David Swift Center yourself on today's reflection by lighting a candle and reciting this breath prayer: Inhale - Lift us by awe at the things we see Exhale - to set our minds on none but thee. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Reflection: How many times have you asked someone for forgiveness? I know in my life I have made many mistakes; including some over and over and over again. Most [...]

Martha Hill Jamison Center yourself on today's reflection by lighting a candle and reciting this breath prayer: Inhale - Free us, O Lord, from fear Exhale - So we can live in peace. Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. Refection: I have an inherent need to appear successful. To be thought of highly by those around me. Any deficiency, large or small, causes me great shame. As a result, confessing any shortcomings, even to my beloved Lord, has never been easy. Of course, even though [...]

Ann Pierce Arnett, member, St. Luke’s UMC Center yourself on today's reflection by lighting a candle and reciting this breath prayer: Inhale - Hear the cry of your children, Lord Exhale - come quickly and set us free.  Acts 9:1-9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly [...]

Dr. Tom Pace Center yourself on today's reflection by lighting a candle and reciting this breath prayer: Inhale - May I sense you every moment Exhale - and make my whole life a prayer. 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NET) “All things are lawful for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “All things are lawful for me”—but I will not be controlled by anything. Reflection: “‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free, ‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, ‘Twill be in the [...]

Rev. Michelle Manuel Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”The other day a clergy friend sent me a list of the types of fatigue people are experiencing currently; compassion fatigue, Zoom fatigue, crisis fatigue, the list goes on. I bet you could name a type of fatigue [...]

Justin Bair, Associate Director of Worship and Music and co-host of YouTube Show, Methodantics alongside Sid Davis Isaiah 6:1-5 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his [...]

Rev. Katie Montgomery Mears Joel 2:12-13 (NRSV) 12 Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.   Isaiah 58:5-7 (MSG) 5 Do you think this is the kind of fast day I’m after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that fasting, a [...]

Louise McEvoy, Women’s Ministry Coordinator, Professional Pancake Eater Joel 2:12-13 (NRSV) Yet even now, says the Lord,     return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13     rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God,     for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,     and relents from punishing. Reflection: Starting in December of 2002, American Airlines charged a $50 fee for luggage bags between fifty to seventy pounds. In 2008, Delta Airlines introduced a $50 charge for a second checked bag, regardless of weight. [...]

Suzi Pitts, Director of Communications Proverbs 15:16-17 Better a little with the fear of the Lord     than great wealth with turmoil. Better a small serving of vegetables with love     than a fattened calf with hatred. Reflection: Here we are on the last day of our Daily Habit focused on Proverbs and the eve of starting our Lenten journey. If the weather forecasters are accurate, it’s freezing cold and just might be snowing here in Houston. There are no words. I want to tell you a house story. It was back in the ‘80s in Greenwich, [...]

God of sacrificial love, A friend really challenged me the other day. He was disappointed in something I said in a public setting, and he took it personally. Do you remember how stunned and defensive I was about it? (of course you do….) But as you and I talked about it, I came to understand it, and I was really convicted. It was personal for him. It wasn’t about some “issue.” It made him wonder if I really loved him. I pray today for those who feel unloved. I pray for those who long for a valentine but whose longings are as [...]