"We fail to remember that God is as the Psalmist describes: an abundant fountain, a river of delights, a full house, a radiant light. The Psalmist knows God never operates out of scarcity. Where we must begin with Deeper is recognizing the ever flowing depths of the fountain of God. He is living water, because it is always abundant and always flowing. Scarcity mindset keeps us from going deeper, because we are afraid the safety net either isn’t there or doesn’t go deep enough. We won’t risk, because we can’t. We can’t possibly risk such things. There might not be anything left. There might not be any left for me. We are all like Goldilocks lamenting lost porridge, broken chairs, and occupied beds. But God always has room and always makes room. He is an overflowing fountain."
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Abiding through the fall at City Pres meant holding on for dear life to your life preserver ring hoping the other side of the rope is attached to the rescue boat, continually clinging, continually waiting. But abiding in the new year at City Pres is what I think we’re being called into: “Deeper.”
Keep ReadingApr 24
2019
"I just can’t stop analytically dissecting this film, it’s like a puzzle and every time you connect a piece it creates even more curiosity and awe as you finally start to see the bigger picture come together. In its simplest terms “Us” is about the fear of ourselves and how our actions--or hesitation to act--can be detrimental to us as a nation."
Apr 24
2019
"This Easter Sunday, Justin asked me if I was colluding with life or with death. He asked if we knew the significance of the resurrection. He asked if we were acting like we knew the significance. And I wasn’t really sure if I could properly say thank you for something that I wasn’t walking in..."
Apr 17
2019
"The irony of this is that the only way I can have peace, and feel that I am enough, is by admitting to God that I’m not adequate and not capable of achieving peace on my own. I cannot possibly impress enough people with my capability or intelligence to feel adequate, and if I continue to try I will only alienate myself from others and God...When I’m reminded that my salvation comes from Jesus, not my own performance, I’m free to look beyond myself. I’m free to find ways to love and serve others, and perhaps to extend a tiny bit of the grace and peace of Christ to those around me."
Apr 10
2019
"When I look at myself, it is true, I am a sinner, broken, wounded, weak, weary, and ashamed... But at retreat this last weekend, we asked the seemingly dangerous question: "What might Jesus' posture be toward you?" I have once again started to find hope that Jesus sees me and He responds. I have started to hope that His words for me are different than the world’s words for me… that those words might include “forgiven, daughter, alive, made whole, healed, restored, unashamed of who I am in Christ..."
Apr 4
2019
"As I stand to sing, I rarely feel like singing; the words seem rote, the melodies too familiar. But herein lies the great opportunity for song to lift you from your reverie, to consider God, to consider your impoverished state, and to consider how Christ has raised you up to new life. In this way, the practices of song have great opportunity to raise your eyes to properly survey the cross, such that the words of God that will be preached will continue to shape and mold you as you go out into the world."