Scripture

So own up to your sins to one another and pray for one another. In the end, you may be healed. Your prayers are powerful when they are rooted in a righteous life. James 5:16 (VOICE)

The Gist

We don't talk much about confession in the protestant church. James isn't saying we should confess every fault/sin to every person, but instead to certain situations:

• Where reconciliation is needed
• where your heart/conscience is burdened
• where a trusted friend can listen and help us receive grace and gain power over shame/guilt.

We avoid confessing for several reasons: exposure/shame, loss of control, lack of safe listeners, and theological confusion, but there is a lot of good that comes out of confession. It heals the body and soul, sin loses its power, authentic relationships happen, prayers become specific, and we experience the Gospel physically through being fully known and not rejected from the listener.

Digging Deeper

Is there something you would confess to God privately but can't imagine saying out loud to another person - what does that gap tell you?

Bonhoeffer said, "If the demon that is named is the demon that loses its power." What in your life needs to be named?

Who are you performing wholeness for, and what would it cost you to stop?

These questions are meant to clear the ground and create the conditions for confession, not demand it.

Scripture

I could speak more of faith; I could talk until time itself ran out. If I continued, I could speak of the examples of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and all the prophets. 33 I could give accounts of people alive with faith who conquered kingdoms, brought justice, obtained promises, and closed the mouths of hungry lions. 34 I could tell you how people of faith doused raging fires, escaped the edge of the sword, made the weak strong, and—stoking great valor among the champions of God—sent opposing armies into panicked flight. Hebrews 11:32-34 (VOICE)

The Gist

No, it isn't a typo. We didn't mean Rise and Shine, we really meant Rise and Found! After reading once again about all the unexpected Heroes of Faith or Champions of God, we were reminded of how none of them felt capable, prepared, or strong enough. BUT God chose them and equipped them.

The phrase: Found strength rising out of weakness stood out. This episode, Allison & Melissa talk unscripted about which word stood out, drew them in, and what God revealed. You won't want to miss what they discovered and share in this episode.

Melissa: Found

Allison: Rising

Digging Deeper

Found strength rising out of weakness. What world draws your attention? Found? Strength? Rising? Weakness?

Find a quiet spot, sit, and linger with this question and see what God reveals to you. Be sure to share with a friend.

Scripture

It wasn’t long after this when Jesus entered a city called Nain. Again all of His disciples accompanied Him, along with a huge crowd. 12 He was coming near the gate of the city as a corpse was being carried out. This man was the only child and support of his widowed mother, and she was accompanied by a large funeral crowd.

13 As soon as the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her.

Jesus: Don’t weep.

14 Then He came to the stretcher, and those carrying it stood still.

Jesus: Young man, listen! Get up!

15 The dead man immediately sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother,

Luke 7:11-15 (The Voice)

The Gist

We take a look at the deeper meanings found within the Luke 7 story - what it says about us and what it says about Jesus that His compassion gifted this widow an uninvited and unrequested miracle.

Every other healing in the gospels involves some form of approach - someone coming to Jesus, reaching for Him or His cloak, crying out, or sending word. But here, in this story, Jesus crosses the distance on His own initiative.

Jesus: Notices the one, is often moved before He acts, comes to us, and restores us.

The direction you are walking doesn't determine whether Jesus can find you! This unrequested miracle strips away every transactional framework we quietly attach to God's goodness. We can subtly believe (without saying it) that miracles flow to the spiritually prepared, those who have prayed enough and just right, believed enough, and positioned themselves correctly. This story of the widow dismantles ALL of that!

Digging Deeper

Is there a place in your life where you have accepted a loss as final - something you have given up on or stopped asking about because the procession is underway? What would it look like or mean to let Jesus meet you there - not because you pursued Him, but because He sees you and is moved?