Hello fellow Challenge participants! My name is Nancy Ries. My husband Dan and I usually attend either
the 9:15 service or the Gathering, although from time to time we can be found
in the historic church at 10:30. I
finished four years of EFM in 2003, and co-mentored an EFM group for several
years after that. I’m excited about the
Bible Challenge; it will give me an opportunity to revisit some familiar
stories and become acquainted with others I forgot or missed. And through it all, I get a glimpse of God’s
hand at work in our lives, yearning for communion with us, the people of
God.
This week, we move further into Exodus. Moses takes center stage, but when the great
I AM reminds him that it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who is in
charge, we remember the promises God made to the courageous and faithful people
of Genesis. It’s going to be a busy
week, with burning bushes, and plagues, the Passover, pillars of cloud and
fire, and manna from heaven. We’ll finish up the week with the Ten
Commandments. Meanwhile, in Matthew,
Jesus continues his journey through the countryside, teaching in parables and
healing. He makes his way to
Jerusalem. We see gentle Jesus with the
children, but some of his parables and predictions might catch us up short.
These stories are OUR stories. God loves us every bit as much as God loved
the Israelites and later the Jews (and Gentiles). Through these stories we can see the great
lengths that God goes to in order to rescue and redeem God’s people. As you read these stories this week, I invite
you to reflect on your personal experiences of God’s redeeming power. Share any thoughts, questions, or concerns
that bubble up this week. Let’s get a
discussion started!
Shalom,
Nancy
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