The Transfiguration tells us of God’s advice for followers to listen to Jesus, which reminds us to trust no one, but Jesus alone. In which people and things do I place my deepest trust? How must my life change and grow in order to have that deep a trust in Jesus?

When Jesus asks me to love my enemies and pray for my persecutors, two things are revealed: first, that I have enemies, no matter how hard I might try to deny that; second, that Jesus encourages me to change, not my enemies. I would rather try to make, force or coerce my enemies to change. Instead, God wants me to deal first and foremost with change in myself. What practices will help this happen?

Lutheran scholar Gerhard Forde once quipped that it’s not so much that we break the commandments; it’s more that they break us. Forgiveness is God’s way of reestablishing a relationship with us and the divine. What ways do we employ to mend relationships and restore trust and faithfulness?

In an arid climate, something that is small, white grains, but not salty is…sand. Salt adds flavor to many dishes. Sand ruins them. Jesus asks us to let our light shine. If we let our light shine, what will others see in us? Would others see Jesus? How might that work?

…and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God? What steps will you take to make this a reality in our community, our state, our nation, our world?

Seemingly responsible people dropped everything to follow Jesus. What things do we need to leave behind to follow Jesus? What things might we take along?

Andrew invited his brother Simon, also known as Peter, to meet Jesus. Not only was Peter’s life forever changed, the life of the church was changed dramatically. How do you invite others to come and see Jesus? How might the world improve through the little things we do?

The texts for this coming Sunday are for the Baptism of Jesus, but we are looking at Epiphany. Epiphany, January 6, is traditionally thought of as the day when wise travelers from the East, i.e., the first non-Jewish people, worshiped Jesus. Epiphany is a season of light. Can you think of a dark time in your own life or in the history of the world when God’s glory shone through? What happened? Who was the bearer of that light? How did it become evident?

I looked at a calendar which had Dec 26 marked “Christmas Day, observed,” as if it was some sort of bank holiday. It made me laugh at first, realizing that – according to my calendar – this year, Christmas is not on the 25th of December, but a day later. Then it got me thinking. How would my life change, or even improve, if I lived every day as “Christmas Day, observed?” Would I become reflexively kind and generous all the year? Might I be more predisposed to helping others? What would your life look like?

Long away and far ago a couple arrived at their city of origins without the proper credentials or papers and were ferreted out of sight and away from any meaningful activity. The woman was ready to deliver while the world was unready for her child’s deliverance.

If I were going to save the world, I'd get here fully grown, with enough force for people to accede to my requirements. I would not arrive as a baby, all small, helpless and needy. I'd come as a force to be reckoned with – yet another reason I'm not your Savior…and a good thing, too!

Every marriage is a relationship between two people. This week, we discover that Joseph, being a just person, still determined to dump Mary, to whom he was betrothed, quietly for the sin of being already pregnant. While this would have disgraced Mary and her child throughout their lives, it was better than the legal requirement to have Mary removed from the community and stoned to death. Then, in a dream, God told Joseph to get over himself and to go one better than just being just: marry Mary and be merry in the Lord, for her child is to be the One for whom Israel had awaited for so long.

The third week of Advent includes Mary’s Magnificat, the hymn of praise she sang after learning from God’s messenger that she was to bear the Savior of the world [Luke 1:46-55]. A friend of mine once wondered aloud how many women the angel Gabriel had to visit before one said, as Mary did, “Let it be unto me as you have said.” What would our lives look like, as we say yes to God? Recollect times and places that you and those near you have had those “Yes to God” times, and share them with trusted friends.

Advent continues with John’s call to for people to repent, or change their hearts and minds by turning around in a new direction. Advertisers do their best to trick us to believe that human worth is derived from possessions. Ads churn our insides up with insatiable wants and desires. God instead desires that we turn our attention to life-enhancing, soul-strengthening times of quiet and service to others. Take some time to converse with your loved ones on how to expand those life-giving activities and times of rest.

November 27 is the first Sunday in Advent, the beginning of the church year. The word Advent comes from the Latin ad venire, meaning to arrive to. Advent notes the time prior to the Nativity, Jesus' birth. It later expanded to include arriving at Jesus' return at the end of all time, and the Holy Spirit’s arriving in our lives through Jesus' resurrection. In Christ, it’s a new dawn; a new day.

Jesus asks God to forgive those who crucified him, saying “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” What does it mean to offer forgiveness to others before they are aware of their offense? What kind of patience and grace does that require? How might I apply that to the victors and the defeated in this last election cycle?

Jesus' words in Luke are pointedly challenging. He assures his followers and disciples that they will be persecuted, handed over, betrayed, and hated (Luke 21:12-19). Is that how your week has gone? Do we expect or anticipate times like these? Jesus also assures us of strength and endurance at the end of such trials.

We reserve the first Sunday of November as a remembrance of those saints who have gone before us. As you think of deceased loved ones this week, remember the treasure that their company gave you.

When Martin Luther posted some items for debate in Wittenberg in 1517, he had no idea that it would start a storm that would reform the church. The first thesis reads, “When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ (as in Mark 1:15), he intended the entire life of the believer to be one of repentance.” How does God renewing you daily affect your life and work?

In Luke 18:9-14, we overhear two prayers. One person lauds himself; the other asks for mercy. Since Jesus commends the tax collector’s prayer, what does that tell us about the purpose of prayer?

“I will not let you go,” Jacob told the stranger, “unless you bless me.” What does it mean to struggle for a blessing? How does blessing and struggle show up in your life?