Reflections
In Your Midst
by Karen Huber “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV) I went to church this week, though likely not the one you’re thinking…
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With Us
by Doug Mitts …and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20 NIV11) I’ve had a long-standing conversation with the Spirit – one that I was mostly unaware of, but it kept repeating. I heard periodically, “I am…
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Advent–God abiding with us
by Lena Larson “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV) Advent—the season we celebrate the miraculous moment when God came to live among us, when He shared our human existence. It’s one…
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Advent–God abiding with us
by Sarah Bentley “And they will name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:23, NET) Christmas was long-anticipated this year. People started talking about it in October. And as someone who routinely puts up her tree on the first of November, even that was a little early for me. But I get it.…
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Well Pleased in Pruning, Pleading, and Abiding
by Leslie Hall I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in…
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Pruning in Love’s Context
by Doug Mitts As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. (1…
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Too Many Buds?
by Gabe Bernal Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:2, ESV) When lockdown in England began, we were allowed some time to exercise each day. I, like many others, took this opportunity to…
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Abiding in Pain
by Lena Larson “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:1-2,ESV) Pruning. In my head it makes sense. Fruit trees are pruned to…
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Our God is Pruning On
by Fred Swartz “And in that day, declares the Lord, I will cut off your horses from among you and will destroy your chariots; and I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds.” (Micah 5:10-11, ESV) God has a strange idea of what victory looks like. In the…
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Just Look at Jesus
by Sarah Bentley Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. (John 15:4, TLV) I was overwhelmed. I hadn’t had quiet time in months. With a 1.5 and a 2.5 year old, my daily time with God had dwindled to Please be here today in the mornings, and I missed you today at night.…
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