Author: Elizabeth Mullins

In Jerusalem, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies
will spread a wonderful feast
for all the people of the world.

It will be a delicious banquet
with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.

There he will remove the cloud of gloom,
the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.

He will swallow up death forever!
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears.

He will remove forever all insults and mockery
against his land and people.

The LORD has spoken! Isaiah 25:6-8 NLT

Throughout history, a king coming to town is momentous. From a villager’s point of view, a king and his army coming to town is bad news. Your family’s storehouses would be raided to feed his soldiers. They might butcher your livestock for meat or even consume next year’s seed corn. This could easily be a disaster for you and your village.

Isaiah dreams of a King who flips that script. Instead of taking your wealth and ruining your future, this King blesses us with plenty. He gives instead of taking. He fills our lives with the very best, out of his abundance, at no cost to us. Our King honors us with a royal banquet and spares no expense in enriching our lives. Our future with him is one of celebration, not sorrow.

We who are enlisted in his service and enlivened by his love look to his lead. When we “come to town,” we can be his agents in announcing and enacting a kingdom that is like this King.

Prayer:
Lord, may we find an end to our want and our loss in the abundance of your love. Meet us at your table of mercy. May we be quick to rejoice in your goodness and live out your good news for the sake of our communities!

Matt Royal, Church Plant Team Member
Durham, NC, US

Citizens of God’s kingdom believe that Scripture is sacred. They trust that when they read God’s word, they will have an encounter with the Word made flesh.

We invite you to participate in the practice of Lectio Divina. The exercise below has been adapted from an Equipper article and revised to include a psalm of repentance for this Easter Preparation season.

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So how can we, as Christians, slow down and connect with God on a more profound and intimate level?

I would like to introduce you to the spiritual practice of “Lectio Divina,” which translates as “divine or sacred reading.” Lectio Divina is an ancient approach to reading the scriptures while intentionally listening for the voice of God. While most of us are used to reading scripture for information, Lectio Divina invites us to encounter Jesus in the text for the purpose of relational transformation. The writer of Hebrews tells us that the “Word of God is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12). It’s a reference to Jesus as the living Word of God, and Lectio Divina assumes that God is inviting us into interaction and conversation as we read the written words of God.

There are four different movements associated with this practice:

1. 1. Lectio (reading/listening) Slowly read the text aloud.
   2. Meditatio (meditation/reflection) Meditate on the word or phrase that captures your attention.
   3. Oratio (prayer/response) Open your heart to God and pray.
   4. Contemplatio (contemplation/rest) Quietly sit in the presence of the Father and rest in his arms.

Lectio Divina can be done alone or in a group. For the purpose of this exercise, you will be guided through an actual Lectio Divina exercise as if you are by yourself.

Before you start, make sure you are sitting comfortably. Begin to breathe slowly in and out. With your eyes closed, let your body relax and allow yourself to become consciously aware of God’s presence with you. Quietly let go of any distractions and ask God to speak to you through the passage that you are about to read.

Lectio Divina exercise

Step One: Read

Read Psalm 51:6-17 slowly, out loud if possible. Read the passage a couple of times. Notice any words or phrases that seem to jump out at you. Don’t analyze the text, just let it sink in. Are you drawn to any images or characters in the story? Don’t feel rushed, linger in the story, and be open to any gentle nudges. Quietly listen for the still, small voice of God. What word or phrase is your attention being drawn to?

Step Two: Reflect

As you read the passage again, allow God’s word to become his personal word for you. The psalmist writes, “You desire truth in my inward being.” Consider how your response to God might intersect with your life right now. Here are a few reflection questions:

• • What is God showing you about yourself?
  • How does this relate to something in your life today?
  • What is God saying to you?
  • Are there any distractions that God is highlighting for you today?
  • What is the “one thing” that Jesus says is needed?

Step Three: Respond

Take a few minutes to respond to God in prayer. Prayer is simply a conversation with the God who loves you and likes you, no matter what. What do you want to say to God about this experience reading scripture? Talk to God about what bubbled up for you and how you sense he might be inviting you to act or respond to the word you have heard. You are free to allow your real, authentic self to be touched and changed by the word of God. Some find it beneficial to journal their response during this process.

Step Four: Rest

The last step offers space to rest and wait in the presence of the Lord. This is not about doing, this is abiding. Simply rest in the presence of God. Lay down all the insights, words, and images you’ve encountered and simply dwell in the presence of God. This is a time to absorb God’s gentle grace and allow God to do the life-changing work in you. Sense God’s love flowing effortlessly through you. You may close with a prayer thanking God for his willingness to open up the scripture for you, enabling you to better understand your life in Christ.

Participating in Lectio Divina during the season of Easter Prep gives us time to pause and commune with God. At the heart of Lectio Divina is a dynamic relationship between God and you, his beloved. The Father, Son, and Spirit invite you to participate in their dance and discover this deep spiritual practice within the daily rhythms of your life.

May God bless you with real rest as you make space to commune with him through scripture and come to know God more fully and more intimately.

By Davina Winn, Assistant Pastor
Hanover, VA, US

Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV

Four days after we evacuated from the Altadena firestorm, we returned to find our house still standing. We had feared it had burned, but we were deeply grateful it had been spared. The government sent police, National Guard reservists, and members of the Army to provide security against looters. Though our house was still within the “do not cross” yellow tape, we were given an exception to return.

The following morning, I found my wife in the kitchen preparing many sandwiches. Seeing my amazement, she simply said, “It’s for the police and soldiers guarding our neighborhood.” No one had asked her to do it; she simply saw a need and met it.

When we delivered the sandwiches and hot coffee, I noticed that there were no portable toilets for the service people. I asked them about it, and they said they had to travel a few miles to Pasadena just to find a restroom. So, we told them that we would keep our house open 24/7, giving them permission to use our facilities anytime. It was a small act of kindness, but they were incredibly appreciative.

For the next seven days, they had breakfast at our house and used our restroom. These officers and reservists repeatedly told us they would never forget our service and the hospitality we had shown them.

Our GC Glendora pastor, Jillian Morrison, and her husband, Steven, also volunteered with relief efforts. They were joined by other members, including Maryann and Fred Stevens (pictured below), who sorted and distributed supplies at a Pasadena relief drive. In addition, a few church members went to another member’s house to assist with cleanup.

In times of crisis, even the smallest act of kindness can shine the brightest. Kindness doesn’t have to be grand — it just must be intentional. The world may be filled with division, but as followers of Christ, we are called to something different. We are called to love as He loves, to serve as He serves, and to be a light in a dark world.

From Bermie Dizon, Elder
Glendora, CA, US

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By God’s grace, we are doing well. On behalf of GC Pasadena, I would like to thank the Home Office staff who prayed and arranged for disaster relief funds to be distributed to financially support our members who were affected by the fire.

The vast area that was affected is unimaginable, and one area was the neighborhood of Jeff Swartz, a longtime member. He lost his home and all his personal belongings except the clothes he was wearing at that time. We thank God that he left and got to safety with his pets before the fire reached his area. My family took care of him for ten days until he finally found a hotel with a vacancy in Glendale.

Another member hosted a couple who evacuated due to the smoke and ashes. It was necessary to clean our church hall because of the ashes and smoke. Since we have an ongoing partnership with Trader Joe’s to distribute food, we were able to take some to the evacuation area where it was needed. I also had the opportunity to pray for neighbors who were directly affected by the fire.

Thank you again for including us in your prayers.

From Angie Tabin, Pastor
Pasadena, CA, US

 

Growing up in the Pacific, my fellow islanders and I have always been blessed with a rich heritage of culture, tradition, and faith. Just as the waves shape our shores, Christ’s love shapes our lives, calling us to stand firm in faith, hope, and love. As citizens of his kingdom, we are called to fix our eyes on Jesus.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

Jesus is our living hope, the source of our faith, and the embodiment of perfect love. Like the vast ocean that sustains island life, his love is endless. His faithfulness unwavering, and his hope unshaken. He is the good shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep, leading us into his everlasting kingdom. As Pacific Islanders pass down their traditions, we too must also carry forward the message of salvation and grace.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace, through your Son Jesus. Like the waves that never cease, your love surrounds us. Thank you for being the centre of our lives. Help us reflect your love, faith, and humility in all we do. Strengthen our communities and remind us that we are citizens of your kingdom, walking in righteousness and grace. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Epeli Nakautoga, Hope Avenue Champion
Suva, Fiji