◆ “Obsession with self . . . is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God.“ — Romans 8 MSG ◆   I hope you are well. This week I want to pick up where we ended last time. A

◆ “When you pray . . . pray like this . . .” —Matthew 6:7, 9 ◆   I’m still struggling to believe we’re now a few days into 2025. Where have the 2020s gone? Did you know that “pray more” is among the most popular New Year’s resolutions? I guess that isn’t surprising considering 40 million Americans have stopped

◆ “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” —Luke 15:10 ◆   We’re days from Christmas, and I’m guessing your world, like mine, is trying its best to squeeze the merry most out of this season before it leaves us for another year. And there’s nothing wrong with that

◆ Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. —Isaiah 9:2 ◆   It’s hard to believe we’re already in Advent season—our annual reminder that the Divine took on flesh and dwelt among us. The miracle that God, in His grace, stooped to rescue us, offering deliverance from the dis-ease that unmakes our minds,

◆ Forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors. ◆   As I was praying for you over the last few days, I kept returning to the words above. For this week’s prayer guide, I want to offer two reasons why Jesus would place forgiveness at the center of daily prayer. There are more than two but let’s

◆ “Taking the five loaves and two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing.” —Matthew 14:19 ◆ We love the story of Jesus feeding the thousands, don’t we? I mean, it was so good that he did it twice. But when it’s our turn to open our hands, it’s hard for us to bless what seems inadequate,