Dear CitF Family,

It’s amazing what we people can do, and the cars we’re seeing this week are an expression of the incredibly creative gifts God has given us. So let’s enjoy these gifts! But let’s not find our hope in the work of our hands which can be taken from us. Instead, let’s find our hope in God alone, a treasure that can never be taken from us!

This week we continue our journey in this theme of evaluating what we really love, what we really find our hope in. Prayerful evaluation using God’s word of truth is a way of guarding our hearts so we’re not misled into vulnerable and even dangerous places.

As we look at this week’s scriptures, I encourage you to use an ancient prayer practice called lectio divina (which means holy reading or praying the scriptures). Instead of trying to cognitively understand what the scriptures are saying, start with silence and some deep breathing, asking God to meet you and speak to you as you read. Then, once settled, slowly read each text and sit with what comes up in your spirit. Read each text at least twice, receiving the loving invitations from God. This is a wonderful way to experience God in more personal, intimate and helpful ways!

This week we focus on scripture texts that can sound harsh, but actually carry a loving and necessary word from God (The Gospel). You might focus on one text each day to allow you to drink more deeply. May we have ears to hear and hearts to respond!

There are two Old Testament texts to choose from: Jeremiah 23:23-29 and Isaiah 5:1-7. I encourage you to read both texts in one day, reflecting on what you hear God saying. What is God’s loving word to you in these texts?

Then read Psalm 82 in this same prayerful way. What invitations do you hear?

Then read Hebrews 12:1-14. This is a classic text with deep meaning and purpose for our daily lives. What is God saying to you here?

Finally, read Luke 12:49-56. This is one of the difficult texts to understand. How can loving Jesus be speaking a helpful word for us in what he says here? Sit with this? Let God speak to your heart? What might God be saying to you that is meant to help you? What is the common thread in all of these scripture texts?

I’m praying for all of us as we go through this week with Jesus, and I look forward to opening these scriptures for all of us as we gather to worship our loving God this Sunday!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Mike