Joy in the Journey

  This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 1 John 3:16a The other day I saw a series of three pictures that at first glance appeared to be raw meat. I was taken back wondering why in the world someone was sending me pictures of raw meat. Then I got to the third picture and looked a bit closer. My stomach literally seized and my heart went to my throat. They were pictures of a representation of the Crucifixion. That bloody, odd looking mess was my Lord and Savior. Obviously it wasn't, just a man made up to look like Jesus but in that moment, I saw my Savior, my love, my dearest friend, not dressed in flowy robes, not walking with a smile, his hair blowing behind him. What I saw was a once lovely young man beaten literally beyond recognition. I clicked off that picture so fast. Then I thought about it. I attend a liturgical church which means that every Sunday we receive communion, called the Lord's Supper in some churches. When we ...

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. John 6:2 Why do you seek God? Take a minute and think about it. It seems to me that there are very few wrong answers to that question. We are supposed to seek God in all things. John 15:5, Jesus reminds us that He is the Vine. We’re just branches who can do nothing without him. So we should seek Him in all matters. While there aren’t too many, if any, wrong answers to the why we seek God question, there is a problem. Read the verse above again. The people, according to Jesus, whose perspective is perfect, are coming to Him not because of who He is but because of what He has . They’re looking for a handout not a hand. Recently I’ve seen a dear and treasured relationship take a not terribly surprising but hurtful turn. Someone I dearly love and with whom I’ve spent an enormous amount of time has stepped away a bit, qu...

“ Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank ourt of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Matthew 7:4-5 A few weeks ago while speaking to my pastor, I told him about a time in our former church when a question was asked about hypocrites in church. It was asked and ignored only to be brought up again later in a smaller group setting. Seeing the discomfort of the small group leader, he very much did not want to answer the question, I joked that once all the other sinners had taken their seats there was still room, so we let the hypocrites in. Our new pastor, Ryan and I laughed about that for a minute before he said, “But Tricia, wouldn't our churches be empty if there weren't any hypocrites? Aren't we all guilty of hypocrisy at some point?” Yes, Pastor Ryan, I believe we are. I was reminded of th...

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God. 1 John 3:1 The other day while speaking to God in prayer, I said, “Sometimes my children just make me crazy! What am I going to do with them?” There were two reasons for me to be feeling that way. One was a silly aggravation, one of those things that happens repeatedly, which is what makes it irritating but for the most part is not a big deal at all. The other was much more serious, sad and trying on my heart. As I spoke the words I could almost feel my Abba smiling at me. “Your children?” He might ask. “What about mine? Have you looked around lately?” When that thought, that possible response, crossed my mind, I did stop and think. Believers or not, every created being is God's child. Whether we choose to claim Him as Father is up to us but no one, no matter how they might try, can deny the fact that anything created comes from the Creator. So there I was with an i...

  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:5 Are you ever overcome by the truth of the Cross? Jesus the Light of the world, came, lived and died for you. Think of it that way for a minute. John 3:16 says, “for God so loved the world.” That is the broad sense, for the world. Jesus Christ died for you, _____________. Please put your name in there. Then read John 3:16 that way, “For God so loved____________ that he gave his one and only Son, that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God so loved you. Jesus so loved you. How is that possible? I don't know about you but I don't see myself as that important and I know that I'm not in any way, shape or form, worthy of that sacrifice and by God's grace I know, intellectually, that I don't have to be. Some days when I read God's Word and see the grace that is endless, the love that never fails, the mercy that endures I ...

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalm 94:19 NIV In the multitude of my anxieties within me, You comfort my soul. Psalm 94:19 NKJV Today is the first day of a new year. This morning I did as I do every year on this day. I looked through my last year of journal entries, regular journal, prayer journal, blessings and gratitude journals. There was so much there! I read and reflected, wrote a summary and then went to read my devotionals. In the first one I saw this verse from Psalm 94 and I just had to smile. That about sums up my year. There may be anxiety but God is always with me. As I looked back over the many journals one thing was glaringly apparent. It had been a great, wonderful, terrifying, humbling, exciting, challenging, blessed year. There is no point in the past year where everything was as I believe it should have been. I have great concern for some of my children and grandchildren. There were health issu...