Romans 1 - 1.2.26

Scripture: Romans 1:18-20

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Observation

Paul is writing to the Romans about the works of Jesus Christ. The Good News of Jesus is more than facts to be believed; it is also a life to be lived – a life of righteousness, justified freely by God’s Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Paul is giving us the bad news before he gives us the Good News. We are all under the wrath of God because of sin and he explains it in two words.

Ungodliness – refers to a lack of reverence or obedience to God, a lack of worship. Encompassing impiety, wickedness, and sinful behavior that goes against commands, often characterized by irreligion, worldliness, or actively opposing God’s nature and will. It’s essentially living apart from God, characterized by sin and a rejection of divine principles, leading to spiritual separation and potential judgement. (Google)

Unrighteousness – means violating God’s moral standards, encompassing injustice, wickedness, dishonesty, and deliberate opposition to divine law, separating people from God’s holy character. (Google)

Application

In this world that we live in there is so much ungodliness and unrighteousness. In these scriptures Paul states, there is no excuse for not knowing God. His invisible qualities are clearly seen. He keeps the earth moving on its axis. He keeps the sun and the moon at their proper distance so we don’t burn up. He wakes us up every morning with breath in our lungs. I just got back from a vacation on Kauai, HI. God’s handiwork is all over that island. The majesty and beauty of that island is so incredible that you cannot deny God’s hand on it. The magnificent shoreline and how the waves and water keep their boundaries. It rains everyday so that the land is green and lush. God is so evident there and in our everyday lives here where we live.

People are under God’s wrath for rejecting God and living in sin but He gave us His son Jesus Christ to bridge the gap. If we repent of our sins and ask Jesus to come live in our hearts…everything changes. THE GOOD NEWS!

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for giving us your son so we don’t have to experience your wrath. Thank You for making a way for us to be in right relationship with you. Thank you for being so present on this earth, that we can see your hand all around us. Thank you for loving us so much that you would let us enjoy your magnificent handiwork. You are a Great and Marvelous God and worthy to be praised by all mankind. Give us boldness to share your Good News with everyone we encounter. We worship and adore you!

- Michelle Craig

Psalm 131 - 1.1.26

Scripture:

“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Observation: 

I believe David writes in this psalm to testify about the importance of where we find our contentment and where we focus our minds.

He uses this metaphor of a weened child to help us visualize what it means to know the source of our life. A child knows that their mother is what brought them into this world and lives in dependence. This psalm invites us to rid ourselves of dependence on anything else and live humbly dependent on our abba father.

As I read this psalm, I was so thankful that this was going to be offered to us to read as a church on the 1st day of 2026. So often, the first day of a new year brings us to feel like we have to add so much to our lives in order to change them into our ideal lives.

David is testifying to us of what it looks like to be people who live letting go of what is futile and what clutters our minds. To care for this world by not consuming it to the point of destroying ourselves, rather consuming Christ and finding hope and contentment fully in Him, in order to love this world and God’s people well. In order to walk into this new year and strongly represent Jesus as His disciples and His children, we must be strengthened by the things we consume and what we focus our minds and hearts on. This psalm offers us a chance to declutter our minds and souls by fixating on what brings true contentment to our lives always—resting our hope in the Lord and living to prioritize His presence. We must see that in order for 2026 to be the year that God has for us, finding all our hope in the Lord and living to prioritize His presence will be the pathway there.

Like a weened child, 2026 can be the year of knowing we need a beautiful relationship with the source of all peace, all hope, all joy, all love, and all life. We will undoubtably find that if we daily and moment-to-moment choose to fixate our eyes and whole lives on our ultimate comfort rather than temporary comforts or distractions found on our phones, in the media, and in this world.

Application:

* Today, a way you can tangibly apply this scripture is to physically set aside your phone and any media for the first day of 2026. Put your phone in a drawer for an hour or the whole day to help you notice the noise and eliminate it. I love this quote from John Mark Comer:

“This new epidemic of distraction is our civilization’s specific weakness. And its threat is not so much to our minds, even as they shape-shift under the pressure. The threat is to our souls. At this rate, if the noise does not relent, we might even forget we have any.” - John Mark Comer from Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.

By setting aside distraction for the first day of 2026, you may recognize how much your mind is consumed with noise and weight that is not yours to carry. In this time pick up time in the beautify and presence of the Lord. 

* As our church heads into 28 days of prayer and fasting, print this psalm out and put it somewhere you can continually see it - do this to remind yourself that letting go of what is not meant for you and handing it to God, who is meant to hold it for us, and is worth it in the long run. 

Prayer:

Abba father,

Thank you for being the father who cares to carry us and all we try to hold on our own, even when it is not ours to hold. Thank you for your patience with us as we navigate living in this world while not becoming it. Lord teach us the way David lived. Show us the fruit that comes from setting aside the things that consume our minds when they are not supposed to be carried by us. Teach us to lay things down and find contentment in being dependent on you, rather than comforts of this world.  Help me not concern myself with what is too great for my arms to hold, help me learn to hand this off and into your arms and strength.  I love you so much Lord, I love you and all you are. In your name, Amen.

- Tess Schrupp

Acts 27 - 12.31.25

Scripture: Acts 27:22-25

But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

Observation

Paul is on a ship with other prisoners bound for Rome. He is going to plead his case before Caesar. On the way, the ship is overcome by a devastating storm. Even though it looks like all will perish, the centurion in charge follows Paul’s advice, and although there is a shipwreck, all survive.

Two things stood out to me as I read Acts 27:

1. Even in the midst of what looks like the most impossible situation, God is faithful and will fulfill his purposes.

2. Paul’s faith and leadership resulted in many others being saved.

Application

We now know how God used Paul’s trip to Rome to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul took the gospel directly to the center of the Roman Empire. He spent two years under house arrest, preaching about Jesus to all who would hear and writing letters to churches throughout the empire. I don’t think Paul knew the huge role he would play in spreading the gospel. He just knew that God had called him to go to Rome, and he had the faith to believe that God would fulfill his promises.

Not only was Paul a man of great faith, he used that faith and his God given wisdom to influence and impact others. In this instance, he advised the centurion in charge and the centurion listened and followed his advice. And because of that, ALL on the ship survived the shipwreck. There are many other instances in the Bible where Paul was shown favor. Even those in power who may not have understood that God’s hand was on Paul sensed that there was something about him worth listening to and respected him.

Prayer

God, please fill me with faith and wisdom. Fill me with your presence and let it overflow so that those I come in contact with will feel it. Help me to walk in obedience and faith, regardless of the circumstances around me.

- Debbie Dunn