Experiencing God as Love: Care of the Earth When I can enter that space where I really notice the world around me—those moments where the beauty of creation just leaps out at me—God’s love seems to come into a particular kind of clarity. I am able to notice the perfection of the earth. I notice […]
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Experiencing God as Joy: Consumerism Scripture: Isaiah 12:2 “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.” What if you could wake up in the morning and the only things there were to be aware of […]
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Experiencing God as Joy: Consumerism Scripture: Luke 2:10-11 “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’” It is easy to […]
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Experiencing God as Joy: Consumerism Scripture: John 15:11 “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” I graduated from South Dakota State University in 1978 with a degree in commercial economics. Tying a biblical passage to an economic term like consumerism […]
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Experiencing God as Joy: Consumerism Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In November 2014, The Huffington Post […]
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Experiencing God as Joy: Consumerism Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” When my husband and I were younger, with two small children and a big mortgage, he was laid off from work. I […]
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Experiencing God as Joy: Consumerism Scripture: Luke 3:10-11 “And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’” The above passage from Luke is John the Baptist’s response to the people […]
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Experiencing God as Joy: Consumerism Scripture: Zephaniah 3:20 “At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.” Zephaniah is one of the most […]
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Experiencing God as Joy: Consumerism In our culture, we’re often made to believe that we need things—things that tell others who we are, what we’re made of, what we value. “If I don’t have X (that car, these jeans, those shoes, this house, etc.) people will think I’m Y (bad, poor, lazy, unsophisticated, etc.).” We […]
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Experiencing God as Light: Immigration Scripture: Philippians 1:9 “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight.” Loving others is sometimes hard to do. Praying for others to become loving people is also hard to do. This verse from the letter to the Philippians reminds us […]
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