My writing through the book of John stalled last Autumn, when I came to the wedding at Cana. Just before Christmas I made a bit of progress, writing a post about the symbolism of the wine, connecting with it through Advent, but those words just made it to the draft folder. There was something I was […]
Joy and Delight and A God Who is Better Than I Imagined
Today I’m floored by the preposterousness of God, in daring to invite us into enjoyment, celebration and joy. We are studying Jennie Allen’s book Proven, which, through delving into the gospel of John, is basically aiming straight for the heart with the intention of undoing all the things that hold us together but just aren’t […]
Jesus is working; We can rest
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” I take a lot of comfort in this verse this morning. There are impossible situations at every turn, messy relationships, messy health, messy politics, messy everything. My heart and mind wake up feeling messy with other people’s strife. My email is messy […]
Is There Something Greater Than Being Known By God?
If you’ve poked around my website much, you know that I place a high value on knowing God through the experience of being known by him. My last two posts about Nathanael have as their take away the reality – the TRUTH! – of our being able to be seen and known and loved by Jesus. The opening lines […]
You are Seen. You are Known. You are Loved.
Being Seen, Being Known Few things matter to us like being seen, and being known. The elemental questions of our heart all echo these desires, as do the elemental fears. Nathanael is a man who knows what this means. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is […]
What Possible Good Could Ever Come From This Thing In My Life?
There was this moment in which all my fears twisted into something tighter and heavier than I could hold. David and I had just collapsed into bed after an exhausting night of packing, and our conversation tipped into all of the Unknowns. Less than two weeks away from filling our moving truck, we were about to make the scariest change […]
Wednesdays In The Word: John 1:43-45 (Witnesses of Jesus)
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and sad to him, “We have found the One of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth!” (John […]
Wednesdays in the Word: John 1:43b (Jesus Found)
Jesus decided to go to Galilee. Upon arriving: He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” (vs. 43) This word found is active voice in Greek – it is an active finding rather than a passive, meaning Jesus didn’t stumble upon Philip out of the blue, but instead actively sought him out. Jesus looked […]
Wednesdays In The Word: John 1:43a (Jesus Decided)
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “follow me.” John 1:43 Jesus decided. These two words catch me, because after the Baptism in the Jordan, Luke says Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit;” Mark describes Him as “driven by the Holy Spirit;” and Matthew writes that he is […]
Becoming Abundant (survivor songs #30)
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (shall be comforted – paraklethesontai – God will come right alongside and will be with us.) _______________ _______________ The demands our griefs place on God will be satisfied. This is what strikes me as I consider the audacious phrase shall be comforted and the fullness […]