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“The true goal is to be what we do. ” Abraham Joshua Heschel "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." Mt 6:33 We are moving through the Sermon on the Mount to learn how to live it out. As C.S. Lewis said of the Christian life, it is going to be easy and hard. There is an atmosphere in the kingdom of God - an environment that is life and leads to life. “The heart of God is the environment for the Christian. God meant th

"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." Mt 6: 33 “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek - to be with the Lord all the days of my life.” Ps 27: 4 Jesus shared some very challenging words in the Sermon on the Mount. When you hear them and think about them, they stop you in your tracks. For example, Jesus addresses a group of his followers. These are people who want to be with him. They are the people who kno

“Praying is talking to God about what we are doing together.” Dallas Willard "Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." St. Therese of Lisieux I enjoy children. After spending time with children, you discover that they can be both simple and complex; sometimes, a child can understand the complexity of simple things in a way that adults miss. Years ago, I was part of a Christ

One day, I was walking on a beach in Florida and stopped to look out at the ocean. Little did I know that someone was also looking at me. After a seagull nearby caught my attention, I turned and noticed a little boy. He was crouching in the sand, looking up at me. He had a huge smile and a hand full of something. I waved to him, trying to match his smile. He waved back to me. Then he turned to exchange words with his mom a little farther back. They both started to walk towar

“When a blessing is invoked, it changes the atmosphere.” John O’Donohue “Eternal life begins now and refers not only to length of life but also the quality of life in which we experience wholeness and union with God.” William Barclay (1) We are looking at the Sermon on the Mount. In particular, Jesus’ words at the end of the sermon. Jesus says, “ Therefore anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

We are looking at the Sermon on the Mount. In particular, we are leaning into Jesus’ words at the end of the sermon. Jesus says, “ Therefore, anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” What are the words we need to hear and put into practice? How can we become wise builders living on the rock? I read something from a favorite teacher of mine that makes a lot of sense. He said, “Unless you understand

Any good building contractor knows you need a solid plan before starting any building project. The plan needs to include a careful consideration of building and zoning codes. Before people can live in the house or use the building or space being built, it will have to pass inspection. There is no point in going through all the work of building a house that can never be lived in. The building codes are intended to help the building stand and work well. The inspection is requir

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart” Joel 2:12a Lent is a season of preparation that invites you to grow closer to God. Each season of your life invites you to change how you live. It can be moving from warm coats and boots to short sleeves and sandals. The change can also be more personal as you welcome a baby, send a child off to school, begin a new job, learn to live with a new diagnosis or without someone you love. It takes time to move thro

“It is time to wake up to reality. Every day brings God’s salvation nearer. The night is over, the day has almost dawned.” (Rom 13:11b,...

“Every breath we draw is a gift of his love; every moment of existence is a grace. Gratitude, therefore, takes nothing for granted, is...

"Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go."* I grew up in a small town across the street from a cornfield. We would watch the...

Sometimes, the order of things matters. When making a PB&J, it helps to put on the peanut butter before the jelly. When making a new recipe, it helps to see if you have all the ingredients needed before you begin. When painting a room, it helps to tape around the ceiling, trim, and fixtures before dipping your brush in the paint. Someone passing by may not have noticed the order of things during an art lesson I led for first graders. Desks were filled with little scraps of ti

Come ever-present God and be with me. You alone know and understand all that is before me. Come help me trust in you. Slow my pace to see...

"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound." John Newton I spent a good deal of time in the marching band when I was in high school. We would...

“What the gospel does is make the miracle routine and the routine a miracle .” Eugene Peterson More and more, the thing that seems most...

You are on a journey today. A thought, worry, interaction, or experience can send you off in a good or bad way. You are always going...

“Although time seems to fly by, it never travels faster than one day at a time. Each day is a new opportunity to live your life to the...

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” John Bunyan Imagine the darkness, the...

“Your life is a sacred journey…You are on the path…exactly where you are meant to be right now.” Caroline Adams Miller Before I even knew what was happening, my story began. I entered this world on a cold winter day in Minnesota. Since then, my mom told me that on the day I was born, she looked at me and said, "She looks like a Pam." Suddenly, I had a name. Of course, I have no memory of that. If I wanted to tell you my story, I might start from a different vantage point,

“The longest journey is the twelve inches from your head to your heart.” John Ortberg Have you ever thought about that? If Ortberg is...