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Good Friction

A dear friend and I enjoyed tea together this week. It’s been over a year since we have savored the pleasure of in-person conversation. It was wonderful to catch up with one another. During our conversation, I mentioned that the past year has been one of much growth for me. I stated that the process has been harsh but the end results are good. I was speaking of relationship changes amongst family, friends, the extra people interactions with foster parenting, and what God was doing in my heart.

Identity—Know Your Purpose/Mission

This is the third in a mini-series about having peace in the midst of stress through a healthy understanding of our identity, particularly as a follower of Christ. A quick recap for those who are just jumping in:

Knowing whose we are gives confidence and alleviates the stress of others trying to define us. We are either a child of God through our adoption or we are a child of the evil one to who we were all naturally born.
Knowing who you’re trying to please will determine life goals and guide daily decisions. We can’t please everyone but we can live to please one. That mindset relieves the stress of people-pleasing performance.

Identity—Know Who You’re Trying to Please

Last week we established our identity is in a large part from knowing whose we are. Once we are confident in the fact of whose we are, it will determine our life goals, course of action, and guide our daily decisions. Most likely you know or can guess who Jesus lived to please. But we will confirm assumptions through the Scriptures.

Identity—Know Whose You Are

I have been finding messages on painted stones around the community where I live. Someone leaves them on park benches, on bridge rails, and along the bike trails. Yesterday, I found the one pictured above and reflected how its message was synonymous with the post I had been working on, maybe you’ll agree.

The Savior’s Longest Prayer—part 3

Did you know that Jesus prayed for you? He did, in the conclusion of his longest prayer. You can read the entire prayer in John chapter 17. I find the concluding verses, 20-26, particularly moving as Jesus specifically prays for those of us who would come after the disciples. It is amazing to know Jesus had us on his mind shortly before his arrest and crucifixion.

The Savior’s Longest Prayer—part 2

The phrase “Mission Accomplished” has almost become synonymous with the opposite—with falsehood, incomplete missions, or unfinished work. “My mission is accomplished,” can be declared with absolute resolve by one—our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Savior’s Longest Prayer—part 1

Hello readers, I missed my post last week because I had some troubles with my back that put me down for most of the week. I’m here again and continuing with the prayer series.

Today we will look at a prayer found in John 17:1-26. It is the longest recorded prayer of our Savior. In chronological sequence, it occurred before Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane and his prayers on the cross, the subject of my previous two posts.

Prayers on the Cross

Today we will examine the three distinct prayers of Jesus, our Redeemer, while he suffered on the cross. As Lent 2021 begins and soon the observance of Easter what better prayers to look at than those of Jesus Christ, as we continue this series on prayer. After all, he is the Master, Teacher above all teachers, and the only one unstained by sin.

Prayer in the Garden

I’m continuing with the study of prayer. Today we will join Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane to discover what we can learn. The account of Jesus in the Garden is recorded in three of the Gospels. It is found in Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; and Luke 22:39-46.

Clichés generally have a nugget of truth in them as is the case with the phrase, “More is caught than taught.” Mankind does absorb much knowledge about life through those around us. It would have been the same with the disciples who spent three years in close companionship with Jesus. Therefore, we are going to observe what Jesus taught the disciples through his life actions and spoken words.

Go into Your Closet

Last week we looked at Jesus’ response to the disciple’s request, “Teach us to pray.” In this study, we will further investigate Jesus’ instructions about prayer. We will examine what he said at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), just before presenting the prayer model–the Lord’s Prayer.

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