Author: Marie Proctor

Then Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The seed sprouts and grows—he has no idea how it happens. The earth does it all without his help: first a green stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened…

The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way…. And we must not turn our religion into a circus…” 1 Corinthians 1:6-7 MSG “Turning our religion into a circus,” now that’s a thought! A circus has performers who may have…

‭‭Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End. This is what the…

‭‭God gives a hand to those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit. Generous to a fault, you lavish your favor on all creatures. Psalms 145:14, 16 MSG “Generous to a fault.” This could sound a little like enabling to a fault, but if you have been a recipient…

‭‭We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was…

‭‭Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly, and five were smart.” Matthew 25:1-2 MSG I love that Jesus says both silly (foolish) and smart (wise) people are included in the kingdom.  For many years, I thought the foolish weren’t…

Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! Ephesians 5:11-16 MSG In waking up, we may see a glimmer of light that compells us forward. We don’t realize we are asleep. We certainly don’t feel like we are in coffins, but it’s true. At least metaphorically, the…

I read my Lent devotional this morning.  I tried to connect with the text but found it was a stretch to write about something.  I went to crank my car and couldn’t help but glimpse God in the morning sun. This is what I connected with today. Life is peeking through the trees and beneath…

‭‭Light, space, zest— that’s God! So, with him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. When besieged, I’m calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool. I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long.…

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On the final and climactic day of the Feast, Jesus took his stand. He cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way. John 7:37 MSG “Are you thirsty?” This is the…

Elisha said, “Didn’t you know I was with you in spirit when that man stepped down from his chariot to greet you? Tell me, is this a time to look after yourself, lining your pockets with gifts? Naaman’s skin disease will now infect you and your family, with no relief in sight.” Gehazi walked away,…

So I went to the potter’s house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot. Then…

‭‭Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But…