by Sonja Hagander The Old Testament doesn’t usually make the top ten list of self-help books, and the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath is not where most people would look for a way through their stress. But the story takes place during a drought, and being stressed out is a lot like […]
by K. M. Deaver Now as the king of Israel was walking on the city wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help, my lord king!” He said, “No! Let the Lord help you. How can I help you? From the threshing floor or from the wine press?” But then the king asked her, “What […]
by Tiffany C. Chaney “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him;” (Genesis 12:4) As I read Abram’s call story in Genesis 12:1-9, I am reminded that we discern as we go. Discernment is a process, one often filled with unexpected detours that can take us into unfamiliar territory. We don’t stay stationary in […]
by Angela T. Khabeb “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that […]
by Christina Auch Wholeness, healing and restoration of body, mind and spirit, are themes throughout Scripture. The psalmist sings out: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from […]
by Elizabeth Palmer Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). We hear these words each year on Ash Wednesday as we remember the transience of our earthly possessions and the mortality of all flesh. Our awareness of this transience is perhaps why we hold on so fiercely […]
by Collette Broady Grund “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for peace and not for harm, to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 If this is the first time you’ve read that verse from Jeremiah, I’m surprised. It’s often quoted at graduations and […]
by Rozella White “Of Many Generations” is the theme for the 2014 Women of the ELCA triennial gathering and it comes from Isaiah 58:12. This passage describes the act of rebuilding that will occur when the people come together in new and radical ways. The beauty of Christianity is that it is a faith of […]
by Angela T. Khabeb The Merriam Webster website defines the word vocation as: “a strong desire to spend your life doing a certain kind of work (such as religious work), and the work that a person does or should be doing.” It is helpful to know these definitions because in many segments of our culture, […]
by Sara Olson-Smith I know it’s not Christmas, but let’s talk about Mary. Her story begins when the angel Gabriel stopped to see Mary as she was doing the dishes. (I know there are not dishes in Luke’s gospel, but this is how I imagine it.) Gabriel tells her not to be afraid, […]