Celtic Preacher

Did Jesus get tired, hungry, or sad? Did he go through the assault of feelings we go through each day? Yes, the Scriptures teach us; however, unlike us, Jesus was very good at knowing how to replenish his energy. He taught that we could learn to do the same, but first, we need to know more about the Holy Spirit. John 1:29-42. Pod 159

One theme that runs throughout the entire scripture is the promise of provision. It's the promise that God can be trusted and will not let you down. You will get what you need. The caveat is that the help does not come in advance, so an element of trust is involved. When we find ourselves in a place of unmet need, could it be that our timing is not the same as God's? The text is Matthew 2. The Magi        Podcast 158

Guidance from God doesn't necessarily have to be full of mystery and confusion. In the Christmas story, Joseph changes his mind, taking his life in an entirely different direction. He is open to change. He's flexible, and he is not afraid to reconsider his decisions. When you begin to second guess a decision, could this be God nudging you to reconsider? Matthew 1:18-25 Podcast 157

We filter everything through our perspective. It's a habit that comes naturally to us, and it's a habit that needs to be broken, according to Jesus. We can second-guess ourselves and doubt our actions and decisions even when we are right on track. The greatest prophet that ever lived, Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, struggled with self-doubt. Jesus' advice to his cousin, John, is the same advice he would give to each of us. "Don't take things personally." Don't take offense. Why? Because most of the time, it's simply not about us.   Podcast 156. Text Matthew 11:2-11

Certain things happen in our life, and they often take us off guard and become teaching moments we never forget. It can happen during a time of transition or a time of loss. Teaching moments can come on the heels of significant failure or confusion. They are events that stop us in our tracks and cause us to reassess our lives. In Jesus' day, this was the task of the prophets. Prophets disrupt the peace because when we are in a state of imbalance, it's a perfect moment to be open to the new way God is showing us. Matthew 3:1-12. Pod 155 

Pondering how you live and what you are spending your time on is a worthwhile practice. Jesus teaches us that since it is so easy to get off track and get bogged down by all the wrong things, it's good to reassess and make necessary changes when we sense something is either missing or out of balance. The text is Matthew 25. It's the first Sunday of Advent. Pod 154

Unsurprisingly, healing people was a big part of what Jesus did in the short time he spent here on the earth. He healed people physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I think it's safe to say that whatever brokenness we have, God desires to address the multiple levels of brokenness in our lives and our world. In today's teaching, Jesus reminds us of a spiritual practice that can easily be neglected when we are overwhelmed by the things in our lives that are not going according to our plans. The text is Luke 18. The Healing of Ten Lepers (and then an unexpected extra.)  Podcast 153

Worrying about the future begins at a young age. No matter what century you are born in or where you live, this is an inner battle we all face. Today, Jesus advises his first students and us how to live in an insecure world and not allow worry to overwhelm us. The text is Luke 21  Pod 152

It makes little difference to Jesus which side of the line we put ourselves on. We all know people who are quick to give their opinions whether we want them or not. We also know people who are so quiet we have no idea what they think. Some of us chastise ourselves because we should have spoken up, while others cringe when they play back a conversation in which we said too much. Jesus' answer to everyone is to learn the path of meekness. Blessed are the meek. Matthew 5 Pod 151.

A true authentic spiritual life leads to inner freedom, Jesus teaches. This kind of inner freedom draws out the very best of us. From experience, we know we don't suddenly get freed up from all our fears, anxieties, and bad habits overnight. However, Jesus insists, "I've come that you might have life," and it's a better life than we ever dreamed possible, but first, a few changes need to be made. Text is John 10 Podcast 150