Vicki Keiser, member since 1985, Church Council, Stephen’s Ministry Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Reflection: In the summer of 2012, I had the opportunity and finally made the commitment to read the entire Bible in 90 days. It was a big lift while working full time and having family commitments, but this paved the way [...]

Linda Burch, Member of St. Luke’s since 1972, Good Will Class Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV) 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ in God forgave you. Reflection: Stop! Get a pen or pencil. Draw a five-pointed star. Starting at the top, number the points as you move clockwise around the star you have just drawn. My sequence for star drawing is 4-1-3-5-2-4. What is yours?  This exercise appeared in my Facebook feed a few weeks ago. [...]

Ann Pierce Arnett, Diaconal Minister, retired, Member of St. Luke’s since November 1946 John 21:4-14 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.  That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” [...]

David Swift, Member since 2009 Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Reflection: One of the most fascinating things when reading the Bible is how simple Jesus’ teachings were. Much like today, the laws of the past were full of regulations that were numerous and open to interpretation yet Jesus came with a very simple message: Love one another.  We live in a complex world filled with mission statements, lists of core values, rules and regulations, talking heads…the list [...]

Cindy Donaldson, St. Luke’s member since 2012, Children’s Council chair and Bible study co-leader / The Story Houston member since 2017, Prayer Team  1 Corinthians 2:7 But we do impart God’s mysterious and hidden wisdom. Before the ages began, God graciously decided to use His wisdom for our glory. Reflection: My husband and I married in our early 20’s. By our mid-20’s, we were enjoying the fruits of our labors as young professionals. Jake has always been the one who is savvy with planning and finances and insisted we develop a budget. I didn’t see the point. We were [...]

Rachel Fisher, Children’s Ministries Communications Specialist Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Reflection: I think I speak for most when I say summer 2020 has not looked the same as years past. Every trip planned was canceled, work is done full-time from home, and backyard barbecues seem like a distant dream. Unique opportunities, however, have been presented that would not necessarily exist were we not all [...]

Craig LaFollette, Caring Ministries/Hospital Visits, Walk to Emmaus accountability group, Goodwill Sunday School Class  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, pray constantly, 17 give thanks in all circumstances; 18 for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Reflection: For as far back as I can remember, my mother always prayed at night with me and my sister, Pam. First, it was “now I lay me down to sleep,” then the Lord’s prayer. Pam and I would take turns reciting the prayers after suitable memorization. Mother also taught Sunday School at the First Christian Church in [...]

Charity Autry, Member since 2008, Sunday School Leader, VBS Chair Luke 10: 38-42 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, [...]