When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” Luke 7:39-40 ESV In this story, we find that a Pharisee has invited Jesus to his home to share a meal. I’m unsure of the motive behind this, as Pharisees often attempted to trick and trip up Jesus; however, an invitation was extended, and Jesus accepted. While there, a local woman learned this gathering was happening and invited herself, along with a gift: an expensive alabaster jar of perfume. Many of us know the story, as Mary – “stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” (Luke 7:38) The Pharisee who invited Jesus to his home began to think to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39) Jesus, knowing the thoughts of the…

Jeremiah 31:21 MSG “Set up signposts to mark your trip home. Get a good map. Study the road conditions. The road out is the road back.” I’m a big planner, and I like to be prepared for any scenario when we travel. We don’t go too far from home because the unexpected can be too daunting. But when we do take a trip, I have multiple to-do lists that I start weeks/months before we ever leave. When you take a trip, not many people plan for the journey home, assuming it’s the same as the way there. On your travels, you usually take notice of landmarks, signs, and rest stops as you follow the map. Perhaps you’re old-school and have a good old-fashioned paper map, or maybe you pull up the map app on your phone and listen to the voice telling you when to turn right. You pay attention to curves, hills, and potholes as you navigate new roads on your journey. You’re prepared, and you know the way to go. Doesn’t that sound just like the journey we are all taking called life? We are always faced with new paths to take, and the terrain is usually unfamiliar…

Have you ever shopped for a new car, leaning toward a certain make and model, and suddenly that’s all you seem to see on the road?  It isn’t that more of them appeared overnight—it’s that you’re now aware of what was there all along. In much the same way, I’ve noticed that when God is speaking to me about a particular subject, it seems to show up everywhere—articles, conversations, and even podcasts. Recently, what has captured my attention is the uniqueness of different generations: Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. At the same time, my husband and I have felt a distinct calling to step more intentionally into mentoring within the church. Titus 2 presents a generational pattern: older men should walk uprightly, be sound in faith, and exhort younger men to wisdom and patience. Older women are instructed to live holy lives, teaching younger women how to honor God in their families and relationships, showing love and respect to their husbands. As Brett Harris once said, “The beauty of collaboration between older and younger generations is that we combine strength with wisdom—a powerful force for change.” Each generation carries its own experiences, perspectives, and influences. But when energy, passion,…

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19, KJV). “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV). As we look ahead, we should be filled with hope and expectation. The Lord Himself declares, “Behold, I will do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19). Do you believe it? These verses remind us not to dwell on past failures or fears but to embrace the new things God is doing in our lives. We cannot change the past, but we can trust God’s promise of a future filled with hope. Declare in Jesus’ name: “God is doing something new in me!” The phrase “new beginning” means a point at which something starts anew. This could be moving to a new place, starting a different career, developing new habits, or—most importantly—experiencing renewal in our walk with God. Scripture is full of examples of new beginnings, and…