in Uncategorized
St. Patrick’s Day Blessing
An Old Irish Blessing for St. Patrick’s Day May your days be many and your troubles be few.May all God’s blessings descend upon you.May peace be within you, may your heart be strong.May you find...
Elyse M. Nielsen
in Uncategorized
Taking Up A Cross
Last week we discussed fasting or abstinence which involves “giving something up.” Instead, others “take up” a cross that will be difficult but manageable. “Taking up” something is about our participation in what God is...
in Uncategorized
God’s Peace
Join us in praying the above prayer from the Methodist Church of Britain with and for innocent people in Ukraine, the neighboring countries who are receiving them as refugees, and Russian citizens who oppose the...
in Uncategorized
Fasting for Lent?
Ash Wednesday, March 2nd this year, marks the beginning of the season of Lent. In the Christian year, Lent is the time for additional spiritual practices that prepare Christians for Easter. By practicing regularly scheduled almsgiving, fasting...
in Uncategorized
Praying for the President
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” Proverbs 11:14 Monday is Presidents Day. In my youth, I thought of it as a silly holiday, not dissimilar to National Ice Cream...
in Uncategorized
Wise Council
I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 Unsolicited and unwanted advice is given to us by unwelcome voices. People feel the need to want to tell us how to live our lives. Christians live differently....
in Uncategorized
God’s Kingdom on Earth
The right response to being given keys to God’s earthly kingdom is thanksgiving and whole-life, “all-in” for Jesus which is proper worship. The scripture also informs us that our life of worship and posture of...
in Uncategorized
God is Greater Than Anxiety
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 We live in anxious times that rub off onto us. God cares for you. God cares about all the little things, and...
in Uncategorized
Kind Words
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me,” is an old adage that was meant to instill resilience in the hearer. It was a way to reframe insults or unkind...
in Uncategorized
God’s Ways
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.6 Remember, Lord,...