God Had a Different Plan

God Had a Different Plan 

March 13, 2026

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 11-17

7 After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?

11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

“ ‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”

17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.




After King David finally got settled into his beautiful cedar house, he started thinking, “Wait, why am I living in a nice place while the ark of God is still in a tent?” His plan was to build God a proper temple. It sounded noble, generous, and deeply spiritual.

But God had a different plan.

Through the prophet Nathan, God told David that he wouldn’t be the one building a house for God. Instead, God said He would build a “house” for David, a lasting family line that would eventually lead to someone who would “sit on the throne forever.” We need to notice that the point of God’s plan as told in our reading today is not just about keeping David’s family name alive. Through the Prophet Nathan’s words, God was pointing forward to Jesus, the one who would carry our brokenness, take our place, and become the King who never stops reigning.

What stands out to me in this story is the way God flips the script. Has something like this happened to you? We come to God with our big ideas about how we’re going to honor Him, and He responds with something completely unexpected, something better, deeper, and far more loving than what we had in mind. Our God doesn’t just accept our plans; He transforms them. God takes our desire to give Him something and turns it into an opportunity to show us who He is: the God who reigns as king and the God who will give the sacrifice of his life for all.

Our amazing God, and here is the beautiful part to me, God knows our hearts even when our plans are small, imperfect, perhaps short‑sighted. Yet, God takes our prayers, sometimes cluttered, sometimes limited, and shapes them into something far beyond what we would have dared to ask for. Have you noticed this too?

I wonder if the takeaway message for us today is to pray boldly. Pray honestly. Pray with whatever faith we have today. And then stay open, because God has a way of answering in ways that surprise us, stretch us, but that ultimately bless us and glorify his name far more than we imagined.


Let’s Pray

God, thank You for being the One who sees beyond our plans and dreams. Thank You for taking the small things we offer and turning them into something bigger, deeper, and more beautiful than we imagined. Teach us to trust Your timing and Your wisdom, and remind us that You are always building something lasting in us, something rooted in Your love and Your Son, Jesus.
Amen.

 

An Unthinkable Test?

March 12, 2026 

Genesis 22:1-14

22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am," he replied.

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord^t called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

This story is one of the most famous in the Old Testament, and to be honest, it is one of the more difficult passages in the whole Bible. If we were to go back 10 chapters to Genesis 12, we would find God introducing Abraham as the person through whom every family on earth will be blessed. That is a huge promise!  And by the time we reach this moment in Genesis 22, the journey that started with God telling Abraham to leave everything familiar has reached its most intense point yet.

From my perspective as a father, God asks Abraham to do something that feels, to me at least, unthinkable: offer up his only son. Doesn’t that request hit even harder when you remember how long Abraham and Sarah waited for this child.  They had lived with disappointment for years, wondering how God’s promise of a great nation could ever come true when they couldn’t even have one child.

After finally receiving the son they prayed for, think of this, God asks Abraham to do something that seems completely backwards. We are left to wonder, “How could sacrificing Isaac possibly lead to the blessing God promised?” It does not make any sense.

Perhaps, the answer becomes clearer when we look at this story through the lens of Jesus.

Abraham’s declaration that God himself will provide the lamb (Genesis 22:8) reminds us of God’s gift of the Lamb to save the world (Mark 10:45; John 1:29, 36).

God’s provision of the ram on Mount Moriah foreshadows his sacrifice of his only son, Jesus Christ, the true Lamb without blemish who died in our place on the cross.

Like Isaac, Jesus is the lamb led to the slaughter; yet unlike Isaac, Jesus didn’t open his mouth. Just as Isaac carried his own wood for the altar, Christ carried his own wooden cross (John 19:17). 

Go back and re-read our passage above with eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Let’s Pray

God, I thank and praise you for sending your only Son into the world. The spotless Lamb who willingly sacrificed himself so that I might receive forgiveness and new life. Amen.

"Exalt in the Lord" and "Find Strength"

 March 11, 2026

1 Samuel 2:1-10

2 Then Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.

4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry are hungry no more.

She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
6 “The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts. 

8 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.

“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails;
10 those who oppose the Lord will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
“He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”




In the broader context of our reading today  there are two stories woven together. One is deeply personal, Hannah’s story. She’s a woman carrying the heavy ache of barrenness, longing not just for a child but for a life that feels meaningful again. The other story is communal, the people of God making their yearly trip to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices. And right in the middle of these two stories, we read what is often referred to as “Hannah’s prayer.”

You may recall from your Bible studies, that in the ancient world, being unable to have children wasn’t just a private heartbreak. It carried a social and spiritual heaviness too. You see, people assumed something was wrong with you, physically, spiritually, or both. Hannah lived stigmatized and under that pressure for years. I want us to notice something that is very important in this story of Hannah’s experience. She does not let bitterness define her, notice she brought her grief to God. She prayed honestly, promising that if God ever gave her a child, she wouldn’t use that child to prove her worth to anyone. She would dedicate him back to God.

And God heard her. She conceived, and when her son was old enough, she brought him to Eli the priest to serve in the house of the Lord. That little boy was Samuel, the first great prophet of the Old Testament.

Hannah seemed to understand something profound: her role in Samuel’s life was temporary, but God’s role in her child’s life was eternal. So, when she “exults in the Lord” and finds her strength in him, she’s anchoring herself in the only thing that doesn’t shift, God’s character and God’s power. She comprehends something significant, that behind every circumstance, whether physical or spiritual, God is the one at work. And this knowledge sets her free.

The takeaway from Hannah’s story is that God meets us in the places where we feel empty, overlooked, or not enough. And when we hand those places back to him, he has a way of restoring us. Have you experienced that? Sometimes restoration or renewal comes by Our Creator changing our situation, and sometimes our Creator changes our hearts.


Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, even though we may not long for the exact things Hannah did, we know what it’s like to cling to things that were never meant to last. Attempting to give lasting significance to things that are meant to be temporary takes a toll on us. Teach us to see this clearly, and to lean on the only true foundation we have, the Rock, your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

We Have a King

 March 10, 2026

Psalm 72:12-19

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.
15 Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.
16 May grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops flourish like Lebanon
and thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
Then all nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.
18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.

When a new king took the throne in ancient Israel, the people would pray something like Psalm 72. It wasn’t just a way of saying, “Congratulatians, you’re king now.” It was their way of laying out what they hoped for in a leader. They believed the king was to be the channel of God’s blessing to the nation, someone who lived out God’s justice and righteousness. Expecting the king to care for the poor and defend the vulnerable wasn’t a naïve hope, it was rooted in who God is. The God who chose the king is a God who rescues, protects, and lifts up the helpless. So the king was meant to reflect that heart. When they prayed for the king’s name to endure, they were really praying for a leader who would stay faithful to that calling, because his faithfulness meant safety and joy for everyone.

In truth, from that time until now, no human leader has ever fully lived up to that standard. I believe we are all aware that in our present day, many people have given up on leaders altogether. Oh yes, I know that there are other people among us that pour their energy into promoting one name after another, hoping this one will finally fix everything. 

I have Good News for us all. As followers of Jesus, we don’t have to live in that cycle. God has already given us the One whose name truly brings hope to the poor, the needy, and the forgotten. In Christ, we have a King who doesn’t just notice our struggles, He steps into them with compassion. I believe with all my heart that in Christ, praying for His name to flourish isn’t wishful thinking or naive hope; it’s a prayer that leads to peace, justice, and blessing. 

Let us never forget that our King Jesus genuinely cares for us and the needs we carry. Our King invites us to call on His name, "come to me all of you" he says.



Let's Pray

God, thank you that your Son is the King our hearts long for, the One whose compassion goes beyond anything we’ve ever known. Help us trust and follow you as our King, and may your name be praised forever. 

In Christ’s name, Amen.

"LET YOUR COMPASSION COME TO ME"

MARCH 9, 2026

NEHEMIAH 9:19-21

19 “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.


PSALM 119:77

Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.

Think about the person closest to you, spouse, parent, child, or a dear friend. Over time your connection has likely deepened: you spend more time together, you serve and care for one another more enthusiastically, and a tenderness grows that makes you want to protect and help this dear person. That tenderness, as I read recently, “is the soil where compassion takes root.”

Nehemiah 9:19–21 remembers how God remained faithful to a people who were often unfaithful. He sustained them with signs and wonders, guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, and patiently gave them His provision when they were weak. Psalm 119:77 is a cry for God’s mercy and life, an appeal for God’s steadfast love to create restoration and strength in the life of his people.

When we combine these passages together, they show us a God who does not merely feel for His people but acts on their behalf. God remembers, sustains, and restores. His compassion is practical, constant, and life-giving.

Compassion begins as feeling but becomes something more: “a desire to alleviate another’s distress.” Jesus modeled this repeatedly, He saw suffering, felt for it, and then moved to heal, feed, teach, and forgive. True compassion is sympathy that leads to service and sacrifice. (Empathy) When we grow closer to someone, our compassion naturally increases and we notice needs sooner, we make space for vulnerability, and we choose kindness that can be costly.

Here are some Practical Ways to Show Compassion

• Listen first. Give undivided attention and let the other person name their pain.
• Meet a need. Bring a meal, offer childcare, or help with a task that eases daily burdens.
• Speak life. Offer words of encouragement, truth, and hope that point to God’s presence.
• Stay present. Long-term compassion often looks like steady, ordinary presence rather than extraordinary gestures.
• Pray and act. Pray for wisdom and then take one step this week to help someone in need.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your faithful, active compassion. Help me to see the needs around me with Your eyes, to feel with Your heart, and to move with Your hands. Give me courage to serve where it costs me something and wisdom to offer the kind of help that truly brings life. Amen.

Let There Be Peace

March 6, 2026 

ISAIAH 2:3-5

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
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.


The Isaiah passage above encourages us to understand “the ways of the Lord,” which is described as a path to peace.

Scripture assures us that God is committed to justice and to setting things right among the nations. That promise involves eliminating the causes of war, such as aggression, oppression, greed, and control. According to Isaiah, when these forces are abolished, nations can then turn weapons into tools for farming, for establishing community and to foster well-being of all.

I long for a world like that. I imagine you do as well.

And yet today, we continue to hear of wars and conflicts across our world, Ukraine, and this week the Middle East, and other regions where violence has become a daily reality that we hear very little about in our news feeds. Each conflict has its own history and complexity, and I do not pretend to understand every political detail. But I do know this: as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be peacemakers. We are called to pray for peace, to work for peace, and to imagine a world in which “nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

The Canadian author Margaret Atwood once wrote, 

War is what happens when language fails.

Isaiah’s vision urges us to use language that promotes justice, mercy, reconciliation, and hope, encouraging bridge-building and healing.

So today, as a community, let us join our voices in prayer, for peace in our world, for wisdom among world leaders, for protection for the innocent and vulnerable, and for the coming of God’s Kingdom, where God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

Let's Pray


Lord of all nations, the weight of war is heavy on our hearts. Protect those in danger, guide the leaders of the world, and surround the suffering with your mercy.

Calm our fears and strengthen our faith. Forgive us when we fail to be peacemakers, and renew our desire to seek your peace.

Heal the wounded, comfort the grieving, and guard us from every evil. You are our hope, our help, and our peace.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

TURNING toward CHANGE

MARCH 5, 2026

MARK 1:15

“The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Think back to a recent moment when you completely shifted direction—when something in you changed, and you chose a different path. That experience captures the heart of repentance. The Greek word metanoia literally means “a change of mind,” and that’s exactly what repentance invites us into.

Repentance is the intentional practice of examining our thoughts and actions, recognizing what is sinful or impure, seeking God’s forgiveness, and then, by God’s grace, turning away from those patterns. Simple enough in theory, yet Jesus knew this would never be something we could manage on our own. That’s why He promised us a Helper. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the strength, conviction, and guidance we need to truly change direction and walk in newness of life.

John 16:7–8 says,
7 ... the truth is that My departure will be a gift that will serve you well, because if I don’t leave, the great Helper will not come to your aid. When I leave, I will send Him to you. 8-9 When He arrives, He will uncover the sins of the world, expose unbelief as sin, and allow all to see their sins in the light of righteousness for the first time.  (The Voice)

It is only by the grace and goodness of God that we see our sin, it is only by the power of God that we turn away from sin, and it is only by the sacrifice of Jesus that our sin is forgiven and we are reconciled with our Creator. That is the Story of God’s love, grace, and mercy. Amazing, isn’t it?

Repentance leads to something marvelous, even miraculous. Yet there is a real tension in the process. When we invite the Holy Spirit into the darker corners of our hearts, we inevitably come face-to-face with realities we’d rather avoid: pride, rebellion, fear, doubt, skepticism. And still, even here, the loving nature of God shines through. God knows that the fullness of life we long for can only be found when we acknowledge our brokenness and our need for Him.

Here’s the beautiful truth about grace: when the Holy Spirit reveals an area that needs to change, that revelation doesn’t crush us, it frees us. It leads us to confess sinful attitudes, actions, or unbelief, but always with our eyes fixed on God’s kindness. In Christ, we discover that there is no condemnation, no shame, no rejection, no hopelessness. Our attention shifts away from ourselves and toward the God who heals, restores, and renews.

Let's Pray

God, We come before You with grateful hearts, thankful that Your kindness leads us to repentance. Thank You for loving us enough to shine Your light into the hidden places of our lives. Even when what we see is uncomfortable, You meet us with mercy, not condemnation. May we walk in freedom, eyes fixed on You, confident in Your love, and open to Your transforming work. Amen.

Are You Ready for Adventure?

March 4, 2026

1 John 5:14

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us”

“You cannot estimate prayer power. Prayer is as vast as God because He is behind it. Prayer is as mighty as God because He has committed Himself to answer it”                                                     (Leonard Ravenhill)

If Lent is about growing closer to God, as we suggested yesterday, then prayer has to be one of the core practices that gets us there. But let’s be honest, building a steady, meaningful prayer life isn’t always easy. Even when we want to pray, many of us find it hard to stay consistent or even know where to start.

Matthew 6:8 tells us that God already knows what we need before we ask. So why pray at all? Because prayer isn’t just about asking for things, it’s about relationship. It’s an ongoing conversation with God that invites Him into every part of our lives. And yes, prayer can feel vulnerable, because it asks us to trust God’s goodness and to surrender to what He knows is best. At its heart, prayer is simply our heart lining up with God’s heart.

Prayer shows up in our words, our thoughts, and even our actions. Whether we’re praying out of need, gratitude, sorrow, repentance, or hope, Scripture reminds us that God hears us: “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

Over time, I’ve realized that a “strong prayer life” isn’t some finish line we cross. It’s more like a lifelong adventure, an ongoing discovery of who God is and how He loves us. That means we’re always learning, always growing, always being shaped. Even the apostles were students of prayer, and out of their hunger to learn, Jesus gave them the beautiful prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer, the “Our Father”:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 

Your kingdom come, 

your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us today our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

As you continue to walk through this Lenten season and reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross, open up that conversation with God. Start fresh, start small, or start again—but step into the adventure of prayer.

Questions to sit with:

What holds you back from praying in a deeper, more personal way?

What barriers or hesitations show up when you try to pray?

Invite God into those places. Ask Him to gently break down whatever walls are there.

Let's Pray

God, As we walk through this Lenten season, keep us close, keep us listening, and keep us growing.

We come to You, grateful that You invite us into conversation. Draw our hearts back to You again and again. Teach us to trust Your goodness, to rest in Your presence, and to welcome Your voice in the quiet places of our lives. Where there are barriers, soften them. Where there is hesitation, meet us with gentleness. Amen.

When You Fast

MARCH 3, 2026

Psalm 35:13


“I humbled myself with fasting”

When you think of “fasting,” what comes to mind?

Maybe you picture people willingly starving themselves. Maybe you picture a monk living off of dry bread. Or maybe you’re someone who prefers not to think about fasting … ever.

You are not alone if merely hearing the word “fast” makes you squirm with discomfort. Historically, the concept of fasting has been associated with deprivation, long-suffering, sorrow, and sin. If this is your understanding of fasting, you are not entirely wrong, but that is only part of the story.

If we only see fasting for the discomfort it brings, then we miss the importance of this spiritual practice.  Fasting is a cornerstone spiritual discipline practiced throughout the Old and New Testaments. As we see in Matthew 4:1–2, Jesus Himself was familiar with fasting: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry” (NIV).

In the Bible, people fasted for a variety of reasons, but ultimately it was an act of submission and realignment with God. David captures fasting beautifully in Psalm 35:13: “I humbled myself with fasting” (NIV). Biblically, fasting was a personal invitation for God to intervene in the lives of His children. And it’s a beautiful way to deepen our Lenten journey.

Here are 3 reasons why fasting matters. 

Fasting matters as it starves what is stopping us from experiencing God’s presence. It forces us to pay attention to the parts of our lives that we try to drown out through late night binges and social media scrolls. And in the process, it teaches us to rely on Jesus to meet our needs.

Fasting invites, us to give up something we love to make space for something we love even more. Although giving up something you love, like food, may feel difficult and uncomfortable, it is an opportunity to experience great joy, because true joy is only found when our strength comes from Jesus.

Fasting often comes before breakthrough. Moses fasted for 40 days while receiving the 10 Commandments, Daniel fasted for 3 weeks and then received a vision, and Jesus fasted for 40 days and then overcame the devil’s temptations. In each of these cases, God provided clarity, strength, and breakthrough on the other side of faithful sacrifice.

Biblical fasting is a personal desire to connect with God in a deep meaningful way. As we read in Matthew's Gospel: “When you fast,  put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16–19)

Let's Pray

God, fasting can feel strange, uncomfortable, and even intimidating. As I set some things aside, let this practice be less about what I’m giving up and more about what You are growing in me. Reorder what’s pulling at my attention so I can focus on what truly matters. Use this season to draw me closer to You.

Amen.

*****  
Please note that we can fast from things other than food, for example our phones, other media, or some other distraction in order to make space to commune with God. 

I need to say to you if you have medical reasons why fasting from food would have a negative impact on you, please do not risk this practice adjust fasting so that you are not harmed by the practice. Try intermittent "spiritual" fasting in which we fast a few hours each day and when during those periods we feel the discomfort of hunger we take those moments as an opportunity to turn toward God in prayer seeking clarity, strength and breakthrough.

The whole point of the practice of fasting is to reduce distractions in order to connect with God.

The Heart First?

 March 2, 2026

1 Samuel 16:1–13

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

As we keep walking through Lent, it’s worth pausing to notice the quiet, surprising places where God’s love shows up, toward us, toward others, and toward the world around us.

In today’s story, God’s love falls upon someone no one expected: David, the youngest son of Jesse. It appears that he is out doing the job his siblings never wanted, watching sheep. Truth is David is  not the obvious choice for anything important, certainly not becoming king. And honestly, if Samuel had been left to his own instincts, he probably would’ve overlooked David completely. Samuel was ready to anoint one of the older, stronger, more “king-looking” brothers. But God interrupts that whole line of thinking with a gentle correction: “You’re looking at the outside. I’m looking at the heart.”

That statement hits close to home. It makes me wonder: how often do I do the same thing? How often do I size people up based on what I see first, their clothes, their job, their age, their abilities, their background? Church communities are full of people who serve beautifully across every kind of difference, race, ethnicity, gender, age, ability, and so much more. And yet, we still hear comments like, “They don’t look like a leader,” or “I didn’t expect someone like that to be in charge.” 

This passage reminds us that God doesn’t operate that way. God sees worth where others see “ordinary.” God sees calling where others see “unlikely.” God sees a heart ready to serve long before anyone else recognizes it.

So maybe part of our Lenten work this year is to slow down and look again. To look past appearances. To look past assumptions. To look for the heart, because that’s where God is already at work. And when we do, we might just catch glimpses of God’s love breaking through in places we never thought to look.

LET'S PRAY

All-seeing God, forgive us for the times we judge by appearances or make assumptions about who is worthy or capable. Teach us to see people the way you see them, by their hearts, their stories, and their God-given abilities. Would you shape our eyes and our love to match yours. Amen.

“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.