1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Reflection: Last year at Thanksgiving, I wrote this in my journal: “The thing I’m most grateful for this year is normalcy. We’re not grieving a loss, there are no secrets, no skeletons; it’s just a plain Jane Thanksgiving. I think people (me more than anyone) scoff at normalcy when, in fact, it’s the biggest blessing. I’ve really been trying [...]

Psalm 130 I cry out to you from the depths, Lord— 2 my Lord, listen to my voice!     Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy! 3 If you kept track of sins, Lord—     my Lord, who would stand a chance? 4 But forgiveness is with you—     that’s why you are honored. 5 I hope, Lord. My whole being hopes,     and I wait for God’s promise. 6 My whole being waits for my Lord—     more than the night watch waits for morning;     yes, more than the night watch waits for morning! 7 Israel, wait for the [...]

Isaiah 40: 29-31 (NIV) 29 He gives strength to the weary     and increases the power of the weak. 30  Even youths grow tired and weary,     and young men stumble and fall; 31  but those who hope in the Lord     will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;     they will run and not grow weary,     they will walk and not be faint. Reflection: During Lent this year, my girlfriends and I took turns sending out a different Bible verse each morning to each other. It was a way to stay connected during the beginning of the pandemic [...]

Luke 17:20-21 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” Reflection: What does the kingdom of God look like? Revelation describes a place where “mourning, and crying, and pain will be no more.” (NRSV) Seems like a good place to start: the kingdom of God is a place of joy, peace, and love - no [...]

Psalm 91:1-16 (NIV) 1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the [...]

Romans 8:18-21 18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Reflection: “Glory!” my grandmother would shout. [...]

Matthew 4:12-17 (Isaiah 9:1-7) 12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow [...]