Monday, June 27

Read Luke 2:25-35   Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

  “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”

 It’s hard to find ourselves stepping on other people’s toes. Or at least it’s quite probable that we find it hard to step on other people’s toes. Very few people enjoy finding themselves in situations where a conflict exists, or a significant disagreement is happening, or others are hurt and perhaps even offended by an action of ours.

 And it might be easy to fool ourselves into thinking that followers of Jesus Christ should never step on another person’s toes, that we’re doing well when we get along with everyone and don’t have any disagreements.

Hopefully we know that not stepping on another person’s toes is impossible.

Jesus stepped on people’s toes. While being circumcised shortly after he was born, an older man Simeon confronted Jesus. Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and predicted or prophesized that Jesus would be opposed in his ministry. People would push back against what Jesus said; Jesus would step on people’s toes as he communicated and lived out his message.

Have you ever convinced yourself that Christians shouldn’t get into disagreements with others? Please share.

Tuesday, June 28

Read Luke 7:18-23  The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect someone else?”  When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect someone else?’ ”  Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits and had given sight to many who were blind.  And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight; the lame walk; those with a skin disease are cleansed; the deaf hear; the dead are raised; the poor have good news brought to them.  And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

 One of the ways we can be comfortable in the result of stepping on people’s toes is being comfortable in our own identity. Pastor Paul asked two questions on Sunday about this. The questions are: 1) Are you clear on your own identity?

2) Are you comfortable with your own identity?

It seems almost funny to ask the question on whether Jesus could say, “yes” to these questions. It’s not funny because Jesus was human—just like you and me.

Jesus was clear about who he was, and we can see this clarity in his response to the messengers to John. “Tell John what you see,” Jesus essentially said, “I’m healing the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf, the dead, and the poor.”

There was no apology from Jesus about what he was doing. He was so clear on his purpose that he wouldn’t sell himself short for being himself. We get no sense of apology from Jesus for what he was doing. We almost get the sense that he thought, “this is who I am and what I do; if John is upset about who I am and what I do, then that is John’s issue.”

What a refreshing and ultimately freeing way to look at the world. Our task is not to worry about how other people will respond to us. Our task is to be clear about ourselves and then to act based on that clarity. If we are acting from ourselves, then that is what is most important. If people get upset, then that is on the other people.

None of us purposefully tries to step on other people’s toes. Instead, we purposefully try to be ourselves.

Do you have a clear sense of your own identity? Is it hard for you to step on other people’s toes? Please share.

Wednesday, June 29

Read Luke 6:27-36  “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again.  Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 One expression that Pastor Paul shared on Sunday is speak the truth in love. One significant part of this phrase is to love people. Our task is to act and communicate agape love with all the people we meet.

Jesus was making the case for agape love in this passage taken from Luke’s Sermon on the Plain. Jesus was teaching people that they were to love their enemies; loving their friends does not give credit. But loving our enemies is very special.

Our task, then is to love people. Even if we find ourselves in disagreement with another person we are still called to love that person. Knowing that we’re loving another person can give us security to speak the truth. We want to love the other person so beautifully that the other person is clear that they are being loved by us.

This is the highest form of love and can be difficult to live out consistently. What is the biggest obstacle to you to living and acting out this love? Please share.

Thursday, June 30

Read Ephesians 4:15-16  but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

At the end of this very significant passage in Ephesians, the Apostle Paul shared that followers of Jesus are to speak the truth in love. Speaking the truth in love is part of growing up.

Speaking the truth can be very difficult—especially if we know that we have to have a hard conversation. Some of us who might be conflict-avoidant, might rarely speak what is on our mind with another person.

However, if we are confident that we are loving another person, then we can much more easily speak the truth. In this case we know we are not bringing down the other person. Instead, we’re speaking the truth as we see it.

The combination of “speaking the truth” and “love” is significant. It can allow us to be honest with others and not feel guilty if we have stepped on their toes. We are not trying to bring the person down by our words—this would be the opposite of love. Instead, we are sharing the truth.

What resources have you found that help you speak the truth in love?  Please share.

Friday, July 1

Read Galatians 5:13-15  For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another.  For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

 Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves gives us tremendous freedom. We can be ourselves and not worry about how we are going to be received. Because we are so comfortable in our own skin and because we know we are loving another person, we know we can speak the truth. Others might call us one of the most honest people they know. We are consistently sharing the truth.

This is the message written by the Apostle Paul in this section of Galatians.

Having freedom doesn’t mean we hurt other people or bring down other people. Just because we can do something does not mean that we do that something.

How often do you experience this level of freedom? Please share.

Saturday, July 2

Read Luke 10:25-28

An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

These words written down by Luke carry some of the most important teachings in the Bible. The teaching is not new. Instead, the teaching is something that we work on every day of our life.

This passage is worth writing down and putting on a card that goes near your own personal Spiritual Place.

Try that today. Either carry around your card or put it in your personal Spiritual Place so you see it every day. Could this work for you? Please share.

Monday, June 20

Read Genesis 1:1

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,

This week we will have the opportunity to go deeper into the different names of God that are used in the Bible. According to the NIV and RSV translations, this first verse of the Bible starts out “In the beginning God …” The NRSV puts the word, “when” after “beginning.”

One way to think of the Bible is the story of God.

If we read the Scriptures in Hebrew we would learn that the names that are used for God are different. The Hebrew word that is translated as God is Elohim. “In the beginning, Elohim.” As Pastor Paul shared on Sunday the fact that God has different names doesn’t change the identity of God. Just as each of us has one primary name, we also might be described by a nickname or another name. These different names don’t change our own identity.

Elohim is plural. This doesn’t mean that there is more than one God at creation. The plural form describes the vastness of God. The singular form can’t adequately explain God.

Try using Elohim when you address God. As you pray to God say, Elohim instead of God. In doing this your prayers will probably feel differently.

Do you have a favorite name for God? Please share.

Tuesday, June 21

Read Exodus 3:13-15
But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”  God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”  God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’:

 This is my name forever,

and this my title for all generations.

As Moses anticipated sharing with the Israelites the mission God had asked Moses to perform, Moses knew he needed a name for God. Moses essentially asked God, “What do I say to them when they ask your name?

God responded by sharing, “I am who I am.” Another way to describe this verse is “I will be who I will be.”

This is a rather cryptic expression by God of the divine name. But it was meant to be cryptic. To pronounce someone’s name is to claim power over someone. It doesn’t work for humans to claim power over God as God is so holy. Traditionally our Jewish friends don’t even say the name of God as they believe the name of God is too holy to be spoken.

The name that God shared consisted of four letters—YHWH. Sometimes the four letters are called the Tetragrammaton, which is Greek for four letters. Originally the Hebrew language has no vowels. Vowels were added to these four letters to form the name Yahweh. In some cases, the first letter is seen as a J and the third letter is seen as a V. This makes the four letters JHVH, from which the name, Jehovah comes.

Try using Yahweh when you address God today. How do you think that would work for you?

Wednesday, June 22

Read Hosea 11:3-4

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;

    I took them up in my[a] arms,

    but they did not know that I healed them.

I led them with cords of human kindness,

    with bands of love.

I was to them like those

    who lift infants to their cheeks.

    I bent down to them and fed them.

 Another way to identify God is to have an image of God. An image of God is a reflection of who God is.

Most of the images of God in the Bible are male images; however, these verses share a female image. In describing how God had related to Israel, God shared that God was to Israel like “those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.” 

We can imagine our own mom lifting us as infants to her cheek. We can imagine her bending down and feeding us as babies.

It’s very easy to get trapped into thinking that God has a gender. But God cannot be contained by gender. We can’t say that God is a “he” or a “she” because gender isn’t an adequate way to describe God.

Pastor Paul encourages people to use language about God that does not fall into gender categories. Why is this important?  Please share.

Thursday, June 23

Read Mark 14:36

He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”

 Jesus often used the name, “Abba Father” when talking to God, the first person of the Trinity. Abba is like a phrase of endearment. Imagine Jesus saying, “Papa.” Or if we said “honey” when we were addressing our spouse.

When Jesus used “Abba” he was describing the closeness he felt with God.

These terms are appropriate for us to use also. Even though God is awesome and huge, God is as close to us as our breath. We can address God with intimate names.

Do you have particular names that you like to address God? Perhaps the name is a reflection of an experience that you had with God. Saying that name is a reminder of that experience. Please share!

Friday, June 24

Read Romans 8:15-17
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!”  it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we in fact suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

 The last part of verse 15 and verse 16 describes the power of what a name means. Read these Scriptures over slowly again.

“When we cry ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

Using the name, “Abba, Father” is a description of the relationship that we have with God, the first person of the Trinity. Our identity as children of God or even our identity as disciples is described by the name, “Abba, Father.”

In a way the name, “Abba, Father” is a statement of belief. By saying that name we are claiming that we are children of God.

Try this prayer today:

“Abba, Father, just by saying this name I am claiming my identity as your child. Throughout the day when I talk to you, may your name give me clarity about who I am. In your name I pray, Amen.”

Saturday, June 25

Read Genesis 1:1

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,

We end the week with the same Scripture in which we began the week. “In the beginning God.”

As we learned on Monday, the English word, God comes from the Hebrew word, “Elohim.” Many other names for God exist. Knowing these names and using these names when we describe God or talk to God is very important. Sharing the different names of God expands our own understanding of God.

Below are fifteen names from the Scriptures that describe God—Elohim, Eloah, Yahweh, Lord of Hosts, Lord, Adonai, El Shaddai, Creator, Father, Mother, Holy One, Mighty One, Shield, Shepherd, Rock. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but it does give a clear picture of the range of understanding of who God is.

Try an experiment. Take a name and use that name for one day. Perhaps today you could use “Rock” when talking to God. Then tomorrow a different name—perhaps, Shepherd. Then the next day “Shield.” You get the point. You have the possibility of using fifteen names over the course of fifteen days.

Doing this exercise will expand your understanding of who God is. What are your thoughts about trying this? Please share.

Monday, June 13

Read Genesis 33:1-17 

Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. He put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on ahead of them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near his brother.

But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down; Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down; and finally Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor with my lord.” But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”  Jacob said, “No, please; if I find favor with you, then accept my present from my hand, for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me with such favor. Please accept my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have everything I want.” So he urged him, and he took it.

Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go alongside you.”  But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds, which are nursing, are a care to me, and if they are overdriven for one day, all the flocks will die.  Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”

 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “Why should my lord be so kind to me?”  So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. But Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house and made booths for his cattle; therefore the place is called Succoth.

Jacob was scared to death to meet Esau.  Esau was Jacob’s older brother.  When both were younger Jacob had stolen Esau’s birth rite and then fled in fear.   Jacob had never spoken to Esau since that incident.

Jacob agonized over meeting Esau.  The night before the meeting he wrestled all night with an angel of God; he sent presents to Esau in advance.  However, Jacob’s fear turned out to be greater than the reality.  Esau was very gracious in meeting Jacob.  Jacob’s advanced fears didn’t turn out.

Often our fears about a situation are much greater than the resulting reality.  When we know we have to disagree with someone, our fears often are much greater than they need to be. 

Healthy Disagreement is an important Core Value at Chain of Lakes.

Do you have a person with whom you are having a disagreement?  Do you have fears about meeting the person?  If so, are your own fears overblown? Without sharing personal names, please share your own story.

Tuesday, June 14

Read Matthew 18:15-22
“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.  If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector.  Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

 This passage from Matthew shares an excellent process for approaching someone with whom you have a disagreement.  First go and talk to the person in person.  If that doesn’t work, take another person with you.  If that doesn’t work, let the church—the community of faith know.  If that doesn’t work, then let it go.  The situation is in God’s hands.

Do you have someone with whom you are having a disagreement right now?  Consider visiting that person today!  Or consider contacting the person and setting up an appointment.  What is stopping you from participating in this process outlined in Matthew 18?

Do you have an experience of using this process when you had a disagreement? Without sharing names, please share!

Wednesday, June 15

Read Philippians 1:12-26

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the progress of the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ,  and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.

Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry but others from goodwill.  These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel;  the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment.  What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my salvation.  It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way but that by my speaking with all boldness Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, yet I cannot say which I will choose.  I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better, but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith,  so that, by my presence again with you, your boast might abound in Christ Jesus because of me.

 The letter that Paul wrote to the people in the town of Philippi is often known as the letter of joy.  Joy is the principle theme of the letter.  The word “joy” occurs five times and the verbs “rejoice” and “be glad” occur eleven times.  If you have some time today, read this letter—it would only take about 20 minutes.

That Paul experienced joy is remarkable as he was sitting in jail not knowing if he was going to live or die when he wrote this letter.  Despite being under a death sentence, he wrote of joy.

How can this happen?  Paul was able to look beyond his own self and see how God was working and alive in the circumstances in which he found himself.  Paul saw that his own imprisonment was helping spread the gospel.  Paul was willing to suffer so that people would receive Christ.  This gave him joy.

Joyful Love is an important Core Value at Chain of Lakes Church.

How easy is it for you to look beyond your own self? Do you have a story of when you were able to do this? What happened. Please share.

Thursday, June 16

Read Jeremiah 1:4-10

 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,
“Now I have put my words in your mouth.
 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

This passage shares God’s passion for youth.  God didn’t believe that being a young person disqualified a person for service.  God issued a call to Jeremiah even though Jeremiah was a teenager.

This was quite a risk that God took to call Jeremiah. God wanted Jeremiah to share God’s word with the country of Judah. So much was at stake in what God was asking Jeremiah to do.

Jeremiah tried to avoid God’s call by sharing that he was only a youth. (look at verse 6).  Being a young person wasn’t a reason not to receive a call.  Look at what God said in verse 7, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.”

Over time Jeremiah witnessed the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the terrible exile of the people of Israel. Despite what Jeremiah witnessed, he is still known as one of the most important prophets in the Old Testament.

Investing in Future Generations is an important Core Value at Chain of Lakes.

Do you have a story of seeing a young person being called to do something special? When have you seen youth go above and beyond what you would expect? Please share.

Friday, June 17

Read 1 Samuel 3:1-21

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!”^] and he said, “Here I am!”  and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.  The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”  Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.  The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy.  Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”  Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.  For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.  Therefore, I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.”

Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.”  Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.”  So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”

 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.  And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.  The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

Just like in the story of Jeremiah in this story we read a story of a youth who was called by God.  God called Samuel to be his follower.  In his life Samuel went on to help choose Saul and David to be kings—Samuel was one of the most important prophets in the Old Testament.

Not only was Samuel young, he was mentored by an adult.  Look at the start of this story.  “Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli.”  (1 Samuel 3:1)  Samuel received a call from God, but needed Eli to help him know that it was God who was issuing the call.  Samuel couldn’t have known that God was calling him if he hadn’t had Eli.

Do you know of a youth to whom you could be an Eli?  A youth who you could mentor, someone in whom you could take a special interest.  That youth could be a part of Chain of Lakes or the youth could be someone in your neighborhood. 

Think how powerful we at Chain of Lakes would be if every youth had an adult mentor in the church!!

Have you had an experience of mentoring a youth? Please share.

Saturday, June 18

Read Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted.  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit  and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 This story of the Great Commission is a foundational story of the Bible. These are the final words of Jesus to his followers before Jesus ascended into heaven. Jesus commanded those who were with him to go out into the world and to preach the gospel.

This certainly was an Outward Focus. Jesus didn’t want his followers to keep the message about him to themselves. He wanted his followers to share the message with outsiders.

Having an Outward Focus means we focus on personal needs of people who are not part of our congregation, and focus on community or social needs.

To learn the personal needs of people we need to build a relationship with them. By being in relationship with them we communicate how much we care about them.

The Connection Team has talked about each person at Chain of Lakes inviting four friends to our congregation who are outside of the church.

One step to living out this Core Value is to immediately know of these four friends. Do you have four friends who you consistently invite to Chain of Lakes. Please share.

Monday, June 6

Matthew 28:16-20  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit  and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This past Sunday Pastor Paul preached about four Core Values of Chain of Lakes. A Core Value is a principle, quality, belief, and/or attitude that is foundational to our community. It’s worth thinking about the Core Values of Jesus. If you have some extra time today, think about this question, “What is foundational to Jesus?”

One of many foundational teachings from Jesus is this story from Matthew. The church has called this teaching the Great Commission. Jesus shared this teaching with his followers after he had risen from the dead. This teaching is like the last lecture of Jesus.

The Great Commission is something we could study for a long time and still learn something new. One idea from the Great Commission is that of making disciples. Jesus wanted his followers to encourage others to be a disciple.

A disciple is a follower of Jesus. This means putting Jesus first in our life. We want our thoughts and our actions to be consistent with the thoughts and actions of Jesus.

Do you find this foundational teaching of Jesus to be hard or easy to follow? Please share.

Tuesday, June 7
Luke 10:25-28  An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?”  He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.”  And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

Another foundational teaching of Jesus is in these four verses. People have called this teaching the Great Commandment. In answering a question from a lawyer Jesus taught that to inherit eternal life his followers were to love God with all of their heart, soul, strength, and mind. And they were to love their neighbors as they love themselves.

The word for love, of course, comes from agape. This is a self-sacrificing quality that looks to the interest of others. Jesus wanted his followers to embrace agape love.

How do you want to be known after you pass from this earth? We can have many answers to this question. We might want to be known as someone who loved our family, or a person who had a terrific faith, or someone who accomplished quite a lot.

Jesus taught in this commandment how he wants us to be known. He wants us to be known by agape love.

When people talk about you when you are not present, what do they say? Our hope as disciples or followers of Jesus is that people will say that we love God and that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. As followers of Jesus we want people to say that we are full of agape.

How hard or easy is it for you to live out agape love? Do you believe that others describe you as someone who is identified as living out agape love? Please share.

Wednesday, June 8

John 4:7-15, 27-30 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”  The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?  Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”  The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

      Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?”  Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?”  They left the city and were on their way to him.

One Core Value of Chain of Lakes is Hospitality. We understand it to mean that “We will go out of our way to welcome people as Jesus welcomed them, with an open heart and open arms.”

In this story Jesus welcomed the presence of a Samaritan woman. Normally Jesus would have ignored the woman who was at the well. People would not have been surprised if Jesus had acted this way. But Jesus initiated a conversation with her. It became obvious that Jesus loved this woman and wanted the best for her.

When the disciples arrived at the well they were astonished that Jesus was talking to this woman. We can almost hear the judgment working itself out in their minds. “If Jesus really knew,” we can imagine them thinking, “who he was talking to, he wouldn’t be talking to her.”

Jesus resisted this judgment. He welcomed this woman with an open heart and open arms.

On Sunday Pastor Paul preached on the spiritual energy that happens when people live out hospitality. You can’t be lukewarm towards another person and share hospitality. Hospitality prompts you to look at helping the other person.

What is at stake in living out hospitality? Please share.

Thursday, June 9

Romans 12:1-2  I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Another Core Value of Chain of Lakes is God’s Church. We understand it to mean that “in every decision we seek to discern God’s desire. No leader, person, or ministry is more important than what God wants.”

This Core Value causes us to be a people of discernment. We’re always seeking to discover the will or ways of God—that which is good and acceptable and healthy.

No person or pastor or Presbytery owns the church. God owns the church. People and pastors and the Presbytery have important roles to play, but those roles are subordinate to what God wants.

What is at stake in living out God’s Church? Please share.

Friday, June 10

Matthew 13:1-10  That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up.  Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.  But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away.  Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. If you have ears, hear!”  Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

Another Core Value at Chain of Lakes is Relevance. We understand it to mean, “Jesus successfully communicated his message by using examples and symbols of first century culture. We will be open to using examples and symbols of our culture to communicate Jesus’ message.”

By sharing parables Jesus showed his relevance. He wanted to do everything he could to communicate successfully to his followers. Think about the many ways Jesus could have communicated. He could have lectured them on what it means to be a disciple. He could have shared five to ten principles of being a disciple. But Jesus didn’t do this. He shared stories.

Often his stories took real-life situations and people to communicate his message. By sharing parables Jesus illustrated his relevance.

Too often churches are caught in the past. We use old models and methods. We look with scorn on new possibilities. What is the newest Social Media platform? We need to be using it!

What is at stake in living out relevance?

Saturday, June 11

Matthew 11:28-30  “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Another Core Value at Chain of Lakes is Acceptance. We understand it to mean, “We accept people without judgment, regardless of what has happened in their lives or where they are on their faith journeys.”

It is hard to live without judgment. Some of us grew up in families where judgment was normal. Some of us might be in work settings where judgment is expected. We take our own ideas of judgment and place them upon Jesus.

Jesus had expectations of people, but he didn’t judge them according to the ways others expected him to judge. He loved a criminal on the cross; he wanted people who were weary with heavy burdens to come to him. He didn’t ask why the criminal was a criminal or why someone has a heavy burden. He accepted that person.

What is at stake in living out acceptance?

Monday, May 30

Genesis 12:1-3  Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

 This week we have the opportunity to go deeper into the Purpose Statement of Chain of Lakes Church. We will look at certain words and see their importance for our own faith. Whether we are part of Chain of Lakes or not, we can grow in faith this week.

The first word is “call.” The Purpose Statement starts out with the statement “We are called.”

A call is something that God asks people to do. It can be a big thing or a small thing. A call can also be something that relates to our character—something God wants us to work on.

In his sermon this past Sunday Pastor Paul talked about the Inspirational Intersection. This is the intersection between what God wants us to do and be AND what we want to do and be. At this intersection is a place of tremendous energy, imagination, and love.

We could replace the words, ‘We are called’ with ‘We want to live at our Inspirational Intersection.’

Abram received a call from God in this story. He was asked to do something extraordinary. Through his life he was living at his Inspirational Intersection.

Have you had a time in your life when you were at your Inspirational Intersection? A time when you were excited about what you were doing. Every ounce of our being was attentive to the task. When has this happened for you? Please share

Tuesday, May 31 
Matthew 23:1-13  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’s seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it, but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.  They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi.  But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father, the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant.  All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in you stop them.

  Another important word is authentic. At Chain of Lakes God has asked the people to be an authentic, Christian community.

Jesus never used the word “authentic,” but he had opinions about people who didn’t live authentically. He called them hypocrites. He was very critical of the Pharisees and the Scribes—religious leaders who weren’t were not living authentically.

Another way to understand a hypocrite is a “play actor.” Jesus was declaring that the Scribes and the Pharisees were play acting at their faith.

Young people have a high intolerance for hypocrites. In fact one reason they fall away from church is they see people play acting in their faith.

Can you relate to the criticism of Jesus? How hard is it for you to be authentic in your faith? Please share.

Wednesday, June 1

Acts 2:37-47   Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”  And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.  They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common;  they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Another important word in the Purpose Statement is community. We are not called to be a place of individuals who gather. Instead we are called to be a place where individuals form community.

In this story we read of the power of community. People came together and accomplished fabulous things. Awe came upon everyone because of what they saw.

Another word for “awe” is “wow.” When a community is functioning at a high level people say “wow” often.

Can you remember a specific time when you were involved with a community where people often said “wow?” What was happening at that time. Please share.

Thursday, June 2

Deuteronomy 10:17-22  For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing.  You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.  You shall fear the Lord your God; him you shall serve; to him you shall hold fast; and by his name you shall swear.  He is your praise; he is your God who has done for you these great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen.  Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in heaven.

 It’s easy to think that we should be afraid of strangers or ignore them. This passage from Deuteronomy teaches us a different way. God has a particular love for the stranger. God was telling the Israelites that they were strangers in the land of Egypt, and God loved them deeply. Because they were strangers and were loved, they are called to love the stranger.

 This message is consistent with how Jesus acted. Jesus went out of his way to love those who were on the outside of the culture. Jesus had a special place in his heart for the widows and the orphans. He loved the Samaritans and the poor. Jesus loved the stranger.

The beginning focus of Chain of Lakes is the stranger. We are called to go out of our way to love the stranger, to become friends with the stranger. We don’t need to be afraid of the stranger; instead we learn about the stranger when we share love with that person.

Who would you identify as strangers in our community? Who needs special care and attention from a group of followers of Jesus? Please share.

Friday, June 3

John 15:12-17   “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.  I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.  I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

An important word in the Purpose Statement is “friend.” In fact the tagline for Chain of Lakes is “strangers become friends.”

Jesus had plenty to say about being a friend. He talked about the ways people could be a friend with him. He clearly taught in this passage that to be his friend people were called to do what he commanded them. And that command was to love.

To be a friend of Jesus means we love him and we love others.

The Great Commandment is another way to understand what it means to be a friend. Jesus commanded people to love God with our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. This is what it means to be a friend.

The love that Jesus taught was agape love. This is a self-sacrificing, do whatever it takes to help another person type of love. By this people Jesus taught that people were friends.

When newcomers come to a congregation it’s vital that they sense this love. When they sense this love, they will know that they are safe to make friends in the congregation.

Saturday, June 4

Acts 4:32-37   Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.  With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.  They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.  There was a Levite from Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

 A significant word in the Purpose Statement is “impact.” The people of Chain of Lakes want to be disciples who impact the world.

We can see impact in this story from Acts. The people have deep love and appreciation for each other. They love each other so deeply that they didn’t even claim private ownership of their possessions. Everything they had was held in common for the good of others.

The important point from this reading is the connection that people had to each other. Because of that connection, an impact was made in the world. This is not the only way to make an impact. But having deep community is one way.

Have you had a time where you’ve felt such a connection in community that an impact was made in the world? If so, please share.

Monday, May 23

Read Matthew 8:1-13

With this being mental health month, it’s important to read and know stories in the gospels that focus on mental health. This week we have that opportunity.

The two people that Jesus healed in these stories were quite different.  The first was a leper.  Lepers were seen as morally unclean.  Their skin disease was seen as a sin.  People were not supposed to touch lepers or they would become unclean.

Jesus was not afraid to cross this boundary.  He was more interested in healing people than following a boundary that separated people.  We might be so familiar with this story that we can’t see the surprising nature of Jesus touching someone who had leprosy. 

In one sense the Roman centurion was a powerful man.  He was a military officer and a Gentile.  He had people under his command.  He was an outsider to the Jewish people.

In another sense the centurion was an outsider to Jesus.  He wasn’t a Jew.  He was part of the hated Romans.

Again, Jesus was willing to cross a boundary to heal this girl.  He didn’t even touch the girl.  He healed her.  Just as important as the healing was Jesus’ willingness to go outside the “respected” circle of people to be a healer.

Have you ever had a time when you had to cross a boundary to share love with someone?

Tuesday, May 24

Read Matthew 8:14-22

This story happened in Capernaum, the fishing village on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee.  In other gospels the story takes place at the beginning of the gospel. 

We can sense that Jesus wanted to heal people.  He had an orientation of wanting to help.  When Jesus saw Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with a fever, he immediately healed her.  There was a deep compassion inside of Jesus to help.

When we live with compassion we enter into another person’s suffering. We don’t experience that suffering ourselves, but we do our best to understand what the other person is feeling and thinking.

We might not be able to heal people like Jesus, but we can carry this orientation of compassion with us.  When we see someone who is struggling we can immediately try to help.  Our helping comes from our compassionate heart.

Who do you know who is an example of this compassion?

Wednesday, May 25

Read Matthew 8:23-9:1

Jesus showed that he has authority over the wind.  He told the disciples that they need not be afraid.  This message of “do not be afraid” was the same message that angels frequently told the people they encountered.

We can understand the stigma in mental illness in the second story.  The people of the village were probably afraid of the person who suffered from a demon, who was identified as a Gadarene or Gerasene demoniac.  In other gospel versions of the story there was only one person who suffered from a demon. 

The people were probably confused and bewildered by the man’s behavior.  They probably tried to stay away from him.  They shunned him. 

People who suffer from mental illness acknowledge similar treatment from others.  They are shunned and ignored. 

Jesus, of course, was very willing to enter into the person’s problems.  He healed them.

What can you do to help reduce the stigmas that people have about Mental Illness?

Thursday, May 26

Read Matthew 9:1-8

When Jesus told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven, he was criticized by the scribes.  The scribes were Jewish leaders of the day.  The focus of the scribes was so wrong!  They were more concerned about a particular point of view than about the possible healing of the man who was paralyzed.

We can lose focus too.  A point of view or an ideology can be more important to keeping and promoting than a life-giving instance of healing.

What if we had an orientation of healing?  Even if we can’t heal people, what if we looked at the world not through an ideology, but with our heart?  Our hearts would leap to want to help someone—no matter what they believed, thought or how they behaved. 

This orientation is an example that Jesus taught.

What would it look like for you to look at the world through the lens of your heart?

Friday, May 27

Read Matthew 9:9-26

The woman who suffered from a hemorrhage was an outsider.  She had tried to get medical treatment but had never received any help.  The doctors gave up on her.  The fact that she practically snuck up on Jesus from behind to touch his cloak showed how beaten down she was by the world. She was too beaten down to identify herself to Jesus as needing help.

When Jesus encountered her, he immediately embraced her!  “Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well.”  Matthew 9:22

These words from Jesus are a prime reason to call him Lord!  He was willing to help people who the rest of the world ignored or couldn’t help.

Do you know of individuals or groups of people who are easily ignored?

Saturday, May 28

Read Matthew 9:27-38

Jesus continued to heal people by healing two blind men and a man who was mute.  Like before, these were people who the world ignored.

Jesus concluded these chapters by saying, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”  Jesus wanted people to be like him.  Even if people didn’t have the power to heal others, he wanted his followers to reach out to people on the margins.

Would you be willing to be a laborer for Jesus?  Would you be a person who responds to folks on the margin with compassion?  A great harvest still exists.  Jesus wants us to be a laborer.

What can you do to help people who live with mental illness?

Friday, May 20

Jeremiah 29-11 “for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This scripture has been ever present as I began my faith journey. Growing up I was taught religion, but from so many viewpoints I was often lost in the true meaning and others interpretation or use of religion. It often left me confused, angry and frustrated. I knew in my heart there was a higher power but struggled with the many differing interpretations of the Bible.

In my young adult life, 16 to 24, I struggled with many things. I had been abandoned by so many people who I thought were supposed to be there to care for me, and did not have an attachment with a parent who would love me unconditionally. Everyone I loved somehow managed to be ripped from me or betray me.

I grew up believing I probably wouldn’t live past 25 and had little faith in who I was or in ever being anyone. I went through a very dark period of my life. I was in a relationship with someone who promised to love me and be my family and take care of me. I gave him everything I had, literally and spiritually. He betrayed me and I betrayed my own beliefs and values. I did not have family I could turn to, or anyone else, as he had groomed me and separated me from anyone close to me. I spent the next several years of my life being sex trafficked. I survived in fear and began an understanding of our basic need for survival and how desperate and displaced that can be. I turned to alcohol and drugs to numb any feeling I had. I tried to get out several times but somehow always ended up in the same situation.

I felt that God was always calling to me, but he was not someone I could reach. I can name countless times he was there for me in times I should have been dead. I began to believe he did truly have a plan for me. Though I was suffering, there were so many people who touched my life. For everything there is a purpose no matter how dark and evil. I know I could not do the work I do today or come close to understanding the pain and torment so many people in our society endure. We often look at others with disdain and fear because of their situations, though they are often through no fault of their own. If your circumstances were the same, who is to say what choices you might make to survive. God had a plan for me and though it was painful it made me a better person.

When I was saved it was such a surreal moment and I knew that it was beyond anything that I could make sense of. It was Father’s Day and I had been trying to quit drugs and get out of the life, living in another state but traveling to work in other cities/states a week out of the month and then return to my miserable existence. It was on the last of these journeys, I truly could not go. The thought of it made me sick to my stomach and I know someone was praying for me at that moment. I had so many strange and odd experiences I don’t think most would believe me, but it felt like it all had purpose, like I had a purpose. I reached out to my father, and he delivered. It was not easy, as I boarded the plane with nothing but the clothes on my back. I was anxious, sad, numb but joyful as I knew that I had a choice. God had given me a choice at that moment, to be who I had determined I would be – dying at the age of 25, or to live the life he intended for me. I chose to stop living in fear and live the life he intended. The journey ahead was not easy, at the age of 24 starting all over again. There are many things I relearned and many more I have learned to forgive and forget. What I do know is that even in those darkest moments God had a plan for me. It is amazing the things God puts in our lives to test us and to give us strength and hope. I truly believe that to everything there is a purpose.

When I came to Chain of Lakes it was, remarkably, Mother’s Day. I had been searching for a church in the area and came upon the signs for COL. I journeyed in with my older sister who has helped me in the darkest times. What I found was a warm, welcoming, calm environment. For once in my adult life, I did not feel judged as I stepped through the door, the place did not light on fire (lol) and I felt welcomed.

What I have found in feeling judged most of life, I have learned to judge others above me.

It is something that I struggle to let go of. I love my work “calling” and I feel comfortable in my clients’ presence. I can relate to many of their stories. What I often find I cannot relate to is the stories of people with loving mothers, fathers, families with a sense of normalcy. I have learned to not judge them in return. God has taught me that we all have stories no matter how small or big they make us who we are and the path we are meant to be. I continue to grow in my understanding of a higher power and God’s teachings. I find all religions have a purpose and your beliefs may be central to who you are within his purpose for your life.

At Chain of Lakes, I have found a loving family that cares for each other and gives each other hope and faith and extends that to the community. They give without expectation and embrace all those around them. Even in struggles they may not understand, they recognize their need to grow and reach out to understand and teach others. That is growing up!

Prayer: “Lord bless all those on this journey of love and faith. Continue to walk with us and beside us in our most dark moments to the times of exuberant joy. Continue to lead us on a path of understanding and love. Heal us from our transgressions and help us to understand and love all unconditionally despite their circumstances. Remove our judgement and replace it with compassion and understanding, and a willingness to learn from others different from ourselves. Thank you, time and time again, for carrying us through our darkest moments and giving us hope and a future. Thank you for loving us unconditionally.” Amen

Today, Sunday, April 24, Chain of Lakes Church is launching a second Capital Campaign, called “HOME, Building Spiritual Connections.” Starting tomorrow, Monday, some of the disciples at Chain of Lakes will share devotions, many of them celebrating spiritual connections. These devotions will take the place of Pastor Paul’s devotions Monday – Friday for the next three weeks. Prepare to be moved and inspired! The Capital Campaign Leadership Team thanks everyone who shared their very personal and uplifting faith stories, and would like to offer the Campaign Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for all the ways you have blessed us.
Through your guidance we have become a community of people who build spiritual connections through love, compassion, and acceptance for others. Through your gifts we have been empowered to make an impact both within and beyond this congregation. Help us to glorify you by continuing to welcome strangers with open arms and give with open hands with great faith in the plans that you have for us and the surrounding community. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen