Disciples of Jesus

OUR LIVES MAY BE FULL of change and turmoil. Sometimes we need to stop and take in the big picture, to look back at where we have been, to view the great span of our history with this Shepherd who will not abandon the sheep. [In Psalm 100] the psalmist says God is good. Instead of entering God’s courts in fear of judgment, we may enter singing about God’s faithfulness and find ourselves welcomed home as beloved children, sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ.

~ Erica L. Schemper
Disciplines 2014 

Becoming Who God Wants You to Be

THROUGH MY WORK in spiritual direction, I find that many people have a fear of abandonment. As an only child, I felt that fear especially when my parents would go out for an evening. I didn’t know if I could trust the promise that my parents would return because of the lurking fear that one night they wouldn’t – and I’d be alone always.
Understandably, I find comfort in Jesus’ promise of promises: “I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you” (John 14:18, RSV). In seminary I knew who my favorite theologian would be the day my professor said that Karl Barth’s God was the one who made and kept promises.
My favorite place as a boy was climbing to the highest branch of the cherry tree in our yard. … In that tree I would dream that someday a tree house might reside there. One Sunday the minister shared Jesus’ promise to “prepare a place for you” (John 14:3). I knew a better translation: “I go to build a tree house for you.”
This image has remained throughout the years, and I encountered another scripture passage that completed my childhood portrait. I would move in, and there would be a knock on my tree house door. There he would be as promised. He would say, “I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me” (Rev. 3:20).
Even today while receiving Communion, this image of playing house together returns. It’s all about being able to trust promises.

– Personal Spiritual Direction
Becoming Who God Wants You to Be