PEARL STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

"You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near." — James 5:8 (NIV) Long before I had the privilege of visiting the Lincoln Memorial, I had seen pictures and miniature statues of the stolid Abraham Lincoln. His tall, seated figure—calm yet resolute—seemed to embody patience and strength. Lincoln’s appearance, with his furrowed brow and steady gaze, conveyed a resolve that endured the storms of the Civil War and national division. It was that image that

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." — 1 John 4:16 (NIV) In Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream , Lysander reflects, “The course of true love never did run smooth.” For all who have ever loved, the words ring true. Even in the most stable of relationships, the waters of love can grow choppy, with currents of misunderstanding or swells of disappointment. Yet love endures. So it is with God’s

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11 NIV Before this verse, Jesus had healed the blind man on the Sabbath, infuriating the Pharisees. What follows is the discourse with them on what it means to be a good shepherd. We know that Jesus here is talking about himself and his willingness to die for us. But if we listen closely, we can also hear his invitation to move from being sheep to becoming shepherds. In Jesus' teaching momen

“You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.” — Psalm 85:2 (NIV) In many churches that follow the Advent tradition, this week we light the third candle, the pink candle of joy. Perhaps the greatest expression of that joy is in knowing that God forgives. If you have ever carried the heavy weight of sin and felt it being lifted after seeking repentance, you have experienced this sense of joy. From the very beginning, when humanity turned from God’s right

“Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:14 (NRSVUE) Have you ever faced a moment when you weren’t sure how things would turn out—when fear or uncertainty seemed bigger than hope? Maybe while waiting to hear about a job opportunity after extended unemployment, or anxiously awaiting the results of a biopsy. That’s exactly where King Ahaz found himself centuries ago, facing enemies at his gates and fearing the collapse o

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.’” — Jeremiah 33:14 (NIV) Have you ever received a promise without a clear timeline? Maybe a supervisor assured you of a promotion once certain conditions were met, or a friend promised to visit “someday.” The waiting can feel endless, and uncertainty can test our patience. In today’s verse, Jeremiah speaks to a people who had been waiting for generations.

"May the God of endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude toward each other, similar to Christ Jesus’ attitude." — Romans 15:5 (CEB) What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? A gadget, a piece of jewelry, a fragrance? For those A Christmas Story fans, maybe even a Red Ryder repeating rifle BB gun. In this season, we spend so much time searching for the perfect present. Yet Paul reminds us that the greatest gift is not something wrapped in paper, but the spirit G

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." — Psalm 34:18 (NIV) Today's verse mentions two conditions of the human heart we’ve all experienced: being brokenhearted and feeling crushed. Some of us may be in that place right now—grieving a loss, wrestling with questions, or carrying burdens that feel too heavy. David was no stranger to these emotions. In 1 Samuel 21:10-15, he fled for his life and pretended to be insane before King Achish

“We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19 (NIV) A couple of nights ago, we were watching a show in which one of the characters tells another he loves her. Later, she calls him to say she loves him too. It’s an experience that may resonate with you. But in that time—even if it’s the briefest of moments—we may have doubts about whether our love will be returned. In today’s verse, there is no room for doubt about whether we are loved. John reminds us that our love is no

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18 (NRSVUE) What does it mean to pray “in truth” ? Think about conversations we have every day. Sometimes they’re filled with polite platitudes: “How about this weather?” or “Did you catch the Patriots game?” These exchanges are fine for passing moments, but they don’t build deep, lasting relationship. Real closeness comes when we move beyond surface talk into honesty—sharing joys, struggl

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." — Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) When you wake in the morning, you say your prayers, giving thanks for the gift of another day, and lifting those on the church prayer list. As you head to work, you ask for God’s help with whatever challenges await. An ambulance speeds past with lights flashing and siren sounding, and without

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” —Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) It has taken me years to appreciate what it means for a generous person to prosper. Oh, I understood the content—that we are blessed in our giving—but I lacked belief in its validity. Though I had faith in Christ to save my sins, I struggled with relinquishing what was so freely given. Growing up, I witnessed my parents tithing faithfully, and though we were never wealthy, we a

“Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42, NRSVUE) We spend money on our automobiles, our homes, and our lives, planning for the unplanned. We insure our cars against accidents or stray stones hitting the windshield. We protect our homes against fire, flood, and theft. We have medical and dental coverage, and even life insurance. We find a way to protect and preserve everything we value. We insure the things of our material r

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.” — Isaiah 12:2 (NRSVUE) There are moments in life when we feel unworthy of God’s love, or perhaps unaware that we even need saving. Isaiah’s song reminds us that salvation is not something we earn—it is something God becomes for us. In verse 1, the prophet acknowledges God’s anger, but then marvels at how that anger turns into comfort. T

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32, CEB) In the legal drama A Few Good Men, Jack Nicholson’s character, under prosecutorial examination, shouts in agitation, “You can’t handle the truth!” It’s a line that has echoed through popular culture, capturing the idea that truth can feel too harsh, too unsettling to face. Yet Jesus turns that idea upside down. His truth is not meant to overwhelm us but to liberate us. It is not hidden in shadows or

“I thank my God always for you, because of God’s grace that was given to you in Christ Jesus.”  —1 Corinthians 1:4 (CEB) On this day of Thanksgiving, Paul’s words echo in my heart: “ I thank my God always for you.”  Whether we have known each other for years or only recently crossed paths, your presence is a blessing. Each relationship, each encounter, is a reminder that God’s grace is not abstract but embodied in the lives of those around us. I think of family members whose

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” – Psalm 68:19 (NIV) Of all things, this morning, after reading this verse, I started thinking about commas. Yes, those pauses within a sentence that give what we are writing meaning and inflection. If you were to read my first drafts of anything, you’d quickly know I struggle with placing them, often using too many. They need to be placed in just the right places. And sometimes, commas make all the diffe

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure we give will be the measure we get back.” —Luke 6:38 (CEB) I once saw an illustration that has stayed with me. Imagine someone holding an empty glass jar. Then they begin dropping in pebble-sized stones. These stones represent the big gifts we give: love, forgiveness, kindness.   Next, they pour in fine sand. The grains slip into the

"He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'" — Mark 10:14 (NIV) We are all likely familiar with this Bible story. We've heard it in Sunday school, and we've sung it—"Jesus loves the little children." It's a gentle, compassionate story, complete with pictures of children sitting on Jesus' knees. It's easy to lose track of what happened earlier, though in verse 13 the disciples' actions that ca

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." — Colossians 4:2 (NIV) If you are reading this, you are familiar with the idea of “devotions.” It is the time we take each day to read and study the Word, which is good. But Paul’s use of the word “Devote” in Colossians carries a deeper weight.  The Greek verb proskartereite means to persist, to cling, to continue steadfastly. It’s not about a brief thought or a short reading—it’s about a life anchored in prayer. Pa