The River Christian Reformed Church

06/08/2026

Monday, June 8, 2026

The Holy Spirit Brings Power

Titus 1:9

As you enter your time with God today, take a moment to quiet your mind. Breathe this prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus, come. Fill me with your Spirit. Open my heart that you might share your words of life with me.”

We read today from Titus 1:9. Read the passage now or at the end of this devotion. What does this passage teach us about the Holy Spirit giving us strength?

I’m pretty sure that I’m turning into a grumpy old man.

When I was in my 20s, I was excited about new ideas; new technologies, new ideas, new forms of expression in arts and entertainment. I jumped on the music CD bandwagon early and accumulated quite a collection and then moved to my first iPod and downloaded tons of music. I was up on the latest movies, and knew not only mainstream media, but some of the more independent stuff that was pushing the limits of film in the 80s and 90s.

This was carried over into ministry when I started working with students. I was the first to try new ideas in my community and did some crazy things in youth ministry that would probably get me fired today. I felt like theology and church and how we viewed and approached the Bible needed to be updated. I was more than willing to be part of the front lines in doing it. The best ideas about Jesus were the next ones that we were going to figure out.

I don’t see things like that so much anymore. While I want to always be open to new things that the Spirit is doing in me and in the community I serve, I approach some of the world’s “progress” with cautious eyes. I’ve seen “progressive ideas” dilute the gospel through approaches to scripture that reject “outdated” truth. I’ve watched the focus on a purely personal faith that we know more as an individual, move believers away from the church, community, and accountability. I’ve seen deconstructionists ask so many questions and deconstruct so much, that there is nothing left to stand on. Those folks become disillusioned with faith and walk away from a Jesus they can’t believe in.

This is not to say new ideas, asking questions of tradition, and exploring better how we as believers engage with an ever-changing world. But I’m less optimistic that what is ‘new’ in our ideas and world needs to be fully embraced for us to know the best of what we can know in life.

Like Paul, I’m becoming more committed to remember what we know to be true. Those things that I know to be trustworthy are the things that I hold tight to with a stronger grip.

“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”

Paul is writing to Titus, a Gentile leader in the early church and giving him tools to equip him for ministry. He is sending this letter at a later stage in life. Paul has been around the block, as we well know from the book of Acts. He has fought the battles on the front lines. He has pushed the limits of the church’s boundaries. He has taken the Good News of Christ to new cultures and contexts where he has had to engage with new ideas while speaking the eternal truths of Jesus.

And here, he is reminding Titus to seek out leaders in the church who are rooted in the timeless and trustworthy gospel that has been taught to them in the past. Paul wants these leaders to be able to pass on a faith that is rooted in Christ and equips those being discipled with sound understandings of who Jesus really is.

This is important in Paul’s world. Lots of new religious groups are appearing making claims about Jesus and trying to pull new believers into their spheres of belief. The church struggles with Gnosticism, an early heresy about special knowledge reserved for special people. There are those who would impose enough Jewish Law on believers that Jesus would become unimportant to faith. Others invade the church with syncretistic practices that would make believers unrecognizable from everyone around them. In short, Paul is speaking this to a world that really is not that different than ours.

We need to join our leaders who are rooted in the trustworthy teachings that have been passed down to us so that they might be shared with generations to come. I’m not talking about simply traditions that we should retain just because “we’ve always done it this way”. I’m talking about a robust understanding of the scriptures, of theology, of doctrine, of practical theology, that is rooted in God’s Word, supported through healthy dialogue, discernment and accountability, and defended against those who dilute or dismiss it simply because its difficult, unpopular, or insensitive to those who remain in their sin.

This is not simple work. This demands something from us and our community. It demands humility that we know we are not always right and should listen to someone more mature and wise than we are. It demands a willingness to get off the world’s treadmill of acceptance and compliance with the mores of the day to embrace a Christlikeness that the world rejects or ignores. It demands that we hunger less after what the world, media, culture, celebrity (including religious influencers) expect of us, and hunger more after Jesus Christ, the lamb of God, who came to take away the sin of the world.

In short, this work demands strength; strength that is not ours in our frailty and brokenness, but strength offered as a gift to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we explore the strength of the Spirit this week, let’s seek the Spirit’s leading before we hear from anything else. The Spirit can be trusted. Let’s honor that trust by listening first to what he has to say.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his smile towards you and give you his peace.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I love you all. Blessings.

Feel free to share this devotion with others.

To contact the author, please email: [email protected]

06/08/2026

The Co****le Tournament recap!

We were able to raise over $2,000 for Christian Education! Thank you for coming, for those who played and for those who stayed to watch. It was a wonderful time together as a community.

06/07/2026

06/05/2026

THAT IS OUR GOD!
As the Spirit moves in our community, God allows for our stories to be part of something greater.

06/05/2026

Song of the week
“Come Holy Ghost”

"Come, Holy Ghost"Bruce Benedict | Rabanus Maurus | Ray MillsCho...

06/05/2026

Friday, June 5, 2026

The Holy Spirit as Keeper

Acts 28:30-31

As you enter your time with God today, take a moment to quiet your mind. Breathe this prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus, come. Fill me with your Spirit. Open my heart that you might share your words of life with me.”

We read today from Acts 28:30-31. Read the passage now or at the end of this devotion. What does this passage teach us about the Holy Spirit as Keeper?

I had some interesting conversations with Jean after her husband Harv died. Theirs was a beautiful love story and she missed him terribly after being married for over 50 years. Her grief was deep, but after a couple months of feeling deep and paralyzing sadness, Jean decided to reenter life and get back to the business of living.

She put up Harv’s picture above her mantle and started talking to him pretty much all the time. When she told me about it, she laughed because she was convinced that her neighbors thought she was crazy. “Sometimes I get mad at Harv and raise my voice a little bit. They must wonder who the crazy old lady next door is yelling at!”

She bought a new car for herself; a Nissan Juke. “It makes no sense to anyone except to me. It’s smaller than my other car and it’s easier to park. It’s got gadgets that warn me when I’m driving like a lunatic and I like that. Besides, it’s cute!”

She got a tattoo. She made me swear not to say anything about it at her funeral, but time has passed and I think she’ll understand. It was a little flower, the kind Harv always gave her. She didn’t weigh more than 90 pounds, so I must believe that getting the tattoo was painful. But she did it because she wanted to. “My kids think I’m going cuckoo, but that’s their problem, not mine.”

To the end of her life, Jean lived joy. Life was not easy. Her grief remained heavy. Her body failed her. There were loads of challenges along the way, but every interaction I had her was marked by the buoyancy of joy despite the circumstances. “I know in a little while that I’m going to be with Jesus and Harv. I’m looking forward to that. I’m just getting ready by starting the party a little sooner!”

I have to say that her final chapter, as she wrote it, was one of the best endings I’ve ever witnessed. She felt the presence of Jesus and her beloved husband. That impacted her, and by extension impacted those around her.

I think that Jean and Paul were cut from the same cloth.

“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance.”

These are the last two verses of the book of Acts. This is the end of the story of Paul as the Bible writes it. It is only from other historical texts that we learn that Paul was beheaded by Nero. He was not crucified because he was a Roman citizen and the authorities “mercifully” spared Romans from that type of torture. Given the choice, I’m glad that the book ends the way it does instead of “And Paul was brought to the courts of Nero where he was beheaded before the people for proclaiming the name of Jesus.”

While the book doesn’t end that way, I expect that Paul anticipated the end as it came closer. In his intelligence, he could read the political climate. He could hear conversations change and I’m sure he noticed who came to visit him, who did not visit, and who stopped visiting after a period of time. In places of political intrigue, all those things speak volumes to those who are listening.

So, in his own way, Paul doubled down. He “burned the ships” and committed completely to the task that remained. Instead of seeking audiences that would benefit his case, he sought audiences that would grow the kingdom of God. Instead of begging for his life, he begged that others might know life. Instead of involving himself with the “superpower” of Rome and supplicating himself before it, he bowed before the transforming power of Jesus and made sure that everyone he met heard of him.

Paul lived joy. He knew the end was coming. He could anticipate the path ahead. Instead of being consumed with the power and people around him, he was consumed with proclaiming the saving power of the grace of Jesus Christ within.

That’s a pretty good way to end the story.

Most of us are not where Paul and Jean were as they lived out their last chapters. We are in a different space. But our hearts can seek and proclaim that same joy that we have in Christ. When we know the joy that he offers to us, and intentionally seek to proclaim it, his presence equips us with great confidence and peace despite our circumstances.

Like Jean said, if we know Jesus, we know we are going to see him and a lot of others that we love very soon. May that knowledge equip us to proclaim joy today and always.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his smile towards you and give you his peace.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I love you all. Blessings.

Feel free to share this devotion with others.

06/04/2026

Thursday, June 4, 2026

The Holy Spirit as Keeper

Acts 26:28-29

As you enter your time with God today, take a moment to quiet your mind. Breathe this prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus, come. Fill me with your Spirit. Open my heart that you might share your words of life with me.”

We read today from Acts 26:28-29. Read the passage now or at the end of this devotion. What does this passage teach us about the Holy Spirit as Keeper?

I’m fairly certain that I experienced some of the early iterations of what became youth ministry when I was in 9th and 10th grade. The church that I was a part of in Kitchener, Ontario started a new program called Teen Club for kids my age, something that they had never done before. A young couple in their late 20s or early 30s agreed to host kids at their house where we would play games, have a Bible study and eat food in their basement. We also did a campout with everyone during the summer at a local campground with songs around the campfire and activities during the day.

Here’s the thing about this memory. A lot of it is really, really foggy, but a couple of things are very clear.

I cannot remember the name of the couple who hosted the group. I can see their faces, but that’s it. I can remember two girls who were there for sure, but no one else. This is in a group of over 20 kids. I remember the layout of the basement. I remember none of the conversations. But one thing I remember very distinctly.

This was the first time that I understood that following Jesus meant we lived together in relationships of love, support and community.

The leaders loved us and took great interest in our lives. Even later, when I returned to that community as an adult, those folks wanted to talk, catch up, and showed real interest in my faith journey. They couldn’t believe that I was in ministry. What does that say about my behavior in my teen years?!

I remember the group loved each other and loved to be together. This was a new group, but within only a couple of weeks, lots of kids were joining us either from other churches or at the invitation of one of the kids. I remember we laughed together a lot, and I remember being excited that it was Wednesday night and that was Teen Club night. I remember having profound conversations about Jesus and I remember feeling more and more his tug on my heart that I would finally respond to a few years later.

Those leaders must be in their 60s or 70s (maybe even their 80s) today. They’ve lived a lot of life in the 40 years since the mid-1980s. I expect that they do not think about Teen Club very often. They could have no idea that those Wednesday night gatherings could have such a profound impact on one of the students that messed up their basement every meeting.

Often, we have no idea of the type of impact we can have on others as we work to build the kingdom of God.

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long – I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Paul has an opportunity to present the gospel and faithfully does so to King Agrippa, his wife Bernice, and the governor Festus. Almost this whole chapter is taken up with Paul’s proclamation of his story as Christ has changed his life. He makes it clear. Jesus has changed everything and made him a completely different person through his love and grace. Agrippa makes it clear that he’s listening, but Paul shouldn’t expect him to believe. He’s only heard this story that Paul is telling. There is no way that will move him to faith.

Perhaps he’s right, but Paul’s response to him reminds us that when we are obedient to the Spirit, we never quite know what God will do next, and importantly, when he will do it.

Is there a person in that room who heard what Paul said and out of curiosity, looked for believers in Christ in the city to find out more? Yes. Is it possible that this person came to faith and brought others in their family to faith? Yes. Is it possible that this family shared Christ with others who helped carried the kingdom of God into surrounding communities, cities and countries in the generations ahead? Yes. Is it possible that you or I could connect our faith story to the “family tree” that began in these words that Paul spoke while the Spirit kept him right where he wanted him, and gave Paul the exact words that he should speak?

Probable? Perhaps not. Possible? “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

May the Spirit keep us in his care equipping us with what we need to bring glory to God in doing everything that he calls us to do.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his smile towards you and give you his peace.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I love you all. Blessings.

Feel free to share this devotion with others.

06/03/2026

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

The Holy Spirit as Keeper

Acts 24:27

As you enter your time with God today, take a moment to quiet your mind. Breathe this prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus, come. Fill me with your Spirit. Open my heart that you might share your words of life with me.”

We read today from Acts 24:27. Read the passage now or at the end of this devotion. What does this passage teach us about the Holy Spirit as Keeper?

There are few things that Kristin enjoys less than when I get stressed out in a restaurant. If something is not going right when we are out for dinner, I can handle it fine for a few minutes, but eventually, I let my anxiety show. This stress can be caused by an order that is not well-prepared (Kristin’s steak salad at the restaurant near the Watergate hotel), stress at other tables that begins to bleed out to others (the almost brawl at Coco’s in Visalia), or small feral children who significantly impact your dining experience by throwing rice in the air (Bubba Gump’s in Breckenridge. Truth: it was one of our kids.)

One of our more difficult experiences while my anxiety boiled over was at a restaurant in Victoria Garden. We were there celebrating the birthday of one of our kids and had given our server our order. Then we waited…and waited…and waited…and waited.

When I must wait like that and something is not going the way it should, I start looking around and fidgeting. I began to chew on my fingernails. I disconnect from the conversation in front of me and start to figure out what the problem is by what I see. “They ordered after us, but they got our food. Did one of us have a complicated order? Did our server upset someone back in the kitchen and now we’re paying the price? Speaking of our server, I haven’t seen him in a while. What’s going on?” I was about ready to lose it and create a scene.

Kristin sees me go into this process, disconnect from what’s happening in front of me, start complaining and nit picking, and get frustrated by something outside of my control. Like I said, it is not her favorite thing.

It turns out that while we had given our order to our server, he had gone on his half-hour break without submitting our order. He came with the manager to apologize with a guilty look on his face. They gave us free food and a gift card to return which we did not for several years. We have since gone back and the service was better, but it is still not our favorite restaurant because of that night.

We were delayed by an hour at a restaurant, and I was ready blow a gasket. I cannot imagine how Paul handled his experience in Caesarea.

“When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.”

Yes, you heard that right. Two years. Paul languished in prison for over 700 days and nights because his case was a black eye for the political structure that had put him there and because quid pro quo with the Jews meant keeping him locked up meant that the Jewish leaders owed Felix. They got this trouble making gospel speaker off the street and they could help the governor keep peace.

How did Paul feel? Paul is intelligent. He had friends and other leaders he was interacting with. He had to know that he was being left in the pit for someone else’s pleasure. That had to be so frustrating!

But we never hear Paul complain. What we do hear is him speaking boldly, when given opportunity of the gospel of Jesus and the hope that is offered to those who believe in his grace. (26:2-29) He interacts with Felix, Festus, Agrippa and ultimately Caesar hear the truth that Christ’s death offers life and it is the only way to be redeemed from the sin of this world.

He’s not complaining. He’s not railing at the injustice of his circumstances. He’s not claiming a pound of flesh, free food, or a gift card as recompense for 2 YEARS of waiting. He’s submitting to the Spirit, the Spirit who has kept him and been present with him all those long nights. The Spirit who encouraged Paul when he needed it and gives him words of proclamation when the opportunity to speak is given.

Paul knows the Spirit’s protection. He knows the Spirit’s presence. He knows the Spirit’s equipping. Being obedient to the Spirit gives him opportunities to share Christ that are staggering for us to understand.

May the Spirit meet us when we are impatient. May the Spirit equip us with words less marked by complaint and more marked by grace when we have the opportunity to speak. May the Spirit keep us in his care always even protecting us from ourselves when our impatience or injustice moves us fulfill our own selfish agenda.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his smile towards you and give you his peace.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I love you all. Blessings.

Feel free to share this devotion with others.

06/03/2026

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06/02/2026

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