Articles

Compassionate and Gracious
Pastor Cindy Grieb

Advent Series: Wonderful Counselor

By |Categories: Articles, Isaiah, Matthew, Series: Advent|Tags: , |

I was driving down the road the other day. Snowflakes were fluttering in the breeze and the Thanksgiving holiday was only days away. One of my favorite Christmas songs was playing, Michael W. Smith’s Reve du Noel. For some reason, this song always makes me feel like Christmas. It starts out as a chorale in a manner reminiscent of the Carol of the Bells, followed by a piano interlude of Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s [...]

Living in the Grace of Christ

By |Categories: 2 Corinthians, Articles, Ephesians, Exodus, James, Messages|Tags: , , |

One of my favorite passages in the Bible appears in the book of Exodus. I imagine you have heard the story. Moses had spent many days upon the top of Mount Sinai in the presence of God, receiving from Him various instructions, including the ten commandments. But the people waiting below, became restless and impatient. They compelled Aaron to make for them a golden calf to worship, such as they had once had in Egypt. [...]

No Gumby God

By |Categories: Articles, Exodus, Series: I AM|Tags: , |

I have a friend who loves puns and word plays (you know who you are!) Sometimes his humor makes you groan, but sometimes he hits it right on the mark. And sometimes, his remarks are as insightful as they are humorous. One of his favorite phrases is “a Gumby God.” Do you remember Gumby? I may be showing my age, but Gumby was popular when I was young. Gumby is a simple cartoon-like character that [...]

Raised Up

By |Categories: 1 Corinthians, Articles, Series: Easter|Tags: , |

I often enjoy reading John Stonestreet’s blog on Breakpoint. In today’s post, John quoted an old Easter message from Chuck Colson talking about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you were not around in the days of the Nixon administration, you might not be familiar with the Watergate scandal. As an attorney, Chuck Colson served as Special Council to President Nixon from 1969 to 1970. He was one of seven political advisors convicted by a [...]

Being Thankful in Adversity

By |Categories: Articles, John, Philippians, Psalms|Tags: |

The Biblical book of Psalms is a collection of poetry, prose, and prayers. Many of the Psalms were written by David, the greatest of Israel’s kings. Several others are attributed to Asaph, a Levite who was appointed as chief minister of worship and song by King David. Still others are attributed to Solomon, David’s son and successor, or to the sons of Korah, Levites who were gatekeepers, songwriters and singers in the Temple. For several [...]

God Who Provides

By |Categories: Articles, John, Matthew, Series: Nature of God|Tags: |

For many of us who have been raised in the cities and suburbs of North America, autumn is about warm soup, brisk walks, colorful foliage, and hoping the winter snow will be manageable. But for those who have been raised in farm country, fall is the season of the harvest. In much of the world, and for most of human history, a good harvest means being able to provide for the family for another year. [...]

Compassionate and Gracious

By |Categories: Articles, Series: Nature of God|Tags: , , |

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament takes place in Exodus when Moses has been leading God’s people through the wilderness. While Moses is away on Mount Sinai, the people rebel against God and compel Aaron to create for them an idol to worship – like they had when they were slaves in Egypt. After Moses comes down from the mountain and deals with the rebellion, Moses and God have a conversation. God [...]

God Who Never Changes

By |Categories: Articles, Hebrews, Isaiah, Job, Jonah, Series: Nature of God|Tags: , |

If you have heard the story of the prophet, Jonah, you will probably immediately think of how he was swallowed by a whale. The story goes that God sent Jonah to the great city of Nineveh to warn the people that He would send destruction upon them because of their wickedness. But instead of doing what God had commanded, Jonah ran away. He boarded a ship headed in the opposite direction. God sent a great [...]

A Personal God

By |Categories: Articles, John, Series: Nature of God|Tags: , |

Have you ever had the experience of expecting things to turn out one way, but when it comes to it, it turns out to be very different from what you expected? Maybe it was a person. Someone you didn’t really know very well, or someone you had never actually met, but you knew about them. Somehow you had it all worked out in your mind exactly what they were like. But then, when you finally [...]

Living in the Midst of Uncertainty

By |Categories: Articles|Tags: , , |

There is an old-fashioned word we don’t hear very often in everyday speech. But it is a word that I like. I like it because it describes something I can hold onto, something I can depend on. That word is steadfast. According to Noah Webster, the word steadfast describes something or someone that is “Constant; firm; resolute; not fickle or wavering.” (Webster, 1828) Having something like that in my life helps me. It helps me [...]

A Spiritual Lull

By |Categories: Articles|Tags: , |

For those of you who follow, you will have noticed it has been a while since I have posted. Although the timing of my online absence coincided with the social upheaval due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not the pandemic that precipitated my withdrawal from active blogging. Rather it has been what I can only describe as a spiritual lull. Some of you may have experienced what I mean. Or perhaps [...]

Prayer: In the Last Hours

By |Categories: Articles, James, John|Tags: , , , |

The Apostle John reminds us that, on the night He was betrayed, Jesus knew what was coming. As He gathered together with His disciples, preparing to celebrate the Passover, Jesus knew His betrayal would come by the hand of Judas Iscariot. He knew He would soon be returning to His Father, but He also knew exactly what He would have to endure to get there. Knowing all these things, Jesus calmly and lovingly washed the [...]

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