Psalm 119:9–16 (NIV): 

      9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? 

         By living according to your word. 

      10 I seek you with all my heart; 

         do not let me stray from your commands. 

      11 I have hidden your word in my heart 

         that I might not sin against you. 

      12 Praise be to you, LORD; 

         teach me your decrees. 

      13 With my lips I recount 

         all the laws that come from your mouth. 

      14 I rejoice in following your statutes 

         as one rejoices in great riches. 

      15 I meditate on your precepts 

         and consider your ways. 

      16 I delight in your decrees; 

         I will not neglect your word.

Many a missionary memorized Psalms 119 and spoke it to themselves as comfort in the challenges of their day. William Wilberforce who fought slavery in London and was largely responsible for its downfall wrote in his diary in the year of 1819: “Walked today from Hyde Park Corner, repeating the 119th Psalm in great comfort.”*

Take time to know God’s Word that it might be a lamp unto your feet and a light to your path as shared with us in Psalms 119:105. His Word is a treasure and not a burden. It is one so great that we would trade the world for and hide in our hearts.

Pastor Aaron

*From a sermon by Philip Harrelson, A Clean Life With a Hidden Deposit, 5/14/2012

         2Worship the LORD with gladness; 

         come before him with joyful songs. 

      3 Know that the LORD is God. 

         It is he who made us, and we are his; 

         we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

      4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

         and his courts with praise; 

         give thanks to him and praise his name. 

      5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

         his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:1–5 (NIV)

Thankfulness is the opposite of selfishness. The selfish person says, “I deserve what comes to me! Other people ought to make me happy.” But the mature Christian realizes that life is a gift from God, and that the blessings of life come only from His bountiful hand. (Source: Warren W. Wiersbe in “A Time To Be Renewed” Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 17.)

Have you ever received a large gift and the first thing you thought was, “Darn, I thought it would be more.” Our hearts are never satisfied. We want bigger homes, newer cars, and more money. One of the things I practiced before having children was taking a week and backpacking through the great outdoors. One of the reasons besides connecting with nature is that when I returned I felt like a King with a shower, a hot meal, and sleeping in a bed. Nevermind you that I was working as a youth pastor at the time and receiving very little compensation. Yet, I felt like the wealthiest man on earth at that moment because I was reminded of all I did have after not having much of anything camping in the outdoors. 

We are not inclined to be grateful people. We have to teach ourselves gratitude and we do this best by practicing it. Start a gratitude journal. Spend time singing and saying prayers of thanksgiving to God and to others. Everyday consider one thing that you are grateful to have in your life. The more you practice gratitude, the more it will begin to change your heart. 

Pastor Aaron

     1 Have mercy on me, O God, 

         according to your unfailing love; 

         according to your great compassion 

         blot out my transgressions. 

      2 Wash away all my iniquity 

         and cleanse me from my sin. 

      3 For I know my transgressions, 

         and my sin is always before me. 

      4 Against you, you only, have I sinned 

         and done what is evil in your sight; 

         so you are right in your verdict 

         and justified when you judge. 

      5 Surely I was sinful at birth, 

         sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 

      6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; 

         you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 

      7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; 

         wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:1–7 (NIV)

Do you have a Sally that sits on your shoulder at night and says, “Remember the duck”? Some of us continue to carry the guilt of our past on our shoulders with the whisper of “Remember the…”. We may not forget but we need forgiveness. We need the forgiveness of the one we have offended, we need to forgive ourselves, and we need the forgiveness of God. Our sin is always before us even if forgiveness is extended. We are not washed of it until we receive the forgiveness that is being extended to us.

Pastor Aaron

But neither one could seem to go to sleep. They both tossed & turned until late in the night. Finally, the little boy asked, “Daddy, are you looking at me? Because if you are, I think I can go to sleep.” And the father answered, “Yes son, I’m looking at you.”

The little boy started at last to rest & finally fell asleep. After he was asleep the father got out of bed, walked over to the window & pulled back the curtain. He looked up into the starry sky & said, “Father, are you looking at me? Because if you are, I think I can rest & be at peace.”

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— 

         where does my help come from? 

      2 My help comes from the LORD, 

         the Maker of heaven and earth. 

      3 He will not let your foot slip— 

         he who watches over you will not slumber; 

      4 indeed, he who watches over Israel 

         will neither slumber nor sleep. 

      5 The LORD watches over you— 

         the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 

      6 the sun will not harm you by day, 

         nor the moon by night. 

      7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— 

         he will watch over your life; 

      8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going 

         both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121:1–8 (NIV)

Some of you are trying to live life under your own strength. Though you sleep, you are never still. Always worried for the next day and always a thought of what next needs to be accomplished. We are reminded in this Psalm that we belong to the Lord. Our Father is watching us and our way. We are never out of His sight and we are never forgotten. 

May the Lord keep you and watch over you, may His face shine upon you, and may you feel His peace as you remember your Father is watching.

Pastor Aaron

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Before His Ascension, Jesus gave His disciples a bold mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Despite their flaws and doubts, He trusted them with this great responsibility. And He didn’t just send them out on their own; He promised to be with them always, to the very end of the age.  In the same way, He calls each of us to continue His mission on earth individually and together as the Body of Christ.  He did not leave us alone, orphaned on this journey.  He sent the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete and Comforter to remain with us and sustain us in this mission.  

Reflection:

Just as Jesus entrusted His disciples with the mission of sharing the Good News, He now entrusts each of us with the same mission. No matter where we are in our journey, Jesus calls us to share His love and truth with the world. And He promises to be with us as we step out in faith.  How wonderful that our Lord assures us that whether we are in a period of confusion, complacency, joy or grief, working through the mundane tasks of life or starting a new adventure, the Lord is walking right beside us offering his mercy, love, peace, hope and purpose.

Reflection Question:

What does it look like for you to live out the Great Commission in your life right now? How can you take one step toward sharing the love of Jesus with someone today?

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for trusting me with the mission to share Your love with the world. Empower me by Your Spirit to boldly live out this calling, knowing You are with me every step of the way. Amen.

Cecilia Carroll

Director, Advent Square

“Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee It happened this way:2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.  “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.   Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.

 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.   Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.  The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.  When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”  So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.   Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

After the resurrection, some of the disciples returned to their old way of life.  They had been through so much, and perhaps they were unsure of how to move forward. All night, they caught nothing, yet when responding to Jesus’ instruction, their nets were filled to bursting.  Jesus was waiting for them, as he waits for us.  We may not even realize all the times we try to “go it alone,” and as a result wander off the path the Lord intends for us.  If we can recognize the Lords intentions for us and follow where He leads, we will be on the right path.  This is not easy, and, at least for me, is always a work in progress. 

Reflection:

Sometimes, we may feel like we’re just going through the motions of life, unsure of our purpose or disconnected from what we once felt passionate about. But Jesus meets us right where we are—even in the most mundane or ordinary moments (working, having a meal) and reminds us that our lives matter and that we have purpose.

Reflection Question:

Do you find yourself going through the motions in any area of your life? How might Jesus be inviting you to see your ordinary moments with new eyes?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to recognize Your presence in my everyday life. Even in the routine, remind me that You are calling me to something more. Open my heart to hear Your invitation. Amen

Cecilia Carroll

Scripture: Luke 24:13-16;30-32  (The Road to Emmaus)

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.  They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;  but they were kept from recognizing him.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

On the road to Emmaus, two disciples were walking away from Jerusalem, defeated and disillusioned. They had hoped that Jesus was the one to redeem Israel, but His death shattered those hopes. Little did they know, Jesus was walking right beside them, though they didn’t recognize Him at first.

Reflection:
Disappointment can be a heavy burden, especially when life doesn’t go as we imagined it would. The disciples on the road to Emmaus had their dreams crushed, but Jesus met them in their disillusionment and opened their eyes to the bigger picture. In our own moments of disappointment, Jesus still walks alongside us.

Reflection Question:
What hopes or dreams have been disappointed in your life? How can you invite Jesus into those places of unmet expectations?

Prayer:
Jesus, when I am disappointed or discouraged, help me see You walking beside me. Open my eyes to Your presence and remind me that You are at work, even when I can’t see it. Amen.

Cecilia Carroll
Director, Advent Square

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

The disciples had just witnessed the most shocking and overwhelming event in human history—the crucifixion of Jesus. Now, they were hiding in fear, locked away in a room, confused about what to do next. Jesus, however, didn’t wait for them to figure it out. He didn’t wait for them to call out to Him.  In mercy, He came to them in their fear and confusion, speaking peace, offering reassurance and further revealing who he was and who they were to be.

The peace that Jesus offers is not simply the absence of conflict, but a deep abiding contentment in the assurance of his love and mercy for all time.  No matter where we are, He offers His mercy and peace.

Reflection:

Have you ever found yourself feeling afraid or confused about the next step in life? Perhaps you’re facing uncertainty in your job, relationships, or even your faith. Jesus meets you in that place—not to scold or condemn, but to offer peace and reassurance.

Reflection Question:

Where do you need Jesus to meet you today in your fear or confusion? What does it mean for you that Jesus speaks peace into your life, just as He did to the disciples?

Prayer:

Lord, I bring my fears and confusion before You. Help me hear Your voice of peace and trust that You are with me, even when I don’t understand what’s happening. Amen.

Cecilia Carroll

Each post-Resurrection encounter is deeply human. The disciples weren’t superheroes. They were confused, scared, heartbroken—and yet, Jesus came to them. Not with judgment, but with mercy, hope, love, peace, clarity, and purpose.

Let’s look at where He met them:

• In the Upper Room, huddled together, locked away in fear
• On the Road to Emmaus, downcast and confused about what had just happened
• At the Sea of Tiberius, slipping back into old routines, unsure of what came next
• On the mountain, being sent out to “make disciples of all nations”

In each of these moments, Jesus met them right where they were—emotionally, spiritually, even physically. And then He called them forward.

In this week’s devotions, I want to reflect on what these encounters mean for us today. Life is a journey filled with joy and hardship, faith and doubt. There will be times when we feel like hiding, when our dreams fall apart, or when we’re tempted to go back to “life as usual.” But even then, Jesus shows up. He gently reminds us of who we are and calls us to keep going.

If you’ve wandered, He’s still walking toward you. If you’ve locked the door, He’s already standing on the other side, offering peace. That’s who He is—the Shepherd who never stops seeking the one who strays.

This week, wherever you are on your journey, let Him meet you there.

Cecilia Carroll