We pray. We study the Bible. We make friends. We tell our stories. We give ourselves away in generosity and service. A PERSONAL PRAYER God, I believe you created me with purpose. You put a passion in my heart. You planted within me the seeds of specific spiritual gifts, all ready to be activated by the Holy Spirit when I respond to your call. You formed me using the experiences of my life. And I have been one of the lucky ones who has a sense of what you want me to do. Nonetheless, I sometimes wonder what [...]

We pray. We study the Bible. We make friends. We tell our stories. We give ourselves away in generosity and service. A PERSONAL PRAYER OK, I admit it, God. I am a bit stuck. I have struggled with some challenges for some time, and I want to be different. At least I say I do. You asked the paralyzed man by the pool of Bethzatha, “do you want to be well?” My heart says yes. My actions say no. My life is so dominated by habits – habits of thought and behavior – and so I find myself [...]

We pray. We study the Bible. We make friends. We tell our stories. We give ourselves away in generosity and service. A PERSONAL PRAYER God, Thank you for 2016. There have been some difficulties in this year, some losses, some pain. But there have been some wonderful moments as well. And I praise you in the midst of all of them. I praise you for your very character, your goodness, your love, your light. Thank you for walking with me through all of those moments. God, as the wise men followed a star from the east to find [...]

We pray. We study the Bible. We make friends. We tell our stories. We give ourselves away in generosity and service. A PERSONAL PRAYER Loving God, Yes, it is Christmas or almost Christmas. I am going to see lots of people tomorrow. I will place into their hands the wafer and offer them the fruit of the grape. I will look them in the eyes and remind them that these “gifts” are the very presence of your son Jesus Christ, given out of your great love for them. I will tell them that you showed up for them. [...]

We pray. We study the Bible. We make friends. We tell our stories. We give ourselves away in generosity and service. A PERSONAL PRAYER Gracious God, Some people are easy to love. I feel love for them in my heart, and genuinely want them to know how much I love them. These are my wife, my parents and in-laws, my children and grandchildren, my friends and colleagues and partners in ministry. I feel so blessed to have these people in my life. Still, I don’t let them know how much I love them, at least not enough. I confess that I [...]