These days, there’s a smartphone app for just about everything. But what about spiritual concerns? Where can you turn?
• Depressed? Try the joy app. Read Isaiah 51:11.
• Tired? Try the renewal app. Read Isaiah 40:30-31.
• Unsettled? Try the peace app. Read Philippians 4:7.
• Unloved? Try the love app. Read Romans 8:38-39.
• Worried? Try the refuge app. Read Psalm 46:1.
• Fearful? Try the power app. Read 2 Timothy 1:7.
• Guilty? Try the forgiveness app. Read Colossians 1:13-14.
• Praying? Try the prayer app. Read 1 John 5:14-15.
The Scriptures are God’s storehouse of meaningful applications for what we face every day. Think of the Bible as the iTunes Store of spiritual apps. Best of all, everything’s free! —Timothy Merrill
Vine A vine symbolizes Christ, the foundation of life and nourishment of all people, who, in turn, are like branches. When separate from the vine, we branches can’t survive — at least not spiritually. “Apart from me,” says Jesus, “you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NIV). But as God the gardener tends this relationship, we branches grow stronger and more mature in Jesus and alongside one another.
“The daring young man on the flying trapeze … ” Those lyrics to a popular 19th-century song come to mind when I picture aerial artists. A performer called the flyer leaps off a bar, swings a couple of times from a trapeze, then lets go to sail through the air before connecting with another swinging performer, the catcher.
Life sometimes seems like a circus act, though we don’t always feel so daring. Especially during transitions, we often must let go of one thing before we’re secure with another. We may feel as if we’re flailing through the air during a move or job change, while awaiting medical test results or just walking along the path of faith.
Thankfully, Jesus is our dependable “catcher.” As we sail through life, wondering whether there’s a safety net, we needn’t worry about our ability to connect with and cling to Jesus. Instead, he catches us and holds on for dear life — our earthly life and our heavenly one.
Interested in the story on Easter Sunday about the sign language interpreter in Ukraine? Pastor heard this story through Vanishing Grace video by Phil Yancey, but you can go to Wikipedia for an article on the interpreter,
A vine symbolizes Christ, the foundation of life and nourishment of all people, who, in turn, are like branches. When separate from the vine, we branches can’t survive — at least not spiritually. “Apart from me,” says Jesus, “you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NIV). But as God the gardener tends this relationship, we branches grow stronger and more mature in Jesus and alongside one another.
