Sometimes I go to monasteries for spiritual retreats and attend some of the prayer services with the Catholic monks where they chant the Psalms. One time at Mass when I went up to the front for the Eucharist the priest shook his head and frowned, indicating that it was not okay for me as a…
A primary way God nourishes our souls with his loving presence is through the beauty of nature. The face of the Lord shines on his in the sun. The moon and stars remind us that God’s light and love shine to us even in the dark. The Lord is speaking to us and warming us…
Advent is a celebration of the coming of Christ — and the whole Trinity! I wonder if you’ve ever meditated on the Trinity? This has been one of the most important practices in my life. What a blessing to see the way the Father, Son and Spirit love and honor one another — and us.…
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant… The Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name.” — Luke 1:46-49 Have you ever been so overjoyed that you burst out in song? Perhaps…
Each year during the Advent season I pick a character from the nativity scene to spend some time reading about in scripture while praying and listening to the Lord.
Recently Kristi and I were walking through a grove of ancient cedar trees in Montana. I stood next to this GIANT tree. Wow! For hundreds of years it’s been stretching higher and higher into the heavens! I felt so small next to this huge and magnificent creation of God and yet at the same time…
Do you feel that you need to perform well to be loved? Do you feel the pressure of living up to an ideal self? For Pastors the pressure of people’s expectations can be crushing. Other leaders, caregivers, and all kinds of people may feel the pressure to perform. Many of us “know” that God’s grace…
What does it really mean to know Christ today? Knowing Christ is not mere head knowledge about the Bible and Christian doctrine. Nor is it just having emotions. To know the Lord Jesus Christ certainly includes intelligent thinking and having feelings, but it is primarily a spiritual experience with the reality of the living God.…
Together, by interacting with God’s grace, we can be with Jesus and become like him. Disciplines for the spiritual life help us “abide” in Jesus and bear fruit, to connect deeply with him and to become more loving like he is (John 15:1-17). There is a great variety of disciplines for life in Christ that help us to grow in the love, joy and peace of God.
You and the people you care for can learn to give thanks to God — even in painful times. In this message we bring together the Bible and scientific research to teach on the blessing and power of gratitude. We use Psalm 136 to lead an experience of giving thanks and praise to God in community and we facilitate a time of Thanksgiving meditation.