Spring Valley Community Church, Arizona 86333

01/14/2026

05/21/2025

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04/24/2025

https://open.substack.com/pub/twominutedevotions/p/return-and-be-revived?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2kecun

04/09/2025

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.

04/08/2025

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

04/04/2025

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

04/03/2025

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

04/02/2025

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” —Deuteronomy 7:9

03/31/2025

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

03/28/2025

He who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."
My wife & I went to a movie theater years ago when the passion of the Christ you know by Mel Gibson. The violence of that film was so graphic, the emotions so raw for me to ever watch it a second time.

After watching it however, there was a scene that played over & over in my head-the moment when Jesus speaks to his mother on the way to his crucifixion.

Jesus is carrying his cross. He is bloodied & beaten. He falls & Mary reaches out as if to catch him. she knows her son is going to die. For a moment, we see the face of Jesus. Bruised & bloodied. and then we hear his voice. He says to Mary, "Behold, I make all things new."

In Jesus, this moment of horrible violence will be God's most creative act. By going to death, Jesus will bring forgiveness 7life. he will rise from the dead & renew all things. for you.

This scene is not in the Gospels. Gibson made it up for the movie. But scenes like this occur throughout the Gospels. Again & again, we see Jesus enter suffering to bring about renewal.

Demon possession, leprosy, blindness, prostitution, poverty, death...the scenes change. But the work of Jesus remains the same. Jesus enters suffering to bring about renewal.

Have you seen suffering? A word spoken in anger that went too deep. An illness that medicine cannot cure. A memory of abuse that will not go away.

Turn your eyes to Jesus. He is the Lord of Life. He enters into suffering to bring about renewal & there is no road of suffering he will not travel; no place of pain he will not visit to bring renewal to you.

I don't know the road you walk. Yet, even in life's smallest scenes, Jesus walks with you. You are not alone. Christ has come to renew your life, daily & richly with the wonder of his love.

Jesus, you renew all things, come into my live & make everything new. Amen.