We welcome you to a new day, with new struggles and new mercies, and thank you for joining us on this spiritual journey. We hope that yesterday's messages were meaningful and challenging for you and that today will offer fresh insights. Don't forget 24/7 Prayer and Community Care! Today's Community Care activity is all about loving your neighborhood.
Rev. Tom Albin's begins his second morning meditation by remind us that this time is for listening deeply to the Word of God. The experience differs from Bible Study (which we also do!), because it focuses exclusively on what the Holy Spirit might be saying uniquely to YOU.
See below for today's text, journal prompts, and prayer starters.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)
Is there a particular word, phrase, or mental image that stands out to you from the reading?
How does the passage make you feel? What was the impact on your spirit?
Do you feel an invitation or "beckoning?" What can you do in response to this reading?
For this morning's prayer, you might choose to focus on the elements of grace and truth. You could try something like:
"Grace and truth come through you, Jesus. I welcome your grace and truth into my life today and I ask that you will guide me as I explore the following areas or issues in my life..."
David Jump shares an original song, "Everything Changes," and leads "Open the Eyes of My Heart."
Rev. Steve Rankin's second message centers around Mark 4:35-41, where Jesus calms a storm on the sea of Galilee. Rankin uses the text to illustrate how Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
Key Questions from this message:
Will we receive hard questions from our Lord?
Does Jesus fit into our paradigm?
What is it like to be associates of Jesus? Students? Disciples?
For his second evening message, Rev. Tom Albin uses John 1:14-20 to discuss personal restoration. He points out that grace and truth are essential to restore our relationships with God, ourselves, and others. He concludes that surrender and letting go is an essential act of restoration.
