Treasure Valley Prays

Reimagining Church Together
SHARING STORIES AND EXPLORING SPIRITUAL CONNECTION

Devotions

little flock of sheep at sunrise

Have No Fear, Little Flock

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) Several weeks ago, the Gospel for the day began with Luke 12:32. As soon as I heard the first words, “Fear not, little flock” I was transported back to a day in the mid-1980’s when I found

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standing on the glacier

Bottling the Magic

I remember this day five years ago when my husband and I were traveling in Alaska. We had just finished a sea kayaking trip out to a glacier, and we had been fortunate enough to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience of actually paddling up to land that had been uncovered by the melting glacier and being

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feeding sheep and ducks

“What you pay attention to grows.”

“What you pay attention to grows.” – Adrienne Maree Brown Tweet Psalm 100 – A Psalm of thanksgiving. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.   Worship the Lord with gladness;   come into his presence with singing.Know that the Lord is God.   It is he that made us, and we are his;   we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Enter

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tired dog

Come Away and Rest

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet (deserted) place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 What a gracious and kind invitation Jesus extended to his twelve apostles on that busy day.

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daily bread

Give Us Our Daily Bread

Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? (Psalm 85:5) One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be

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Dandelion blown in wind

The Spirit Prays for Us

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will

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green pasture

Meditation on Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is perhaps one of the most recognizable passages of scripture. It is a passage that millions of people have committed to memory. It is frequently requested as the psalm to be read at funerals. It is so well known that some of its phrases have even found their way into modern advertising; remember

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children at tree planting

Learning Peace

How beautiful upon the mountainsare the feet of the messenger who announces peace,who brings good news,who announces salvation,who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ (Isaiah 52:7) The last week of June around 95 youth ages 6-13 participated in the 5th year of Learning Peace: A Camp for Kids. We have had a few bumps, like

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apples on branch

The Apple Tree

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 There is a well-known quote by Martin Luther that circulates from time to time:“If the world were to end tomorrow, and they would tell me that, I would still plant

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holding hands up as hearts

Children of God in Christ

This little gem, although well known, is hidden away in the writings of Paul; and is still timely today in the second decade of this new Century. Before the faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.  So the law was put in charge to lead us

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lion

How Do We Achieve Victory?

One of the scripture readings for June 15 is the first chapter of the Book of Daniel. It sets the scene for Daniel’s experience as a prisoner of the Babylonians. Daniel and three other Israelite prisoners are chosen to work in the king’s service. The Babylonians serve them food that they could not eat if

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older and young face reflections

“God Eyes”

“The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearances, but the LORD looks at the heart.”(1 Samuel 16:7) Several years ago I had the opportunity to spend time with a person I had only known for a few years. Our paths had crossed in several classes at church but

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Swedish candletree Augustana

What Does Heaven Smell Like?

A few weeks ago, as I was washing my hands, a random thought entered my brain: “What does heaven smell like?” I stopped what I was doing and tried to figure out what could have triggered that thought – and then I realized it was the aroma of the hand soap I was using. It

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Gothic arches

Forever

A number of years ago, something very good happened in my family. I told my teenage daughters “I will remember this day forever…..” and then I said “…. Unless I get dementia….” My girls burst out laughing from the incongruous juxtaposition of the tender words that began my communication and the stark though precise and

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prayer candles

Tears…(Again!!!)

“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?…Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or

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Crowds in city

Belonging to Each Other

I enjoyed Halloween this year. I started the evening with a large supply of candy, and ended it with an empty bowl. I ran out

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raised hands

A Look at All Saints

We are now late in the church year and are rapidly moving toward Advent. It seems that by late October and all of November we

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“Holy” Citizenship?!

“When (the Roman soldiers) had tied him up with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it legal for you to

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man going up staircase into sky

What Do You Believe?

Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”(Mark 9:24) Today is Halloween. What does that mean to you? Halloween began

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man sitting on grass at prayer

When All Else Fails, Listen

If you’ve been following along with the lectionary, you might be aware that a major theme of our recent gospel lessons has been prayer. It’s

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water pitcher

A Gift of Being a Vessel

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water,” so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out

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Old Faithful

Old Faithful

Having grown up in the Midwest and lived most of my adult life on the East Coast, much of the Mountain West landscape was unknown

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stormy sky in distance

Do Not Be Afraid

The LORD himself goes before youand will be with you;He will never leave you nor forsake you.Do NOT be afraid;do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8

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resort on the beach

8 Days

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my

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