Posts by Jo Witt

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Third Sunday in Lent

by Jo Witt

Theme of the Day: Against the Rock of Faithful Presence, False Security Is Crushed A person can survive between one and two months without food. But a person can survive only two to three days without water. Water is one of our greatest needs. Research shows that even slight dehydration will adversely affect your mood, […]

Second Sunday in Lent

by Jo Witt

Theme of the Day: A Gift for the World When Jesus said, “No one can enter the kingdom of God,” he declared that the need for salvation is universal. He rightly condemned humanity as a whole. There is no one on the face of the earth who can make the case that they deserve God’s […]

First Sunday in Lent

by Jo Witt

Theme of the Day: A Champion for the Defeated Our modern English word “champion” comes from an old English word that meant “warrior.” In ancient times, when two armies gathered to fight, sometimes as a prelude to the battle—and sometimes in place of the battle—each army would pick a mighty solider, and these two men […]

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

by Jo Witt

Theme of the Day: Jesus Appears As The Son Of God In Glory Throughout his ministry Jesus said astounding things and did astounding things. Yet, he looked like a normal man. The prophet said, “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah […]

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

by Jo Witt

Theme of the Day: Live A Holy Life! The word “holy” comes from an Old English word, “halig” which means “whole” or “healthy.” We have a holy God. He wants us to live a holy life, one that is wholly dedicated to him, one that is spiritually and emotionally healthy for us. So, as Jesus […]

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (Mission Festival)

by Jo Witt

Theme of the Day: You Are…So Be! Imagine a beautiful guitar, carefully crafted out of the finest mahogany and steel strings. Now imagine that fine instrument is never played. It is placed atop a bookshelf and never touched. It just collects dust. Tragic, right? What a thing is finds fulfillment when that thing does what […]

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

by Jo Witt

Theme of the Day: Trust In God’s Strength! Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with a series of blessings. “Blessed are…” Jesus says, again and again. In the Latin Vulgate, these all begin with the word “beati” which translates as “blessed” or “happy.” Thus, this portion of the sermon is often called “The Beatitudes.” […]

Third Sunday after Epiphany

by Jo Witt

Theme of the Day: Jesus Appears As The Light That Shines In The Darkness The prophet Isaiah vividly described humanity as “people walking in darkness.” We are completely enveloped by sin and suffering and death. Worse, when we honestly assess the content of our minds and hearts, we find darkness there too. However, the prophet […]

Second Sunday after Epiphany

by Jo Witt

Theme of the Day: Jesus Appears As The Lamb Of God For centuries the priests of Israel offered sacrifices to God for sin. Over and over blood flowed, testifying that the penalty of sin was death. But over and over a substitute stood in the place of the sinner. Countless animals died under the priestly […]

First Sunday after Epiphany – Baptism of Our Lord

by Jo Witt

Theme of the Day: Jesus Appears As The Christ, The Anointed One “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name, of course. It is a title. The Greek word “Christ” and the Hebrew word “Messiah” both mean the same thing—“The Anointed One.” Anointing was the practice of pouring liquid (typically oil) over the head of someone to […]