Starting Breath Prayer: Inhale: Here I am Exhale: A servant of the Lord Luke 1:24-38 NRSV 24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25 “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.” 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s [...]

Fannie Parker Scripture Titus 3:4-7 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life Reflection: Titus was a Gentile Christian who was a friend and coworker of the apostle Paul.  [...]

Belinda Weatherly Jeremiah 29:11 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. Reflection This passage is from the prophet Jeremiah’s letter to the Hebrew exiles in Babylon. Most of us have not experienced exile, but being uprooted from our comfortable lives is not uncommon. When I was young my good friends and I were part of an innovative project that was enjoying success and even some notoriety. My friends and I were thrilled to learn that our leader had [...]

Camilo Amezquita Acts 2:25-26 (NRSV) 25 For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right and so that I will not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my flesh will live in hope. Reflection I often reflect on times when I felt confident and in control and contrasted them with times when I felt confused and lost. We all go through ups and downs with our friends, our families, our jobs, and our faith. We tend to overcome adversity and persevere, but then [...]

Cynthia Wier Philippians 1:3-11 3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace [...]

Kristin Reynolds: A change seeker Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  Reflection: The summer before my senior year in college I decided I needed a change in scenery and I wanted to see what life was like outside of my little bubble. I had taken summer school classes for the last 3 years and with graduation just around the corner it was time for me to explore other parts of the country other than Texas.  Where does one go when the options are endless but the money is not….to a small town [...]

Amy Kelley, Not Bossy Just Helpful Lamentations 2:21-24 (CEB) I call all this to mind—therefore, I will wait. 22 Certainly the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended; certainly God’s compassion isn’t through! 23 They are renewed every morning. Great is your faithfulness. 24 I think: The Lord is my portion! Therefore, I’ll wait for him.   Reflection: How many of us are grateful for alarm clocks? Or better yet, how many of us are grateful for that snooze button? I have always been a morning person. My Hubble Bubble (husband), Ross, is not. Not even close. My singing [...]

Suzi Pitts Scripture:  Ephesians 2:8-9 Amplified 8 For it is by grace, God’s remarkable compassion and favor, drawing you to Christ, that you have been saved, actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life, through faith. And this salvation is not of yourselves, not through your own effort, but it is the undeserved, gracious gift of God; 9 not as a result of your works nor your attempts to keep the Law, so that no one will be able to boast or take credit in any way for his salvation.                                                                                 Reflection: I love the white altar cloth, [...]

Kaitlynn Carroll Acts 2: 42-47 (NIV) “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord [...]