Praying for Your Neighborhood

 

November 14, 2025

Zechariah 8:5

“The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” 

This short but vivid verse paints a picture of joy, safety, and community life restored. It’s a snapshot of God’s heart for neighborhoods, a place where children play freely, families flourish, and streets echo with peace rather than fear and conflict.

Zechariah spoke these words to a people returning from exile, people rebuilding their homes, replanting their lives, and reclaiming their city. God gave them a vision not just of physical reconstruction but of spiritual renewal, a community filled with life again.

I believe that same vision can shape how we pray for our own neighborhoods today. God desires our streets, literal or figurative, to be places where love grows, where burdens lift, and where hope has "room to breathe."

It is easy to walk our streets without thinking about what God longs to do there. Yet the truth is God sees more than we do. Behind every home, every fence, every condominium or apartment door, there are stories, some joyful, some heavy, some waiting for healing.

When I read of Zechariah’s vision I see there a reminder that God is invested in the wellbeing of our communities. Our creator delights in neighborhoods where peace replaces tension, where relationships blossom, where the vulnerable are safe, and where joy can be heard again, like the laughter of children in the streets. 

When we pray for our neighborhood, we are aligning ourselves with God’s dream for it. We are asking Him to bring renewal where there is weariness, unity where there is division, and hope where there is despair.

And sometimes, the simple act of prayer becomes the beginning of transformation in us and around us.

Here are some practical prayer suggestions for us to use as we pray for our neighbourhoods.

1. Pray for Safety and Peace

Ask God to make your streets safe and welcoming, for children, teens, and families alike.

2. Pray with Zechariah’s Vision in Mind

Imagine your neighborhood filled with signs of life and joy—then pray:

“Lord, let our streets be places of peace and flourishing.”

3. Prayer-Walk with Hope

As you walk your block, quietly pray for the renewal of each home:
“Restore joy here. Bring peace here. Let hope be felt here.”

4. Pray for Families

Lift up the parents, kids, single adults, elders, and newcomers around you.
Pray for support, connection, and comfort.

5. Pray for God to Use You

Ask for opportunities to build bridges through small gestures, conversations, or acts of kindness that open hearts.

Let's Pray

Lord, thank You for the vision of joy-filled streets in Zechariah.
Let that vision take root in my neighborhood.
Bring peace to every home, safety to every child, and hope to every heart.
Restore what is broken, revive what feels empty, and renew the life of my community.
Use us to reflect Your love so that my neighborhood flourishes with Your presence.
Amen.

Rooted in Love—For God, Others, and Place

 

November 13, 2025

Matthew 22:37, 39 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Jeremiah 29:7

“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you… Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 

Loving God is the beginning of all true love. The point being made is not just about affection, it has to do with alignment. You see, when we love God with heart, soul, and mind, we begin to see the world through the eyes of the Creator. We become attentive to beauty, brokenness, and possibility. Our worship becomes a way of life, and our neighborhoods become sacred ground.

As we see in the above verse, Jesus links the love of God with the love of neighbor. One flows into the other. To love others is to honor their dignity, listen deeply, and serve sacrificially. It’s not always easy especially when neighbors are different, and some may be difficult, or distant. But love is not just sentiment, or a thought or feeling; Biblical love is a commitment. The love of the Bible emphasizes choosing to show up, again and again, with grace.

Jeremiah’s counsel to the exiles in Babylon is unexpectantly compassionate, remember the people have been uprooted from their homeland, yet Jeremiah calls them to  “Seek the peace of the city” in which they now live. Do you see what is happening here? Even in foreign or flawed surroundings, God calls for planting gardens, building homes, raising families, and praying for the land. To love where you live is to invest in the community, understand its rhythms, and bless its people. It is viewing your street, your neighborhood, and your local park as a place of sanctuary and refuge.

Reflect on these questions below for a few moments today, 

What does loving God look like in your daily rhythms?

Who is a neighbor you’re being nudged to love more intentionally?
What’s one way you can bless your neighborhood this week?

Let's Pray

God of all places and people, help us to love You with all that we are. Let that love spill over into kindness for others and care for the communities we belong to. May we bring peace wherever we are, and may our prayers influence the spaces we live in. Amen.

The Soldier’s Inner Battle

November 12, 2025

Psalm 23:4 

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

I want to begin today with a prayer written by U.S. Military Chaplain Richard A. Lutz.

O Lord, many of us have tears deep inside of our lives, because we’ve been hurt in ways that go to the very core of our being, and some of the hurts we carry around have been there for a long, long time – even for years. We experienced a loss from which even today we have not really recovered. We took a beating that ripped into our heart and soul and tore us apart at the deepest place in our life. We went through the betrayal of a trust, the betrayal of a friendship, and still today we find ourselves dealing with its aftereffects and its residue. We suffered the unforgivable at the hands of a parent or the hands of someone we loved, and there’s a scar there that breaks open over and over again.

O God, you are the one who looks way down deep inside of all of us. You see and know what no one knows, no one at all except we ourselves. And, not only do you see us and know us, but you also feel things along with us, even the very painful stuff, the deep stuff along with us, and we feel a strange kind of healing taking place. We are no longer left alone with our burdens.

Today, those of us who are struggling inside – who have been broken and hurt and still feel the tears within – we thank you for being there and sharing with us what we cannot bear alone. Amen.


Earlier this week I saw a post for Remembrance Day that read "Remember those who have not yet fallen, but are falling." It was a reminder that the battlefield doesn’t always end when the war does. For many soldiers (and let's not forget their families), the darkest valleys are not physical terrains but internal landscapes, where they are haunted by memories, moral dilemmas, and the invisible wounds of trauma. Psalm 23 speaks directly into this experience. It doesn’t promise the absence of valleys, but it assures presence: “You are with me.” That's what Chaplain Lutz's prayer gets at.

This is also the heart of the gospel for those who carry burdens too heavy to name. God does not abandon us in the shadows. He walks with us, even when the path is lined with grief, guilt, or confusion.

From the stories I have read and heard about war, yes even peacekeeping deployment, are experiences that leave marks that don’t show up on scans. Flashbacks, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness are real battles. These are not signs of weakness, they are signs of survival. I believe that as a society we must learn to recognize these wounds and respond with compassion, and not judgment. Psalm 34:18 says that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  How I pray that this would be a genuine truth experienced by our "falling" veterans.

Soldiers often face moral injury, when actions taken (or not taken) in deployment violate their deepest values. This can lead to shame, spiritual disorientation, and a crisis of identity. The psalmist’s cry in Psalm 23 is not sanitized; it’s raw and real. God’s comfort comes not by erasing the past, but by walking with us through it.

The “rod and staff” of Psalm 23 are symbols of protection and guidance. They remind us that God is not passive in our pain. He actively comforts, defends, and leads. For veterans, this means that healing is not just psychological, it’s spiritual. 

As today I remember, and I invite you to remember those who live with the lasting effects of their service to our country, who struggle with trauma, with PTSD. I am thankful for their service, but I am also thankful for those brave souls who have given themselves to treatments, although these opportunities are in short supply, they have allowed us to understand the impacts of the trauma of war, which has led to an understanding of trauma in other contexts. The trauma of childhood sexual, physical, emotional abuse, the violence of rape, gun violence, robbery, the trauma of poverty, ….. and so on. I for one, as a trauma survivor, would not be writing this today if it were not for their bravery to confront their trauma head on and the treatments that are now available for so many. 

Let us never forget those who carry the scars of war and their need of our prayers, compassion and the message of hope that God promises to all. When you pray for these veterans do not forget their families in those prayers. That they would know the reality of Jesus promise, "I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid." John 14:27

Let's  Pray

God of the valley, you see what others can’t. You walk alongside those bearing unseen scars. You don’t turn away from our pain or shy from our questions. Stay close to every veteran, every soldier, every heart weighed down by war. Let your rod and staff bring them comfort. Let your people be safe havens. And let your healing reach every dark and hidden path. Amen.

From Remembrance to Peace: a Pastor's Perspective

November 11, 2025

Micah 4:3 

They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.


Remembrance is not only about looking back, it is about shaping the future. When we pause to remember those who have served, suffered, and sacrificed in times of war, we are invited to imagine a different tomorrow: one where swords become plowshares, and tools of destruction are transformed into instruments of life.

Veterans hold stories that reveal both the courage and the cost of conflict. Their lived experience reminds us that war is never glorious, it is a costly reminder of our shared humanity and the need for peace. Certainly, we witness this in our world presently, Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Somalia, Nigeria just to name a few conflicts. Veterans in my family and the many I have met over the years, have been shaped by what they have seen, and have become advocates for reconciliation and healing. They teach that true strength lies not in power or revenge, but in compassion, forgiveness, and understanding. Today, to honor them properly and meaningfully, is to listen to their wisdom and join them in the work of building a more peaceful world. 

Daniel Graves in an article from November 2012 wrote, "a dear friend gave me a button. The words on the button are: “to remember is to work for peace.” I choose to wear that button alongside my poppy to help me understand and interpret what it is that we are called to remember each year, and what it is we are called to do as the result of that remembrance."

Remembrance Day is more than a solemn pause in the year, it is a sacred call to peacemaking. To remember is not only to honor the sacrifices of those who served, but also to learn from the past so that we do not repeat its sorrows. True remembrance invites reflection on the cost of conflict and the fragile gift of peace. Remembrance,  becomes a moral safeguard, a light that exposes the dark patterns of fear, hatred, and division that too easily return if not guarded against.

For Christians, remembrance goes even deeper. It moves beyond passive nostalgia or quiet sentiment. It becomes an act of faithful participation in God’s ongoing story of reconciliation. When we remember in Christ, we are drawn into God’s vision of peace, a peace that heals, restores, and rebuilds. To remember, then, is to commit ourselves anew to the work of peacemaking in our homes, our communities, and our world. It is to let the memory of suffering shape us into people who choose love over violence, hope over despair, and peace over indifference.

Jesus blesses the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), declaring them “children of God.” Peacemaking, then, is not merely an ethical or moral choice but a reflection of God’s very nature. When we work for peace, we mirror the heart of the Father who desires wholeness and reconciliation for all creation.

At the center of our faith stands the Cross, the ultimate act of divine peacemaking. In Jesus, God lovingly takes what was broken and estranged and brings it back into fellowship. The cross turns animosity into friendship, hostility into grace, and separation into communion. It shows that peace is not achieved through force or domination, but through self-giving love.

True peace then, is far deeper than the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice, compassion, and restored relationship. Where honor is defended, fairness upheld, and love practiced, peace begins to take root. Peacemaking, then, is not passive, it is active, courageous, and redemptive. It calls us to confront what divides and to embody the reconciling love of Christ in our communities and our world.

There is a burning question for us today. What does it mean to be a peacemaker in a world still at war?

To be a peacemaker in a world still at war is to live as a sign of God’s alternative kingdom, one where mercy triumphs over vengeance, and love overcomes hate. It means refusing to let violence or fear have the final word, even when those forces dominate the media headlines.

Being a peacemaker does not mean ignoring conflict or pretending all is well. It means stepping into broken places with courage and compassion, seeking to mend what is torn. Peacemakers listen before they speak, build bridges where walls stand, and pursue justice where people are silenced or forgotten. They believe that peace is not simply the absence of war but the presence of right relationships, with God, with others, and with creation itself.

In a world still at war, whether between nations, within communities, or inside the human heart, peacemakers embody the costly grace of Christ. They carry the "cross-shaped conviction" that reconciliation is possible, that enemies can become friends, and that hope can rise even from the ruins. To be a peacemaker is to trust that God’s vision of peace is not a dream deferred, but a reality already being born through every act of forgiveness, courage, and love.

This is the way that we can embody Micah's vision, and I would say honor our veterans too, as we little by little "beat (our) swords into plowshares and (our) spears into pruning hooks, and build a world that ceases to "train for war."

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

When you go home, tell them of us,

and say For your tomorrow we gave our today.

(Words taken from the Kohima Epitaph)

Let's Pray

God of peace, we reflect today on those who have endured the burden of war. We honor their sacrifices and heed their wisdom. Help us transform our remembrance into action, our gratitude into dedication, and our hope into peacemaking. Guide us to be agents of reconciliation, until swords are reshaped into plowshares and Your kingdom of peace is fully realized. Amen.

DON'T FORGET! REMEMBER

 

November 10, 2025

Luke 22:19

". . . do this in remembrance of me."

I Chronicles 16:12

"Remember the wonders he has done."

We will remember them! Tomorrow, our nation focuses on the act of Remembrance. Each year, on November 11, communities across Canada, both large and small, hold services to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for others, including you and me.

As I prepared for Remembrance Day 2025, I found myself contemplating the Old Testament's concept of "remember." To truly understand the Hebrew idea of "remembering," it might help to consider what it means in the Bible to forget.

To forget nowadays simply means letting an idea or thought slip from your mind. Forgetting a person just means they’re no longer in your thoughts. In the Bible, however, forgetting someone was far more severe, it meant erasing, obliterating, or destroying them. When the Israelites begged God not to forget them, they weren’t asking Him to occasionally think of them; they were pleading, “Don’t destroy us, don’t erase us.” Clearly, forgetting isn’t just about ideas; it’s tied to lived experiences.

Similarly, remembering is deeply connected to lived experiences. In the Old Testament, to remember meant bringing a past event into the present, so that its meaning and impact continue to resonate now. What happened back then remains active in people’s lives, allowing them to share in the same experience as those who witnessed the original event. For instance, when the Israelites are urged to remember their ancestors’ deliverance from slavery centuries earlier, they aren’t just recalling a historical fact, they are being called to live that same reality of deliverance in their own time. Just as their ancestors experienced God’s great deliverance firsthand, they too are invited to intimately know a similar deliverance in their lives, even hundreds of years later.

Today, remembering often just means recalling an event or idea. But in the Bible, remembering carried much greater significance, it meant that past events remained alive and powerful in the present, continuing to shape and transform life. Isn't that exactly what we do at the Lord's Supper? We come to the table to "remember" that our salvation and reconciliation with God and one another were made possible only through the sacrifice of the cross. As Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me."

On Remembrance Day, November 11, 2025, we pause to reflect. It would be meaningful to remember in a Biblical sense this year. During those minutes of silence, let our act of remembering carry deeper significance. We’ve come to understand that true remembrance brings past events into the present, making them a guiding truth in our lives today.

The past event was one of immense sacrifice, the greatest sacrifice humanly possible, made in the name of justice and peace. The world’s circumstances demanded that countless families sent their loved ones to fight for these ideals, with many losing their lives in the process. As I recently read, "Justice and peace have never been obtained without sacrifice, and never will be."

In the Biblical sense of “remembering,” we should always keep in mind the Remembrance Day phrase, “Lest we forget.” This isn’t about letting memories of past events fade away; it’s about ensuring the sacrifices of those who came before us are not erased, disregarded, or made meaningless. To truly remember their sacrifice is to honor it by making our own sacrifices for the sake of others.

Rekindle and Release

 November 7, 2025

Our “God’s Gift of Creativity” devotion series this week has explored how our creative instincts reflect the divine image in which we were made. As we have noted, scripture affirms that creativity is not only a reflection of God’s nature but also a sacred act of worship, a Spirit-inspired process, and a communal gift. Whether through art, service, or partnership, our talents become vessels of praise, wisdom, and unity when offered to God. My prayer is that this brief series has awakened some fresh thoughts about the gift of creativity, and reaffirmed in us the desire to honor God through our gifts, by seeking the Spirit’s guidance, and celebrating the creativity that God has placed within the body of Christ.

 2 Timothy 1:6

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…”  

Paul’s words to Timothy are not just a gentle nudge; they are truly a sacred call to action. Paul reminds Timothy that God's gift is meant to be active and vibrant, shining brightly for all to see. Now in our verse today, the Apostle Paul is referring to Timothy’s spiritual calling, yet, I believe this verse speaks powerfully to all of us,  to "fan into flame" all the gifts and abilities that God has given us, spiritually and creatively. 

We have been reminded this week that creativity is not merely of human origin, but that our creative drive is a reflection of the Creator Himself. In the pages of Scripture, we meet a God who forms, fashions, and breathes life into dust. He paints skies, sculpts mountains, and speaks galaxies into being. And then, astonishingly, He makes us in His image. That means the capacity to imagine, design, write, sing, build, and beautify is not just a talent it’s a sacred gift.

But let us be honest, we know that the use of our gifts can grow cold. Life gets busy. Fear creeps in. We doubt "our voice, our vision, our value." That’s why Paul’s reminder to Timothy is so urgent to him and to us: fan it into flame. Stir it up. Feed it with prayer, practice, and boldness. The outcome of creativity isn’t just for artists, it’s for parents shaping homes, teachers crafting lessons, leaders casting vision, and believers building bridges of hope.

Here are a few questions for us as we conclude our reflections this week.

What creative gift has God placed in you?  Writing, music, hospitality, problem-solving, storytelling?

How might you “fan it into flame”?  Could you set aside time to create, collaborate, or share?

Who needs your creativity ? Be reminded that sometimes your gift is the answer to someone else’s prayer.

Here is a prayer I came across this week,

Let's Pray 

Lord, thank You for the gift You have placed within me. Forgive me for the times I have allowed it to grow cold. Today, I choose to rekindle the flame, not through striving, but by surrendering to Your Spirit. Breathe life into the embers of my creativity, my calling, and my courage. Let my life shine with holy purpose, igniting hope, healing, and light in others. Amen.

Creativity in Community

 

November 6, 2025

 Romans 12:6

“We have different gifts,
according to the grace given to each of us.”

As we have been saying so far this week, creativity is not reserved for a few of us, it’s a reflection of God’s image in all of us. From the opening pages of the Bible in the book of Genesis, we meet a God who creates, shapes, and brings beauty out of chaos. And when God made humankind in His image (Genesis 1:27), He shared that divine impulse to create, not just alone as individuals, but together as community. 

Today in our focus verse, the Apostle Paul reminds the church in Rome that grace expresses itself through variety: “We have different gifts.” In other words, the variety of creativity that a faith community has, is not a problem to solve but a gift to receive. One person expresses through words, another through melody and song; one designs with structure, another imparts warmth and care. Led by the Spirit, each person adds their unique touch to the beautiful masterpiece of God’s people.

You see, when we work together, whether in worship, service, or daily life our creativity multiplies. As I have heard it put, "the poet needs the musician; the planner needs the dreamer; the teacher needs the encourager." When this harmony occurs, we have communion, a shared participation in God’s creative work. 

I think of the early church described in the book of Acts: meals shared, prayers offered, resources combined, songs sung. Creativity in the Bible was not about self-expression or competitive comparison; it was about love in action. And this remains true today. The way I see it, and understand the Bible, is that when we honor the gifts of others, we create sacred space for the Spirit’s creativity to occur and be witnessed by others through community.

Let's Pray

God of unity and imagination,
Thank You for the gift of creativity and for its many ways of reflecting Your heart.
Help me to appreciate the beauty in others' gifts, and teach me to celebrate, encourage, and co-create with grace,
so that together as your community we may reveal Your glory in the world.  Amen.  

Whispers from the Deep

 

November 5, 2025

1 Corinthians 2:10

“The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” 

The depths of God are beyond the reach of human wisdom alone. Paul highlights in our verses today,  that the Spirit of God goes beyond just some superficial understanding, God's Spirit explores the "deep things of God" to reveal mysteries, hidden riches, and profound truths that exceed human understanding.

When we think of inspiration, we often picture a sudden spark of creativity, a flash of insight, or a new idea that seems to come out of nowhere. We use phrases like "the light came on," or "suddenly I saw," or “A lightbulb moment,” or  “Creative juices started flowing.” But Scripture teaches us that true inspiration is more than human ingenuity, it is Spirit-breathed. PAUSE on that thought for a moment. The Holy Spirit is our guide, softly imparting God’s wisdom into our hearts, igniting visions that align with His purposes, and steering our minds toward what is good, true, and beautiful.

As I see it, this shows that our creativity, whether in art, music, writing, problem-solving, or the ways we love and serve others, is more than just human effort. It’s a sacred partnership. You see, when we invite the Spirit into what we do, our ideas are filled with compassion, our words gain meaning, and our actions reflect God’s heart.

Think of the Spirit as the breath of God that "switches on" our imagination. Just as God breathed life into the first humans Adam and Eve, the Spirit breathes life into our thoughts, shaping these thoughts and insights into something that blesses others and glorifies God. I am learning, perhaps you are too, that inspiration is not random, but it is relational. Inspiration and creativity flows from abiding in God’s presence and being open to the Spirit’s leading.

Have you ever had an inspirational moment that seemed guided by the Spirit rather than coming from within yourself? 

What steps can you take to welcome the Spirit into your everyday work or creative endeavors?

Here are a few thoughts for us to think about.

Pause before you create. Whether you’re writing, planning, or problem-solving, take a moment to invite the Spirit into your process.

Look for God’s fingerprints. Pay attention to those nudges, those “out of nowhere” ideas that carry peace, clarity, or compassion. They may be the Spirit’s whispers.

Create with purpose. Ask: Does this idea reflect love? Does it bring truth and justice? Does it serve others? Spirit-inspired creativity always points beyond ourselves.

Let's Pray

Holy Spirit, breathe into my imagination. Search the deep places of my heart and align them with the deep things of God. Guide my thoughts and help me create with love, truth, and insight. May my words, ideas, and actions carry Your wisdom and bring life to others. Amen.

Inspired to Build

 

November 4, 2025

Exodus 35:35 

“He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work…”

When God called His people to build the tabernacle, the place of meeting, God didn’t simply hand them blueprints and demand that they with precision perfectly create. Instead, He filled ordinary women and men with extraordinary skill, vision, and creativity. The artistry of Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other craftsmen was not a side project, it was central to worship. that means that every stitch, carving, and woven thread became a testimony that God delights in beauty, order, and excellence.

This reminds us that creativity is not a luxury or an afterthought in the life of faith. It is a sacred trust. Whether we are painting a canvas, writing a poem, preparing a meal, designing a space, or even organizing a schedule, our work can become an offering. What matters is not the applause of others, but the posture of our hearts. When we dedicate our talents to God, the ordinary becomes holy, and the work of our hands becomes worship.

Creativity is not solely about self-expression; it is about expressing God. Just as the tabernacle showcased God’s glory through wood, fabric, and gold, our lives can display His glory in the distinct ways we create, serve, and build.

Let's Pray

Lord, as the Creator of all things, You have instilled within me a spark, a hint of Your divine creativity. Guide me to view my gifts as instruments of worship. May the work of my hands, whether noticed or unnoticed, bring glory to Your name. Let my creativity reflect Your beauty, and may every act of creating, shaping, or serving become an offering of praise to You.

Made to Make

 

November 3, 2025

Genesis 1:27 

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

From the very first breath of Scripture, God is introduced as an artist. Think about it, we read of a God who shapes light from darkness, separates waters, sculpts mountains, and plants gardens. Creation  is beautiful, intentional, and alive. And then, in a stunning act of generosity, God forms humanity in His image, to reflect their Maker.

Now, there are several ways we could discuss being formed in God's image and what that means. This week let us reflect on the idea that to be made in the image of the Creator means we are wired to create. This  shows up in countless ways: in the painter’s brushstroke, the teacher’s lesson plan, the parent’s bedtime story, the engineer’s blueprint, the cook’s recipe, the friend’s listening ear. Creativity, in its broadest sense, goes beyond what we traditionally call "The Arts"; (Paintings, music, Sculpture) it's the essential spark that fuels innovation, empathy, and meaningful connections.

When we create, through words, music, movement, or acts of kindness, we reflect the One who first envisioned the creation that we so enjoy. I want us to think about this notion together this week: that our creativity is not a hobby or a side note; it’s a holy calling that God by his Spirit invites you and me to co-create with Him, to bring light into the world through our creative gifts. 

Let's Pray

God, You are the ultimate Creator, the original Designer of beauty and wonder. Thank You for making me in Your image—not just to take in, but to give back. Stir in me the joy of creating. Remind me that my ideas, my work, and my imagination are sacred reflections of Your design. When I feel stuck or uninspired, fill my spirit with fresh inspiration. Help me to create not for recognition, but out of love. May my creativity bring blessings to others and shine as a reflection of Your glory. Amen.

Happy REFORMATION DAY!!

October 31, 2025

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!

7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

_____________________________________________

A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing.
Our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he.
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.

Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also.
The body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever.

Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”




It is not a Reformation Day without reading Psalm 46 and singing A Mighty Fortress is Our God. When I think of the images used for God in Psalm 46 and this hymn (fortress = a Military stronghold and bulwark = a defensive wall), I picture things that don’t move, don’t change, that are not open to reform. 

When we reflect on the Reformation movement, we are led to focus on our call as Jesus followers, to continually be open to reforming, change and renewal, through the study of the scriptures, by paying attention to our culture, and openness to new winds of the Spirit. I feel this paying attention to what is often called, “Reformation Nudges” that push us to recognize the tension of living in a space where we celebrate who we have been (the past), and seek to make sense of the present moment, and yet knowing we have not yet arrived at the end of our journey of growth. With Paul we say “not that we have already arrived, but we press on to our high calling” in Jesus.

So why do we read Psalm 46 and sing this hymn on Reformation day? James Mays, Old Testament Professor, writes, “the Psalm does not invite us to trust in a place, but in a Presence” (Mays, James, Psalms: Interpretation (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox) p. 185). I wonder if the images of God as a defensive wall (bulwark), as a mighty military stronghold (fortress) , are not images meant to suggest an unchanging, stay in one place kind of God who is “closed and locked up tightly;” but rather, images meant to call to mind, to evoke, a trust in the promise of a Divine Presence who is always constantly with us, even as we move, change, and shift. I wonder if Luther’s interpretation of Psalm 46 in his hymn is meant to give us tools for being ready to be reformed, changed, and challenged.

Think about it, if we remember that God is present with us in every step of our life’s journey, doesn’t it change the way we feel about possibilities for our future?

If we know and trust that no matter how often we feel the confusion and uneasiness of change; that no matter how often our own strength seems to fail us; that no matter how often it feels like “this world with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,” that we are supported by God’s abiding and constant presence, we will not be afraid. “We will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.”

God’s presence is the solid rock on which we stand, the mighty fortress in which we make our home, and the promise of God’s presence is what does not change, no matter what occurs because this promise rests on the foundation of “the man of God’s own choosing”!!

Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he.
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same.

LET US PRAY

O Mighty Fortress, bulwark of love and presence, open our eyes to the ways you travel with us. Open our hearts for the constant reforming and renewing work of your Spirit. Don’t let us grow content with what is, but give us vision for what, who, we might become as your people and as your church. Amen.

Faith that Looks Ahead

 

October 31. 2025

Hebrews 11:1–16

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Hebrew 12:1–3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Faith, as described by the writer of Hebrews, is "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." It is the belief that God's promises are more reliable than our present circumstances and that His unseen reality is more lasting than what is visible around us.

Hebrews 11 describes people who lived by that conviction. Abraham set out “not knowing where he was going.” Sarah believed she could bear a child long after hope should have died. Moses chose to suffer with God’s people rather than enjoy Egypt’s fleeting pleasures. Each one anchored their life not in what they could see, but in what God had promised.

Those individuals we are told about passed away still waiting, “not having received the things promised, but having seen them and welcomed them from a distance.” Faith turned them into sojourners in this world, moving forward, yet often tired, sometimes unsure but always believing that God was preparing “a better country, a heavenly one.”

Our faith lives in that tension as well. We believe in promises not yet fulfilled, redemption not yet complete, prayers not yet answered. Hebrews reminds us that faith is active endurance. The faith talked about in Hebrews 11 above keeps moving forward, like a runner in a race, because the finish line is certain.

That’s why Hebrews 12 turns our attention to Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” He endured the cross for the joy that lay ahead. Jesus focused on the Father’s glory and our salvation, and that vision gave Him strength through the pain. I believe that our faith grows in the same way, by looking forward and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

So, maybe today you’re feeling worn out from waiting, for healing, reconciliation, maybe clarity, or for something to finally make sense. The message of Hebrews isn’t about ignoring the struggle but Hebrews inspires us toward holding onto the promise: God remains faithful, and as you have heard me say many times, God's story isn’t over yet. Faith doesn’t erase the tension we may experience; but faith does help us endure it with hope. The same God who sustained Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Rahab, will sustain us too.


Let's Pray


God, help me to run the race set before me with my eyes fixed on Jesus. When I feel weary, remind me of Your promises. When the finish line seems distant, fill me with the joy that sustained Jesus. Teach me to trust that You are preparing a better, eternal, and good country. Amen.

Faith Working through Love

October 30, 2025

Galatians 5:6

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” 

2 Timothy 4:6–8

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 

For Paul, faith was never a quiet or private conviction; faith was the driving force of the Apostle's entire life. In his letter to the Galatians, he spoke to a community that often measured their value through outward signs of faith, like circumcision, rituals, and strict rule-following. Paul dismissed all these distractions with a straightforward yet profound truth: "What truly matters is faith expressed through love."

Faith, as Paul understood it, was not about checking boxes or somehow proving oneself righteous. It was about being transformed by Christ’s love so deeply that it naturally overflowed into love for others. His life embodied this truth. Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, transformed into a devoted servant of Christ, dedicating himself to the very people he once opposed. Every journey he took, every challenge he faced, and every letter he penned from prison testified to a faith that was unwavering and alive.

In his final letter, Paul looked back on a life of endurance and sacrifice. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Notice what he doesn’t say, he doesn’t boast of his achievements of number of churches planted, or the number of converts that came to belief in Jesus through his ministry. The Apostle Paul rejoices in faith that lasted, faith that worked through love until the very end. 

I believe what Paul shows us is that faith is not passive, lifeless, or inactive belief, rather faith in Paul's view, is revealed in a life poured out in love.

 

Let's Pray

God, may my faith shine through love and perseverance. Teach me to give myself selflessly to others, as You gave Yourself for me. Let my love be genuine, my service full of joy, and my life a true reflection of Your grace. Amen.