As Jesus entered into Jerusalem and the last week of his time on earth, he was welcomed in by shouts from a crowd, "Save us please!" Just a week later the crowd would be yelling "Crucify him!"

When Jesus was confronted by religious leaders about why he was spending time with sinners, he told three stories: a parable of a lost sheep, a parable of a lost coin, and a parable of lost sons. The story tells of a wayward younger son who runs from home and lives recklessly without regard to his family, and an older son who stays home working and following all the rules in order to get what he wants. Yet, both sons are equally lost. The difference is one son comes to his senses and back to the father.

Many of us are familiar with the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan. Who do you picture yourself as in that story? The man who gets beaten and robbed, left for dead? The ones who pass by on the other side of the road to avoid the mess? The Samaritan who cares for him? Could it be that Jesus himself has taken on the role of the Good Samaritan, and our role is found in one other character in the story who often gets forgotten?

Jesus taught his followers how to pray, how to approach the God of the universe. And it starts with recognizing who you are speaking to.

Jesus attracted many different kinds of people with his miracles, his care, and his words. Many of them were looking for the same thing you and I are looking for - the blessed life. How do we find happiness? How do we get fulfillment? How can we truly be satisfied?

Jesus' words on this shocked his listeners and they're just as shocking to our culture today. The way to be blessed? Well, start by acknowledging how little you have.

The very first miracle where Jesus showed his glory was making wine out of water when a wedding celebration ran out of the good stuff. Was this a random, unplanned moment? Was this a side quest in the real mission Jesus came for? If we look closely and reframe this story away from our context into the people’s who lived it, we just may find how this moment was instrumental in telling the world who Jesus is and exactly why he came.

God’s people had been waiting and holding their breath for the promised Messiah to come and rescue them. They all had different expectations of what to look for. When he finally came into the world, many could not see him because they were searching for something else. Yet, Jesus came just as promised. What are you looking for? What do you seek? Are you able to see the real Jesus and find the hope, joy, peace, and rescue you need?

God reveals Himself to the world through His works. All of creation displays a Creator. How have you seen God on display in His world lately?

Psalm 19 wraps up our month in the psalms and reminds us how creation points us to the glory of God.

All things were created by God and all creation praises God! Even the parts of creation which seem scary, dangerous, or chaotic. God, the Creator, brings order out of the chaos and creates space for life.

We pray we become a people who experience and display God's power, seek the benefit of the place He has us, and invite others into His presence.