us not to breathe. It is so ingrained into our lives that we cannot imagine life without it. What is needed is a shift in what our heart ultimately trusts. Worry happens because we trust in ourselves or our circumstances to preserve and protect our lives. Jesus invites us to live in a new way where we live in moment-by-moment trust in him. That’s how we are able to not be anxious about anything. (Based on Philippians 4:6-7.)...
Jul 02, 2023•23 min
Confirmation Sunday is an opportunity for young people to publicly confess that the faith into which they were baptized as infants is indeed their own personal faith. This is a momentous occasion in the lives of each of these four young people for, from this moment on, they will be taking responsibility for the Christian faith in which they were nurtured at home and in this community of faith. This is an opportunity for us to celebrate with them as we continue to nurture, support and love them i...
Jun 25, 2023•18 min
We live in a time of great change and uncertainty, a time when the foundations of the institutions and shared beliefs that used to support society have started to crack and crumble. In a search for "salvation," most people take an individual perspective and focus on themselves. But Jesus brings salvation in a communal sense, for love always finds its fullest form in community. (Based on Acts 2:36-47.)
Jun 18, 2023•28 min
As Jesus got ready to leave the world, he prepared his followers by making them aware of the persecution that will come. The Source of strength and truth that will help them endure will be the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to send to them. As Jesus' followers share his love with the world, the Holy Spirit will do the inner work of convincing people of their need for a Savior. (Based on John 16:1-15.)
Jun 11, 2023•26 min
Before Jesus went to the cross, he assured his followers that he would send another Advocate, a Helper who would continue the work of Jesus by dwelling within his followers and reminding them of all that Jesus had done and taught. That Advocate is the Holy Spirit who fills us with overflowing life, love, joy and peace from God. With our spirit attuned to the Holy Spirit, we have courage and peace. (Based on John 14:15-31.)
Jun 04, 2023•29 min
All human problems tend to be rooted in our bodies or our spirits, and sometimes both. Left to our own devices, there is no way for human beings to fully resolve and heal the problems we have. But the God-human Jesus has. His suffering and death on the cross, and his resurrection that followed on the third day, point to the culmination of our journey of faith with him, a journey that is initiated and fueled by the Holy Spirit. (Based on Acts 2:1-21 & John 11:17-27, 38-44.)
May 28, 2023•29 min
Because we are deeply rooted in this world, it is easy for us to primarily hunger for the things of this world. Sometimes we even try to use Jesus, with his power and authority, to get the things that we want. But Jesus went to the cross, died and rose again, to satisfy much deeper hungers in our soul. With him as our king, for now and forever, more of his grace and love shines through us into the lives of others. (Based on John 6:22-40.)
May 21, 2023•27 min
Without new life from the Holy Spirit, we prefer to live in darkness instead of the light of God's Kingdom. But Jesus died on the cross and rose again to pay the cost of a new and eternal life for us. Through trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit brings that new life to us personally. Living the new life the Spirit has given us, we live by God's truth and walk in his light. (Based on John 3:1-21.)
May 14, 2023•23 min
We are so used to looking at life through the framework of the world, that we miss seeing Jesus at work in our lives and in the world. But when we become willing to humbly receive, then we can see Jesus and what he is doing. Therefore, with our eyes on him and confident of his love and redemption, we are able to live our lives with the hope and joy of the resurrection. (Based on Luke 24:13-35.)
May 07, 2023•27 min
We all need to make value choices. But how do we make those choices? By what gives us status, power or money? Jesus shows us that none of those valuations will secure our life forever. Instead, he invites us to make him, the rejected one, the chief cornerstone of our lives. In his eyes, we are living stones which he will build into a beautiful home that glorifies God. (Based on Luke 19:45-20:18 & 1 Peter 2:4-12.)
Apr 30, 2023•26 min
Far too often our actions indicate that we underestimate what God can do in our life & in the lives of others. So we use the resources and opportunities he gives us to try to keep ourselves safe. But that self-made security will be stripped away before God when we have to answer for what we did with what God gave us in this life. Jesus is offering us a better way to live. Through his interactions with others and the stories he told, Jesus shows us that God's grace can do far greater things i...
Apr 23, 2023•35 min
Sometimes the sins of others are so offensive to us that we consider them to be beyond any redemption. It would be unfair, we think, if they enjoyed life with God when we, who consider ourselves to be good people, deserve it far more than they do. But Jesus died and rose again for the sins of all people and the Kingdom of God is open to everyone who trusts in Jesus. God's grace is for those who don't deserve it and, when we realize that also includes us, we are moved to become more gracious and ...
Apr 16, 2023•27 min
Far too often, the lives of Jesus followers don't look any different from those who don't follow Jesus. Like the women who went to Jesus' tomb, we expect to find death instead of life. But Jesus' resurrection changes everything for us. Not only has Jesus defeated death for us, he also invited us to join him on his mission of redeeming and restoring all things. Clothed with his promised power from on high, we carry with us and share his gift of life. (Based on Luke 24:1-12, 36-49.)
Apr 09, 2023•25 min
Many in the city of Jerusalem missed the opportunity for peace because they did not recognize that God came to them in the person of Jesus, and the sorrow over what had been lost caused Jesus to weep. But Jesus' compassion for humanity is our security of salvation, for Jesus continued beyond Palm Sunday to the cross, where he made our peace secure in him. (Based on Luke 19:28-44.)
Apr 02, 2023•23 min
The radical nature of God's grace can seem offensive. When those who seem to be less-deserving get a greater blessing from God, our hearts cry out, "That's not fair! I have been more faithful for longer than they have ever been!" But none of us are deserving of God's grace. We don't need fairness. We need mercy. And in Jesus Christ, God has mercy, and grace, for all. (Based on Luke 4:14-30.)
Mar 26, 2023•22 min
There is a lot of emphasis on identity these days, and rightly so, for everything we do flows from our identity. But what if we are wrong about our identity, or fail to live up to the identity we have set for ourselves? The possibility of such identity failure leaves us with a tinge of fear. However, through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus gives us a new identity as new creation people. As we live the joy and security of our new identity, we are better able to reflect his love and grace ...
Mar 19, 2023•15 min
We human beings make plans for our lives, but it is God who directs our steps. Because he is a good, gracious and loving God, we know that he is directing us toward a good ending, an ending which he has prepared in advance for us to enjoy, an ending which is far beyond anything we can ever ask or imagine. Therefore, we can trust in God for today, tomorrow and forever. (Based on Ephesians 3:14-21 & Proverbs 16:9.)
Mar 12, 2023•46 min
