Already on the Way?

 Monday June 29, 2026

Scripture

Isaiah 65:24

"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."

Romans 8:26–27

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God."

Reflection

Some verses reshape the way we see God. Isaiah 65:24 is one of those verses for me.

For much of my life, I assumed prayer began with me. If I wanted to talk with God, it was my responsibility to initiate the conversation. I had learned that prayer was a spiritual discipline—and rightly so. We were encouraged to pray faithfully, to spend time with God, and to make prayer a priority.

Those things are true.

But somewhere along the way, I also began to believe that prayer depended on me. I felt as though I had to get God's attention, find the right words, or somehow begin a conversation that He was waiting for me to start. Without realizing it, prayer became more of a duty than a delight.

Then I came across Isaiah's remarkable promise:

"Before they call I will answer;

while they are still speaking I will hear."

Everything changed.

What if prayer doesn't begin with us at all?

What if the desire to pray is actually God's invitation? What if those moments when we suddenly feel the need to pray—during a crisis, while carrying a burden, when we need wisdom, strength, or peace—are evidence that God is already drawing us into a conversation He has already begun?

Isaiah paints a beautiful picture of a God who is never distant or reluctant. He is already attentive. Before we form the words, He knows our hearts. Before we voice our needs, He is already preparing His response. Before we realize we need Him, He is reaching toward us with grace.

The apostle Paul echoes this same truth in Romans 8. He reminds us that even when we don't know what to pray, the Holy Spirit is already at work within us, praying on our behalf according to the Father's will. We are never left to figure prayer out on our own. God Himself is actively involved from beginning to end.

That means prayer is far more than bringing requests to heaven.

Prayer is responding to the God who has already come near.

The impulse to pray may actually be one of God's greatest gifts. It is His Spirit gently inviting us into His presence because He has something He wants to share—peace for our anxiety, wisdom for our confusion, strength for our weakness, or simply the assurance that we are not facing life alone.

This has transformed the way I pray.

Now, when I sense that quiet nudge to stop and pray, I no longer see it as another task on my spiritual checklist. I see it as an invitation from my heavenly Father. The conversation has already begun. He is simply asking me to join Him.

Prayer doesn't start with us.

It starts with the God who loved us first, sought us first, and speaks before we even call.

Prayer

Father, thank You that You are always the One who makes the first move toward me. Thank You that You know my needs before I speak and that Your Spirit helps me even when I don't have the words to pray. Teach me to recognize Your invitations throughout the day and to respond with trust. Help me to see prayer not as a burden, but as a loving conversation with the God who is already near. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Application

• Notice God's invitations. When you suddenly feel prompted to pray today, pause and consider that God may already be inviting you into His presence.

• Pray honestly. Don't worry about finding the perfect words. Your Father already knows your heart.

• Trust the Holy Spirit. When you don't know what to pray, remember that the Spirit is already interceding for you.

• Rest in God's initiative. Begin your prayers with gratitude, remembering that God sought you before you ever sought Him.

From Small to Stunning

 Friday June 26, 2026

Scripture

Matthew 13:31–32

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed… though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it becomes a tree…”

2 Corinthians 3:18

“We are being transformed into his image from one degree of glory to another…”

Reflection

Jesus loved using everyday things to help us understand God’s kingdom, and the mustard seed is one of His best examples. It’s tiny—easy to overlook, easy to underestimate. But once it’s planted, it grows into something big enough and strong enough for birds to rest in.

That’s how God works. He takes what looks small, weak, or insignificant and turns it into something life‑giving.

I’ve started noticing how often trees show up in scripture as pictures of God’s work. They don’t grow overnight. They don’t rush. They just keep stretching upward, season after season, ring by ring. Flowers don’t start out beautiful—they grow into beauty. Creation is always transforming, always becoming.

And honestly, we’re the same.

God’s plan has always been to shape us into something beautiful—people who reflect His love, His character, His heart. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, He made that transformation possible. And through the Holy Spirit, He keeps growing us, little by little, one degree of glory at a time.

Sometimes the growth feels slow. Sometimes it feels hidden. Sometimes it feels like nothing is happening at all. But God is always at work beneath the surface, turning small seeds into strong branches.

The only thing left for us is to lean in—to say yes to the growth He wants to bring, even if it starts small.

Prayer

God, thank You for taking the small things in my life and growing them into something meaningful. Help me trust the slow, steady work You’re doing in me. Shape me into the image of Christ, one step at a time. Let my life become a place where others can find rest, hope, and encouragement. Amen.

Application

• Notice your “mustard seed” moments — Where is God starting something small in you right now?

• Invite God into your growth — Ask Him to keep shaping you, even in the slow seasons.

• Reflect on past transformation — Look back at who you were a year ago. What has God grown in you?

• Encourage someone else’s growth — Remind someone that small beginnings matter.

More Than You Can Measure

 Thursday June 25, 2026

Scripture

Romans 5:5

“This hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

Ephesians 3:18–19

“May you have the power to understand… how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.”

Reflection

If you’ve ever stood at Niagara Falls—summer, winter, morning, late at night—you know the feeling. The water never stops. It doesn’t slow down. It doesn’t take a break. It just keeps pouring over the edge, second after second after second.

And the numbers are wild: over 2.5 million litres of water every single second over the Horseshoe Falls. Every. Single. Second. It’s honestly hard to wrap your mind around.

That’s the picture that comes to mind when Paul says God pours His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Not a drizzle. Not a sprinkle. A constant, unstoppable, overflowing rush of love, grace, compassion, and goodness.

And yet—let’s be honest—it’s still hard to fully grasp. We run out of words. We run out of categories. We run out of imagination. Paul knew that too, which is why he prayed that we’d have power to understand God’s love. Not just information. Not just theory. Power. Because God’s love is bigger than our brains can conceive.

So here’s the good news: You don’t have to figure out God’s love on your own. You don’t have to “feel enough” or “understand enough.” The Holy Spirit helps you take it in—bit by bit, day by day.

Just like the Falls never stop flowing, God’s love never stops pouring. And the Spirit keeps helping us receive it.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, fill my heart again, and again, with the love of God. Help me grasp what I can’t fully understand— how wide, long, high, and deep Your love really is. Let that love shape how I think, how I live, and how I treat others today. Amen.

Application

• Name where you need God’s love today — Is it fear? Stress? Loneliness? A relationship?

• Ask the Spirit to pour love into that place — Not in theory, but in a real, felt way.

• Reflect on a moment you’ve experienced God’s love — Big or small, name it and thank Him.

• Share encouragement with someone else — Pass along a reminder of God’s never‑ending love.

Strength Now, Surprises Later

Wednesday June 24, 2026

Scripture

Habakkuk 3:19

“The Eternal Lord is my strength! He has made my feet like the feet of a deer; He allows me to walk on high places.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Reflection

Some days feel like you are climbing a mountain with flip‑flops on. Life gets steep, messy, unpredictable. Habakkuk gets that. His world was shaking, but he still declared, “God is my strength.” Not might be. Not hopefully will be. Is.

And then he uses this great image: “He makes my feet like a deer’s.” Deer don’t panic on cliffs. They move with confidence on terrain that would make the rest of us freeze. Habakkuk is saying, “God gives me the kind of footing I could never create on my own.”

Then Paul comes along in 1 Corinthians and adds another layer: God isn’t just helping you stand—He’s preparing things for you that you can’t even imagine yet. You haven’t seen it. You haven’t heard it. You haven’t even dreamed it.

Put the two together and you get this: God gives you strength for the climb and surprises at the top.

Even when the path feels shaky, God is steady. Even when you can’t see what’s ahead, God is already preparing it. And even when you feel unqualified for the “high places,” God is shaping your feet for the journey.

If you’re in a season that feels steep, don’t assume you’re failing. You might just be climbing toward something God has prepared.

Prayer

God, thank You for being my strength when I feel weak. Give me steady feet when the path feels uneven. Help me trust that You’re preparing things for me that I can’t yet see. Lift my eyes, steady my steps, and lead me to the places You’ve designed for me. Amen.

Application

• Name your steep place — What part of your life feels like a climb right now? Say it out loud to God.

• Ask for “deer‑feet” strength — Pray specifically for confidence, stability, and courage.

• Look for small signs of God’s preparation — Pay attention this week to moments where God is already ahead of you.

• Encourage someone else who’s climbing — Share Habakkuk 3:19 or 1 Corinthians 2:9 with someone who needs hope.

Ordinary Hands

 May 20, 2026

Exodus 31:1–5

 “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills...”

 I believe when we think about people filled with the Spirit of God, our minds often think of the Old Testament Prophets preaching, or Kings leading nations, or Priests standing in holy places like a temple or synogogue leading the worship of the community of God’s people.

But, the unexpected is described for us in Exodus 31. Here we are introduced to the first person in Scripture who was specifically described as being “filled with the Spirit of God.” He is not a Prophet, not a King, not a Priest, he is none of those things. He is a craftsman by the name of Bezalel.

Bezalel is such an exciting part of the Story of God’s people. He was not called to deliver sermons or lead armies into battle. He was called, are you ready for this(?), He was called to work with his hands. God filled him with the Spirit to design, build, carve, shape, sew, and create beauty for the tabernacle. Amazing right!!

Bezalel’s calling matters profoundly. Because it reminds us that the Spirit of God is not only present in dramatic moments or public ministry. The Spirit is also present in workshops, kitchens, offices, classrooms, farms, studios, garages, and everyday acts of faithful work.

God says that He filled Bezalel with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and craftsmanship.

What I want us to notice in the language here is that creativity, craftsmanship,  is not treated as separate from spirituality. The skill of a craftsman is not viewed as less holy, or less spiritual than preaching or prayer.

The Spirit empowers imagination. The Spirit inspires excellence. The Spirit delights in beauty, order, detail, and meaningful work.

I feel that sometimes we wrongly divide life into “sacred” and “ordinary” or "secular" categories, as though God only cares about what happens in church buildings. But Exodus 31teaches us something different. God cares about the work of human hands. He values artistry, craftsmanship, and creativity because these things reflect the work of the Creator Himself.

I find this passage holds something important and encouraging for us. So often, I hear people wondering about what they have to offer to God. They say “my gifts are just ordinary, I’m not a Prophet, Priest, or King,  I’m not a leader." Yet this story about Bezalel reminds us that the Spirit delights in filling ordinary people for unexpected and extremely meaningful purposes.

Some people build.

Some organize.

Some encourage.

Some teach children.

Some repair broken things.

Some cook meals.

Some create music.

Some care for the hurting.

Some work behind the scenes where few people notice.

The Bible tells us that the Spirit works through all of it. The kingdom of God is built through countless faithful acts of Spirit-filled service that often go unseen.

As we move toward the season of Pentecost, we see this same truth expanding into the life of the church. At Pentecost, the Spirit is poured out not on one gifted individual, but on the whole community of believers. The Spirit equips ordinary people with diverse gifts for one shared mission.

Some speak. Some serve. Some lead. Some create. Some show mercy. Some offer wisdom. Some strengthen others quietly and faithfully.

 The Spirit of God forms a body where every gift matters and every person has a place. The same Spirit who filled Bezalel still fills God’s people today.

Let me ask you to think about the following today, “What gifts, skills, or passions has God placed in your life?”

Could it be that God’s Spirit wants to use those very things, not just in extraordinary situations, but in your everyday work, relationships, and acts of service? 

Let’s Pray

Holy Spirit,
thank You for working through ordinary people.
Fill us with wisdom, creativity, faithfulness, and joy in the work You have given us to do. Teach us to see our gifts as opportunities to serve Your kingdom.
Use our hands, our minds, our words, and our daily lives for Your glory.

Amen.

THE SPIRIT WHO CREATES

 May 18, 2026

Genesis 1:2

 “The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”  

The Bible tells us that before there was light, sky, land, or living creatures, the Spirit of God was already there, present, moving, hovering over the deep.

The book of Genesis introduces the Spirit not with sound or a dazzling display, but with the picture of a quiet, faithful presence. We read that the world was formless, empty, and dark, yet the Spirit did not pull away from the chaos. The Spirit moved toward it.

The Hebrew word for “hovering” carries the image of a bird watching over its nest, gentle and protective. For example in “Deuteronomy 32:11 we read "Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young...” This describes a bird fluttering protectively over its young, attentively and preparing them for life.

So in Genesis, the Spirit is not absent from chaos. The Spirit is moving over it like a mother bird over a nest, preparing creation for birth, order, beauty, and life. Before creation takes shape, the Spirit is already preparing for life.

You know what, that is still how the Spirit works today.

When life feels uncertain, cluttered, or overwhelming, God’s Spirit does not abandon us. The Spirit enters the confusion and begins bringing order, beauty, and hope.

God's good Creation continually affirms this truth. Each sunrise or sunset, each flowing river we take in, and every night sky loaded with stars, testify to a world created by the breath of God. What the Bible teaches us is that the same Spirit who shaped creation is still active, transforming hearts, renewing minds, and breathing life into weary souls.

And the approaching season of Pentecost reminds us that the Spirit’s work did not end in Genesis with creation.

The same Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation now moves among God’s people, shaping courage, unity, compassion, and new life. Pentecost reveals creation renewed as the Spirit breathes God’s life into us once again.

So today, consider this:

What part of your life feels unfinished, uncertain, or empty right now?

I wonder if perhaps that is the very place where the Spirit is already hovering, bringing life in ways you cannot yet see.


Let's Pray

Holy Spirit,
hover over the places in my life that feel chaotic or unfinished.
Bring Your peace where there is fear,
Your light where there is darkness,
and Your life where I feel empty.
Shape me into part of Your new creation.
Amen.

Invitation to Explore

 May 15, 2026

John 20:30–31

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The verses above are the way John closes his Gospel, it is an interesting statement, isn't it? John admits that not every story about Jesus was written down in his gospel. The point he makes is that his intent was to carefully selected certain moments, conversations, miracles, and encounters “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

I believe this ending says something rather important. It suggests to us that the Bible does not present faith as a blind leap into the dark. Rather the Bible invites us to look closely at its words, listen carefully to it's story, and consider the evidence that is revealed. Remeber what we said a few days ago, the writers of Scripture repeatedly point to real people, real places, real events, and real experiences. Again and again, the invitation is simple: explore this amazing "library" for ourself.

A reading of the Bible reveals that questions often open the door to deeper insight. Thomas doubted the resurrection. Nicodemus wrestled with Jesus’ teachings late into the night. The Psalms, go ahead and read a few Psalms today, they overflow with heartfelt cries of confusion and wonder. Here is what I have discovered, God never seems troubled by our genuine searching, doubts or questions. That is Good News!!

John’s Gospel was written for "seekers" like us in mind. It is both an invitation and an open door. "Come and see," Jesus invited disciples earlier in the gospel, and us today. So let's Read and reflect. Ask and seek. God welcomes honest investigation.

Maybe your questions are intellectual:
Can the Bible really be trusted?
Did Jesus truly rise from the dead?

Or maybe your questions are personal:
Where is God when life hurts?
Can faith and doubt co-exist?
Is there hope for me?

Wherever you are in your quest, God meets you there.

Let's Pray

God, thank You for welcoming honest questions and sincere searching. Give me courage to explore faith with an open heart and mind. Help me discover truth, hope, and life as I seek You. Amen.

THE STORY THAT CHANGES LIVES

 May 14, 2026

Hebrews 4:12

 “For the word of God is alive and active…” 

Let's begin with a question, has any story, biblical or otherwise, ever changed how you see the world, yourself, or God?

I believe stories shape us. A single moment in a book, a film, or a conversation can shift how we see ourselves, others, or the world. I was reminded of a part of the writer C.S. Lewis' story recently that illustrates this. Lewis who was once a committed atheist, speaks about these long conversations he had with friends like J.R.R. Tolkien, and how his perspective slowly shifted. One late-night conversation about myth, truth, and Jesus became a turning point that eventually led Lewis to faith in Jesus and to his gifted writing of books that influenced millions. 

Today, lets think about one story that has changed more lives than any other, that is the story found in Bible.

Hebrews 4:12 makes a bold claim: saying God’s word is alive.  Not just ancient literature. Alive. Active. Sharp enough to reach places in us that nothing else can touch.

People across centuries and cultures testify to this being true.

Those with no religious background, the skeptical, the hurting, the searching, and even those who weren’t seeking anything at all. When they encountered the Bible's story, something stirred within them. Something shifted, healed, broke open, and came alive.

Why does this happen?

Because the Bible doesn’t just tell stories, it reveals a Story. "A Story big enough to hold our questions, our pain, our failures, our hopes, and our longing for meaning. A Story that speaks into the deepest parts of who we are."

When people read Scripture, they often describe moments like these:

A verse that feels like it was written for them
A story that mirrors their own struggles
A teaching that exposes something they’ve been avoiding
A promise that brings unexpected comfort
A picture of Jesus that feels startlingly personal

This is the language encounter.

The same God who breathed life into creation breathes life through His word. The Bible doesn’t just inform, it transforms. It doesn’t just explain, it invites. It doesn’t just speak, it searches, heals, confronts, and restores.

Because Scripture is not just a book, it’s a meeting place. It’s where God’s story connects with yours and mine, where ancient words come alive, and where people realize they are seen, known, and loved.

Millions have been changed by this Story. And the invitation is open for all.

That You May Know

 May 13, 2026

 Luke 1:1–4

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke begins his Gospel with research.

He explains that he carefully investigated events, listened to eyewitnesses, and organized his account so that readers could “know the certainty” of what they had been taught. Luke writes more like a careful historian seeking to preserve truth than a creator of unverifiable folk tales or myths.

That matters.

The Biblical story is not buil on ideas or feelings. It is rooted in real people, real places, and real events. The Bible doesn’t ask us to turn off our minds or "check our brains at the door." Again and again, Scripture invites examination, memory, testimony, and witness.

Luke's gospel shows an understanding that faith and truth go hand in hand.

I think most of us have reasons for the things we trust. Pause for a moment and consider this: who or what do you trust?

Maybe it’s people who remain consistent through the years.
Maybe it’s stories that can withstand honest questions.
Maybe it’s the voices that ring with sincerity instead of deception.

Trust is rarely built in an instant. It grows slowly, over time, as something proves itself dependable, truthful, and reliable again and again.

The same is true spiritually.

You see, faith is not the absence of questions, nor is it pretending to have every answer. I have heard it said that "faith begins with enough truth and evidence to keep searching." Luke wrote his Gospel for people who were uncertain, inviting them to examine the story for themselves. Luke wanted his readers to understand that the Jesus story was not a legend, but a faith rooted in the testimony of those who personally saw, heard, and encountered Jesus. We hear this in the opening lines of the Gospel.

Maybe you carry questions about faith. Perhaps there are parts of the Bible that still seem difficult, confusing, or unfamiliar. Luke reminds us that questions are not the opposite of faith, they can actually become part of  what leads to a deeper trust.

God is not threatened by sincere searching.

Reflect

What makes something feel trustworthy to you?

How might those same qualities shape the way you approach faith?

Real People, Real Struggle

Real People, Real Struggles

 May 12, 2026

Psalm 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

In the Bible, we find people who are exhausted, afraid, confused, angry, and heartbroken. We find prayers filled with questions. We find moments where people wonder where God is and why life feels so difficult, unfair and heavy.

Psalm 13, the reading above, is one "honest" prayer. David cries out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” Take notice that He doesn’t hide his frustration or pretend everything is fine. He brings his pain directly to God.

Honesty is important. The Bible acknowledges human struggle and gives it a voice. Faith is not the absence of doubt, but the choice to bring genuine thoughts and emotions to God, even when clear answers are not at hand.

What a discovery we make, when through the presence of prayers like Psalm 13, we learn that God welcomes such honesty. God is not intimidated by such truthfulness, God invites it. 

A Question 

Does it surprise you that the Bible includes complaints, doubts, and raw prayers like Psalm 13?

More Than a BOOK

More Than a BOOK

 May 11, 2026

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

Can the Bible be Trusted?

2 Timothy 3:16

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, 

rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

 

When people mention “the Bible,” it might seem like they’re talking about a single book written at one point in time by one author. In reality, the Bible is more like a library, filled with poetry, history, letters, prophecy, wisdom, biographies, songs, and personal stories, all written over centuries by many different people.

The Bible's diversity can make it hard to understand at first. Some passages are beautiful and comforting. Other parts of the Bible can be confusing, emotionally triggering, or difficult to comprehend. Yet even with all its variety of writers, genres and historical periods and social settings, the Bible tells one unfolding story: humanity's search for God, the outcome of this search is the discovery that in reality God, the Creator God, is continually searching and reaching toward humanity.

The truthfulness of the Bible is one reason many people trust the Bible. For within its pages, the Bible doesn’t hide human weakness. Even if this week you were to read the very first book in the Bible's library, Genesis, you will find its pages are filled with doubters, failures, broken families, fearful leaders, and ordinary people trying to follow God imperfectly. One of the things that stands out in reading the Bible is that it is so spiritually honest. It doesn’t pretend life is simple.

And maybe that’s part of why it still connects with people today.

The Bible is not just a collection of rules, (although some treat it as though it is), the bible is not just a collection of  inspirational sayings either. Christians see it as a living story where God continues to speak, teach, challenge, comfort, and invite people into a relationship with Him.

I want to conclude today by saying, you do not have to grasp every detail of the Bible right away to start reading and exploring its story. Like any library, understanding comes little by little, and curiosity is where the journey begins. So, let's be curious!!

Reflection

What part of the Bible feels most unfamiliar, confusing, or intimidating to you right now?

 

A God Who Comes Close

 May 8, 2026

John 1:14

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

Many people begin their spiritual journey not with certainty, but with curiosity. This week we have explored the different ways people first sense God’s presence, through longing, beauty, conscience, and personal experience. We hit on the following key points:

Our desire for “more” points toward the God who made us.

Many people first sense God through the beauty and design of the world around them.

Our inner sense of right and wrong hints at a God who cares about justice and goodness.

God often meets people through personal experiences that awaken curiosity.

We conclude our week with A God Who Comes Close.

The Bible claims something astonishing: God didn’t stay distant, He stepped into our world in Jesus. John 1:14 says the Word “became flesh.” The message of today’s verse says, if God is real, then God is not far away; God is near, knowable, and willing to be found, closer than we even think.

Faith isn’t about avoiding reality or striving harder to reach God, but about noticing that God is already here with us. Christianity is about a God who lives among us, not at a distance.

The belief that God came down to us reminds us that the Creator entered into ordinary life, into human weakness, suffering, relationships, grief, exhaustion, joy, and struggle.

Jesus knew that experience:
To feel grief.
To experience rejection.
To grow tired.
To sit at tables with ordinary people.
To laugh with friends.
To weep at loss.

And maybe that’s what people still find compelling about Jesus, even when they aren’t sure what they believe. There’s something deeply human about Him. The way He notices people.
The way He listens. The way He treats people with dignity.
The way He makes room for questions and failures and second chances.

John says God “made His dwelling among us.” Among us!!  

Which means the heart of Christianity is the story of a God who comes near.

Let's Pray

God,

You’re not afraid of our questions.
You’re not put off by our doubts.
Meet us in what we don’t understand.
And help us see You more clearly—
not just in answers,
but in Jesus.
Amen.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

 May 7, 2026

We continue our "Is God for REAL" journey today. 

Acts 17:27

“He is not far from any one of us.”

Most people expect encounters with God to be dramatic, a booming voice, a life-changing moment, a perfectly clear sign like handwriting on a wall or in the sky.

But the reality is that many stories of faith, of encounter with God, have much smaller beginnings.

A conversation they almost avoided.
An invitation they nearly ignored.
A moment of peace in a trying season of life.

In Acts 17, Paul speaks to people full of questions and searching, and he tells them something remarkable:

“He (GOD) is not far from any one of us.”

In other words, God is not distant from seekers, doubters, or those still figuring things out. So often, in the Bible and in life as we know it, God often moves toward people long before they fully recognize it.

I would imagine that in your life, when you look back and remember events, you can point to moments that suddenly seem meaningful. Maybe an unexpected change in direction, or meeting the right person at the right timewho had the right words, hearing a song, a verse, or holding a conversation with someone that landed deeper than you would have ever have expected.

Don't we sometimes begin to wonder:

What if God has been nearer than I realized?

In my experience listening to the stories of people, I find that many journeys of faith do not begin with certainty. They begin with curiosity. With a sudden stop, and paying attention to things around them. By asking a question, like  “What if this isn’t random?”

Maybe God does speak at times through dramatic signs, but more often than not, God communicates his presence through quiet invitations: to forgive, to hope, to reach out, to take one small step toward Him.

Acts 17 reminds us that God is not far away from any of us, seekers, doubters, who are trying to make sense of our place in this world.

Something to Think About

Have you ever experienced a moment, conversation, or quiet “nudge” that later felt more meaningful than you first realized?