Blog (Page 225)
Daily Devotions: January 6, 2017
Acts 10:34-38 “Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.’” vss. 34-35 Today marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Epiphany, that time of the church year when we remember the ways in which God has been revealed through Jesus. Epiphany can also refer to a sudden realization that marks the end…
Daily Devotions: January 5, 2017
Psalm 29:5-10 “The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’” vss. 8-9 The psalmist had no trouble attributing massive earthquakes and violent windstorms to the voice of the Lord. Floods, lightning, thunder…all those things we term “acts of God,” were evidence of God’s dynamic energy and creative power. And for centuries…
Daily Devotions: January 4, 2017
Psalm 29:1-4 “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” vss. 3-4 We hear so many voices these days, loud voices all clamoring for our attention, all claiming to have an important word for us! They come at us from every direction…from tweets and youtube, television and radio. Often they are the pompous…
Daily Devotions: January 3, 2017
Isaiah 42:5-9 “I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” vss. 6b-7 Jesus adopted these words from Isaiah as a messianic job description and used them as a guide for his words and actions during his ministry. Wherever he went people felt the presence of God and found relief from…
Daily Devotions: January 2, 2017
Isaiah 42:1-4 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.” vs. 1 Living in exile, hundreds of miles from his homeland, the prophet believed that Israel was the much-loved servant of God and that, empowered by the spirit of God, Israel would bring justice to the nations. It was an amazing vision for a leaderless people with a history…
Daily Devotions: January 1, 2017
Matthew 2:19-23 “Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.” vs. 21 According to Matthew’s gospel, after a brief sojourn in Egypt, Joseph takes his family to Nazareth in Galilee, a safe place where he could find work and provide for his wife and child. After life in Bethlehem this would be a new beginning with fresh opportunities. And that’s exactly what today represents to many of us! It’s the first…
Rural Tranquility and Park-like Setting…
“Spirit in the Desert is a unique combination of rural tranquility and exquisite park-like setting in the mountains next to Carefree, Arizona. The accommodations makes for an ideal retreat. The friendly, knowledgeable staff, great food, pathways, fountains, and gardens, help a person realize the beauty that God has provided for us to enjoy. I highly recommend Spirit in the Desert to anyone who wants a serene, grace-filled encounter with time for reflection, listening, and letting go of the past. I…
I came for a spiritual transformation
I came to Spirit in the Desert for a spiritual transformation. My goal was to learn meditation to relax the chatter and stress of my busy life. Mr. Kenji Kumara and his Bliss team took each of us through a unique journey. I can speak for the group that the weekend was transformative and could only be something that should be experienced by everyone.
Read daily devotions by Steve Holm
This year, Steve Holm, a retired pastor living in Tempe, will be providing daily meditations for Spirit’s website. Steve served at Desert Cross Lutheran Church for 22 years. In the past he has provided meditations for Advent and Lenten illustrated devotional booklets. Now, we’re thankful that he’s providing these short devotions for visitors to the website. Read more.
Boundless Compassion retreat
SEPT. 24-28, 2017: BOUNDLESS COMPASSION RETREAT LED BY JOYCE RUPP Purpose: To deepen the living of compassion in one’s life by learning and practicing ways of being a compassionate presence. Co-sponsored by Spirit in the Desert and Institute of Compassionate Presence. This retreat: Includes opportunities to explore the depths of the many layered components of compassion as reflected in the central qualities of the life/teachings of Jesus. Aims to expand and deepen one’s understanding of compassion from both a personal…
Crossing Over: Exploring Transitions Retreat
NOV. 10-12, 2017: CROSSING OVER: EXPLORING TRANSITIONS RETREAT LED BY TAMMY DEVINE, WITH WORSHIP/MUSIC BY MICHAEL LARSON What are Exploring Transitions Retreats? The Exploring Transitions Retreats are a part of our 3rd Chapter of Life “Explore Your Life’s Calling” ministry. These retreats are for those who are either nearing or currently living in their 3rd Chapter of Life–which is not necessarily a defined age category–who are seeking exploration and guidance in their times of transition. Each of the retreats offer…