March 21, 2019
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Sermon Reflection
"There is no emphasis on my action, my behavior, my commitment level, or my productivity...the emphasis is on how out of my own control my own identity is… which feels uncomfortable… and liberating. I have favor from God. That’s the final word. My identity, the “what” of who I am, is already set in stone."...
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February 7, 2019
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Sermon Reflection
Justin's question to the little Christians in the room stuck with me as I listened to the sermon Will you go? And if you choose to go, what motivates you?
Certainty and control motivate me... So, saying yes to something that involves mystery, faith, trust, and risk...is just really hard for me. What motivates me to go when certainty is not promised and control is out of ...
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January 24, 2019
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Sermon Reflection
I rememberso much in highschool and young adulthood thinking that I just needed to try harder if I loved God enough, I wouldn't be sinning so much. I knew that I was a *sinner* at my core. I understood that sanctification was a work of grace and that I was saved by faith alone, not by my works but somehow I felt such great pressure to be stronger in my faith and better in ...
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December 6, 2018
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Sermon Reflection
This Sunday as Justin started to reintroduce us to the heart behind the Impossible Prayer Requests, I felt my guard go up, for the fourth year in a row.
As I mentioned in my write up for the advent devotional this year, the first two years I was so paralyzed with fear over asking and facing disappointment, I hid behind reason and judgement and bypassed participa...
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October 4, 2018
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Sermon Reflection
"We are all longing to be loved. We long for something steadfast enough to put our trust in... but we are broken, and our relationships pay the price. God’s love is not the same, it isn’t fickle...it’s resolute, more than we could ever hope or dream of."...
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August 22, 2018
by Emily Leslie
| Tags: judgment, Sin, fear, Refuge, Evil
"Our culture loves to numb pain-- give me all the ice cream, netflix, relationships, alcohol, handbags, adventures and travel...I don’t want to feel a thing. We hide in hobbies, in careers, in families, in fleeting pleasures and constant distractions, never slowing down to face the sharp edges of the evil within our own hearts."...
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July 19, 2018
by Emily Leslie
| Tags: marriage, blog
"The God of the universe is walking with you, bringing peace, comfort, provision, rest, feast, promise, goodness, mercy & dwelling. It’s a big, glorious story that we are a part of, and we need to cultivate joy, allow it to well up in us, celebrate and revel in the goodness of our loving Savior."...
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May 2, 2018
by Emily Leslie
| Tags: kingdom, glory, hope, grace, Grief, Truth, Sermon Reflection, Promise, Revelation, Bookends, Trial, Tribulation, Patience, Endurance, albuquerque, Church, Reflection, Albuquerque Church, Sermon, Church blog
Even in this chapter, of this overwhelming book, we see how all of scripture is brought together to accomplish the same plan that has been laid out in the Bible all along. ...
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November 23, 2017
by Emily Leslie
| Tags: Community, Fellowship, gospel, albuquerque, blog, Relationship, God, Christ, Connection, Life Together, Albuquerque Church, Sermon Reflection, Churches, Church blog, Genesis, Me Too, Vulnerability, Church Body
Entering into moments of vulnerability consciously and intentionally is risky, but it stops shame in it’s tracks....
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September 14, 2017
by Emily Leslie
| Tags: gospel, albuquerque, sacrifice, hope, love, Jesus, Relationship, Pain, God, Story, Christ, Life, redemption, Suffering, Restoration, Albuquerque Church, Church blog, Healing, Narrative, Picture, Perspective
Sometimes, hard things happen, and they’re just hard, and no ah-ha moment comes later when you realize how every painful piece of the puzzle was indeed working together for your good. ...
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August 10, 2017
by Emily Leslie
| Tags: Community, Fellowship, gospel, albuquerque, blog, love, Jesus, Mercy, God, Table, Hospitality, Compassion, Church blog, Communion, Host, Hosting, Gathering, Serving, Guest
This Sunday, as we unpacked hospitality, and love was intertwined in every part. Fear creates exclusive community, but love gives way to inclusive hospitality....
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July 19, 2017
by Emily Leslie
| Tags: resurrection, hope, Pain, God, Help, redemption, Perseverance, Suffering, Comfort, How Long, Trials, Prevailing, Promise, Peace, Church blog, ABQ Church
In Daniel’s vision, the journey for God’s people is long and painful, and begs the question; will God’s people finish? Will his purposes prevail? How long must we endure before we feel the relief of redemption?...
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June 1, 2017
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Gospel
| Tags: albuquerque, abq, ministry, Christ, Church, Albuquerque Church, Faithful Presence, Church blog, Reigning, Lord, Ascension Sunday, Ascended Lord, Ascension
"Now, how his lordship works out is then through the work of the church. But he is the Lord and is present with and through his church, as we are doing what we are called to do." ~ N.T. Wright...
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April 21, 2017
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Gospel
| Tags: albuquerque, abq, easter, resurrection, Father, love, grace, God, Christ, Church, Easter Sunday, Sermon Reflection, Sermon, City Pres, Presbyterian, Serenity Prayer, Serenity, Creator
It is so tempting to pray for circumstances to change, to get mad at God when they don’t, and to hold a grudge of resentment rather than “accept with serenity” the things that cannot be changed. ...
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March 23, 2017
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Gospel
Our God gives an answer that is pertinent to our suffering and struggles, and it’s a victorious and hopeful answer, even in the face of suffering and death....
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February 23, 2017
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Gospel
| Tags: Renewed, Restoration, fear, trust, dependence, gospel
We want to be the hero, taking away our need for a savior. But that’s not the way God designed us, and that’s not how he promises to bring restoration....
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December 8, 2016
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Gospel
| Tags: anger, power, justice, trust, faith, God, Christ, Refuge, Strength, Reliance, Wrath
"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver, "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good."...
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November 22, 2016
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Gospel
| Tags: Listening, Differences, Church, Beliefs, relationships, Unity, One, Empathy
There is not any other distinction or any other belief system that can make us one, but the spirit of God that we share makes us one. So we hold on to our distinctions, and we regard each other as children of God, made in his image, and we listen empathically (as even Rogers identified as crucial for relationships!) from a position of peace and gentleness, full of mercy, i...
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September 20, 2016
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Gospel
| Tags: love, grace, Sin, Authentic living, measuring up, redemption, the gospel
You can't earn love by presenting a better version of yourself. It's just a false self, and a false self can't give or receive love…it can only act like it can. It's crushing to live under the demands of the law, trying to earn favor....
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August 17, 2016
by Emily Leslie
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Category:
Gospel
| Tags: marriage, gospel, love, Ordinary, Truth, Ephesians, Mystery, Known, Covenant, hope, Relationship, Expectations, Dating
Marriage isn't always perfectly romantic, but in the rhythm of the ordinary, God is revealing Himself and His love for His people. ...
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