Holy Week Devotional: The Road of Redemption
by: Janet Bartosh

Scripture Focus: Philippians 2:8–11
“…He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Holy Week invites us to slow down and walk with Jesus through the most sacred moments in history. It begins with celebration and ends in resurrection—but not without sacrifice, sorrow, and surrender along the way.

On Palm Sunday, crowds welcomed Jesus as King, waving branches and shouting praise. Yet many expected a conquering ruler, not a suffering Savior. How often do we do the same—celebrating Jesus when He meets our expectations, but struggling when He doesn’t?

As the week unfolds, we see Jesus teaching, serving, and preparing His disciples. At the Last Supper, He breaks bread and shares the cup, pointing to the sacrifice He is about to make. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we witness His humanity—He prays in anguish, yet chooses obedience: “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Then comes Good Friday. The cross stands as the ultimate expression of love. Jesus takes on sin, shame, and suffering—not because He had to, but because He chose to. For us.
And then… silence. Saturday reminds us that God is still working even when we cannot see it.

But Sunday is coming.

The stone is rolled away. The grave is empty. Death is defeated. What looked like the end was actually the beginning of eternal hope.

Reflection:
Where are you in the Holy Week journey right now?

• Are you praising on the mountaintop?
• Wrestling in the garden?
• Standing at the foot of the cross?
• Waiting in silence?

Wherever you are, Jesus meets you there.

Prayer:
Lord, as I walk through Holy Week, help me not rush past the weight of the cross or the wonder of the resurrection. Teach me to follow You in humility, trust You in the waiting, and rejoice in the victory You have won. Amen.

Walking Forward with God

Scripture:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

Some days life feels uncertain. Plans change, challenges appear unexpectedly, and we can find ourselves wondering if we’re heading in the right direction. It’s easy to rely on our own understanding—our plans, our timelines, and our solutions.

But today’s passage reminds us that God asks us to do something different: trust Him fully.
Trusting God doesn’t mean we always understand what He’s doing. It means believing that His wisdom is greater than our own and that He sees the bigger picture when we only see a small piece.

When we place our trust in God and invite Him into every part of our lives—our work, our families, our worries, and our decisions—He promises to guide us. The path may not always be easy, but it will always lead where He wants us to go.
Today, instead of trying to control every outcome, take a moment to place your plans in God’s hands. Ask Him to guide your steps and trust that He is already working ahead of you.

Prayer
Lord, help me trust You with my whole heart today. When I feel uncertain or overwhelmed, remind me that You are guiding my path. Give me the faith to follow where You lead and the peace to rest in Your plan. Amen.

Do You Abuse Your Bible?
A devotion By Jeff Beman

2 Timothy 3:15-17
 
 “15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[a] may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

I was raised “old school”. We had a big family bible and I was taught that a Holy Bible was not to ever be marked on, or written in, other than the records of marriage and birthdays in the front. Pages were never to be dog-eared, and nothing was ever allowed to be placed on top of it. For that matter, kids were never to even touch the pages! In my family, I don’t remember that bible ever being read, except at Christmastime before dinner.

As an adult, it took me many, many years to stop revering the book itself, and be able to start revering the scripture it imparts. The underlining and highlighting and notes I have written in the margins would have been considered blasphemy by my grandmother back then. But I have come to believe keeping the Holy Bible away from the kids, away from daily use, and away from written explanations and ideas and references actually is more like sin than reverence.

How were you raised? How are you raising your kids? How is the word of God used in your family?

Prayer: Thank you, God that your word is so available in our world today. I am so grateful that I was able to change my views on how to respect the Bible. May we take your words to heart and teach our children and ourselves as we grow in faith. Forgive us for placing your holy scriptures on the top shelf to keep them safe, in good condition, and largely unread. And thank you God for those in our lives that lead us to a clearer understanding of you as we grow. AMEN

Being Ready for God’s Word

This devotional was published in Turning Point, Wednesday, May 28, 2025

“Acts 17:11 [The Berean’s ] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find
out whether these things were so.

Many churches have a tradition of standing as a congregation when the Word of God is read during the Sunday worship service. This practice may be based on Nehemiah 8 when Ezra the priest read God’s Word to the assembled crowd of Israelites in Jerusalem: “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up” (verse 5).

Recommended Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-9

The people standing for the Word of God signified two things. First, it was an act of
honor. The people had returned to Jerusalem after seventy years of exile in Babylon,
and they honored God by honoring His Word (verse 6).

Second, it signified their willingness and readiness to shape their lives and practices
around God’s will for them. Their actions foreshadowed the actions of Paul’s Jewish
audience in the Berean synagogue as they searched the Scriptures to verify what
Paul was teaching them.

When you read the Word of God, do so with honor and a readiness to obey.”

Heavenly Father, we wish to honor and respect your Word and your will when we also stand for the reading of scripture. Help us to center our worship of you as we do that. In the Name of Christ- AMEN

God’s True Will
A devotion By Jason Ling

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” Mark 10:38 (NIV)

In Mark 10:32–40, we find Jesus walking resolutely toward Jerusalem. His disciples follow Him, amazed and afraid. He knows what lies ahead: betrayal, suffering, and the cross. Yet, in the middle of this moment of divine gravity, James and John approach Him with a bold request: “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

They were expecting glory. Jesus was preparing for suffering.

This is a picture of how easily our expectations can clash with God’s true will. James and John weren’t necessarily being selfish—they believed Jesus was the Messiah, and they wanted to be near Him. But they misunderstood what His glory looked like. They envisioned thrones; Jesus envisioned a cross.

How often do we do the same? We ask God for position, success, comfort—believing these are signs of His blessing. But sometimes, God’s will includes hardship, refinement, and a path that looks nothing like the one we had in mind. Jesus’ response—“You don’t know what you are asking”—is a loving but sobering reminder that God’s plan often leads us through surrender before glory.

Yet here’s the hope: Jesus doesn’t rebuke James and John harshly. Instead, He invites them deeper into His mission—yes, they will drink the cup and share in His baptism of suffering. But not as a punishment—as a participation in God’s kingdom.

• What expectations have you placed on God that may not align with His will?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus, even when the road leads through suffering before glory?
• How can you better seek God’s presence over position?

Lord, forgive me when I come to You with my own expectations instead of seeking Your will.
Help me trust Your plan, even when it leads through valleys I didn’t choose. Teach me to value being close to You more than being honored by others. Let my life reflect Your glory—on Your terms, not mine. In Jesus’ name, amen

John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.   

A few years ago, I reconnected with an old friend from high school that I hadn’t seen or heard from in about a decade.  When I realized that he was still living in the area, I reached out through social media and invited him to come hang out for a guys night.  It was a very low effort attempt to reconnect and, quite honestly, I had no clue if he even had a shred of interest in meeting up again.  To my surprise, however, he took me up on the offer.  Not only did we hang out, eat fried food, shoot some pool, and reminisce on old times, he actually shared with me that life had been very difficult recently.  Separating from his wife, seeing his kids less, and struggling to find happiness despite the loneliness were at the top of his list of “what’s new”.  Through that unlikely night out, we started a new weekly routine where we would get together and not only share a meal, but share about how our lives were actually going, and do our best to avoid the “its fine” response.

Loneliness can be far more crippling than we give it credit, and for a generation that has never been more connected through technology, we seem to be further apart now than ever.  Sharing photos from your recent vacation with your 500 Facebook friends is cool, but it will never be as fulfilling or healing as finding that one person that you can trust, and share the hurt that you’ve been carrying around for months…or years.  This is why the bible is full of verses that refer to the importance of community.  This is the arena where we are able to lean on each other in our times of need and help each other grow and experience God’s truth.

My friend and I have, again, drifted apart and do not keep up with each other regularly, but as I grow in my faith, I look back on that time quite fondly. I appreciate how God nudged me to reach out even though the probability of rejection was high.  I appreciate how He showed me that helping a friend can simply mean sitting and listening even when I have no advice, whatsoever, on how to help.  Most of all, I appreciate how God can take these opportunities that seem random or insignificant and use them to demonstrate what His love looks like in the everyday situations of life.  

Heavenly Father, thank you for the everyday opportunities that you provide where you give us the subtle nudges to demonstrate your love.  We pray that you continue to help us lean into these situations and trust that you will guide us wherever it leads.  Amen.

A Sabbath Invitation
A devotion By Jason Ling
 
Devotional: "Rest for Your Soul — A Sabbath Invitation"

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Summer is often filled with activity — vacations, gatherings, family trips, and a constant stream of things to do. Even though the season is meant to feel lighter, the pace can leave us feeling as weary as any other time of year.

But God offers something different: Sabbath.

Sabbath isn’t just a day off; it’s a sacred pause. A gift of rhythm. A divine invitation to stop striving and simply be — in the presence of the One who restores our souls.

In the Old Testament, God modeled rest on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). He wasn't tired; He was showing us that rest is holy, necessary, and good. Jesus echoed that call when He said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). It’s God’s way of saying, “You don’t have to earn rest — I give it freely.”

When we set aside time — even in the middle of summer’s chaos — to rest, to worship, and to simply be still, we’re reminded that we are not held together by our schedules or productivity. We are held together by God.

Pause today. Turn off the noise. Let the to-do list wait. Go outside. Breathe. Reflect. Pray. Sabbath can be a Sunday, or it can be a sacred hour carved out intentionally. In that space, God meets you with peace, rest, and restoration.

Sabbath is God’s way of giving you what the world cannot — true rest for your soul.

Prayer:
Lord, in the midst of all the activity around me, help me to pause and find rest in You. Teach me to embrace the Sabbath as a gift, not a burden. Restore my soul, renew my strength, and help me walk in the peace only You provide. Amen.

Joy In The Midst Of Struggle
A devotion By Jason Ling
 
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” – James 1:2 (NIV)

When life becomes heavy with hardship, joy might seem like a far-off dream. Yet, the Bible tells us to "consider it pure joy" when we encounter trials. This is not a call to deny pain or put on a happy face. It’s an invitation to lean into a deeper, more resilient kind of joy—one that isn’t based on circumstances, but on Christ.

Joy is not the same as happiness.

Happiness depends on what happens to us. It’s a reaction to comfort, success, or good news. Joy, however, is a decision to trust that God is good—even when life is not. Joy is rooted in God’s presence, promises, and power.

Paul wrote from prison, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). His joy didn’t come from his surroundings—it came from his Savior.

Finding Joy in Struggle:

• Look for God's presence in your pain. He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).
• Remember God’s promises. Trials can refine us and produce perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3–5).
• Choose gratitude. Even in loss, there is always something to thank God for.  
  

Reflection Question:
Where in your life do you need to choose joy today—not because things are easy, but because God is with you?

Lord, help me to find joy in You even when life is hard. Teach me to trust You in every season, and remind me that Your joy is my strength. May I be anchored in Your hope, not tossed by my circumstances. Amen.

Growing Up in Spirit
A devotion By Jason Ling


Bible Verse:
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
— 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

Reflection:
Summer often reminds us of growth—gardens flourish, days stretch longer, and life seems to slow down just enough to take a deep breath. In the same way nature matures, God calls us to grow spiritually, not just in age or experience, but in grace and knowledge.

Spiritual growth isn’t always about doing more—it's about becoming more like Christ. It's found in quiet prayer, in moments of worship, and in how we love others during both restful and busy seasons. Even the warmth of summer can be a time to renew our desire to know God more deeply.

Consider:
Are you growing in grace, becoming more patient, kind, and humble?
Are you growing in knowledge, spending time in God’s Word and learning more about His character?

Prayer:
Lord, help me grow this summer—not just outwardly, but inwardly. Let my heart deepen in love for You, and my life reflect Your grace. Teach me more of who You are, and who You are shaping me to be. Amen.

Write A Letter to God
A devotional by Jeff Beman
Psalm 45:1 "My heart is over flowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer."

Sometimes, when I try to pray, my mind goes blank, and my tongue twists us, and my prayer becomes a mess jumble of noise. The bible tell us the Holy Spirit will intercede for us when that happens. (See Romans 8:26) Praise God for that! But I am learning to write out my prayers, which lets my mouth and my brain get together, because it can only help me when I understand, myself, what I am telling and asking of the Lord.
If writing out your prayers seems strange, (and it did to me at first), remember that all of the prayers we read in the Bible were written down, which is why we can still use them as our own, today. Many of our hymns and worship songs are actually prayers that were written down, ... "The sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee."
If we take time to write out some of our prayers, we might discover areas of weakness that need to be strengthened and patterns of life that need to be corrected. We will have a record of how we prayed and we can see how God is working in our lives.
When our minds feel unfocus, a pen and paper can help us concentrate in God's presence. Try writing out some of your prayers and thin of them as letters to God. He knows how to read; and listen!

A prayer: Wonderous and Merciful God - We praise you for the permission and practice of being able to communicate directly with you! Accept our prayers as an offering to you, and may they truly be a sweet sound in your ears. Always in the name of Jesus we pray ... AMEN

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord." John 21: 12

A few weeks ago, I was asked to share my favorite parable from the book of John with the members of Lakeside Youth. I chose John 21 in its entirety for a few reasons. The first is that I LOVE breakfast food. The second is that this parable shows God’s fatherly love to his people and how He is always more interested in showing grace and forgiveness rather than focusing on an “I told you so”.  

In this chapter, Jesus appears to Peter and the other disciples for the third time after his resurrection, while they are fishing just a short distance from shore. It doesn’t take long before the disciples realize that it is Jesus. He invites them back to shore, and before they engage in any conversation, Jesus offers to serve them all breakfast with their recent catch. Everyone sitting around that fire knew that Peter had denied Jesus three times before he was crucified, and Jesus addresses this later in the story, but before he gets to that, He is far more interested in serving them breakfast and engaging in fellowship.

Now, this may not be the main lesson to take away from this parable, but after reading it again, this is what stood out to me. By doing this, he is demonstrating that even though he has a point to make with Peter, showing grace and mercy should always precede any version of an “I told you so” that may be coming…even if it’s well deserved. This is the type of fatherly love that we should all strive to demonstrate in our everyday lives.  

This story has provoked two questions lately. Who has taken the time to serve me breakfast in the past, and who do I have the opportunity to serve breakfast to now? I offer these same questions to you today regarding this simple, yet incredibly meaningful gesture.
 
Lord God, we thank you today for your fatherly love, and how you are always slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Help us, oh Lord, to show that same love to others, for your glory and for the good of your kingdom. Amen.

”Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Matthew 26:41

This week I’m reflecting on Jesus as he faced the cross praying in the garden of Gethsemane. The disciples were invited to “keep watch and pray” and not give in to temptation. The passage says, “the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Jesus invited the disciples to pray with him 3 times and they couldn't even stay awake.  

It seemed that in Jesus' hour of need he was alone, in anguish, and distress. He said, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” (26:38) Picture this hour of grief. Jesus bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’” (26:39)
 
As he invited Peter, James, and John to watch and pray, he is asking the same for us. This time of prayer was preparation to walk through darkness, pain, and death. The Father was with Jesus and he carried him through it all to resurrected life! For the 3 times that Jesus invited the disciples to pray I’m reminded that Jesus was resurrected after 3 days.
 
What are you facing today? In what ways can you relate with this anguish and distress? Is it possible that Jesus is right there with you at this time? He knows the pain that you are feeling and wants to take your hand and walk with you through it.  

There will be resurrection on the other side of what you are going through. Because of the anguish Jesus experienced, he can relate to our suffering. His strength came from his relationship with the Father, who is also the source of our strength.
 
I invite you to look to the Father in prayer as Jesus did. Depend on him. Ask him to be with you. He will be right there with you in your tears, and distress. He will bring new life to you through it all.
 
Jesus, I invite you to be with me in my time of anguish and distress. As I watch and pray, help me die to my own plans and say “your will be done.” Give me eyes to see the hope and joy in the resurrection to come. I love you O Lord, my strength! Amen.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

This spring and in this season of my life, I’m finding myself to be very busy and it can sometimes feel overwhelming and begin to wear me down. I still set aside time for God but that time can easily begin to be a time that I mentally start listing all the things I have to get done today. I think for all of us it can be a real challenge to prioritize what is going on in our schedules and very difficult to turn off our busy minds to hear what the Lord may be saying.

I love psalm 46,  specifically verse 10 where He says,”Be still and know that I am God.” What a comforting and important statement. “Be still” means stop and listen for a moment. Just how important is this listening? The word listen appears in the Bible about 331 times. You think maybe God is trying to make a point? Yes! It’s that important not only for our relationship with the father but for our own sanity and well being. I believe God knows this and desires it for us. Simply, be still, know and listen to his voice.

I think it is extremely valuable to me to just repeat the phrase, “Be still, and know that I am God. It is a reminder of how little control I have over the things around me and sometimes even the thoughts inside me. It's amazing to me as I write these words and repeat that simple phrase how peaceful I feel knowing that God truly has things under his care and control. That makes me feel grateful beyond belief and brings me a sense of peace that I can’t find anywhere else. He will be exalted in my home, nation and world. He is the one true King that brings meaning to our busy lives. We are only here for a short time but He will reign forever.

Dear Lord, please help each one of us, your children, quiet our minds and schedules and find rest in you. We know you can make our burdens lighter, but sometime can struggle turning it over to you. Please give us the strength to do that. We know only then can we find that peace that we can’t find on our own. We thank you Lord for all you do, amen.

"6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” Romans 13:6-7

Here it comes again! April 15…the day in the United States that income taxes must be filed. Some of us don’t pay much attention, and some of us commiserate greatly over the amount of our resources we must contribute.

The first income tax in the U.S. began in 1862, during the civil war when the north instituted an income tax. The Confederate government did the same in 1863. The individual states started imposing income tax in 1911. It was then made a permanent part of our lives by the 16th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

The oldest tax I could find was in the Old Testament. King Solomon taxed the people. He established twelve districts to sustain the king for a month each by taxation (1 Kgs 4:7-19, 22-28). Solomon also conscripted labor from Israel (1 Kgs 5:13), taxed merchants and trade (1 Kgs 10:15), and received tribute from nations (1 Kgs 4:21).

As of 2023, one report shows 97 different taxes in the US Tax Code. Why must we pay all these taxes? Certainly, we all would want some of the public provisions that come from taxes, such as fire and police protection etc. But the reality is that our tax burden seems to grow with increase on top of increase, and sometimes spending by the government seems frivolous. We might wonder how much more we can afford before we “go under”.

The word of God tells us repeatedly to submit to our leaders and those put over us. God’s word tells us to “render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s”. In Romans 13 Paul tells us we must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. And that the authorities are ministers of God.

Isn’t it interesting that Paul equates paying taxes, revenue, honor, and respect as all the same? God loves a cheerful giver even in paying taxes.

Dear God - Please help us to understand your commands from your Word. Place your steadying hand on our leaders and give them wisdom in their leadership, and help them become good stewards of the resources given. AMEN.

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33

I woke up this morning and had to take my dogs outside. This is normally a chore that has to be done and in the cold it is not a lot of fun. But today was different. The weather was fairly warm and the robins finally made it back and were singing up a storm. I started to wonder if they were finding food or materials for building nests. As I thought about how God supplies all that they need to survive I remembered that He does the same for each of us.

It seems I spend so much of my time rushing from place to place and appointment to appointment, that I begin to worry about things along the way. Where am I going to eat, how much gas I am burning, can I get all these things done, how am I going to afford the next sport my son is involved in. The list can go on and on. Jesus’s way of thinking is very different though. He assures us that God will provide and not to spend all this time worrying.

These verses in Matthew really stir in my heart how God truly does provide for all the little things in life. Unfortunately, I don’t always recognize or remember these words until after the fact. When I put God and his kingdom first all other things seem to fall into place much better than my way of worrying and rushing. This gives me hope. When I have hope my attitude changes, I’m more patient, thankful and, yes, even more productive.
 
My challenge to everyone today is to first seek God and His Kingdom and stop all the unnecessary worry. Be thankful to what and how God provides at just the right times and give Him praise for this wonderful world we get to spend time in, until He calls us home to Him.

Thank you God for all you provide and and how you can take the burdens of life and make them better when we seek you first instead of trying to impose our own will. We are grateful to you and all that you have done and continue to do. In Jesus name, amen.

As spring time approaches, I am reminded that I will soon be another year older. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days so that we may get a heart of wisdom”. This Psalm reminds me of how short my time on earth is compared to the eternity of God.
 
Sunday, after talking with my Dr. friend, he said, “Go and make good choices.” Christ asks us to choose Him above all else. No matter how old or young we are, our days are numbered. Are we making good choices?

The second part of Psalm 90:12 tells us that because our days are numbered, may we get a heart of wisdom. When we pursue this heart of wisdom, it is understanding God's ways. As we move through the Lenten season let us keep in mind that God has already written the days we will be here (Psalm 139:16). So let’s open our eyes and ears as we seek God for this short time we are here.

Prayer is such an important part of our relationship with God. We have a communication system open between ourselves and God, and God calls us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). I would encourage you to be open to prayer at any time of the day.
 Although a set time of prayer is important in our lives, too often we can put off prayer for our “prayer time”. Sometimes we run into people in town or someone calls us and they relay a story in their life or share an upcoming concern.

It is easy to say “I will pray for you!”, then with all the good intentions in the world, we forget. Next time you have an encounter like this, try asking them if you can pray for them right there. You may get some varied responses, but usually it is, “Yes, I would like that”. In doing this, not only do we lift them up to the Creator of the universe, but they know they are being prayed for which will often lift their spirits. As the recipient of the prayer, we often shed some of that feeling of being alone. For me, I know it is even easier to remember to pray for them in my scheduled prayer time if I have prayed with them in person!

Are you one of those people whom God can awaken in the middle of the night to pray for one of His needs here on Earth? If at night you cannot sleep, don’t count sheep--talk to the shepherd! God knows when I am finished praying and ready to go back to sleep. When God sees a need on earth, he often puts it in our path. We can step around it or over it. Or we can pray through it. Pray without ceasing.

“I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.” 2 Timothy 1:3

“7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:7-8

We live in a world of change. Some changes are easy, like when we transition into Spring and Summer and warm weather. Some changes are hard, like losing our winter weight, or trying to break an old bad habit. Anyway you look at it, change happens.

Could you imagine a life without change where we are all stuck in the same old rut and same old view of the world? We would probably still be living in caves dreaming of the day we could plant our own food. I believe God orchestrates change so that we can all grow in knowledge and faith.

As a church, we are experiencing some changes. Some of these changes can seem really difficult as we transition leadership or even take on new roles in our community. Rest assured God has this under his watchful eye as he always has since our creation. No matter what growth or change occurs in our life, Jesus and his love for us remains the same.

Hebrews 13 reminds us that the message Jesus taught his first disciples is the exact same for us today. He lived, died and was resurrected to reunite us with our Heavenly Father, just as he always intended. God's plan is the same today and every day and we can hold fast to the fact that he will always be steadfast in his love for each one of us, helping us change and grow according to his will, if we simply accept that truth.

Father God, please walk with each one of us as we change and grow according to your will. Remind us that although the world around us may change, your message and love for us never will. Thank you for being the one security we can always
count on in our life. Amen.

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19

Lately, I’ve been fascinated with the buds on the trees as they wait for spring. As I walk on the path near our home I notice that some branches and buds have broken and blown to the ground while many have weathered the wind and storms. Each bud is so unique and different and I wonder how they endure and hold the leaves so securely until spring.
 
Like the buds, we go through spiritual seasons of waiting. In places that feel cold, and dark it’s hard to believe that there’s any life or hope to come. Lean into these places and spaces and listen. It may be quiet but be on the lookout for something that is stirring within. Be watchful, prayerful, and patient. Just like the buds breaking open into leaves we can expect something new to break open at just the right time.

This year I chose the guiding word “new” for the year. I feel like God is doing something new in me. There are some things named and some not named as of yet. My life has been very familiar and predictable and lately there are so many new things happening. It is exciting and disconcerting, as I wait on the Lord in this season. I am paying attention and prayerfully following Jesus each step of the way no matter how I feel.
 
I encourage you to seek the Lord and his strength in your spiritual season of waiting. Maybe something new is just waiting to burst. I would love to hear what is stirring in you! Give me a call and let’s plan a time to chat about it.

Dear Jesus, you are the one that makes all things new! Please help me notice all the ways you are working in my life right now bringing what seems dead to life. I love you O Lord, my strength!

"…saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

The phrase, “What Would Jesus Do” is often abbreviated “WWJD”, and became particularly popular in the United States in the early 1900s, following the 1896 novel, “In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?” by Charles Sheldon. In the latter 1900s teens, and adults were wearing WWJD bracelets all over America and some other countries. Of course, the point of all this was to help people consider how they should try to live in different situations as a Christian, to be like Christ.

Imagine this: Imagine Lakeside Church as having no leadership, no pastor, no staff etc. and as a temporary fix Jesus himself steps in and runs His church, His way! Jesus is in indirect charge of Lakeside for 3 or 4 months or more. And then, Jesus steps back and turns Lakeside back over to us.

What would Jesus have changed? Would Jesus do fellowship the same way that we do it? Would Jesus lead prayer the same way that we do it? How would Jesus run the children’s program? How about the budget, the sermon planning, congregational care, worship, and everything else? What would Jesus do with Lakeside Church…...?

 Are we trying to “be the church” the way Jesus wants us to? Or are we doing church “our way”? I’m not sure anyone can know specifically what Jesus would do in any specific situation, but the Bible tells us in general!

Jesus would pray. He would seek the Father’s will. Jesus’ life was saturated in prayer. He would know what the scriptures say. ...Obedience. When the crowds saw the miracles, they wanted to make Jesus king, but instead he refused, keeping his eye on the cross (John 6:14-15). ...Compassion. ...Mercy. ...Righteousness. ...Forgiveness. ...and Love. … Always Love.

Father in heaven, make us aware when we do things not in keeping with your plan. Help us to do what Jesus would do, what you would have us do. Not our will, but yours be done! AMEN.

When Pastor Wes announced that that God was calling them to move on from Lakeside Church, I heard people talking about how much Wes had influenced them in different areas of their life and their walk with Jesus. It made me ask myself the question, how am I influencing people with their walk with Jesus in my sphere of influence?

When we look through the New Testament we see that Jesus was very relational. I believe relationships are the starting point for making disciples. In Mark 2:15-17 Jesus sat and had a meal with tax collectors and sinners, and in Luke 7:36, Jesus went into the home of a Pharisee and shared a meal with him.
 
In these examples Jesus showed us relationships can start with sharing a meal with someone, even if it is someone we do not agree with. Jesus emphasized individuals over tasks. Jesus wants us to care for hurting and troubled people (John 21:15 - 17). Rather than seeing people as projects to improve, He wants us to love the way He loved and serve the way He served, personally and unconditionally. What does this look like for you? Can we at Lakeside starting today move out of our comfort zones and start building relationships and model Jesus’ examples of making disciples?

Now that January has begun, I feel like we can all take a big breath and just relax for a second. The busiest holiday season of the year has wrapped up, and it was wonderful as always. It provided an opportunity for us to get together with those we care about most, and make some unforgettable memories. But what we don’t focus on as much, is how hard we run from place to place and how crammed our schedules become. We need to get the holiday shopping done, we need to plan the get-together dates, we need to grocery shop, cook the big meals, wrap gifts… The list can go on and on. So, what better time to take a second to focus on rest.

At this point, if we are not sick, we are definitely exhausted, and we need to give our bodies a chance to rest. Maybe more importantly, we need to allow our souls to rest as well. What do we do to allow ourselves to rest from the stress, anxiety, and difficulties that come with the holidays? We can rest in God. In Psalms 55, the author struggles with feelings of horror, anguish, and fear of death. And what does he do with it? He turns it all over to God in verse 22 and ends his prayer with “But as for me, I trust in you.” If our God can handle feelings as immense as these, he can undoubtedly help us with whatever we’re feeling now
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So, what does it look like to accomplish this? We can turn over our fear and anxiety and rest in God’s sovereignty, knowing and trusting that His plan is perfect. We can turn over the sin that we experience in our day to day lives, and rest in God’s forgiveness. We can turn over our situations where we feel like we are “not enough” and rest in God’s salvation knowing that he always meets us where we’re at. And just as the author in Psalms 55 did, we can end our prayer with “But as for me, I trust in you.”

Lord, we thank you for each day you give us. Whether it is full of good times and laughter, or it is a struggle from sun up to sun down, we give it back to you and trust you in the end. Amen

Examen is an ancient spiritual practice that involves a prayerful review of the events of the day in order to discern God’s presence and leading in our lives. This practice allows us to get in touch with our sense of life-as-gift. The gift is that we can recognize that we are loved, bringing gratitude. The examen opens us to both the difficult and beautiful things in our lives.
Choose a quiet place to be with God either at the end or the beginning of the day or plan to do with a trusted group. Start by simply and prayerfully considering these questions: For what moment am I most grateful? least grateful?

*“A Daily Examen in Five Movements”, or simply five statements that help us reflect on daily life is another way to reflect on the day. This practice may take a little more time but will help bring clarity in your life and decisions. You will find that God is present in our questions and speaks to us in this process. Give it a try and let me know what you think.
 
Thank you.

• What can I thank God for very concretely? What has happened today for which I am thankful?

Help me.

• What do I want? What do I need? How do I need help in life right now? What has happened today that signals my need for help?

I love you.

• How have I experienced the love of God? In what ways have I sensed God choosing me? What have I experienced that says to me that I am unique and prized by God? In what ways has God said to me, “You are my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well-pleased”?

Forgive me.

• As I look back over the last 24 hours, what needs to be healed? What needs to be forgiven? Where have I injured another? Where has another injured me?

Be with me.

• How do I need Jesus to be with me? How do I want the Spirit to empower my life? What issues and obstacles are coming up in the next few days?

*Written by Ben Campbell Johnson

Matthew 2:1-12 tells the story of wise men bearing gifts for Jesus, traveling from the East, and following a star. The first appearance of Jesus to the gentile world! The modern calendar delineates “the 12 days of Christmas” as the time between Christmas Day, December 25, and January 6, Epiphany. This is the alleged day the wise men arrived where Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were.

There are many different customs and traditions regarding Epiphany (including in some
churches- the Feast of Epiphany). Growing up in an Episcopal church, we baked and ate a
“Kings Cake”. The cake is usually shaped like a ring and may contain a small trinket, such as a ring, thimble, or baby figurine. The person who finds the trinket in their slice of cake is said to have good luck or to be the "king" for a day.  Baked into our cake were a ring and some coins. If you were to find coins in your piece of cake you would take those coins and try to turn a profit that you would then later return to the church, to give to Jesus. One year I came up with 10 cents in my piece of cake. I bought sweet corn seeds, grew corn and sold it as my way to increase the money. Of course, there were Sunday school teachings to go along with this tradition.

Matthew 2:1 says "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him...11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."

Though the Bible says nothing about baking cakes and investing money for Epiphany, I still think of this time each year and meditate on the scripture in Matthew, and the true meaning of the twelve days of Christmas, which is, according to these verses, to find Jesus, and worship him. Whatever your family customs and traditions for Epiphany might be, we can all meet at the feet of Jesus, bringing our respective gifts, praises, worship, and thanks.

And I think it's OK to enjoy a Christmas song about swimming swans, too!

A prayer:
Most gracious and almighty God, thank You for the gift of your Son and our Savior. Remind us,
God, of your Spirit, and our place in Your family. Help us use this time of year and your Word, to contemplate our relationship with You. Amen.

“The time came for the baby to be born.” Luke 2:6

The label said, “Don’t Open Until Christmas,” but the grandchildren cried, “Hurry up; open it!”
Patience is a virtue, and we recognize the importance of perfect timing. But we often have a hard time waiting. This is especially true when we are hurting and want relief, or we are anticipating something special.

The same holds true in relation to God’s work in our lives. We suffer a loss, wrestle with what seems to be unanswered prayer, or face a spiritual struggle, and soon we cry, “Hurry up, God!” We wonder why God hasn’t acted, and the “delay” often causes us to question God.
Or how about when we reflect on Christ’s second coming? We eagerly long for a world free from sin, Satan defeated, injustices set right, and all things made new. So we cry, “Come, Lord Jesus; come quickly.”

For ages believers waited for the birth of the Savior and wondered, “How long?” But God was not slow. He had a plan, and in the fullness of time—when the time was right—God sent Jesus. “The time came for the baby to be born.” All of this at just the right moment.

In our lives, as we wait for God’s help or for the second coming, we remember God’s promise that “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). God might not come when we want, but we can trust him—his timing is perfect. We can only see this narrow piece of time in God’s eternity. He sees all and will act when he knows it’s best for us all.
So this Christmas, let’s celebrate not only Jesus’s birth but his perfect timing in fulfilling his promise at just the right time.
  
Lord, we see the present, but you grasp eternity. We view only a part; you understand the whole. Help us to trust your wisdom. Renew us and your world, we pray. Amen.