All Things Messiah

Worship, prayer, and time in God’s Word are like spiritual cataract surgery. They clear away the cloudiness. They wake us up from our self-centered slumber. They let the light in.

Right now is sacred. Right now is where God is. Don’t miss it.

Be like Bach. Discover how Bach strove to give his work God's glory.

Jesus doesn’t wait until we are perfect to send us. He sends us as we are, with all our weaknesses, because it is his strength and his Spirit that make the difference. 

The Trinity itself is the ultimate picture of unity. Throughout John’s Gospel, we hear about the oneness of the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and even the invitation for believers to share in that oneness.

How clearly are you seeing? In a world quick to judge and slow to listen, Jesus’ words about the speck and the log in Matthew 7 still hit close to home.

But Easter faith means living in the assurance that the stone has been rolled away, and nothing — not even death — has the final word.

"Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."—Psalm 37:24

Another one of my favorite artists is Gustav Klimt (I admit, I have a lot of favorites!). A few years ago, I had the chance to visit...

But the gospel doesn’t call us to try harder; it calls us to trust deeper. Our salvation doesn’t rest on our ability to muster up more faith—it rests on the Lamb who gave himself for us.

So if you're weary, lonely, or wondering if there’s a place for you—hear this: there is a place at the table. All is ready.

So maybe today, Jesus is calling you into deeper waters too. Maybe he’s nudging you to take a risk, to step out in faith, even if it doesn’t seem logical. Just remember: he’s with you in the boat.

One of the “must-sees” in my trip to Rome was The Birth of Venus  by Botticelli. When I walked into the room in which it hung, it took my breath away. This is one of the most iconic paintings of the Italian Renaissance. It depicts the Roman goddess Venus emerging from the seas, standing on a scallop shell. According to classical mythology, Venus was born from sea foam—the moment captured in the painting. The wind Gods are on the left, blowing her toward shore. The goddess Hor

Years later, another Son would carry his own wood. Climb another hill. But this time, there would be no angel to stay the hand. Jesus would be the Lamb. The substitute. The One who laid down his life so we could go free.

I can’t help but wonder: what if Jesus caught me in one of my greedy moments?

Jesus offers a kind of freedom that lifts the weight of performance and replaces it with grace. We’re not perfect—but we are perfectly loved. And that changes everything. So take a breath. You’re free.

“The Zemstvo Dines,” by Myasoedov Grigory Grigorievich, 1872. Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Which of the three—ignorance, envy, or jealousy—has the strongest grip on me right now? The good news? Truth, dressed in light, is not afraid of your darkness.

This past Sunday, June 8, was Pentecost, which is when the church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit. It occurs 50 days after...

Weekly devotional from Pastor Laurie - The Law and The Gospel.