She Thinks She's Witty

Yesterday I was in one of my seminary classes and we were telling stories. One of our assignments has been to do a formalist analysis of an Old Testament story of our choosing. Someone across the room picked the Cain and Abel story. She was telling her story and when she came to this verse, I could have sworn she was looking right at me: Genesis 4:6-7   (MSG)  God   spoke to Cain: “Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won’t you be accepted? And if you don’t do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it’s out to get you, you've got to master it.” My religious background is not heavy in the language of sin and condemnation, but this verse really hit me in the chest. I feel like lately I've been sulking. Not literally, but spiritually. No one event happened to start me on my spirit sulk, but I've just felt it lately. And this verse just finally touched on something I hadn't even realized I had been holding onto. Now that I've b...

As soon as I saw her, I stopped in my tracks. Then, as slowly as possible, I lowered myself into the tall grass and tried to make myself invisible. She was turned so her back was to me but my body reacted to her presence immediately, the same way I would imagine I would react to stumbling on a rabid bear. Instinct took over and the adrenaline started pumping, but I stayed still and so did she. With her back to me, I could see three things, but these were enough to give me a chill as if someone had walked over my grave. She was wearing a long red cloak with a dirty train that was billowed out behind her as if she had been dragging it along like a broken ankle. It was faded in spots and looked well worn. Her black hair fell past her midsection and was a bit scraggly at the ends as well. There were pieces of the tall grass caught in it and it fell on either side of her face to hide her features from me. The part that terrified me more than anything was the crown that sat on her...

Scripture : 1 Samuel 1:9-18 Come On God, help me pull myself together. I know what I'm doing wrong but I can't stop. Help me, guide me, give me strength  to fight against myself and to finally win. Fear & Hope, Rachel

Scripture : Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. You're in the dark too It's not the dark I'm scared of but what might be in it. The things I cannot see, cannot prepare for, those are the things that frighten me. But I can't see you either. And, though you have had your share of frightening moments, you are not to be feared completely. Then the darkness is good and full of promise. "Goodnight," I whisper to you and the things that go bump in the night. "Goodnight and sleep tight. My guardian angels will protect you too." For even the scary things need protecting from something scarier. Trust & Rest, Rachel

This morning I preached at York Center Church of the Brethren. Here's what I said! Scripture: Matthew 14:22-31 22-23  As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night. 24-26  Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror. 27  But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” 28  Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” 29-30  He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looke...