Bethlehem-House of Bread

-Brenda DeVries 12-4-23 Do you like the smell of baking bread? I live fairly close to a local bakery, and if I walk by in the morning, a wonderful dose of smells wafts from the doors when they are baking bread, cinnamon rolls, donuts and cake…mmm! I don’t really bake much, and I don’t make …

Sacred Cows

When I was growing up, we used to watch the Dukes of Hazzard on Friday nights. Boss Hog was the commissioner of Hazzard County, Georgia.  He always wore white and was the wealthiest man in the county.  And he was always scheming to get more property, more power and more money.  He drove a triple white …

What’s all the Buzz? Exodus 8:16-32

Buzzfeed is a news media company that puts out some of the latest news stories. When you create a BUZZ about something, it means that you’ve got exciting news about a product, or a person, or rumors of something that’s happening.  The next plagues that are about to descend upon Egypt, are also going to …

The Sound of a Sacred Croak Exodus 7:25-8:15

The sound of the peepers (frogs) in the creeks and ponds in the spring are music to my ears!  A few frogs usually find a home near our pool, and I enjoy listening to them on warm nights.  There’s a story about a priest who kept hearing the croaking of frogs while he was praying.  …

Blood in the Water Exodus 7:14-24

There are lots of shows where crimes are caught on camera. The robber, or vandal thinks they are getting away with an act, but video surveillance reveals their identity, and they are eventually arrested by the police.  Cameras show a lot of things, but sometimes the angle of the shot misses something, and another camera …

Heart Hearts, Feathers and Crocodiles

Exodus 6:28-7:13 Have you ever picked up a feather?  Even though they are very light, there are thousands of different parts, and it is an amazing creation.  Have you ever heard someone say “I feel light as a feather?  It’s great when you feel like you have nothing weighing your heart down.  Discouragement, depression and …

Bricks without Straw: when obedience makes things worse

Last week we looked at the calling of Moses and the burning bush.  We noted that although the people of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were burning up as slaves, they were not consumed.  God had been watching over them, and he was sending someone to lead them out of Egypt.  Moses was not the most …

The God who Sees and Sends Exodus 3:1-16

When is the last time that something caught your attention when you were out driving?  Have you ever seen something and then did a double take, and stared because you weren’t sure your eyes were giving you the correct information?  I’ve done that a time or two in my life.  Recently I saw a dessert …

The God who Pays Attention Exodus 2:23-25

The season of Lent is a time for us to reflect on Jesus and his last days, heading towards his death and resurrection.  It can also be a season of Lament.   We are not usually good at Lament.  It’s not easy or pretty to groan and cry out to God. It’s much easier sometimes to …

Your way or God’s way?

--Brenda DeVries Lent can be a great season of reflection; a time where we set our path towards the cross and remember Jesus’ temptations in the desert, and the temptations that we all face as followers of Jesus. Moses is one of the great heroes of the Bible.  We usually remember the great things that …