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  Psalm 114 Listen to today’s devotional Psalm 114 remembers and celebrates God's deliverance. Through the psalm, Israel looks back on the Exodus. That was a moment when the slaves of Egypt became God's people. Notice how creation is caught up in the storytelling. The sea runs away. The Jordan turns back. Mountains skip like animals. And in the middle of it all comes an almost playful, taunting question:  “Why is it, O sea, that you flee?” I wonder if the psalmist wants us to laugh as we're asking it. What made the sea move like that? Now, the answer is there, but barely. In Hebrew, verse 2 doesn’t name God directly. It uses the pronoun  He.  It's almost as if God’s presence and power are so obvious it doesn’t need explanation. The sea didn’t flee because of wind patterns or some weather event. It fled because  He  was there. But that raises a question for us. When we look back on our own lives, how do we know what was  Him ? Because not every moment i...

  Colossians 1:9-14 Listen to today’s devotional They were the smarter ones, but they wanted to know where Jesus was. As a new pastor in the beginning stages of discerning my call, I wrote a paper on my theology. I don't recall what all I wrote. But I do remember having to answer for it in front of a group of colleagues. Of course, that group was more experienced and theologically trained than I was. And they asked some tough questions that showed it. I could tell this was important. Then someone said, "John, where's Jesus?" I wasn't quite sure what that meant. Like, where is he now? It didn't sound like a deep question. The person said they appreciated what I had written, but in all my words, I only used the name Jesus once. I responded with something about Jesus being the foundation of everything I believe about faith in God, and that I thought that was something I could always assume. I got through that and many more interviews along the way. That comment, ...

  Jeremiah 23:23-32 Listen to today's devotional I'm careful with the phrase, "The Bible says." Because the Bible says a lot of things. And if I'm not careful, I can easily twist the Bible to say things I want it to say. We all can. It's easy to shrink down God to match our opinions or our politics. Too often, "The Bible says" becomes a conversation ender, a weapon we use when we want to win an argument. The prophet Jeremiah shows us that false prophets say "The Bible says," and it sounds convincing. But what they really mean is, "I say." So, we'll have to discern when what the Bible says sounds like them and not the other way around. The truth of God we find in scripture doesn't just comfort us. It also rocks our worldview. It doesn't just inspire us. It's supposed to interrupt our regularly scheduled living. What the Bible says is supposed to free us. Free us to love and serve God with all of our being. To burn a...

  Jeremiah 18:18 Listen to today's devotional Our family recently watched a documentary that had us hooked. I’d call it a drama-mentary. It was full of twists and turns that made us question everything we thought we knew about what was happening. At one point, each of us had our own theory about where the story was heading. None of us guessed right. Part of what made it so unpredictable was that, no matter the contradiction, there was always someone ready to affirm a particular version of “truth.” That’s how life works, too. You can always find someone who will agree with you. It’s tempting to wait until you hear that one agreeable voice that confirms what you already believe. That’s why seeking wisdom and discernment is important. Yes, affirmation from others can be a good sign. You might even sense it as confirmation from God. Many times, it is. But what about the times we just want agreement? What do we miss when stubbornness dictates what we’re willing to hear? The prophet Jere...

  Ecclesiastes 2:9-17 Listen to today's devotional Some people are great at predicting how a movie will end. They catch the foreshadowing, notice the subtle cues and piece together what’s coming. But sometimes, it doesn’t take much skill. Some stories are predictable because we’ve seen how they go. Ecclesiastes is like that. If you’ve read the book, you know it’s not the Bible’s most joyous read. Every word of praise or achievement seems to come with a heavy dose of realism. You can almost hear it coming. So, when the Teacher lists all the rewards of his labor, the wisdom he’s gained and the wealth he’s built, we already know where he’s headed. He’s going to call it vanity. No plot twist there. Sure enough, even wisdom, as valuable as it is, turns out to be fleeting. The wise and the foolish meet the same end. But maybe that’s the point. The Teacher’s hard-won lessons give us a chance to reflect on our own pursuits. He’s honest about his frustration. At one point he says, “So I hat...

Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube   Monday: The Bridge Moment Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Reflection: Reflect on the symbolism of the “bridge moment.” Consider moments in your life where you have been on the cusp of change. How do these moments shape your faith and outlook? Questions: Can you identify a "bridge moment" in your life where you stood between the past and future? How did you perceive God’s presence during that time? Tuesday: Embracing Change Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." Reflection: Change is constant, but often challenging. God's faithfulness remains through transitions. Embrace the new paths God sets before you, trusting in the Lord's guidance. Questions: In what ways do ...

  John 13:1-17 There's some knowing and not knowing happening in John 13. Jesus knew his hour had come (13:1). He also knew "the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God" (13:3). Peter didn't know what Jesus was doing washing the disciples' feet. But Jesus knew which disciple would soon betray him. After the foot washing, the Lord asked the disciples, "Do you know what I have done to you" (13:12)? Finally, blessings come to those who "do" the things they know Jesus taught them. I'm going to give the disciples a little more credit than we tend to in this story. At least Peter, since he's the one mentioned. Jesus has had time to reflect on the outcome of his ministry. He understood what things were probably going to happen leading up to his "hour." That hour, of course, isn't a specific time. It's an event. And Jesus had spent time in prayer about all this. He had refl...