Yesterday we talked about how, in Christ, God invites us all into the Most Holy Place. While that image was used by the author of Hebrews to evoke the awe and intimacy of the central space in the temple in Jerusalem, in Christ we get to expand beyond just a physical place.

In the midst of this troubling world, where do we find peace? Take some time to listen to this song and let it bring healing and hope to your soul.

One of the things we try to control the most is ourselves, and that often leads to disastrous consequences. Not to mention trying to control others.

As we’ve thought this week about the gentleness of Jesus, how does it settle on your soul that Jesus did not need to force his way on others?

God is not above being called a fool. In fact, scripture often portrays God as foolish.

This week we’ll be thinking about gentle Jesus and how he can actually bring us healing and hope, even in the midst of the crazy world we live in, the war in Gaza, the political divide in America, and systematic injustice everywhere.

Four short reflections on rest today. Which one strikes you the most and why?

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?

So much of learning to rest is responding to God’s invitation. There are so, so many other things that put a demand on us. To slow down, to calm down, to power down - these are required to get to that point when we can move into trust, and from there we can move into renewal.

When you get right down to it, God actually commands us to rest.

Sometimes it can feel like the ‘careful’ in this verse is scolding us.

We don’t often speak of Huldah, but she was a powerful prophet in one of the most dreadful times of Israel’s history. As the country was being torn apart from outside as well as from within, she spoke about how our selfish actions have consequences - because God loves justice.

If we’re honest, it won’t take that long to get to the point where you realize you can’t keep your heart tender by yourself. Perhaps you’ve found this too: it’s just so very hard to change our attitudes, our character, our will.

Initially, if you try reading all of Hebrews 3, it can sound like a rant.

In order to have a heart that is not hard, it means we have to stay open, vulnerable, and hurt-able.

Today, we’re going to take a different approach to this idea of breaking free from shame.

Many of us grew up being taught that holiness meant getting everything right and steering clear of anything wrong. Of course we wanted to be holy because God is holy, but it was such hard work.

How many times have we each witnessed the scene (or been a part of it!) where a parent does something that embarrasses their kid? Maybe it’s the uncool shirt we wear or how we greet them after school or something we say over dinner… and our kids just can’t stand it.