Change
What is changing in yourself that is hard to accept? By God’s invitation and grace, who are you becoming? Change may present a crisis, might be confusing or painful. Listen for God amid it all. Following Jesus means ongoing radical change which God invites and enables, extending further, embracing wider, each and together becoming more.
-Br. Luke Ditewig, SSJE
Celebrating 10 Years of Brother, Give Us A Word
We invited friends around to world to share how Brother, Give Us A Word has been meaningful to them. How have the daily words inspired you or influenced your prayer life? See what other have said and share your own story here: SSJE.org/celebrating10
I first heard of SSJE when I was still living and working abroad. The first “Word” I remember reading was a very moving, and profoundly challenging, sermon from Brother Eldridge Pendleton. Among other things, he recounted an experience he had of hearing quite literally the voice of Jesus two days prior to suffering heart attacks. When I got home for good I subscribed to the “Brother Give Us a Word” series. Then one morning in 2014 I woke up with a racing pulse and shortness of breath and asked my wife to take me to the walk-in clinic up the street. The doctor said, “you need heart surgery, right now.” During my recovery, I read a sermon by Brother Curtis Almquist. These sentences leapt out at me: “Fear is not a sign of the absence of God. In our fear we rather find the abiding presence of God.” Truly, in a fear-filled situation, I felt very close to God; and thanks in part to these sermons, was able to recognize that fact. I emerged with a spiritual conviction; God will bring me home and I have nothing left to fear.
– James, New Jersey