It is God Who creates new life within you and me, Jesus calls us by name and brings us out of death and into new life. Then God calls others to come help us unwind the old life from ourselves, all the things that had bound us in death. Continue reading Gospel of John: Lazarus! Here! Outside!
Faith involves doing hard things. And obedience to God reflects belief in God and God’s word. Martha would have to put her belief on the line in front of her sister, in front of all those religious dignitaries, in front of all their extended family and people who had come down from Jerusalem. Continue reading Gospel of John: Belief on the Line
Each change is loss of what was as we move into what is, and face what it seems must be. Continue reading Gospel of John: Jesus Wept
Broken by life’s traumas, calamities, and tragedies, and just when you’re at your lowest, it seems…there you go, right over the edge, and into the dumpster. Continue reading Leah
You’re not gone you’re still here
With me all the time
You’re still here
When I close my eyes
I still see you I still feel you
Dianne Warren, Still Here Continue reading Mourn
There are Spirit-filled Christians from what seems a countless variety of backgrounds and faith traditions, and we all have such a variety of ways of understanding what will happen in the future. There is much disagreement! However, there are a few points on which we are unified. Continue reading Minor Prophets: Micah, Messiah’s Reign
[In the Greek] Though Martha’s voice had leaned more heavily on the final catastrophe of death itself, Mary spoke from the devastation of personal betrayal, her voice leaning on the connection of her brother, the unspoken meaning clear: you said you loved me, and he was my brother. Continue reading Gospel of John: Martha’s Faith
Or are we living in active faith that Jesus is powerfully at work within our inward beings, transforming us, and is also at work in our physical world, bring shalom to all those around us, including the earth itself? Continue reading Gospel of John: Revelation to Martha
But there are dimensions to our problems that you and I cannot imagine, but which God sees clearly. When I pray, I can see God’s wisdom in a situation, that the Lord’s vision is much bigger than mine. Jesus can solve any problem, fix any mess, bring good out of any disaster, he is God. But Jesus will do it in a way that glorifies God and strengthens my faith. Continue reading Gospel of John: Delays Are Not Denials
Jesus had received a message from Mary and Marth of Bethany, Lazarus was gravely ill. But rather than come to them, Jesus sent word back that Lazarus’ illness was not to death but to God’s glory. Continue reading Gospel of John: Let Us All Go
