Category: Be Grounded: Sermons, Reflections and Devotions for a Centered Life
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Pentecost Sunday: An Invitation to Justice
Pentecost Sunday is my favorite day. In the Christian tradition, Pentecost celebrates the giving of God’s spirit to the church. Everyone gathered in worship on that day heard the word of the Lord to them in their own language. The concept of a “heart language” speaks to me deeply as a “Third Culture Kid,” having…
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Lent 2019
A few years ago I reassessed my practice of Lent, looking at the way I chose my Lenten fasts. Lent is a season of inward reflection, preparing for transformation when we allow less of ourselves and more of Christ to shape our lives and our actions. So when I choose a Lenten fast or faith…
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Made Whole in the Power of Christ
Made whole in his power, we are ready to follow Jesus into the lives of the broken and become a blessing of hope and wholeness.
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Here I Lay My Ebenezer
“Here I lay my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I’ve come…” – Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing I was in seminary, in Intro to Old Testament either I or II, when I learned the meaning of the word “Ebenezer.” From 2 Hebrew words, ebn and ezer, “Ebenezer” means “stone of help.” Come Thou Fount…
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Filled to the Brim
Yesterday’s sermon, from John 2:1-11 …. One night after dinner last week, in the midst of our routine of watching the show Once Upon a Time while doing homework, I was struck with the sudden urge to conduct some internet research. And I research olive oil, wanting to make sure that the bottle purchased the…
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Pondering Possibilities
Yesterday’s sermon from Luke 2:41-52 … There’s nothing like watching a child grow up. They are fun, funny, often insightful in unexpected ways. Think about the parents (or grandparents, aunts and uncles) of young children that you know. It’s likely that they will often have a tale to tell about the funny thing the children…
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Hope in God: A Meditation on Holiday Grief
Our mediation from tonight’s Blue Christmas service; based on Psalm 42. “My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, ‘where is your God?’” These words from Psalm 42 are an invitation to us tonight, to feel the conflicting emotions that flood our hearts when the joy around us…
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Living Generously
Yesterday’s sermon from Mark 12:38-48 Generosity is a concept and a way of life that I learned about when I was little. My parents, as missionaries in Brazil, South America, were always going to people’s houses for bible studies, marriage counseling, benevolence offerings, and all kinds of ministry. A lot of their ministry happened at…
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For the Beauty of Furry Friends
For companionship and love when our pets become our friends, for the soothing presence of one whose caring knows no end, Lord of all to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise My Guinea pig has moved on. After singing All Things Bright and Beautiful to Addie the Guinea Pig, as he lay…
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Love and Memories
Today, as I have a few times over the past four years serving a church with many elders, I assisted with a funeral. This one was different though. It was a celebration of life, a beautiful tribute of 65 years of loving marriage, a touching reminder of the fleeting nature of life, yes. It was…
SaraInRealLife 