My husband, Mark, and I moved to Chicago from Colorado Springs in 1998, when I accepted a call to lead the Covenant Church's ministries of Christian formation. We have two adult children. Aaron and his wife, Jeanne, live less than a block from us. Kjerstin is our adventurous Alaskan skier and sea kayaker.

Throughout the next four weeks of devotions, the Christian formation staff will focus on four elements--G.R.O.W.--that foster the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This week, we focus on God's word, and its power to shape our actions and our lives. Next week we look at relationships and how they can nurture healthy spiritual growth. The third week looks at obedient living and our call as disciples to use God's gifts in witness and service. The fourth week, we will see the importance of worship as one of the central ways we interact with and experience God.

Sunday, October 5 (Seventeenth after Pentecost) Psalm 125

Trusting in God's Word

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be

shaken but endures forever" (v. 1, NIV). Learning to trust begins very early in life. Have you ever played "peekaboo" with a baby? That very

simple game teaches a young child to trust that you will return after you briefly disappear. Repeating such a sign of assurance builds trust.

Throughout Scripture, we see assurances of God's presence and activity in our midst. Immersing ourselves in these stories, returning to them daily, teaches us to trust in God. Such a solid trust, nurtured by spending time in God's word, builds an unshakable faith.

We are people of the word. We trust in the truths of God's word. We value Scripture as the only perfect rule for our lives.

God of grace and truth, teach us to have an unshakable faith as we learn to trust in you. Amen.

Monday, October 6--Proverbs 1:20-33

Listening to God's Word

I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you" (v. 23, NIV). Do you hear the longing for intimate relationship in this plea? We serve a God who desires to have us hear words of wisdom and love. Yet we seldom really listen to these words that offer life.

So often I've filled my ears with the wisdom of this world, rather than with God's wisdom. The result is that I experience skewed priorities, make unwise choices, and fail to find the kind of safety and peace that is spoken of in verse 33, "without fear from harm." Why is it so difficult for me to attend to the wisdom of God that it is offered so freely to me?

Years ago, I learned a method of prayerful reading of Scripture that makes space for attentive listening. It is a type of holy reading that has been practiced in the Christian Church since the fourth century. It has allowed me to listen and dialogue with God's word, so that its wisdom and truths can permeate my life. It's a formational versus an informational way of reading. When I am faithful in this practice, God's wisdom is more readily available to me.

God of wisdom and enduring love, forgive my wayward wanderings, and teach me to listen to your words of life. Amen.

Tuesday, October 7--Mark 8:27-30

Personalizing God's Word

Sometimes I wonder what it must have been like to be able to just walk along and talk to Jesus. While walking along with his disciples, Jesus engaged them in some interesting dialogues. This one offers two very

challenging questions. "Who do people say that I am?" is a factual inquiry. But "Who do you say I am?" is much more personal.

One way of reading such stories in God's word is to personalize them, to put ourselves right into the scene of the story. I've found this to be a helpful way of entering Scripture and allowing it to engage me at a deeper level. In today's story, imagine that you are walking along with Jesus as he he asks you, "Who do people (in your home, workplace, school) say that I am?" I like to use a journal to capture these reflections. Then respond to the more personal question, "Who do you say I am?"

Jesus, thank you for walking and talking with me. Teach me to encounter your word with an openness of heart. Amen.

Wednesday, October 8--James 3:1-12

Obeying God's Word

A Christian publishing company considered creating a curriculum that would be titled "HCYDWJWDIYDKWJD?" The title alluded to this challenging question: "How can you do what Jesus would do if you don't know what Jesus did?" Great question!

Today's text begins with a strongly worded warning to teachers. Teaching in the context of the church is a huge responsibility. In order to teach with integrity, one must first know the truths of Scripture, and be learning to obey those truths.

As a rudder guides a ship, or a bit guides a horse, the tongue holds great sway over our behavior. This is as true for the whole of the church as it is for the individual. Paul here intends that we heed the warning as it applies to both. False teaching has huge ramifications and, if unchecked, can misguide the whole congregation. Through our obedience to God's word, we affirm our desire to know, understand, and live out God's truth.

Kind and gracious God, teach us to obey all the truths of your word. Amen.

Thursday, October 9--James 3:13-18

Harvesting Wisdom from God's Word

Do you know people whose behavior so reflects their beliefs and values that you could easily "read" their core values by seeing their behavior? That's really the goal of the Christian life, as I understand it--that our actions would clearly and consistently reflect a wisdom that comes from God. Consistently reflecting God's wisdom requires an immersion in God's word.

We harvest what we sow. Pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful actions are the result of God's transforming work within us. That transforming work is nurtured through time spent attending to God's wisdom. That time is well-invested because according to this passage, it reaps a harvest of righteousness.

It's not enough just to know the facts and stories of God's word. Our life's passion is to see the truths of Scripture come alive among us!

Holy Spirit, may the wisdom of your word be harvested in my actions today. Amen.

Friday, October 10--Mark 8:31-38

Keeping in Mind the Truths of God's Word

What a shock that must have been for Peter: "Get behind me, Satan!" Jesus said. "You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but

merely human concerns" (v. 33, TNIV).

I can only imagine how Peter must have felt at that moment. Peter had, perhaps quite understandably, failed to focus on Jesus' ultimate goal. Peter wanted to avoid the road of suffering that Jesus was describing.

Jesus' ultimate goal was to reconcile the world to himself. Our goal, as followers of Jesus, is the same. We cannot participate with God in reaching that goal if we do not keep God's truths in our minds.

It's so easy to be shaped and formed by the wisdom and truths of the world around us. But such wisdom and truth results in our being shaped into materialistic consumers who use power over others for our own benefit, while Jesus' goal is that we are shaped and formed by God's word.

Lord, renew our minds through the power of your word, so that we might participate with you in reconciling the world to yourself. Amen.

Saturday, October 11--Isaiah 50:4-9a

Being Confident through God's Word

A friend and colleague of mine frequently challenges me with this question: "Who is it you are working for, Doreen?" It's a question that never fails to help me put things back into perspective. When I am fearful of what people might think of my actions or my words, I need a reminder that I really work for God.

As I faithfully attend to God's direction, I gain confidence in being who I'm called to be. As I am consistent in listening to God's wisdom, my words will be confidently spoken. God is faithful to teach us what we need to say and do.

"The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught" (v. 4, NIV).

Thank you, Sovereign Lord, for opening our ears so that we might confidently live into the ministry to which you've called us. Amen.