What is your favorite Jesus story? There are so many to chose from in the Bible. I find myself drawn to the story of the Woman at the Well and the Resurrection story.

During the season of Lent, we have been gathering on Wednesday evenings for a time of reflection. Each week someone from the congregation shares their personal faith testimony. We are mesmerized and inspired by their stories. They include great adventures, miracles, struggles, insecurity, doubts, and tragedy. All of us have a faith story. Every story is different. As we come to listen, we are anxious to hear what each person shares.

I wonder, is the Jesus story just as satisfying–mesmerizing–and inspiring to us? Or have we heard it so often that we have become desensitized to it? As we read or hear the Jesus stories again and again, do we tune into the Word and allow ourselves to hear it as if for the first time? Or do we zone-out…allowing our subconscious to say something like, “I know this story because I have heard it often?” Interestingly, I have heard many Sunday School teachers and Preachers say that one thing they like about teaching and preaching is that the preparation they do reveals new findings to them, even in the texts that are very familiar to them. This is a testimony to the power and infinite wisdom of the scriptures.

This is as it should be for everyone. Approaching the Jesus story with an open invitation to God to show us something new…revealing to us something missing in our walk of faith…reminding us of a valuable word to awaken and inspire us…and bring new life to the Jesus story. We connect with Jesus and give him a chance to be our Brother…our Friend and Guide…our Savior.

I am finding as I once again embark on a new adventure of reading the Bible in a translation I have not read before, that I am eager for the Spirit to show me new details that I overlooked all the other times I read the scriptures. Starting with Genesis, where Jesus was present with God (John 1), I am discovering new or forgotten gems of the Jesus story. I am grateful not only for the new knowledge I am acquiring; but I am excited about the intimate spiritual connection with Jesus growing deeper in me.

As the Lenten season comes to a close this month, and we move into Holy Week, we will hear the stories of Jesus’ last days before his crucifixion. We will also have the opportunity to remember him and the events of that week as we participate in Love Feast and in worship on Good Friday. And, of course, we will come to worship together to remember the most holy of all days…the Resurrection of our Savior on Easter morning. This is the glorious culmination of the Jesus story. Of all the stories, this is the one that should connect most with us because it involves us. With a deep love that we cannot possibly comprehend, God sent His only Son to die for us and save us from sin. He sent Jesus to conquer the grave and testify for us that life is everlasting in the glorious presence of God.

The story of Jesus really is more than a story about him. It’s more than interesting historical details or a great novel. In this Holy season, this should become clear to us. The Jesus story encompasses our story, too. It invites us into a faithful, trusting, obedient relationship with Jesus that will make a difference in our lives in this lifetime and for the lifetime to come.
Christ is risen! His death and resurrection are more than a good story. It has everything to do with life…our lives. Let us celebrate…not a story…but a Living Loving Savior we know. Let Jesus arise and live anew in your hearts.

Have a blessed Easter!
Pastor Twyla

“A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’” (Isaiah 40:3)

It was a short time ago when we were in the advent season, we were reminded of these words from Isaiah. John the Baptist referred to them as he began his mission for God by preaching about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He paved the way for Jesus to begin his ministry among the people of that day.

Here we are now, on the doorstep of Saved Templatesanother season of Lent and these words from Isaiah call us to a time of preparation again. Ash Wednesday is on March 5 this year. We will gather for worship that evening which will serve as a reminder of our own mortality and the need for reconciliation with God. It marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent, which is the 40-days leading up to Easter, is a season of reflection on our relationship with God.

The Bible does not explicitly mention Lent. Every day we should have in mind and work on our relationship with God; but, this is a time we have traditionally set aside specifically for remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Lent is often referred to as a wilderness period. It is a season of reflection that challenges us to practice self-discipline, to ask for forgiveness and seeking repentance and for the strengthening of faith. The hope is that we emerge from the season with a renewed, stronger, faithful relationship with God.

Many people choose to give-up something during this time. The discipline of doing this is thought to call us to give more attention to seeking God. However, the practice of giving-up something should include a plan of what we might add to our lives to improve our faithfulness to God. I came across a list of suggestions written by a Baptist pastor in Richmond, Virginia, Matt Smethurst. I am going to share these with you to inspire you to consider how you might add something to your journey of faith:

• Having given up junk food for a healthy diet, what will you do with the energy you gain?
• Having given up reading magazines, what will you read now?
• Having given up Facebook, to whom will you devote meaningful conversation?
• Having given up lunch, how will you rely on God for the strength of “food from heaven”?
• Having given up TV as a default activity, how will you use that time to cultivate quality family time?
• Having given up isolation, how will you immerse yourself in community?
• Having given up shopping, will you see those who need clothing in your city?
• Having sacrificed whatever form of selfishness you indulge, how will you meet the needs of others?

The practice of giving something up for Lent is a way of entering into the wilderness with Jesus. We don’t ever enter a period in the wilderness alone. Jesus is with us and will help us. Make it your plan and goal to know Christ more fully, and trust him to lead you. Seek to replace that thing with devotion to Christ—his Word and his mission. Don’t be afraid if God leads you to give up and take up more as you continue your faith journey even after the season of Lent comes to an end. Remember, God gave us a Living Savior to help us on the journey.
Blessings, Pastor Twyla

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:1-4

This scripture is familiar to many Christians. We often hear it read at weddings; reminding couples that love is not merely a warm fuzzy feeling. Love takes commitment and hard work. However, the Apostle Paul did not write this in a letter written to the Corinthians, specifically for lovers. He wrote these words for the believers of the church. Jesus commands us to love one another. He goes as far as to command us to also love our enemies. Paul tells us what this love involves. It is not hidden deep inside of us. It’s something we do or don’t do.

Loving some people can feel like a challenge, but if we believe what we read in 1 John 4:16, “So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them”; then we know we have the power of God’s love in us making it possible for us to love even those we lack a feeling to love.

I’m not going to elaborate on each verse of the 1 Corinthians text. I think it is pretty-simple to understand. The harder part is accepting all of it and putting these merits into practice.
My thoughts were led to this scripture because on February 14^th, Valentine’s Day, we think about love. We usually associate Valentine’s Day with romantic love or love between friends. I think we can also use this secular holiday as an opportunity to remind us of God’s love and Jesus’ command to love one another. I want to encourage you to read the 1 Corinthians text, perhaps several times on Valentine’s Day. Meditate on it and allow God to speak to your soul to renew your commitment to loving everyone.

In Christian Love, Pastor Twyla