“Hosanna!” is the cry of Palm Sunday. It’s a cry of adoration and at the same time desperation. It’s a cry our hearts knows in certain seasons. It’s this weird combination of praise while simultaneously begging, “save us!” There is blessing declared by the crowd the lined the roads waving palms and laying down cloaks.… Continue reading Hosanna! Save!
Have you ever had a situation with a friend or family member in which you hit a point in the conversation where one or both of you just needs to hit "pause" and get some space. You need to go to another room and continue the chat at another time. This could be in good… Continue reading Can I Just Get a Little Space?
Series Note: This year I got to write some prayer guides/reflections to be used in Lenten prayer stations in the chapel for the students, faculty, and staff at the university where I work. They are based on sections of Psalm 139 connected with scenes from Jesus' passion week journey to the cross. I hope to… Continue reading “Surround Me” – Lent Week 2 Prayer and Scripture Reflection Guide
Series Note: This year I got to write some prayer guides/reflections to be used in Lenten prayer stations in the chapel for the students, faculty, and staff at the university where I work. They are based on sections of Psalm 139 connected with scenes from Jesus' passion week journey to the cross. I hope to… Continue reading “Know Me” – Lent Week 1 Prayer and Scripture Reflection Guide
As part of my work at the university where I serve, I get the joy this year of helping plan some aspects of our campus-wide journey through Lent alongside our campus pastor and the students of our campus ministry team. This year Psalm 139 will be the main reflection for all our students, faculty, and… Continue reading Known – Lent 2023
At the start of 2021 I marked off 4 days in my calendar, approximately 3 months apart as days to step away, regroup, and reevaluate all aspects of my life. A day to simply rest or play or “go deep” or whatever my soul needs on that day. The first one was to kick off… Continue reading Whatever Marks This Season (A Prayer for a Day Away)
New morning. New mercies. The fears and failures of yesterday have past. The doubts and dreadful moments The sin and its stain Washed clean. Restored. New. Father, at the beginning of this new day, we dare to hope: hope for life abundant hope for joy hope for connection and community hope for a chance to… Continue reading New Morning. New Mercies. – A Morning Prayer
Lord, Forgive me when my words are filled with complaints... to You, to others, to no one in particular. Forgive me when I get focused on the things that aren't going the way I would like or imagine and get my heart focused instead on the many ways in which you have blessed me. Forgive… Continue reading Giving Up Complaining
A couple weeks ago I was in the store and decided to buy a baptism card. That might seem totally normal, except I don't know anyone being baptized soon. In short, buying that card was a way to trust that God was going to answer one of my prayers for 2016: that I would get… Continue reading Giving Up Half-Hearted Prayers
Jesus, you and I both know how I struggle with pride. Today, with your help, I give it up! It seems only appropriate way to start this reflective, repentant season of giving up the things that keep me distant from you, to begin with this one. (And perhaps wearing ashes all day might help… Continue reading Giving Up … Pride
bekahfreed.com 