Good morning! May you know your worth is not tied to “productivity” but your worth is inherent. #MorningMug #MorningBlessing

My first batch of emails went out via micro.blog today and they look fantastic!

This is the product I’ve been looking for. I’m grateful to the dev team for creating this space.

Does anyone even stand a chance against the Los Angeles Dodgers this season?

The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey 📚

The virgin Mary, though, whose parenthood was unplanned, had a different response. She heard the angel out, pondered the repercussions, and replied, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Often a work of God comes with two edges, great joy and great pain, and in that matter-of-fact response Mary embraced both.

It strikes me how I often think if I’m really doing what God called me to do it will be all joy. But, it’s not. It’s both/and, great joy and great pain.

Good morning! May you do what you love today. #MorningMug #MorningBlessing!

I’m hoping to get a new installment of Disentangling Faith out today.

“I am impressed that when the Son of God became a human being he played by the rules, harsh rules: small towns do not treat kindly young boys who grow up with questionable paternity.”

I hadn’t thought of this, have you? The idea of Jesus growing up in a small town “with questionable paternity,” is one that kind of shakes me. Would I have mocked him? Would I have held him at arm’s length? Was he treated poorly even as a child?

Trying to wrap my mind around Jesus from the human perspective is proving to be a bit of a gut punch.

I just got thekjd.net set up on micro.blog! I’m so pumped. The Knee Jerk Devotional is officially on it’s own site with it’s own email subscription list! You can also follow it’s dedicated RSS: thekjd.net/feed

Because it’s on micro.blog it will show up on all the channels autmagically too.

Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45; Genesis 21:1-7; Hebrews 1:8-12

He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.

Reading all these passages together it strikes me this morning that I don’t necessarily have faith in any of this.

Do you?

Faith is “trust”.

When I take a deep look at much of how I live it is marked by lack of trust. I think, when I am honest with myself I live too much of my life as though God will not remember his covenant promises. If I did believe it, I think I would likely have a greater patience in prayer. I intellectually ascent to the things in these passages. I believe them. But, I don’t know if I faith in any of it.

There is critical distinction between faith and belief. Belief is something of the mind. Faith is rooted in trust which is displayed in action.

When was the last time that I prayed long and faithfully for something? Do I rest in the knowledge that God will work out all things for the good of those who believe? Too often I do not.

This morning I am wrestling with the following, “Do I have faith in any of this?”

Good morning! May you enter this week choosing the way of love, even loving your enemies.

If you’re someone who likes to listen to sermons, you can check out mine from this morning at Peace Presbyterian Chruch in Flint, MI: ordinary jesus - integrity

Good morning! If you’re looking to connect with a faith community I’d love to invite you to our home this evening.

We gather tonight at 5:30 pm for dinner.

6:30 we will spend time in the Scriptures, communion, and prayer.

Our passage: Matthew 5:38-48

9016 Parkland Dr, Ypsilanti, MI 48197

The garage will be open, come on in!

Good morning! May you connect deeply with an authentic community today. #MorningBlessing #MorningMug

When ball games get delayed two hours and you’ve driven three hours away from home, you end up at Barnes and Noble to drink bad coffee, read, and write.

Good morning! May you find some rest today. #MorningMug #MorningBlessing