Read Mark 4:26-34. A prayer by John van de Laar: We may not be able to confront queens, or challenge presidents; We may not have the capacity to divert resources,…

To experience love, acceptance, and belonging in this way is transformative.

May God guide every leader in ways that lead to peace and unity and the common good.

In what ways do you find yourself judging others only by what is visible?

In the face of opposition, Jesus takes this on as a teaching moment.

A big part of faith in Jesus is trusting that God is continually at work.

“I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart.”

Despite the warnings, Israel persisted in asking for a king and that’s what they were given.

We can almost imagine a group of Pharisees trailing behind Jesus with little notebooks, giving him a little checkmark every time he breaks the rules.

“We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives.” ~Eugene Peterson