“I have now seen the One who sees me.” -Genesis 16:13b The Bible (particularly the Old Testament) has lots of stories that don’t seem “church appropriate.” What do we do with hard and complex stories of suffering? While Hagar faces many hardships in her life, she is also the first person in scripture to giveContinue reading “Practice of Joy: Walking by Water (Genesis 13)”
Author Archives: shergerber
Lenten Comfort: Covenant of the Heart (Jeremiah 31)
“…I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people…” -Jeremiah 31:33-34 Rejection from a parent; a shattering divorce; a splintered friendship. These broken relationships hurt differently than other sorts of losses. The pain and grief that comesContinue reading “Lenten Comfort: Covenant of the Heart (Jeremiah 31)”
Snakes in the Wilderness: Complaint, Impatience + the Long Way Home
“…but the people became impatient on the way.” Numbers 21:4 Some of us are weary of the wandering by now. While we’re beyond the halfway point in our lenten journey, we’re ready for spring, and a season of joy. We want to experience change realized. The season of Lent leads us through a faux wildernessContinue reading “Snakes in the Wilderness: Complaint, Impatience + the Long Way Home”
Lenten Practice of Joy: Meditation of the Heart (Psalm 19)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. -Psalm 19:14 The adage, “What you feed grows,” applies to our minds as much as to our gardens. The psalmist offers with hope that the words spoken and thoughts carried in hisContinue reading “Lenten Practice of Joy: Meditation of the Heart (Psalm 19)”
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Lenten Practice of Joy: Signs of Hope (Romans 4:18)
“Hoping against hope…” –Romans 4:18 After ten minutes of trial and error we were finally connected via zoom. While not preferable, it was the safest option for meeting. A stretch of cold, more than normal wintery precipitation, and the ongoing isolation and limits, we were all of a bit stir crazy. “On my way backContinue reading “Lenten Practice of Joy: Signs of Hope (Romans 4:18)”
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Forty Days: Temptation, Identity + Mission (Lent Comfort from Mark 1)
“Jesus was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.” Mark 1:13 It’s no surprise that the wilderness is the setting for this story. The 40 years of wilderness wandering of the Israelites is echoed in Jesus’ 40 days of temptation. FortyContinue reading “Forty Days: Temptation, Identity + Mission (Lent Comfort from Mark 1)”
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Dust to Dust: Ash Wednesday Reflection and Invitation
“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Again and again I will repeat the phrase tonight; each time dipping my finger into the fine ash; my blackened finger marking the sign of the cross on each person’s forehead– reminder and sign. Today starts a stretch of 40 days (not including Sundays)Continue reading “Dust to Dust: Ash Wednesday Reflection and Invitation”
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some comfort and joy 