“Come on—Make a joyful racket!”

 February 27, 2026

Psalm 95

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

3 For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
7 for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.

I have heard people say that the real philosophers of our age aren’t the ones writing thick books, (I have a few of those on my shelf) they are the ones writing poems and songs. I believe there is something to that. Haven't you noticed how a song can sneak into your imagination with a simple melody, and suddenly the words become the way you make sense of your world. They shape how you remember, how you hope, how you pray even. 

I find it interesting, strange in some ways, how the songs I loved between about age sixteen and twenty‑five seem to stick with me. Do you experience that too? That probably explains why I still drift toward the music of the 70s and 80s. Those songs carry memories, road trips, friendships, heartbreaks, first jobs, first freedoms. They’re like little time capsules. 

Which songs from your teen and young‑adult years still feel like home?

Psalm 95 comes from Israel’s own ancient playlist, one of King David’s greatest hits. And according to this psalm, God isn’t opposed or iritated by noise.  David practically shouts, “Come on—sing! Make a joyful racket!” Why? Because when you stand in the presence of a God who shaped mountains with a word and cut oceans into place, silence just doesn’t feel like the right response. 

Here is the thing, King David knows how forgetful people can be, his ancestors had barely completeed the walk through the Red Sea before they started complaining again. So he reminds them: This God is our rock. Our rescuer. Our Shepherd. The One who leads us to places where our panting souls can catch our breath again. When we remember that, something shifts in us. We remember who we are and whose image we carry into the world.

God spoke, and creation bloomed. God breathed, and life began. It seems to me, if that’s not worth singing about, what is? 

Let's Pray

I came across this prayer some time ago and I think it fits today as we conclude this week of Devotions and reflection. 

God of joy and steady love, gather up all the scattered pieces of our attention and turn them toward you. Let the songs we sing, whether loud and confident or quiet and trembling, become places where our hearts wake up again. 

Teach us to recognize your voice in the ordinary rhythms of our days, and soften us so we don’t grow stubborn or forgetful of your goodness. Lead us like a patient Shepherd toward rest, toward trust, toward gratitude. And as we go, place a new song in us, one that reminds the world who you are through the way we live. Amen.

WHEN JESUS SHOWS UP

February 26, 2026

Do you remember the Bible reading from Yesterday

from John 4:7– 15?

“. . . a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

She wasn’t looking for Jesus that day. She just wanted water.

We don’t know if she’d heard anything about his teaching or the crowds following him. What we do know is that she carried the old promises of Scripture in her heart, promises passed down through generations of people who didn’t always get along, who argued over worship, tradition, and who was “right.”

And right in the middle of all the tension and conflict between Jews and Samaritans, Jesus shows up.

That is still how God works. It’s often in the places where we feel most divided, most tired, or most stuck that God steps in. The woman at the well reminds us of that. She went about her normal routine, probably not expecting anything special. And yet, in the middle of an ordinary chore, she met the Messiah.

We’re not so different. We hear God’s promises over and over, but sometimes we forget who we’re actually looking for as we go through our daily tasks. Still, one honest conversation with Jesus changed her life, and ended up changing her whole community.

I think about the end of John’s Gospel. Another woman, another moment of searching. Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb with tears in her eyes, desperate to find Jesus. And again, he meets her right where she is, calling her by name, giving her hope, and sending her to share the news with people who were confused, afraid, or unsure what to believe.

Two women. Two moments. Two encounters that turned two searching and seeking women into storytellers. Their stories still speak to us today. Whether we’re doubting, grieving, overwhelmed, or just trying to get through the day, Jesus keeps showing up in the middle of it all, turning our everyday moments into something holy, and our small words into something that can change lives.

Let's Pray

Resurrected Lord, step into our ordinary moments and interrupt us in ways that change us from the inside out. Make us people who speak about your promises with a confidence that brings healing that leads to unity. Amen.

Let Me Tell You a Story

February 25, 2026

John 4:5–42

5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

23 Jesus replied … a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.

42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

After revealing to Nicodemus, a respected teacher of the Scriptures and the law, that God’s love embraces the entire world (John 3:16), Jesus moves into new territory. He travels to Samaria, expanding the reach of His ministry in a way, that would have surprised many of His followers (John 4:4). And it is there, in Samaria, in this unexpected place, that Jesus offers an unnamed woman a profound experience of unconditional belonging.

Jesus meets her at a well, but He also meets her in the reality of her story. He knows her history intimately, every complicated, messy, painful part of it. Yet, notice this, that His knowledge does not lead to rejection. Instead, the woman's truth becomes the doorway through which Jesus invites her into a deeper encounter with grace. The thirst of her soul is satisfied in the very moment she comes to draw water for Him. What begins as a simple request, “Give me a drink”, becomes the means for her transformation.

I am always struck in this story by the fact that we never learn this woman’s name, yet, we do learn the impact of her testimony. She actually is the first evangelist (missionary) in John’s Gospel, bringing an entire community to faith in Christ. Her method is beautifully simple: she invites her neighbors to “come and see” the One who “told me everything I ever did.” Did you notice that she does not craft arguments or assemble theological proofs to convince her neighbors. What she does do, however, is that she trusts that the God who met her in truth and grace will meet her neighbors in the same way.

I think what I love about this passage in John 4 is that Her story becomes her witness.

I believe there is something powerful for us in the details of this account. I pray that we, who have also encountered Jesus ourselves, follow her example. May we point others toward Jesus not through polished speeches or perfect answers, but by sharing our own stories of encounter, acceptance, and reconciliation. When we speak honestly of how Christ stepped toward us, when our story becomes our witness, then others may also discover that Jesus is ready to meet them too, right where they are. 

Let's Pray

God who satisfies our thirst for a deeper experience of grace, remind us that in giving we truly receive. Use us today as vessels of your compassion, the quiet answer to someone’s prayer, the unexpected cup of living water for a weary soul.

Help us to tell our stories of encountering Jesus with honesty, courage, and joy, so that our whole neighborhood might be drawn to seek the One who transforms every life He touches.

Amen.

And the Final Word is God's

February  24, 2026

GENESIS 3:1-16

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”

14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this, you are cursed
more than all animals, domestic and wild.
You will crawl on your belly,
groveling in the dust as long as you live.
15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

16 Then he said to the woman,

“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,
and in pain you will give birth.
And you will desire to control your husband,
but he will rule over you.”



How would you summarize our Bible reading today in just a few words?


Genesis 3:1–16 is often given a title like “Why Life Is a Mess.” And honestly, it fits. Every painful story we hear, every wound we carry, every moment that feels twisted away from God’s goodness can be traced back to this moment in the Garden, when the enemy whispered a lie, and humanity believed it.

And let’s be honest: the lie sounded good. The serpent didn’t come with horns and a pitchfork and we often see pictured; the serpent came with a rather persuasive argument. The serpent described God as restrictive, as if the Creator who formed Adam and Eve out of love was somehow holding out on them. That was subtle but effective message: “God doesn’t want you to have everything. God is keeping something from you.”

But here’s the crucial detail the devil conveniently left out: the path he offered led straight to death. That’s still one of his most effective strategies today, pulling our attention away from the consequences and getting us focused on a short-term payoff.  And often, that “payoff” is a lie too.

I’ve fallen for it. You’ve fallen for it. We all have. And if the story ended there, the consequences would be devastating. But the beauty of Scripture is that God refuses to let the story end in despair.

Paul puts it plainly: “The wages of sin is death.” But in the same breath he declares the hope that changes everything: “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus willingly laid down His life. His death and resurrection became the ultimate act of love, that pulls us out of what the old hymn calls “the miry clay” and "sets our feet on solid rock to stay."

Because Jesus stepped in, the lie that once defined humanity no longer gets the final word. God’s love does.

LET'S PRAY


Lord God, thank You for loving us even when we fall for the lies that pull us from Your ways. Thank You for Jesus, who stepped into our mess, broke the power of sin, and opened the way back to life with You.
Set our feet on Your solid rock again. Amen

I've Got the JOY!!

March 23, 2026

Isaiah 58:11

I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places – firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.

Lent invites us to slow down long enough to notice what truly fills us and what quietly drains us. Isaiah 58 speaks directly into this season: when we chase our own ambitions, our own definitions of success, or our own busy agendas, we end up exhausted and spiritually empty. We cut ourselves off from the deeper joy God longs to give.

God gently reminds us in Isaiah 55:8–9 that “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” This is not a scolding, it is an invitation. God is saying, “There is another way to live. A freer way. A way that leads to joy.”

Real joy is not found in planning and striving, but in surrender. Joy grows when we trust the Spirit’s leading more than our own plans. It grows and blooms when we release our focus on outcomes and entrust our lives to the One who knows us better than we know ourselves. This is the God who leads us beside still waters, who makes us lie down in green pastures, who restores our souls when we have worn ourselves thin.

And here is the astonishing grace of God: even when we wander, even when we follow our own impulses, even when we make choices that lead us into "dry and weary places", God does not abandon us. God sustains us. God heals what feels broken. God rebuilds what we thought was beyond repair.

Listen again to God’s promise:

“I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places, firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.”

This is the life God desires for us, not a life of frantic chasing, but a life rooted in divine joy. No wonder Nehemiah declares, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” God’s joy is not fragile. It is not dependent on circumstances. It is a strength that steadies us, renews us, and carries us through every season, including this Lenten journey.

So as we walk through Lent, may we release the “chasing after the wind” and return to the One who gives life that is truly life. May we rediscover the joy that strengthens us from the inside out.

LET'S PRAY

God of all wisdom and gentleness, teach us what matters most to You. Loosen our grip on the things that drain us, and free us from the restless chasing that leaves our souls weary.

Fill us instead with Your presence. Lead us into the “full life” You promise, a life where Your joy becomes our strength, our grounding, our renewal, our song.

Amen.

"I DON'T EVEN KNOW HIM"

FEBRUARY 20, 2026

Luke 22:54-63

54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. 55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”

57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”

58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!”

“No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.

59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”

60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

63 The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him.




In the gospels, Peter stands out as a bold, passionate, and at times stubborn follower of Jesus. He is one of the Twelve, and even more, part of what many refer to as  Jesus’ “inner circle.” He is the disciple who speaks first, tends to moves first, and often "leaps before he looks." And beneath all that impulsiveness, Peter is deeply loyal, and committed to Jesus with a genuineness that is hard to miss.

Think about his track record. He was the one who stepped out of the boat and actually walked on water toward Jesus. When Jesus spoke of suffering and death, Peter was the one who declared he would go to prison with him, die with him if necessary. In the garden, when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter didn’t hesitate; he drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. And when the other disciples scattered, Peter followed Jesus all the way to the high priest’s courtyard, staying as close as he dared.

In our reading today about Peter, we see that something shifted. As Peter waited in the shadows, trying to see what would happen to Jesus, a servant girl recognized him. “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” she said. Peter’s response was immediate: “I don’t even know him.” A little later, someone else pointed at him: “You’re one of the disciples!” Again, Peter denied it. An hour passed. Another person spoke up: “This man must be one of them—he’s a Galilean.” And for the third time, Peter insisted, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

It’s easy for us to conclude that Peter’s loyalty had limits, that when the pressure rose and the danger became real, Peter’s courage collapsed into self-preservation. And before we judge him too harshly, we might need to admit that we are not so different. When fear closes in, when circumstances become painful or uncertain, when we feel cornered, most of us instinctively protect ourselves. Our commitments waver. Our courage draws back. Our priorities become limited to survival. Like Peter, our loyalty often goes only so far as long as we can stay in our comfort zone. It certainly has been that way in my faith journey at times.

But here is the good news: Peter’s story does not end in that courtyard. His failure, as real as it was, was not the last word. After the resurrection, Jesus sought Peter out. He didn’t shame him. He didn’t discard him. He restored him. Do you remember that, Jesus met Peter on the shore, offered forgiveness, renewed his calling, and welcomed him back into community. The one who denied Jesus three times became the one Jesus entrusted with feeding his sheep.

And that is our story too. Isn't it? No matter how many times we falter, no matter how deeply we act out of fear or self-interest, Jesus does not abandon us. He comes to us with the same grace he offered Peter, ready to forgive, ready to restore, ready to draw us back into his circle of love and purpose. I have learned, and I know so have many of you, that our failures may feel final, but in Jesus’ hands, they never are.

That is the astonishing promise of the gospel: Even when we are all about ourselves, Jesus remains all about us.

O love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee

LET'S PRAY

Heavenly Father, accept our honest confession of the wrongs we have chosen, the unfairness to which we have been party, and our denials of your grace and mercy. Would you turn us toward the love and forgiveness offered in your Son, and cleanse us by your mercy, forgive us, bring renewal through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

An Example to FOLLOW

FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Matthew 4:1–11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.



Jesus stands ready to begin the mission God had laid before him.  Recall, that at his baptism, the heavens open, the Spirit descends, and the voice of the Father declares with unmistakable tenderness and authority: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 

What more could anyone need? 

What greater affirmation could be spoken over a life?

And yet, Scripture shows us that divine affirmation does not exempt us from testing. In fact, Matthew tells the story in such a way that the contrast is almost jarring. No sooner has Jesus received the blessing of heaven than he is led into the wilderness, into hunger, isolation, and vulnerability, where the devil arrives with subtle, suggestive whispers:

“You’ve heard the voice from heaven. You know who you are. So why not use that power? Why not trust yourself? Why not take matters into your own hands?”

But Jesus refuses. He refuses every shortcut, every distortion, every invitation to self‑reliance. He refuses to build his identity on anything other than the Word and will of God the Father.

Later, even John the Baptist, his own cousin, his forerunner, will send his followers to ask , “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3). I believe that this question tells us that even the faithful wrestle with “what if?” Even the faithful wonder whether they have placed their trust in the right place.

Matthew 4 reminds us that Jesus meets every temptation with Scripture, with trust, with a steady refusal to let anything other than God define him.

And that becomes our invitation too. Perhaps these are the questions we must all answer as we walk through our own wilderness places:  When the “what if’s” rise up in our minds, where will we place our trust? Who will be our God? Who will we trust to guide us through the twists and turns of this life? Who has loved us, blessed us, and sent us on our way? Who has pointed out the path before us and placed signs along the road so we do not lose our way? Will we choose, today, in this moment, to remain faithful to the One who has never ceased to be faithful to us? Will we choose to place our whole trust in the One who has proven trustworthy again and again?

You see, the wilderness reveals what we cling to. 

The temptations reveal what we believe about God. 

And the voice from heaven still echoes: “You are my beloved.”


Let's Pray

God of promise, when temptations come, temptations to trust only ourselves, to grasp for control, to rely on the world’s assurances instead of your word,  teach us to follow the example of our Lord. Anchor our hearts in your truth. Steady our steps with your Spirit. Help us place our trust securely in your promises, for you alone are faithful. Amen.

A Beginning I Once Overlooked

February 18, 2026

ASH WEDNESDAY

Isaiah 55:6–7 

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Growing up in my church tradition, Ash Wednesday came and went without much attention. Lent wasn’t ignored, but neither was it marked with any particular ritual or emphasis. Only later in my faith journey did I discover that Ash Wednesday carries a profound message, one that beautifully sets the tone for the entire Lenten season. In many Christian traditions, ashes play a central role in the worship service on Ash Wednesday.

Today marks the first day of Lent, a season historically shaped by Christ’s forty days in the wilderness (Matt. 4:2). Initially, early Christians used these weeks as a time of preparing new believers for baptism on Easter Sunday. However, over time, Lent became a shared journey for the whole church, a season of repentance, renewal, and returning to God. 

Though I didn’t grow up observing this day, I’ve come to see how saturated it is with gospel truth. Ash Wednesday points us to the mystery of our union with Christ, our daily dying and rising with him. 

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, invites us into three deep reflections:

1. We remember our mortality, our sinfulness, and our need for a Savior.

Ash Wednesday begins with honesty. The ashes remind us that we are dust—finite, fragile, and unable to save ourselves. They confront us with the truth that sin is not just something “out there” in the world but something that touches every part of our lives. Yet this remembrance is not meant to crush us; it is meant to awaken us. When we acknowledge our limits and our brokenness, we rediscover our deep need for the One who is limitless, holy, and full of mercy. This day teaches us that facing our mortality is not morbid, it is the doorway to grace.

2. We renew our commitment to daily repentance, not just for Lent, but for all of life.

Lent is not a temporary religious project. It is a season that trains us in the lifelong rhythm of turning back to God. Repentance is not merely feeling sorry; it is reorienting our lives toward the One who calls us by name. Ash Wednesday invites us to examine the habits, attitudes, and patterns that have quietly shaped us away from God, and to let the Spirit reshape us. This renewal is gentle but intentional. It is the daily choice to say, “Lord, make my heart new again.”

3. We rest in the hope that Christ has conquered sin and death.

The ashes on our foreheads form the shape of a cross, a reminder that our story does not end in dust. Lent begins with repentance, but it is anchored in resurrection hope. We do not walk through this season trying to earn God’s favor; we walk through it because Christ has already secured our salvation. His victory over sin and death is the foundation beneath every confession, every prayer, every step of renewal. Ash Wednesday calls us to rest, not in our efforts, but in the finished work of Jesus. If you have ever attended an Ash Wednesday service, one of the most moving moments in the service is the imposition of ashes, a cross traced on the forehead while these words are spoken: “Consider yourself dead to sin and alive in Jesus Christ.”

But even with this powerful symbol of the cross on a forehead, the heart of Ash Wednesday is not the ashes themselves. Scripture calls us to something deeper: “Rend your hearts” (Joel 2:13). Lent is not about outward performance but inward transformation.

This season called Lent is a journey of reflection, honesty, and renewal. It invites us to lay aside the burdens that weigh us down and turn again to the God who freely pardons.

So today, we pray with the psalmist:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Amen.

Psalm 51:1–2, 6, 10–12

Kindness That Interrupts the Ordinary

February 17, 2026

Today is Random Act of Kindness Day in our world. A day set aside encouraging people worldwide to perform small, selfless acts that spread positivity and compassion. Thinking about this day to focus on kindness, got me thinking about the theme of "Kindness" as we encounter it in our Bibles.

Most of the kindness Jesus showed wasn’t scheduled. It was not part of a program. It wasn’t announced in advance. It happened in the middle of His day, on the road, at a well, in a crowd, during a meal, or while He was on His way somewhere else.

What I find is that kindness, in the Kingdom of God, is rarely random. It’s intentional, Spirit‑prompted, and deeply rooted in love. Yet to the person receiving it, it often feels wonderfully unexpected.

Here are our two verses for today.

Ephesians 4:32


“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Titus 3:4–5

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us…”

These verses teach us that kindness is not just something God does, it’s something God is. When we practice kindness, we reflect God's character.



Kindness is powerful because it interrupts the normal flow of life. A harsh world expects harshness. A hurried world expects to be ignored. A divided world expects suspicion.

So when kindness appears, especially unexpected kindness, it feels like a small resurrection. A reminder that goodness is still alive. A sign that God is nearer than we think.

One of the reasons I am in support of Random act of Kindness Day/week is that during Random Act of Kindness Week, we’re not just doing nice things. it is hoped that we are training our hearts to notice people the way Jesus noticed people.

The woman at the well
Zacchaeus in the tree
The bleeding woman in the crowd
The children the disciples tried to push away from Jesus
The thief on the cross beside Him

Jesus’ kindness always found the person others overlooked. May our eyes and hearts be open to "divine opportunities" to be kind to someone today, not just because it's Random Act of Kindness Day, but because we are following in the footsteps of Jesus. How about starting each day with a prayer something like this: “Lord, show me one person to bless with kindness today.”

Let's Pray

Lord, open my eyes today. Interrupt my routine with opportunities to show Your kindness. Make my heart soft, my hands ready, and my words gentle. Let someone experience Your love through me, not for my glory, but for Yours. Amen.

Here are a few ways we can live this kindness out in our everyday practices:

Pay for someone’s coffee or meal
Offer a sincere compliment to a stranger
Help someone without being asked

May the God whose kindness saved us fill your imagination with compassion, your steps with purpose, and your week with holy interruptions. Go today in the kindness of Jesus Christ.

TRUE LOVE

 

FEBRUARY 14, 2026

I John 4:19

We love because he first loved us.

John 13:34

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Ephesians 5:2 (The Message)

“Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.”


Ah, Valentines Day...the day of love!

Many think it’s a day just for couples, but that’s not true. Sure, Valentine’s Day has been marketed as a celebration for couples, but I believe love goes far beyond romance.  Valentine’s Day is about LOVE in all its forms and can be enjoyed by couples, families, church communities, and friends alike. It’s a time to celebrate anyone you love and who loves you in return.

The Bible teaches that we were created out of love, to be loved. Our understanding of love comes from knowing and experiencing the love of our Creator. As 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because God first loved us.” The story of God and humanity is, as C.S. Lewis once told J.R.R. Tolkien, “the one fairy-tale that is actually true”—the love story at the heart of all others.

What does the love story beneath all love stories tell us? Well, it tells us that we are uniquely loved by God. Think of the words in Psalm 139,

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

In short, we’re all here because God wanted us to be. Who you are is shaped by His love. The way He’s put your life together is what He calls “Wonderful,” and Psalm 139 describes our creation as the handiwork of God.

I also want us to remember that God loves us deeply. “He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart,” says Isaiah 40:11. It’s a beautiful picture of being held closely and unconditionally by our God. The Bible tells us that God would go to any lengths to show His love for us, even giving His Son Jesus over to death on a cross.  

“This is love: not that we loved God, 

but that He loved us 

and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  

We read from Ephesians the invitation to “Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” 

I find, and perhaps you do too, that Jesus’ model of love inspires us to follow the best way to live, “the most excellent way,” as 1 Corinthians 12:31 puts it. This way of love is beautifully described in 1 Corinthians 13.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

So today on this Valentines Day let us not limit our actions of love to our “sweethearts” but take a moment and think about the people around you that you want to love like Jesus, how might you reach out in love to them today?


Let's Pray 

God, thank You for showing me love first so I can truly know it. I want to love like Jesus—freely, without caution or expecting anything in return. Help me give myself fully to others, and fill me with Your Spirit every moment of every day so I can love that way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SEE FOR YOURSELF

FEBRUARY 13, 2026

John 1:43-50


43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”

Philip’s invitation, “come and see”, is a wonderfully simple approach. There’s no pressure on Nathanael, just a brief description of Jesus followed by a gentle nudge to discover for himself. It’s clear Philip has already embraced Jesus’ style: a straightforward, heartfelt invitation. 

This reflects my own experience with God, who doesn’t approach me with force or accusation, but gently draws me in with that same quiet way. Come and see! Come and hear! Come and touch! All the amazing spiritual moments I’ve experienced with God seem to come down to these simple invitations.

Come and see! The heavens and the earth reflect the glory of God. Isn’t God present in the sunrise, the sunset, and the breathtaking scenes of nature and creation found anywhere in the world? Take a moment to notice the delicate patterns of a spider’s web in the light of the suns rays, think of the new life potential found in a seed, the force of an ocean wave, maybe the joy of a summer walk through Jackson Park, how about a fall day at Ojibway with it brilliant colors, or the experience of the kindness of a friend.

God at work. God inviting.

Come and hear!  The wind swirling in the trees. Reminding us of the Holy Spirit, blowing here and there with reckless abandon (see John 3:8). Soon we will wake to hear the morning bird song in spring;  the enjoyment of the giggle of a little baby; living close to a park as I do and hearing the laugh and sounds, even a few screams of children playing, all these and more are the voice of comfort.

God at work. God inviting.

Come and touch … taste … and smell! The hug of a loved one; the soft fur of a beloved pet. The nutritious meal provided by loving hands; the freshness of locally grown fruit and veggies; the enjoyable pick-me-up of a morning coffee (or tea, ot juice, or smoothie). The aroma and taste of a fresh baked loaf of bread; the fragrance of a Lilac or Rose in bloom.

God at work. God inviting.

Jesus began sharing love through simple invitations, and God continues this in our world today through the Holy Spirit: in everyday miracles, everyday presence, and everyday love. Come and see. Come and hear. Come and touch.

LET'S PRAY

Lord Jesus, thank you for the experience of your being present in countless ways in our world and lives. Help us open our senses to respond to your call, and to see, hear, and taste love in all its forms. Amen.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

FEBRUARY 12, 2026

John 1:35-42

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What are you looking for?
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

The two followers of John the Baptist knew that Jesus was worth getting to know, that in him was life. John the Baptist had given that hint earlier in John 1:19–34. “John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, "A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” So, when John pointed out Jesus, they naturally went after him. But Jesus asked: “What are you looking for?”  I believe most of us have asked ourselves that question. This question and longing and human struggle is at the core of many of us. 

These followers of John answered Jesus’ question with a question. However, their question avoided answering Jesus’ question, rather they asked, “where are you staying?”  I want us to notice that Jesus isn’t thrown off by their response. He simply responded with “Come”, and you will see." The more I read the gospels, the more I am struck by how Jesus met people where they were in life and engaged them in conversation just as they were. Acceptance plays a vital role in life, doesn't it? 

Look at the outcome, Andrew, one of the two followers, gains life. He says to his brother, Simon (Peter): we have found the Messiah, the Christ. Then, there were two disciples!

I wonder if there’s an important message here for us as we meet people. What stands out to me is that Jesus doesn’t try to change Andrew or press him to answer the question he avoided. Instead, He meets Andrew where he is. The beautiful outcome is that Andrew discovers Christ.

What are you looking for? Maybe you know the answer, or maybe, like many, you’re unsure. Jesus simply invites us to spend time with him, to rest in his presence, be filled with love, amazed by grace, and moved by his nearness. In this place of openness, he can reveal himself, allowing us to discover who he is and experience life in him. Give it a try; you might just find what you’ve been looking for.

LET'S PRAY

Jesus, so often we keep searching when the answer is right before us. Help us pause in your presence, enjoy your company, and live with our eyes wide open. Amen.

I'VE GOT A RIVER OF LIFE .....

February  11, 2026

Isaiah 43:19

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 44:3

I will pour water on the thirsty land
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my spirit upon your descendants
and my blessing on your offspring.

John 4:10,14

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water. . . those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”


Imagine a painting called “Living Water,” inspired by the readings above. The artist depicts a barren desert floor, so dry and cracked from the sun that pieces of the hard ground curl up at the edges. Then, hope appears, a pool of water emerges in the wasteland, sending ripples from its center. Looking closer, a shape becomes visible, almost overlaid on the water: the outline of Jesus with outstretched arms, the Living Water himself.

Jesus told the woman at the well that whoever drinks living water will never be thirsty again (John 4:14). God says through Isaiah (55:1), "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters". Our readings today promise streams in the wasteland and water on the thirsty land.

Ever feel dried up, like you’re trudging through a wasteland? We all go through those seasons. But today is a reminder that the promised “Living Water” is here, flowing within us like a bubbling spring. With Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we’ll never thirst again. Water seeps into the dry ground, turning it into a lush, lively landscape. The soil becomes ready for new growth and renewed life. I pray that today may be the day a cracked patch in your life is revived by the welling up of that “Living Water.”

Let's Pray

Holy Spirit, Living Water, flow in us and set us free.
Cleanse our unbelief and sorrow, wash our eyes and make us see.
Holy Spirit, come as wind and blow the dust of death away.
Breathe the gift of life into us, lighten hearts to laugh and play.
Holy Spirit, rushing fire, burn with truth and justice here.
Catch our minds alight with passion, perfect love that drives out fear.
Holy Spirit, come in silence, wordlessly to heal and bless.

Be the heart that prays within us; fill the void with tenderness. 

Holy Spirit, blessed Wisdom, teach us all of God’s delight. 

Offer us the wine of grace and make us children of the Light. Amen.

(Prayer written by Elizabeth Smith)