Today's Devotions

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Showcase: Assorted Treats

  • Conjunctions +

    Walter Brueggeman gave a remarkable sermon at Duke Chapel on April 5, 2009 in which he discussed the importance of Read More
  • Living Proof +

    Is this enough proof? Read More
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Publications

Right Where You Are by Sylvia Gunter

Sylviaere are all sorts of friends. There are work friends that you don't interact with much outside the office, church friends, college friends, and long-term friends. Then there are smaller subcategories of friends... the "help-you-move" friends and "take-you-to-the-airport" friends are a rare breed. Everyone needs at least one 3 a.m. friend to call when you are struggling in the middle of night, and they don't question why you called so late. This type of friend will drop everything to be with you while you grieve a loss. That's the truest of friends.

Isaiah 57:15 says "For this is what the high and exalted One says- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.' "

Our English language doesn't do this verse justice. The way it has been translated makes it comes off sounding very religious and exclusive. God only lives with those who are contrite and humble. Contrite and humble? Hmmm that leaves me out. But if you dig into the meaning of the words, you see a much different picture.

Listen to it this way. "For this is what the high and exalted One says- he who lives eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one whose spirit has been broken and crushed like a fine dust and with the ones whose spirit is depressed and low. I live with them to revive and bring life back to their depressed and low spirit and to revive and bring life back to the heart of those who are crushed and broken.' "

The love and worship I have of God as I read this truth is hard to put into words. But with all that is within me I say "YES!" God, You are so high, exalted, so "other-than" that we as humans cannot look on Your glory. Your name is holy, and You rightfully live in Your high and holy place, and yet You also live with me, even when I am broken, crushed, and depressed in spirit. When I would like to hide in a hole and pull the hole in on top of myself, You know right where I am, and You are there with me. You live with me there to bring life back to my heart and spirit. All I know to say is Hallelujah! What a Father, Savior, Comforter, Healer, and the ultimate 3 a.m. Friend.

Be blessed to hear your Father speak to you about his deep bonds with you, deeper than friendship, deep attachment to you with cords of unfailing love (Jer. 31:3; Hos. 11:4). Hear him speak to you about trust, faith, and love that is much deeper than just surviving.Spirit, hear the soft voice of your Father speaking in the core of your essence: you are the beloved, right where you are. On you his favor rests. He sees you as a precious being. Be blessed to know you were infinitely loved before you were wounded. That's the truth of your life. Your life is an unceasing "yes" to the fact that you are beloved because of God's great love, and you are an heir to his healing power.

Your Father says, "I called you by name from the very beginning. You belong to me, and I know you as my own, and I am yours. I molded you in your mother's womb. I carved you in the palms of my Son. I hide you in the shadow of my embrace. You have my infinite tenderness, and I care for you intimately. I have counted every hair on your head, and wherever you go, I go with you. Wherever you rest, I keep watch. I give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench all your thirst.I will never hide my face from you. Nothing will ever separate us. Wherever you are, I am.Live your life as my redeemed child. You can reach out to true inner freedom and find it evermore fully."

Be blessed in the name of the high and exalted One whose name is holy,

who revives the spirit of the lowly and the heart of the contrite (Isa 57:15).

By Elizabeth Gunter Wallace, one of the featured speakers at Ruach Journey. To learn more about Ruach Journey and read other blog entries by Elizabeth go to www.ruachjourney.com

The Trinity by Matt Slick

matt-slickGod is a trinity of persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The Father is not the same person as the Son; the Son is not the same person as the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit is not the same person as Father.  They are not three gods and not three beings.  They are three distinct persons; yet, they are all the one God.

Read more: The Trinity by Matt Slick

An Obituary for the American Church — by Mike Breen (from ARP Church Conversations)

Obituary-of-the-Church-ARP-Church-Anthony-R-Locke-355x229From time to time I will have the people I'm discipling write out their own pastoral obituary. I ask them to write out how our enemy would take them out, rendering them unable to serve their family and communities. As you can imagine, the answers vary, but it always serves as a really helpful exercise as they are forced to confront issues of character, etc.

Read more: An Obituary for the American Church — by Mike Breen (from ARP Church Conversations)

Pop Quiz by Julie Moore

Pop Quiz: What do Mick Jagger and St. Augustine have in common?

 
Satisfaction was not forthcoming
to Mick Jagger...

I heard on the radio today - and here it is in the Huffington Post - that God's current approval rating is... 52%! That's higher than Obama and John Boehner and many other public figures, but ... geez... you'd think the Creator, Almighty God would be pleasing more than roughly half of us! I mean, what the...???

Read more: Pop Quiz by Julie Moore

Reflections to Consider

  • Corporate Spirituality

    Encouragement, Accountability, and Worship Solitude, community and ministry are three areas requiring balance and integration in the Christian walk. The Read More
  • Companion of the Souls

    When the two disciples recognised Jesus as he broke the bread for them in their house in Emmaus, he "vanished Read More
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Publications

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Music

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Audio & Video

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Favorites

  • Transforming this World: The Hope of Glory by NT Wright +

    Wright confronts the perspective that this world doesn’t matter, and that we live only to be in heaven. He shows Read More
  • What is Good in a World that Defies Hope: a talk by NT Wright +

    This is the second part of three talks by NT Wright at Harvard University in November, 2008 on the topic Read More
  • The Stream, the Lake and the River: NT Wright +

      Acts 2.1-21; John 7.37-39; a sermon at the Eucharist on the Feast of Pentecost, 11 May 2008, by the Read More
  • Jesus in the Perfect Storm by NT Wright +

    Zechariah 9.9-17; Luke 19.28-48; A sermon for Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011, In the University Chapel of St Salvator, St Read More
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Hidden Blessings

  • Warfare Spirituality +

    The Trinity function as farmers of our souls, actively caring for God’s creation: an ongoing, radical reclamation of His creation. Read More
  • You are free +

    The Jesus who calmed a sea of deadly, stormy waves, whose arrival sent thousands of demons cringing and cowering to Read More
  • Deliver us from Evil +

    Spiritual warfare is something that few Christians, regardless of their denomination, are accustomed to thinking about, let alone engaging in. Read More
  • Baby, you're a rich man! +

    The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is Read More
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