Skip to main content

September 2021

 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord the Spirit. 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Dear Markle UMC Family,


As we have been continuing in our series The Images of Faith and looking at our stained glass around our beautiful church building, God has been showing me something deeper than just beautiful colors and great artistry. He has been showing me the deeper truths of living a life with Him. Each image points towards living a life of hope, faith, and love.


It gets me thinking about how other things in life point towards deeper meanings. If we take a moment we realize we are surrounded by them like brand logos, emojis and gifs on our phones, and other symbols. But have you ever realized that each one of us is an image pointing towards something greater?


In the very first book of the Bible, it says God created humans in his image. Male and female He created them. This means that each one of us is an “image bearer” and created to actually reflect the very image of God. After Sin entered into that world the image was distorted, but Jesus has come to restore that image in each one of us through the power of the Holy Spirit. 


Jesus tore the veil that separated us from God and we are able to see Him as in a mirror so we too can be made new in His image and reflect him to the rest of the world. Each one of us is an “Image of Faith”, because by the Holy Spirit we reflect His love to the rest of the world. As we continue to draw closer in relationship with God we are able to reflect Him more and more, pointing others to His truth and love through our words and actions. 


When we come together in community and grow in our relationship with God, we are “transformed into the same image from glory to glory” by the work of the Holy Spirit. How are you leaning into your relationship with God today to reflect His image to others? In what ways can you allow others to help you grow as well?


In Christ,

P. Dan

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

November 2021

 12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he wi

August 2021

  My wife and I recently planted a little redbud tree in our yard. We’ve wanted one for a while, so we decided that we were going to buy one and plant it just on the edge of a little woods that we have on our property. Unfortunately, when I bought the little tree, I didn’t realize that the main trunk of it was pretty much dead. Like, dead as a doornail dead. We talked about just returning it to the store and getting our money back to buy a different one, but it wasn’t that expensive so we decided instead to just plant it and see what happened. A day or so later, these little green shoots came up around the base of the dry, dead trunk and within a week they were six inches or so tall. The wait for a big, beautiful redbud tree might be a little longer, but, in the end, I’m glad we decided to keep it. I’m reminded of a passage from Isaiah 42 as I think about this little tree (and, if I’m being honest, a lot of the little baby trees we’ve been coaxing along at our house). It’s one of many