brown trees with white fog during daytime

Living His Word

by Doug Mitts Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23, NAS95) Obedience can sound or feel offensive. Interestingly, when it comes to God, I can think His…

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photography of paved road cover by fog

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Obedience

by Fred Swartz “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey…

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A woman walking through a forest in the afternoon

Trust Deeper

by Karen Kurth Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. (Psalm 143:10, NIV) My sending church in the States has us fill out an agonizing yearly review. Part of that review is to set a goal for the next year. I confess…

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landscape photography of vegetable field during golden hour

Staying Connected to the Source

by Gabe Bernal “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1, ESV) “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4, ESV) Some of the most amazing…

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written equations on brown wooden board

Love Equation

by Fred Swartz “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15, ESV) Love is one of those words that can become cliche to me. It shouldn’t, but it does. Of course I understand that loving others is important, so teach me something new…

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black turntable on brown wooden table

Relentless Joy and a Love Supreme

by Leslie Hall “Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” (John 15:4, NIV) These words from Pete Grieg have stuck with me throughout this season of lockdown, disruption, and loss…

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time lapse photography of fire

God’s-Kind-of-Love

by Doug Mitts I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:26, NAS95) You could say that I operate at a very slow speed. Or maybe my interior held too much chaos…

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man in gray long sleeve shirt sitting on chair

Listening to Love

by Karen Kurth The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the…

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selective focus of pink petaled flower

An Interceding Spirit

by Karen Huber “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…

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seashore with sea during golden hour

Hush, Be Still

by Doug Mitts And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. (Mark 4:39, NAS95) It surprised me. Almost ten days ago, I simply sat, listening to the Spirit through the Word of God. What sort of conversation…

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