Have you ever wondered what it felt like to be in the presence of Jesus? When he entered a room, how did the dynamics of the room change? What was it about his nature that caused people to be so attracted to him?

In 2023, we find ourselves in the middle of an abundance of hurt and pain. War, political upheaval, many lost and broken, and for some of us, so much loss these past few years. At times, it may seem as though we are fighting an uphill battle.

In the athletic world, my “pearl of great price” was to win a national championship. I sold my soul to achieve this goal. No sacrifice could get in the way of what I wanted to achieve. Whenever I won a match, I couldn’t contain my joy. But I never won enough to hold on to that joy. 

Thanks to an amazing mentor and friend of mine who is always on the lookout for free tools, I am now the proud owner of a larger bandsaw. This new little beauty only needed a little scrubbing, a new blade, and a small little safety device that would keep the blade from causing dangerous things to occur.

When I met Gordy, he had already been confined to a wheelchair for more than 60 years and his speech was unintelligible. Although burdened by his physical condition, he had a peaceful spirit and an infectious smile.

Personally, I’ve always found the words of Jesus to be counter-cultural, inspiring, thought-provoking, or comforting. Even the difficult things Jesus said have always rung true in my spirit. But recently, on the other side of a tragic loss in our family, I’ve found myself unexpectedly triggered by some of Jesus’s words.

In Novo we know how important blessing is. I love the power of this blessing found in Numbers.
I especially love the part about the Lord‘s face; it is shining upon us, him turning his countenance toward us.

Have you ever stepped into an obedience assignment from the Lord that just seemed a little crazy? It involved risk and dependence on him, and you knew you were not in control of the outcomes. 

Have you ever felt hedged in by the Lord? Have you experienced a time when God protected you from something—or even protected you from yourself?

What is it about physical presence that is so compelling? Why is a live concert always better than the recording? Why is talking on the phone with my daughter not as good as sitting silent in a room with her as she paints and I read?

Dig deeper into this scripture through a few minutes of visio divina, a reflective prayer practice that uses focusing on an image as a catalyst for prayer:

The discoveries of our brain have revealed much about our Creator and how to love like him. Even more, these discoveries have shown how the Church can experience a greater transformation.