October update

Fall Retreat! The largest one of my memory!

I wanted to share something I’ve started listening to this month that’s been such a gift to my time with the Lord. It’s a reading plan called The Bible Recap—a one-year journey through Scripture that pairs daily readings with a short podcast reflection. I started on October 1st in the New Testament, and I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve looked forward to it each day. The structure has helped me stay grounded in God’s Word, and if you’ve been feeling stuck or unsure where to start, I’d really encourage you to give it a try.

A few days ago, while reading John 11, something in the devotional really struck me. The host shared:

“Next, Jesus goes to talk with Mary, the more emotionally driven of the two sisters. You may remember that she’s the one who sat at his feet listening to his stories while Martha was carving the turkey. She says the same thing Martha said, but Jesus responds to her in a totally different way—he weeps. I love how he meets people where they are. His responses to people are so personal, specific, and attentive. Not only that, but we get to see his humanity here as well. He’s moved by their pain. He enters into their grief—even knowing he’s moments away from raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus doesn’t brush off the weight of what has happened. But even still, there are scoffers who say, ‘If you really cared, you would have stopped this from happening.’ They don’t understand his ways or his timing, and they mistrust his heart.”

I love that picture of Jesus—fully God, yet deeply human. He doesn’t rush past people’s pain, even when He knows the ending will be good. He pauses. He listens. He weeps. That simple truth has reminded me that God doesn’t overlook our sorrow. He sits with us in it. He meets us right where we are, tenderly and personally.

It’s comforting to know that we are seen and known by Him—not just in the joyful moments, but in the quiet, hard, or confusing ones too. God isn’t distant as we walk through the highs and lows of life. Wherever you are today, He knows you, and He hasn’t abandoned you.

Lately, I’ve also been reminded that God hasn’t forgotten the college students here in Denton. It’s been beautiful to see how He’s meeting people in their hunger for Him. My prayer is that many will come to know Him as He continues to make Himself known in this place.