Archive for March 2016

Reflection: The Empty Tomb  I must confess something to you: I broke line at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It had been a long day for us. That January morning, we’d visited the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim shrine whose golden top is visible all over Jerusalem. The wind howled all around us…

Reflection: Mount of Olives  Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My…

A future with hope  “For surely I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11  I grew up hearing these words from my grandmother, aunts, and mom. These words were to encourage me, and remind me…

I followed God’s plan  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11  This has always been a favorite Bible verse of mine, and still today it centers me. Perhaps it is the…

Spreading God’s love with a phone call  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”  John 15:12  I have never been asked to write a devotion before. So when the invite came I was so excited, I couldn’t wait to get started. Then the stress set in. How do…

A benefit package that beats them all  Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like…

Let go and let God!  “Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations, I rule the earth.”  Psalm 46:10  Anyone who knows me is aware that I have kinky curly hair. When I was younger and would go swimming or go to the beach, my hair…

Reflection: Do I truly put Christ first?  When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”  John 21:15  I was fortunate to be part…

Reflection: Looking beyond the walls in Bethlehem  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called chil-dren of God.”  Matthew 5:9  This Lenten journey has become a time for me to reflect on ways that we can live as peacemakers. And I certainly look to the direction from Jesus’s words in the Beatitudes. In my…

Others lifted me up  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9  Last spring I experienced what I call an “All-Star spring training” period at work. All-time highs for sales growth, margin growth, and customer satisfaction had…