Ministry in Motion

  Do You Hear What I Hear?   Isaiah 6:8, it reads in part: “…I heard the voice of the Lord saying…” It’s too easy to take for granted the ability to hear. But, hearing and listening have quite different meanings. Hearing is a passive occurrence that requires no real effort. Listening, on the other hand, is a conscious choice that demands our attention and concentration.   To hear what the Lord is saying means that we hone our skills to listen - listening is one of the greatest gifts given to us by our Creator. And hearing from God is the highest form of listening.   Listen to   what the voice of Lord is saying.  A Thought, this Christmas Season… #pkes   #MinM

A job description summarizes the essential responsibilities, activities, qualifications and skills for a role; it describes the type of work to be performed. God’s job description is to turn death into life: The Passover; The Flood; The Resurrection; Pentecost. That’s what God does: A new springtime, A new season, A new life, A new hope.   ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ #pkes   #MinM

  In the USA 25%   of all annual candy sales occur during the Halloween season. Halloween, by some accounts, is a 9 billion dollar affair. What makes Halloween so popular? Perhaps it's the novelty of ‘trick to treat’ or the clever costumes or … maybe it’s just the free candy.   The conversations surrounding the celebration of Halloween continue to be a hot topic in Christian circles.   I’ve heard the debates.  Is Halloween harmless fun or something dark, evil and sinister?  Do the rhythms of Halloween in 2022 fit in a post-pandemic world? How does the day mesh with our understanding of the Christian faith?  Paul’s writing to the Philippines reminds us to focus on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, etc. (Philippians 4:8) .  So maybe families of faith should avoid Halloween. There are some dark and creepy things associated with Halloween. Understood. O ther Christians say God is not offended by carving a happy face in a pumpkin or giving can

The Epistle to Philemon is a prison letter, co-authored by Paul the Apostle with Timothy, to Philemon, a leader in the Colossian church.   The book of Philemon  is comprised of 25 verses, and contains approximately 335 words,  depending on the translation.  Consider verse 9: “…I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love ...”   Relationships can be hard, but Paul’s example in the letter to Philemon prompts us to consider appealing to others in love rather than desperation, anger, or haste. Imagine if we appealed to one another and made requests with a clean conscious and pure heart based in love.  I suspect  we would see life-giving changes rather than hurt feelings and strained relationships. I'm reminded by the Book of Philemon that good relationships don't happen overnight - they take commitment, compromise, forgiveness and most of all...effort.   Godly relationships take love... #pkes   #MinM  

What do ya know about Matthias? Except for the fact he had a cool name… The disciples needed to find a twelfth man to replace Judas. The remaining disciples had narrowed down the candidates to two people: Joseph (also known as Justus) and a man named Matthias ( Acts 1:12-26 ).  Both of these men had followed Jesus during his public ministry – since  John the Baptist  baptized Jesus and witnessed his resurrection.   After praying: “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”   Doing a practice known as casting lots, the lots landed on Matthias. He was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot.  The best we have is some extra-biblical sources to rely on regarding the life of Matthias. From the Scriptures, we don’t know a whole lot about the person of Matthias. We can assume he was one of the 120 disciples who waited for the  Holy Spirit  to descend upon them at Pentecost.   Some have co

Online Giving:  Make a one-time or recurring donation through our free and  secure online giving option, below. Ministry in Motion.Church Your financial gifts help further the impact of the ministries of Ministry in Motion. Rest assured, the stewardship of your gift is a sacred responsibility, one we take very seriously. All gifts are tax-deductible and a year-end giving statement is prepared and sent, each January.   #pkes    #MinM Ministry in Motion is a Texas Nonprofit Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) corporation under the US Internal Revenue Service Code

Opinions when wielded by the informed mind can be a powerful, game changing catalysts for world-good, ideas that fuel business and life. But not every thought, every opinion, is worth sharing aloud. When you do have a strong belief on something how well do you use your voice to advocate for your opinion, your POV —   point of view?  The book of Proverbs contrasts foolishness with godly wisdom.   Proverbs 18:2   A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,   but only in expressing his opinion. A "fool" isn't driven by a desire to understand; all that matters to the fool is saying what's on their mind. One might say such a person, a fool,   has a closed mind and an open mouth. Discussions become arguments, sometime bitter,   resulting in communication breakdown; failure to hear and failure to understanding .   Close your eye for a few seconds. Who do you see an image of — is that the person who’s opinion matters to you? The opinions of others, sometimes only a select few,

Socrates is credited w/ saying:   “ Beware the barrenness of a busy life. "   I am so busy, is a default response for many of us these days. It's like a reflex to any questions we might receive from others. "How are you?" = “Oh, I'm so busy!" "Have you got time to meet up later?" = “Can't, too busy!" "Could you help me out by doing a small favor?" = “Maybe, but I’m pretty busy." Now, admittedly plenty of us are really busy doing really important things — so maybe these responses are justified. However, sometimes it's what we're busy with that merits a closer look. Granted, people busying themselves is like the new norm. No time to rest, little time for friends and family, no time to think, just busy.   Then Jesus said , “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. Yet busy is not

  We want to use our time, money, and resources to love and serve people in our local community. Giving helps us grow as disciples, care for people, and go into spaces to introduce the spiritually curious to the Jesus-centered life. Everything you give fuels our vision of loving well.   Giving online is simple and secure. Click on the  'Donate'  button below to make a one-time or recurring donation by credit card or electronic check. Ministry in Motion.Church   Ministry in Motion is a Texas Nonprofit Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) corporation  under the  US Internal Revenue Service Code.   #pkes   #MinM  

True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance.   It is far deeper than that - it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. ~ Charles Spurgeon Psalm 130  Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; 2  Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. 3  If You, Lord, should [ a ]mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4  But  there is  forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. 5  I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. 6  My soul  waits  for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than  those who watch for the morning. #pkes   #MinM

The news of the unfathomable violence against precious children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas, is unthinkable. I can only imagine the grief that the affected families and communities are experiencing today.   If you are struggling to know how to pray, like I am, take comfort in these words from the Apostle Paul: 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 of God. Psalmist tells us that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted. I’m brokenhearted today. You? My prayer is that we will take whatever feelings we are carrying in our hearts — anger, sadness, fear, confusion — and entrust them to our God who is very near. Trust that his Spirit will intercede in ways that we cannot.   Pray for Uvalde. Pray for the families who woke up this morning forever changed. Pray for the staff and administration

  A Passover Poem  Inspired by Deborah Leipziger Begin with stillness.   Summon Courage.   Remember Deliverance.                                                                  Breathe — feel your lungs expanding within your chest Close your eyes.   Picture: The forsythia and the flowers of spring,   purple iris for the passover table,   tulips so pink they edge into blue. Invite: Gather your dearest, the lonely, those without, this passover meal is for you — for them Hunger.   Bring your hunger, end your fast. Remember.   Indeed, there is much to recall   and to hold,   And to heal. Choose. Just about everything calls out to you to be done — you must choose the things most carefully. Kindness, stay kind.   This is important.   For this passover meal,   bring your Love of storytelling.   Bring Maror. Matzah.   The bitter herbs Bring parsley to dip in salt water   taste the tears of sorrow   All this is Necessary.   Remember the lamb . . . the lamb Open your eyes to the sacred, and to

When I was young, we practiced Lent. Mom said we would. As I “matured” in the church I stopped practicing Lent because I was assumed to be a 'just a tradition.' A dead one. I thought this mostly because I couldn't find explicit proof text for it in Scripture. Now I realize that Lent is not a tradition for tradition's sake, it’s about my focus on Christ, Easter and the hope of the resurrection. Practicing Lent may present challenges, especially in today’s culture, which is so often overconfident and riddled with self. Yet, Lent bids us to allow the Spirit to search our hearts to see if there’s any flawed and twisted way present, then to look to a loving God for forgiveness, transformation and blessing.   I pray your time spent in the Lenten journey will lead you towards God’s peace and love.  Shalom . . . #pkes   #MinM

  Believing that all people are created in God’s image, we willingly support local and global initiatives that serve those in need, the marginalized and the vulnerable.   Your giving + our time = our ability to serve in our local communities while also contributing financially to the work of partner agencies who intentionally demonstrate Jesus’ love through action. Giving online is simple and secure. Click on the Donate  button below to make a one-time or recurring donation by credit card or electronic check. Ministry in Motion.Church   All gifts are tax-deductible and a year-end giving statement is prepared and sent, the end of each January.  Ministry in Motion is a Texas Nonprofit Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) corporation under the  US Internal Revenue Service Code.