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Category Archives: Theology

Praying for a World Made Right

08 Dec
Praying for a World Made Right

Monday, December 8, 2025

Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19

Praying for a World Made Right

Psalm 72 reminds us that God cares deeply about justice, especially for the most vulnerable. The prayer of this psalm is not abstract or distant; it asks for leaders to govern with compassion, humility, and concern for those who are often overlooked.

In Advent, we are invited to pray not only for ourselves, but for the world God loves. We pray for systems shaped by mercy, for communities marked by fairness, and for hearts—especially our own—that learn to reflect God’s concern for the poor and the powerless.

Today, may your prayers widen beyond what is comfortable, trusting that God’s justice is always rooted in love and meant to restore life.

Prayer:
God of justice and mercy, shape our hearts to reflect your care for the world. Teach us to pray with compassion and to live with hope as we await Christ. Amen.

 
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Posted by on December 8, 2025 in Church, Community, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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A Hope That Grows from Stumps

07 Dec
A Hope That Grows from Stumps

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Isaiah 11:1–10
A Hope That Grows from Stumps

Isaiah’s vision begins in a place most of us would overlook, a stump. Something cut down, something that looks finished. Yet God brings new life from places we assumed were done. A shoot rises, small but determined, carrying the promise of peace, justice, and a future shaped by God’s Spirit.

Maybe there are places in your life that feel like stumps, where something didn’t go the way you hoped, or where loss or disappointment seems to be the final word. But Advent reminds us that God’s work often begins in hidden, surprising places. Hope, in God’s hands, grows quietly at first, and then more boldly than we expect.

As you worship today, may you sense that the God who brings life from stumps is at work in you too, planting something steady, faithful, and good.

Prayer:
God of new beginnings, help us trust the small shoots of hope you are growing in us. Give us eyes to see your promise and courage to follow your peace. Amen.

 
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Posted by on December 7, 2025 in Church, Community, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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God Holds What We Cannot

06 Dec
God Holds What We Cannot

Saturday, December 6, 2025

Psalm 147:1–11

God Holds What We Cannot

There are times when life feels scattered, our plans, our emotions, even our sense of direction. Psalm 147 reminds us that God gathers what feels scattered, heals what feels wounded, and holds together what we cannot hold by ourselves.

The psalm paints a picture of a God who pays attention to the details: counting the stars, binding up the brokenhearted, lifting up the lowly. That same faithful attention extends to us. We don’t have to be strong for God to come near. We don’t have to have things figured out. We simply offer our honest selves, and God meets us with care.

As this first week of Advent ends, may you rest in the truth that God delights not in perfection or power, but in hearts that lean toward trust, even if that trust is small, quiet, or still growing.

Prayer:
Merciful God, gather the scattered places within us and hold them in your gentle care. Teach us to trust your steady love as we prepare our hearts for Christ. Amen.

 
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Posted by on December 6, 2025 in Church, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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For the Sake of God’s People

05 Dec
For the Sake of God’s People

Friday, December 5, 2025

Psalm 122

For the Sake of God’s People

Some days, prayer feels natural; other days, it feels like work. Psalm 122 reminds us that prayer is not just for ourselves, but for one another. The psalmist prays for peace “for the sake of my family and friends,” and in those words we hear a gentle call to widen the circle of our care.

Some of the people you pray for today may never know your name. Some may be close to your heart. And some, if we’re honest, may be people we struggle to love. Yet God meets us in all of those prayers, weaving mercy and compassion through every whispered hope.

Wherever you are today, take a moment to lift someone into God’s light. Let your prayers be a quiet act of love, a way of saying, “You are not alone.”

Prayer 
Loving God, gather all whom we hold in our hearts into your peace today. Surround them with your presence and let your mercy rest upon them. Amen.

 
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Posted by on December 5, 2025 in Church, Community, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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Learning Peace Again

04 Dec
Learning Peace Again

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Isaiah 2:1–5

Learning Peace Again

There are days when peace feels far away in our world, in our communities, and sometimes even within ourselves. Isaiah’s vision of nations laying down weapons and walking toward God’s mountain can feel almost impossible. And yet, Advent reminds us that God’s peace begins in small ways, often within us before it ever reaches the world around us.  

Maybe peace looks like choosing gentleness when you could be sharp, or pausing to breathe before responding out of frustration. Maybe it’s offering forgiveness or receiving it. God keeps teaching us peace one small step at a time, shaping us into people who reflect God’s heart. 

Wherever you find yourself today, may you feel God guiding your steps toward peace, a peace that grows slowly, quietly, and beautifully within you.   

Prayer:
God of peace, teach us your ways today. Help us choose the path that leads to compassion, healing, and hope. Amen.

 
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Posted by on December 4, 2025 in Church, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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The Gift of Paying Attention

03 Dec
The Gift of Paying Attention

Advent Devotion – Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Matthew 24:36–44
The Gift of Paying Attention

Some days, life feels busy and full, and it’s easy to move from one thing to the next without really being present. Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 remind us that God often comes to us quietly, in moments we do not expect. God does not come to startle us, but to gently bring us back to awareness.

Advent invites us into that kind of attentiveness. It encourages us to slow our pace just enough to notice the grace hidden in ordinary moments: a conversation that lifts your spirit, a memory that warms your heart, the flicker of hope you didn’t expect to feel. Sometimes the holiest moments are the ones we almost overlook.

Wherever you are today, whether distracted, busy, grateful, or somewhere in between, may you feel God’s presence in your day, reminding you that you are not walking through this season alone.

Prayer:
God who comes quietly, open our hearts to notice you today. Help us pay attention to the small moments where your love is breaking in. Amen.

 
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Posted by on December 3, 2025 in Church, Community, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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Joy in the House of the Lord

01 Dec
Joy in the House of the Lord

Monday, December 1, 2025

Scripture: Psalm 122

Advent Devotion

Joy in the House of God

Psalm 122 is a psalm of people traveling together, families, friends, whole communities—making their way toward Jerusalem with joy and expectation. When I read it, I’m reminded how meaningful it is to come into a place where we feel at home, where prayers have been whispered for generations, and where God meets us in both our gladness and our weariness.

But the psalm also teaches us something comforting: God’s presence isn’t limited to a sanctuary. Just as the pilgrims felt God’s nearness on the road, we can feel God’s peace in our kitchens, our cars, our workplaces, and even in the chaos of the day. Advent invites us to walk toward God’s light together, trusting that God’s peace, God’s shalom, meets us wherever we are and binds us to one another in love.

May you feel that sense of belonging today. And may this season remind you that you are part of a people walking toward the light, one hopeful step at a time.

Prayer:
God of peace, help us walk in your light today. Let your presence meet us wherever we are, and surround us with a sense of belonging and hope. Amen.

 
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Posted by on December 1, 2025 in Church, Community, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

Walking Toward the Light

30 Nov
Walking Toward the Light

WEEK ONE — HOPE

Theme: Hope on the Mountain of God

1st Sunday of Advent — November 30, 2025

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1–5
Walking Toward the Light

Devotion:
Isaiah describes a world where weapons are turned into tools for new life. Advent starts by helping us look at what could be, not just what is. God calls us to walk toward the light, trusting that hope is grounded in God’s faithful future.

And as we begin this journey together, remember that none of us walks toward the light alone—God gives us community to strengthen our steps.

Prayer:
God of hope, lead us toward your light and give us courage for the journey ahead. Make our hearts ready to receive Emmanuel. Amen.

 
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Posted by on November 30, 2025 in Church, Community, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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Washed and Ready

16 Jan
Washed and Ready

1.6.25

Washed and Ready

Water is life. We take it for granted, but without it, we can’t survive. We’ve seen the devastating impact of its absence—from the freezing conditions four years ago that left many of us without water for days to the wildfires in California, where the lack of water allows flames to rage uncontrollably. In many parts of the world, people walk miles just to access clean water. Without water, deadly diseases spread, crops fail, and life grinds to a halt.

This week, as we reflect on the Baptism of the Lord, we are reminded that water holds not only physical power but also deep spiritual significance. When Jesus stepped into the Jordan River, He entered fully into our human experience. His baptism wasn’t about repentance but about identifying with us, affirming the life and mission He would fulfill. God’s voice declared, “You are my Son, my beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Like Jesus, we too are baptized. Through the waters of baptism, we are named and claimed as God’s beloved children. But here’s the question: Are we just washed, or are we also ready? Baptism isn’t a one-time event that washes us clean—it’s a call to a lifetime of discipleship, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Are you living as someone who is ready? Ready to follow Christ? Ready to be a witness to God’s love? If not, what’s holding you back? Fear? Doubt? Forgetfulness of who you are in Christ?

This week, I invite you to remember your baptism. Remember that you are beloved by God. And if you feel stuck or unready, seek the Spirit’s power to renew and commission you once again. Together, let us live as people who are both washed and ready—ready to serve, love, and reflect the grace we have received.

Sela Finau

 
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Posted by on January 16, 2025 in Church, Community, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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A Prayer for Those Affected by the California Fires

09 Jan
A Prayer for Those Affected by the California Fires

1.9.25

A Prayer for Those Affected by the California Fires

God of Mercy, we come before you with heavy hearts as the fires rage across Southern California. We lift up in prayer all who are affected, trusting in your unending compassion.

For the Lost: We grieve for those who have lost their lives. Receive them into your eternal peace, and bring comfort to their loved ones who mourn.

For the Displaced: Be with those who have fled their homes, leaving behind familiarity, treasured memories, and the comforts of life built with love. May they find safety, peace amid the chaos, and trust in your abiding care.

For the Grieving: Hold close those who now face the overwhelming loss of homes, livelihoods, and entire communities. Surround them with your tender compassion and stir up the strength and kindness of neighbors, friends, and strangers alike.

For the Vulnerable: Protect all pets, livestock, and wild animals endangered by the flames. Guide them to safety, and bless the hands of those who rescue and care for them.

For the First Responders: Bless the firefighters, rescue teams, and emergency workers who risk their lives to protect others. Grant them courage, strength, and moments of rest as they face exhaustion and danger.

For Creation: We pray for the forests, fields, and all that you have made, scarred by the flames. Teach us to be wise and faithful stewards of your creation, and inspire us to work for its restoration and care in the days to come.

For the Community: In the midst of devastation, may hope take root. Let the generosity of strangers, the courage of neighbors, and the shared labor of rebuilding restore what has been lost.

God of comfort and restoration, let your healing presence fill the hearts of all who suffer. Strengthen them for the days to come, and may your peace, which passes all understanding, sustain them through the darkness.

Amen.

 
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Posted by on January 9, 2025 in Church, Community, Culture, Economics, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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