hear ⁽⁹⁶⁾

Psalm 19; Exodus 19:16–25; Mark 9:2–8 (read online ⧉) Spend enough time in (at least) Christian circles, and you will likely hear the phrase, "mountain-top experience." This is usually described as a deeply powerful encounter with God that emotionally and spiritually separates someone from the…

Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 16:7-15; Mark 8:27-30 (read online ⧉) Ishmael. God Hears. How amazing is that? God—the Creator—hears. Hagar had run away. Sarai treated her poorly to such a degree that Hagar felt that the wilderness was better than staying (initially, at least). Feeling so…

Isaiah 30:8–13 (read online ⧉) Hearing the truth about ourselves is often uncomfortable. We like to hear good stuff, but do our best to avoid that feels bad, or might cause us to look at ourselves badly. We are not alone. When Isaiah is sent…

John 8:31–59, Acts 13:46–52 (read online ⧉) One of the biggest struggles we—as Christians in America—continue to face, and will face even more deeply, is the hardness of heart to the Gospel. This will include people who identify themselves as Christians. As it becomes harder…

Mark 5:1–20, Mark 7:31–36, Luke 17:11–19 (read online ⧉) Jesus produced miracle after miracle. Usually, people are pretty grateful when miraculous healing has occurred. The first healing we read today is a man who is not right in the head. Whether we stick with the…