March 2025 - Spring Time: A Season of Renewal
The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone. The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers. The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. I hear the cooing of doves in our land, filling the air with songs to awaken you and guide you forth.
Song of Songs 2:11-12 (The Passion Translation)
As the frost of winter melts away, the world awakens to the vibrant life of spring; a season celebrated not only for its explosion of colors and warmth but as a profound symbol of renewal and rebirth. In nature, we witness trees budding new leaves and flowers bursting into bloom, each a testament to the resilience and renewal inherent in God’s creation. For many of us, this transformation extends beyond the physical. It’s a reflective time of new beginnings in our spiritual renewal journeys. As we observe the renewal around us, it’s a perfect moment to consider our own areas of spiritual renewal, growth, and revival.
Spring holds a special place in the heart of the Christian tradition, embodying the theme of resurrection and new beginnings. The most significant Christian celebration of spring is Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ—an event that promises new life and hope to all believers. This season, therefore, becomes a powerful metaphor for spiritual awakening and the transformative power of God’s love and grace in our lives.
As spring continues to unfold around us, revealing its lush landscapes and vibrant life, let us also unfold and expand in our spiritual journeys. This season, rich with symbolism of resurrection and renewal, offers each of us a unique opportunity to rediscover aspects of our faith and deepen our relationship with God.
Let the longer days and warmer light serve as a reminder that no winter, literal or spiritual, is permanent. Just as nature bursts forth with new growth, so can our spirits. Spring is a reminder of the clear slate we are offered through Christ, urging us to shed the old and step into a new season of growth and spiritual depth. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Let this promise inspire us to shed the remnants of our old selves and embrace the renewal available to us through Christ.
Song of Solomon 2:11 is a beautiful verse that captures the universal themes of love, hope, and renewal. It serves as a powerful reminder of the promise that better days are ahead, even in the midst of hardship.
Prayer:
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for Your unconditional love and grace. May this season of renewal be a time when we feel deeply connected to the rejuvenating power of Your love, experiencing growth that mirrors the blossoming world around us. May we embrace the change, cherish the growth, and walk forward in the hope, faith, and love that You freely give to each of us. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, we do pray. Amen!
February 2025 – LOVE is in the air!
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching! This may be the time of year that we talk most loudly about love. But we long to understand and experience love throughout the year. What does the Bible say about love?
The Bible speaks strongly and often about what true love is. Sometimes the Bible speaks of romantic love – the kind of love we celebrate on Valentine’s Day. But more often, when the Bible speaks of love, it’s referring to something different and deeper – something that should form the basis for our relationships with everyone around us, regardless of our emotional connection to them. Here are five places in the Bible that talk about what love means and looks like in practice.
1. Love is patient, love is kind: 1 Corinthians 13
This is perhaps the most famous Bible passage about love. It is often recited at weddings to describe the ideal marriage relationship. As appropriate as that is, this passage isn’t talking specifically about just romantic love. Love is not an emotional feeling, but rather it’s an attitude of consistent grace and humility:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
2. Perfect love casts out fear: 1 John 4:18
This passage from 1 John explains that we can understand what love is by looking at who God is:
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
~ 1 John 4:16-18 NIV
3. Be joyful in hope: Romans 12:10
Biblical love isn’t a passive attitude that characterizes us. It’s an active characteristic, a conscious choice made to avoid hypocrisy and evil and to live a life of service:
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
~ Romans 12:9-13 NIV
4. Love your enemies: Matthew 5:43-48
In case we were starting to feel too comfortable with this understanding of love, Jesus famously challenged His followers to extend that same love to include even those who hate and harass us:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
~Matthew 5:43-45 NIV
5. Love the Lord your God with all your heart: Mark 12:30-31
When asked to identify the most important of God’s Laws, Jesus highlighted the underlying principle that defined them all:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.
~ Mark 12:30-31 NIV
The Bible’s words about love are often encouraging but sometimes challenging. How do they fit with the popular understanding of love? When you tell your spouse or significant other that you love them, is that love just romantic? Or is it also defined by the type of ongoing grace and service described in the Bible passages above? And is that love evident in your everyday relationships with Sorors, friends, coworkers, and even enemies?
Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for loving us. May we live our lives where we owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another. For she who learns to love, who loves her neighbor, and who practices loving others, has fulfilled every requirement of the law. (Romans 13:8) Lovingly, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, we do pray. Amen!
January 2025 – Happy New Year!
As we say goodbye to 2024 and step into 2025, we know that it is a chance for us to embrace new beginnings, fresh goals, and endless possibilities. This New Year offers us yet another opportunity to express gratitude, set intentions, and welcome positivity. We will be mindful that “what the New Year brings to us will depend a great deal on what we bring to the New Year."
For each of us:
2 Corinthians 5:17
KJV: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
AMP: Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].
For our Chapter, as a whole:
Proverbs 16:3
AMP: Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].
PASSION Translation (TPT): Before you do anything, put your trust totally in God and not in yourself. Then every plan you make will succeed.
New Year Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for Your new beginnings and unwavering provision. We trust that Your peace will watch over us as we step into a new beginning. This year, we will rely on the richness of your love and grace to provide for our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. We will celebrate what we have achieved and get ready for all the amazing things yet to come in 2025. We thank You for all of Your many blessings. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, we do pray. Amen!
December 2024 – Joy to the World, the Lord has Come!
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luke 2:8-20 (KJV)
But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the] Law, so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family]. And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ].
Galatians 4:4-7 (AMP)
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on CHRISTmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Christmas Prayer:
Lord, You are infinite in power and yet You humbled Yourself and became a man to seek and to save me. It will take all eternity to grasp Your infinite love. What an amazing God You are! May we always be mindful that Jesus is indeed the Reason for the Season! Thank You, Lord, for Your immeasurable, boundless love. In the Matchless Name of Jesus, we do pray. Amen!
November 2024 - Always Give Thanks
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, let us remember that we are to always give thanks. In every situation, no matter what the circumstances, be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP)
Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all Lords. His love never quits.
Thank the miracle-working God, His love never quits.
The God whose skill formed the cosmos, His love never quits.
The God who laid out earth on ocean foundations, His love never quits.
The God who filled the skies with light, His love never quits.
The sun to watch over the day, His love never quits.
Moon and stars as guardians of the night, His love never quits.
The God who struck down the Egyptian firstborn, His love never quits.
And rescued Israel from Egypt’s oppression, His love never quits.
Took Israel in hand with his powerful hand, His love never quits.
Split the Red Sea right in half, His love never quits.
Led Israel right through the middle, His love never quits.
Dumped Pharaoh and his army in the sea, His love never quits.
The God who marched his people through the desert, His love never quits.
Smashed huge kingdoms right and left, His love never quits.
Struck down the famous kings, His love never quits.
Struck Sihon the Amorite king, His love never quits.
Struck Og the Bashanite king, His love never quits.
Then distributed their land as booty, His love never quits.
Handed the land over to Israel. His love never quits.
God remembered us when we were down, His love never quits.
Rescued us from the trampling boot, His love never quits.
Takes care of everyone in time of need. His love never quits.
Thank God, who did it all! His love never quits!
Psalms 136:1-26 MSG (The Message Version)
Thanksgiving Prayer:
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Colossians 3:15-17 MSG
October 2024 - The Art of Forgiveness
We must be careful not to let our grudges fester and turn into self-victimization, bitterness, isolation, negative role-modeling, or sabotaged repentance. Negative energy only drains your resources and robs you of the chance to fulfill your God-given potential. The hurt you harbor pollutes the stream of your daily experience, including your experience with God! Genuine repentance and forgiveness aren’t possible until you’re willing to face up to the things you’re still holding onto.
Bitterness is fatal; it kills your soul. So how can you stop yourself from becoming bitter when you’ve been hurt? Releasing bitterness requires that you choose to forgive. Whether or not the person who hurt you is around, or apologizes, forgiveness sets you free to enjoy life. By releasing the wrongdoer from all expectations, you reclaim your peace of mind.
We must remember that God is the source of all of our needs and expectations. When we draw from Him, we are free to release others from the burden of being enough for us. If we’re able to step further, and ask God to bless our offender, that’s even better! This kind of prayer puts you in the driver’s seat of your life.
You are the owner of your heart. Each day, you must monitor, direct, and correct what goes on there. You can’t blame your bad attitude, resentment, and unforgiveness on others—you are responsible! When somebody offends you, it’s up to you whether you let bitterness take root. You can’t control what others do, but it’s the “inside” part—the part you can control —that God holds us accountable for. Forgiveness allows us to take back our power and not let the events embitter, limit, or destroy us.
Sorors, let's be nice, be kind, and keep moving forward.
A PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, would you come and minister to us, and reveal any roots of bitterness, unforgiveness, unhealthy sarcasm, negativity or pride. Yank that root out of our heart, right now, in the name of Jesus. Pull it out until all the thorns are taken off and removed. I pray that you would seal what you remove with the blood of Jesus, and soften our hearts to your Holy Spirit. Mend it back to where you want it to be. Thank you for this healing in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 AMP