Friday! You made it through week one - even if you didn’t do these readings and reflections at 5 am, or if you had to catch up and read a couple in one day, I am hoping that you are beginning to see the outline of a daily rhythm. I am praying that these moments at the start of your day serve as an anchor for your soul!After the "respond" section, you’ll note a “weekly review”. You can save these q...  Read More

For the first few days of this week, we have been talking about actively choosing to "return" to God in different ways. But today we are going to think about returning in a slightly different way. As we read, reflect, and respond today we will be thinking about what it means that one day we will "return" to the dust.Read:"By the sweat of your face you shall eat breaduntil you return to the ground,...  Read More

It's Wednesday of our first week together. If this is a new rhythm for you (whether waking earlier or taking daily time for reflection) how are you feeling? What are you noticing? Read: Luke 17: 11-19"On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out saying, "Jesus, ma...  Read More

Read: Zechariah 1: 3-6 (NRSV)Therefore say to them,"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Return to me, and I will return to you."Do  not be like your ancestors, to whom the the former prophets proclaimed, "Thus says the Lord, return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds." But they did not hear or heed me.Your ancestors, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?But my words and my stat...  Read More

Welcome to Prayer 556 - Our Lent 2022 prayer journey!I am so excited that you have decided to join us this year as we journey through this Lenten season together. In these six weeks, we will take time each morning to read, reflect, and pray as we seek God in our daily lives.Each day we will read a passage of Scripture, feel free to read the chapter surrounding the passage that I give. Following th...  Read More

Just five days ago there was fanfare and celebration as Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. Friday is filled with Jesus' arrest in the early morning, quickly followed by trials, betrayal, and eventually the pain and suffering of the cross.Pause.It's easy to want to rush to good news of Sunday. But the resurrection is meaningless without the darkness of Friday's events.The cross stands at the center of our...  Read More

There are so many things we could focus on today, Maundy Thursday. On Thursday, Jesus celebrates the Passover meal with His disciples, washes their feet, ushers in the New Covenant marked by communion, prays in the garden, and is arrested. Each of these moments will be remembered at various points in tonight's livestream & zoom call.But there is one part of this story that is so profound and chall...  Read More

Yesterday was filled with teaching and lessons, but Wednesday is mostly quiet for Jesus. Scripture tells us that, after doing ministry in Jerusalem, Jesus returns each night to his friends' house in Bethany.  The city was probably quite full with Passover visitors, so it makes sense that Jesus would stay with friends outside of the city (about a mile and a half). We assume that he is probably stay...  Read More

Tuesday of Holy Week is filled with all sorts of teaching and activity. Tucked in the midst of all the words are two stories that might get overlooked. Before we get to the passages and reflections, let me remind you of this truth - In a week when Jesus would journey to the cross. A week when Jesus was making plans to celebrate his last meal with the disciples, making waves among the church leader...  Read More

Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus makes a triumphant entrance into Jerusalem amidst the crowds of cheering on-lookers. But the cheering and the excitement don't last long. Jesus doesn't spend his last week laying low, he takes the time for some intense final lessons before his time is up. Every day this week we will take time to walk with Jesus through his last days and ask G...  Read More

It's Friday! Next week is Holy Week, and we will spend the week praying through the last days of Jesus' ministry. At the end of the post today, our weekly review is included. You can take time to go through these questions during your morning practice today, or use them over the weekend. I prefer to do them on Sunday afternoon/evening as I am closing out one week and preparing for another. I'd lov...  Read More

One of the most difficult aspects of prayer is that we have a hard time knowing whether or not God is there and listening. It would be so much easier if he would just answer, right?Scripture tells us that God speaks and responds when we cry out to him. Can you hear him?Read.Jeremiah 33:1-3 (MSG)While Jeremiah was still locked up in jail, a second message from God was given to him:"This is God's me...  Read More