Pause

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. Isaiah 40: 27-31 The Message

Lent to EasterSharijacksonmonsonApril 3, 2017Comment

Heartbeat

There was a heartbeat, heard only by God and by rejoicing angels and insects in the darkness of a death-cave. Before the sun’s rising, there was a heartbeat and resurrected life.

Sabbath ended with Sunday’s breaking light and on a dirt path leading to a tomb the steps of three women scattered dust, causing the earth to beat with urgency.

There was a rhythm to the morning felt only by God, and rejoicing angels, and spiders and butterflies, and those that sensed such things. The work of wrapping the body of a Savior needed doing but the body was gone.

Lent to EasterSharijacksonmonsonMarch 29, 2017listen and understandComment

Holy Land

My friend Sami Awad is one of the bravest people I know. He leads an amazing organization in Bethlehem called the Holy Land Trust. In fact, Sami is a friend to many of us sharing this Lenten journey to Easter. When asked what the days leading up to Easter feel a year ago, Sami shared: It's been a long and dark winter in the Holy Land.

Lent to EasterSharijacksonmonsonMarch 27, 2017Holy Land, sami awadComment

Promises

One of my favorite bible chapters for a long time has been Hebrews 11. I remember hearing it preached as a teenager, when my faith was being challenged by realities of the world, and moving beyond the easier, Sunday-school style answers, seeking more substantial answers to difficult problems.

Lent to EasterShari Jackson MonsonMarch 24, 2017Lucy McCray, promisesComment

Our Father

We’re bombarded with ideas about prayer. For a long time there were a-lot of “prayers” showing up in my e-mail IN box. Some were probably totally fine prayers, but some were just plain weird. Especially the ones that came with instructions and a warning like: send to 9 friends within 24 hours or the prayer won’t work, or even worse certain doom will soon be yours. You’ve got to be kidding. Prayers with threats attached to them really just don’t float my boat.

Lent to EasterWendy TaylorMarch 22, 2017PrayerComment

Fellowship

“. . . they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ But they kept silent, for on the way thy had argued with one another about who was the greatest.” Mark 9:33

Generally speaking, Fellowship requires words. It is only when they cease to flow between us that we realize that it is likely the fellowship, like the exchange of words, has fallen out of use.

Family and Friends, Lent to EasterSharijacksonmonsonMarch 21, 2017fellowshipComment