Have you ever been in a room full of people and encountered the Lord in an individual, personal way?

Grace Rubin joins us on the blog again this week with some very important steps in a practice called Lectio Divina. This phrase is Latin for “divine reading” and is intended to promote communion with God and provide spiritual insight. Taking these 5 steps towards Lectio Divina can really help with making personal connections with Scripture if you fully create space for this practice (and yes, it does take practice!).

Blog intro

Jeanne Osgood is the Vice President of Advancement at Bethel University. She writes about her profound insight on a wintry day. As Christians, we know our eternal destination, but sometimes the path getting their feels harder to navigate. The direction hasn’t changed, but the conditions have. Read more on the blog and learn about what makes a difficult path encouraging in the long run.

 Geri VonGrey writes: “The mushroom flourishes only in living soil, a delicate web of unseen relationships; if the ground is poisoned or the balance disturbed, the waxcap dies. In the same way, the life of faith cannot thrive in isolation. Holiness grows not through independence but through interdependence, where believers support and nurture one another, sustained by the quiet, life-giving work of the Spirit.”

Our artist highlight on the blog is Allison Eide. One of her songs “For the King” is broken down by verses and chorus with applicable connections to Scripture. Learn about “Christian grit” and how the Lord is there fighting your battles with you!

Pam Yang, a licensed marriage and family therapist encourages us this week with a message about where your true value lies!

“Our worth and value does not need to come from our labels, positions, external validation, body image, and/or bank accounts. All these things are futile and fleeting. We do not take any of these things with us when we die. Yet, most importantly, God did not take these things into account when He sent us His one and only son to die for our sins. Jesus did not use any of those things as a measuring tool when he willingly laid down his life for us.”

Scripture is so old, and yet it was written with the same aches, faith, and joy that we feel today. I love that God is continuing to use music as a way to speak to hundreds of thousands of people going through similar things. I believe that memorizing scripture and applying it is a form of worship in itself. Adding music, harmonies, and instruments are another way to amplify those expressions, emotions, and prayers that we cry out with.

Lydia Pinontoan shares the deep feeling of wanting to be home. After traveling for hours on a plane or being on the road for days, we are probably all familiar with the sigh of “home sweet home” when we flop into our own beds. Lydia writes about that feeling of home, but also that eternal draw towards heaven, our forever home as Christians. “Especially in short term comfort, and even in long term homes and relationships, we’re left with a sense of longing — a deep internal knowledge that something’s missing — that this won’t last forever.” Continue reading the rest of the blog in her most recent article!

From the beginning, God has been inviting humans to partner with Him. In Genesis, we see how God created Adam in His image and entrusted him to care for the earth. This theme continues throughout the Old Testament with Noah, Abraham, Moses and others who show partnership with God through obeying what He calls them to do. In the New Testament, Jesus calls his disciples to follow him and be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). They set the example of Christ’s partnership with his followers. Partnership with God is not just about completing tasks, but walking in obedience with the Lord.

Paul endured suffering, persecution, turmoil, and brokenness yet he was able to boast in his weakness knowing it reflected God’s strength. How did he do it? What does sufficient grace look like? How do we feel that grace among the chaos of this life? Take a look at Paul’s letter in 2 Corinthians and find encouragement in God’s never-ending grace.

This campaign is about more than a number. It’s about the people on the other side of the yes. The corporate worker listening on their lunch break, wondering if they are the only one struggling to trust. The college student scrolling Instagram, unsure if God sees them. The ministry leader who needs encouragement to keep going. The friend who doesn’t even know what they believes anymore but keeps showing up for the conversation.