Toto: The Spirit Has a Soft Side

Seeing Who Jesus Sees; John 11:33-37

The announcement came over the PA system at school: "We're conducting eye exams in the office today." I didn't think much about it until I realized something. The other kids could read the chalkboard from their seats. I couldn't. I failed the eye exam, a note was sent home to my parents, and before long, I had my first pair of glasses. I still remember riding home with my dad, looking out the car window in amazement. I could see individual leaves on the trees. Street signs were crisp. Everything looked so much sharper. I hadn't realized what I was missing. In Luke 7, John the Baptist's disciples come to Jesus with one question: "Are you the one we've been waiting for?" Jesus' answer begins with an interesting observation: "Go back and tell John the blind receive their sight." Throughout the Gospels, one of the hallmarks of Jesus' presence is restored vision. In this message, we explore one of the Bible's most familiar stories—the raising of Lazarus. But instead of focusing on Lazarus, we'll ask a different question: “What does Jesus see?” Or, more importantly, “Who does Jesus see?” Because perhaps the greatest miracle isn't learning to see more clearly. It's learning to see people the way Jesus does.

Abounding in Love; Romans 12:9-13

Some mornings, coffee isn’t enough. A few years ago, after a late night and an early morning, I sat down at breakfast with friends and announced, “Listen . . . I’m barely functioning. If you have anything important to say, you’re probably going to need to repeat it three times.” Honestly, exhaustion was only part of the problem. The truth is, human beings are forgetful. We miss things. We drift. We stop paying attention. Which is why repetition matters. Back in the 1800s, a psychologist named Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered that repetition helps move things into long-term memory. Apparently, hearing something repeatedly helps it stick (though I have my doubts it would work for a name like "Hermann Ebbinghaus"). Repetition helps us remember. God already knew that. In the New Testament, we find 100 passages that tell us what we should do for "one another." We should pray for one another, speak truth to one another, bear one another's burdens, and serve one another, just to name a few. If Ebbinghouse says three times is the charm, the Bible's 100 "one anothers" shows us that God doesn't want us to forget how to treat one another! And underneath all the “one another” passages is one central command holding everything together: love one another. Not sentimental love. Not easy love. Not “I’ll love you when it’s convenient” love. Romans 12 describes a love that is sincere, sacrificial, patient, generous, and deeply committed to other people.

The Open Door; Revelation 3:7-13

The key was missing, and the door wouldn’t open. There weren’t many options for getting in. I suppose I could have tried to break down the door, but that would have been expensive (and probably painful). In the end, I chose to go outside and break a window instead. That turned into a $20 repair at the local hardware store, plus another $10 for a second key, this one hopefully hidden a little better from our son Connor. (He has still never told me what he did with the original.) I remember the frustration of not being able to get through that door . . . the door to my home office, of all places. The confusion of searching for a key I was sure I had hidden well, and the weakness of not being able to get it open myself. Sometimes life feels exactly like that: the way forward is right in front of us, but we just can’t seem to find a way through. Jesus’ promise in Revelation 3:8 speaks to that frustration. He says, “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Not a door you force open. Not a door you figure out. Not a door that depends on your strength. A door he has already opened. And when Jesus opens the door, you don’t need the key. Today is Palm Sunday, the day we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem as Savior and King. No gate, no wall, no resistance could keep him out then, and nothing can close the door he opens now. We’ll celebrate his triumphal entry and the open door he sets before us.

Give Thanks; Psalm 136

Some weeks, the loudest voice in your life isn’t God’s—it’s the one telling you what you’re not. It whispers before you’re fully awake. It follows you into the car, into the office, into the quiet moments. And most days, it doesn’t need anyone else’s help; we’re perfectly capable of discouraging ourselves. Relationship researchers John and Julie Gottman found that negative words hit us harder than positive ones, so much so that it takes about five positive interactions to counter just one negative moment. And while other people’s criticism can sting, the deeper wounds usually come from the things we mutter inwardly: You’re not enough. You’re not capable. You’re pretending . . . and someone will eventually find you out. Left unchecked, that inner voice only grows louder. It’s exhausting trying to outshout your own self-doubt. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father has already stepped into that fight on our behalf. In Psalm 136, He doesn’t reassure us five times but twenty-six times that His love never ends. Twenty-six reminders that you are seen, known, and cherished. Twenty-six reasons to trust that His steadfast love truly endures forever. As we approach Thanksgiving, let’s fill our hearts with the greatest reason to give thanks—the never-ending love of God.

Toto: The Spirit Has a Soft Side

In John 14:15–27, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as our Advocate, Comforter, and Friend—the one who steadies our hearts and keeps us focused on him. Using imagery from The Wizard of Oz, Bret compares the Spirit’s quiet guidance to Toto’s loyal presence beside Dorothy: alert, faithful, and always sensing what’s true. When fear and distraction rise, the Spirit redirects us toward Jesus and fills our troubled hearts with peace—the kind the world can’t give or take away.