Wilderness Wanderings

" So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,   rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7) Jesus is the basis of our faith.  He's the reason for our service, our prayers, our confession, our worship.  He is the reason that we continue to live our lives in Him and walk i...

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen! (Ephesians 3:20-21). We have spent several days exploring Paul's three-fold outrageous and audacious prayer here in Ephesians 3. Today, lets allow this conclusion, this dox...

A special, extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Romans 12:1-2 from the New International Version of the Bible.  Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelm...

Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2) Although all people belong to God, not all people are children of God.  To imitate God we must be his children.  Although God loves all that He has made, he calls Christians His children and calls us to imitate him by walk...

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen! (Ephesians 3:20-21). We have spent a few days considering the outrageous and audacious requests which Paul makes before he concludes with the doxology of our text. Today, I...

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."  1 Peter 2:9 Every person on the earth belongs to God because God created our world, and He created each one of us.  Just as a potter or a woodworker creates with their hands and what they create is theirs, belo...

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen! (Ephesians 3:20-21). In our text, Paul prays that God will receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. The church and Christ Jesus belong together, Jesus died and rose...

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."  (Psalm 24:1) Psalm 24 reveals both the origins of the world and God's ultimate purpose in the world.  A Psalm of praise to our God!  The One who created the world and every creature and person in it, and the One who is redeeming that world as we await the coming promise.  We can't ever compete with God or exalt ou...

A special, extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 from the New International Version of the Bible.  Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  im...

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen! (Ephesians 3:20-21). Last time, I mentioned that our text ends a prayer in which three outrageous and audacious requests are made of God. Paul ends with doxology, reassurin...

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.  They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior...

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen! (Ephesians 3:20-21). Our text is well loved by many Christians and my dad choose it for his funeral. I hope you will indulge me if I use a few Wilderness Wanderings to expl...

"In the beginning…" (Genesis 1:1) As I start off my time with Wilderness Wanderings, I thought that I'd start at the beginning.  The beginning of the Bible, the beginning of the story.  God's story.  Our story.  It seems like a strange place to jump in though.  It sure doesn't feel like a beginning in life right now.  We still grieve with Pastor Michael and his family with the loss of his dad one...

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.  …  So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Ch...

A special, extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 from the New International Version of the Bible.  Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  im...

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. … I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrect...

Then God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat (Genesis 2:8-9 MSG) . Then the Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne of God and the Lamb, right down the middle of the street. The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the Riv...

Before we go to our scripture text, first an apology that yesterday's devotion didn't go out!  We clicked the wrong button when we put it up: but it's up now, and you'll find it posted below in today's email or however you get this.  And, another, more serious note too.  With sadness, I'd like to let you know that Pastor Michael's dad passed away yesterday afternoon, April 13.  A note from the chu...

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal ( 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Full disclosure, 84 years...

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." (Revelation 7:9-10)   There is...

A special, extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Colossians 1:1-14 from the New International Version of the Bible.  Dive In  discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  imma...

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming...

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."                "Where, O death, is your victory?                Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lor...

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). This passage is a standard at Christian funerals. As I am sure we have said befor...

…if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.  … If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.  (1 Corinthians 15:14, 19-20a)   As the years go on, I'm more and more convinced about what Paul writes here.  If the cornerstone of your faith is not anchored in a belief in the Jes...