From the Mount of the Beatitudes, we soak in the good news that Jesus brought to the poor in spirit, those who were in the midst of hard realities, desperate for acceptance. The message for us is clear: Don't keep being enslaved to runaway emotions and assumptions. Go on a "live loved" quest. Get...

In Caiaphas's house, we recall Peter's betrayal of Jesus, triggered by his fear of rejection by the servant girl. He brought his emptiness into that courtyard. But what if he had brought the fullness of God? Do you walk into situations like a shepherd, looking for ways to bless others? Or do you ...

From the Cave of Adullum where David hid from Saul, we discover that David's rejection by Nabal triggered an over-reaction, but Abigail intervened. She showed David how to pay *Attention* to the truth, and not to his history of being rejected. She got him to refocus on his real *Intention,* which...

In Shiloh, where Hannah prayed in desperation for a child, we can relate to desperately wanting something, and seeing the Lord blessing other women in that area. We feel set aside. Why them and not us? Our prayers answered with a "no" or "wait" can make us feel unnoticed, uninvited. But God's del...

Looking out at the Sea of Galilee from the cliffs of Mount Arbel, we focus on the messes that happen in Jesus' life between his miracles of healing, feeding the five thousand, and calming the storm. Jesus experienced rejection, exhaustion, and ridicule. We learn that resisting God's promises will...

Before his ultimate rejection at Golgotha, Jesus wrestled in the Garden of Gethsemane with what he knew was coming. The significance of being in an olive grove for this internal battle was not lost on him. Olive trees need both harsh east wind and refreshing west wind. Olives have to be heavily p...