I remember watching a horror movie for the first time at a sleepover and discovering that I did NOT like it! I had nightmares for months and slept with a barrier of pillows all around me, my back to the wall, my lamps on, facing the room so nothing could surprise me. During this time, I also remember my mom sharing this verse. It was one of her favorite “fear verses” and she hoped it would comfort me.

Unfortunately, I read this verse and found no comfort. I saw a command to not be afraid. A command to be powerful and loving and rational. A standard that all believers should live up to if they truly had a “born again spirit”. And I felt like a failure. I was afraid and I wasn’t powerful. I probably also wasn’t loving or rational either. I began to dread the encouragement and the verse that so many other people seemed to love.

I recently started a Bible Study about fear and anxiety, and this verse came up in my lesson. With only a tiny bit of sighing, I went through the verse as instructed — prayerfully reading it through a few times, marking transition words, underlining repetition and key phrases, and noting comparisons and contrasts. And because the Word of God is a living word, and because our God is faithful to teach and restore, I saw the verse in a totally new light.
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​Rather than calling me to have a powerful, loving, self-disciplined heart, this verse is a reassurance that I have been given a source of power, and love, and self-control. That source is not me but the Holy Spirit! Perhaps this has been quite obvious to you, but it was a revelation to me. I read the verse again and again, marveling at how much it had transformed me. Rather than feeling shame or guilt for my failure to live up to a standard of fearlessness, I felt incredible freedom and comfort. Again, I am reminded that nothing is asked of me except to rest in the presence of God and lean on Him. When I am afraid, I don’t need to do anything except run to God, and I don’t need to run far, because the Holy Spirit is always there inside me.

I think it’s interesting that so much of adulthood is unraveling false beliefs that formed in childhood and reweaving them with truth. Sometimes those lies come from people in our life, or impactful experiences, or even just a childlike understanding that gets things all twisted. Little Naomi really had a way with twisting things into confusing shapes and clinging to them as gospel truth!

I’m so grateful that we have a God who is faithful to teach me. I’m excited to see what other lies will be unraveled and rewoven as I go through this journey. And I am glad that my stack of verses will only continue to grow.

In His Name,
Naomi

them or like me. Belonging is something else entirely​—it's showing up and letting myself be seen and known as I really am—love of rock painting, fear of public speaking, sarcastic sense of humor, and all.

Many of us suffer from this split between who we really are and who we present to the world in order to be accepted. (Take it from me: I'm an expert fitter-inner!) But we're not letting ourselves be known, and this kind of incongruent living is soul-killing.
During various seasons of my life, I have not fit in. I was too smart, too awkward, or too much of a "goody-two-shoes" in high school, plus I didn't have the right clothes. As you can probably guess, I felt different from others. Feeling worthy had always impacted the choices I made for friendships, marriage, jobs.

Once I welcomed and accepted myself, through Jesus’s eyes, the world seemed to open up to me. I no longer tried to impress everyone and I can look further into what interests ME. Retirement was more difficult with the limited income but the reward of time for self-exploration has been very worthwhile. I’ve learned so much about myself and the world in this period of my life because I’ve had the time to! My time wasn’t being eaten up by trying to impress others or keep up with them anymore.

This past year I decided to step out of retirement once again and found this perfect part time job. I walked into my interview believing that if I were just myself, I could trust that they would let me know if I would fit in. 1st Presbyterian not only offers me some income, but a sense of belonging and purpose. I have been accepted for just who I am due to the grace extended to me from the congregation as well as the office.
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As this new-year rolls on, I embrace Philippians 4:8, 

​In His Name, Susie

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent and ‘what are you giving up’ might be the wrong question. Rather than giving up something, how about taking up something?

I’m not sure if this is true, but I found a citation that said the 40-day period before Easter is called Lent after an old English word meaning ‘lengthen’. This is because the days are getting longer as we approach summer. Maybe? It is a time of reflection and of asking for forgiveness as Christians prepare to celebrate Jesus’s resurrection on Easter - the end of Lent.

Giving up something during Lent is a sign of sacrifice and a test of self-discipline (I don’t think I can ever give up dark chocolate, attributable to a lack of self-discipline for sure). Christians believe this sacrifice represents Christ’s sacrifice when he prayed and fasted in the desert for 40 days.

This year, how about rather than giving up something, consider taking up something. This might be making an extra effort to do nice things for family, friends, our community, giving extra to a cause that touches your heart or volunteering your time. All are worthy and meaningful. So, think on this — practicing during the 40 days of Lent could lead to a new habit that will extend well beyond the next 40 days. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16
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​In His Name, Janet

When I began the process for my first loaf, I had researched many different recipes, and I combined a few different methods and adapted the ratios to a rhythm I thought I could maintain. After attempting a simple scoring design, I popped it in the oven and waited patiently. There was a lot of joy when something beautiful and delicious emerged. Delight in the creation. It turns out, there’s something really relaxing and restoring about bread making. Simple, ordinary, rhythm. Imagine God’s delight in the creation of each of us … God is joyful.

Throughout John’s witness, Jesus proclaims that He is the Bread of Life, and that God’s bread gives life to the world. Bread is sustaining, and bread is to be shared. We have a spiritual hunger only satisfied through Jesus. God’s love is unconditional and, in a grateful response, we can share that love with our neighbors and the world. When we seek community with one another, we can experience God in new ways and grow deeper in our connection to the one who sustains us.

Jesus isn’t the quick rise bread, He is the sustaining bread of life. Nurturing a relationship with God isn’t a one and done… it’s finding ways to intentionally seek God in our everyday rhythms and routines. My encouragement to each of us this week is to invite Jesus into the ordinary and seek God amidst our joys and burdens. God is with us.

So, friends, eat the bread. Share the bread.

In His Name, Kierstie