Pathways Press.com

Written by Doug Webster, a contemporary pastor, teacher,  and author. This is an excerpt from his work “The Lost Kingdom.”

Into the breathlessness Jesus speaks. You have found rest for your soul in me as your sufficient and good Shepherd. I have the genius wisdom and the grace-full way for you to know a good life without sacrificing your character, but rather strengthening who you are becoming as you seek in life what really matters. To your labored and ladened life, my easy and light yoke is filled with goodness and mercy to lead and guide you in my gentle and humble manner as you experience the love of the Father and of me, with me in the Yoke. It is the love and life without want in the Yoke that sheds light on your sinful, selfish, suffocating ways. When you are unburdened by the weight of being your own royalty, your self-deification to breathe, survive, live, conquer, you discover how broken you really are. In the ease of my yoke comes the awareness of the heaviness of the slavery to what and to whom you have been captive. It is here most clearly, at some point for the very first time, that you have eyes to see, ears to hear, understanding to turn and find healing in me. You hear my voice again with an invitation, “Come,” as I welcome you deeper into life with me — “Come and surrender.” For I am not only the good Shepherd to restore you, I am the sacrificial Lamb to save you, rescue you, deliver you from the dark, shadowed valley in a far away land in the pleasure pit of prostitutes and pigs, or next door in the prideful field of contempt and criticism. In surrender, you will find that all the Father has is yours, and we will always be with you.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. [Proverbs 3:5-6]

Written by Henri Nouwen (1932-1996), a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian. 

Prayer is leading every sorrow to the source of all healing: it is letting the warmth of Jesus’ love melt the cold anger of resentment; it is opening a space where joy replaces sadness, mercy supplants bitterness, love displaces fear, gentleness and care overcome hatred and indifference. But, most of all, prayer is the way to become and remain part of Jesus’ mission to draw all peoples to the intimacy of God’s love.

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. [Micah 7:18]

Written by Rick Warren, a contemporary evangelical pastor, author, and founder of Saddleback Church.

A truly successful life is not measured by pleasure, popularity, possessions, power, or position. It’s measured by your purpose. If you want to measure how successful your life has been, then you have to ask only one question: Did you fulfill the five purposes that God created you for? Of course, you can’t answer that question if you don’t know what those purposes are. They are the same for everyone: First, God wants you to know him and love him. That’s called worship. Second, he wants you to belong to his family. That’s called fellowship. Third, God wants you to grow spiritually to be like Jesus. That’s called discipleship Fourth, he wants you to serve him by serving others…That’s called ministry. Finally, God wants you to tell others the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. That’s called evangelism. God wants you to know him, to grow in him, to belong to him, to serve him, and to share him with others. If you miss these five purposes, then you don’t have a clear, firm purpose in your life, and you’ll miss the entire reason God created you. You’ll just exist! You’ll drift through life.  But God wants more for you. He created you for  his five eternal purposes, and those purposes are never going to change. They give you an anchor in hard times, when everything around you is changing. No matter what you’re going through right now, you need to reaffirm your commitment to God’s five purposes for your life. When everything’s changing, when you’re confused, when you’re in doubt, when you need direction—you always return to the basics. You get back to the truth. God loves you. He created you for a purpose. And he will give you everything you need to fulfill your purpose as you follow him—even when it gets hard.

Give yourself completely to God—every part of you—for you are back from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes. [Romans 6:13]

Written by the Christianity.com editorial staff.

All Souls’ Day, also recognized as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed and the Day of the Dead, is a holiday of prayer and memorial for the souls of those who have died…Faiths and customs affiliated with All Souls’ Day range broadly among Christian denominations…The foundation of All Souls’ Day for a general intercession on November 2 is due to Odilo, abbot of Cluny, who died in 1048. The observed date, which became essentially universal before the end of the 13th century, was determined to follow All Saints’ Day…In contemporary Western Christianity, the annual celebration is held on November 2nd and is part of the season of Allhallowtide that includes All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and its eve, Halloween (October 31st)…This prayer reminds us that those who die in faith live in Christ:

O eternal God and Father, you are not the God of the dead but of the living, and all who put their trust in you, who rest in their chambers under the earth, live in you. Be merciful to us, dear Father, do not let us be afraid of the power and sting of death, but keep us in the true faith in your dear Son, who is the way, the truth, and the life.  Uphold us with your Holy Spirit, and give us a clear conscience, that we may live our Christian lives, and finally fall asleep in peace and joy when we leave this valley of tears, and rest in peace until you open our graves and awaken us with the sound of the last trumpet; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. [Psalm 23:3]

Written by Mark D. Roberts, a contemporary pastor, author, retreat leader, and speaker. This is an excerpt from an article on “ The High Calling” website.

Today is All Saints Day, a holy day recognized by the Catholic Church and, in various ways, by various Protestant denominations …. Some Christian traditions focus on remembering special Christians on All Saints Day or bringing to mind believers who have died and gone to be with the Lord. This day offers a fine opportunity to thank God for those whose lives have honored him and made a difference to us. Yet, it’s important to remember that the biblical sense of “saint” includes all of God’s people, not just those who have excelled in discipleship… In the New Testament, believers in Jesus Christ are referred to as “saints” or “holy people” because they have inherited Israel’s divinely conferred status as people set apart by God for him and for his saving purposes. If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, you are a saint. You are a holy person. This does not necessarily say anything about your worthiness to receive this title or your exemplary lifestyle, however. I wouldn’t recommend that you go around putting “Saint” in front of your name. Rather, you are a saint because God has chosen you to belong to him and his people. He has set you apart so that you might participate in his redeeming work in the world. Remember, you are not a solo saint. There is no such thing from a biblical perspective. Rather, as a saint, you have been joined to the family of all saints, including those who live around the world and those who have gone to be with the Lord. Therefore, on All Saints Day, it is a perfect time to remember that God has made you special for him and his purposes, and that he has joined you into the eternal, worldwide fellowship of all his saints. Moreover, it’s a good day to take seriously the fact that God wants to make himself known in this world through you as a member of the family of all saints.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. [Ephesians 1:1]

Written by Todd Outcalt, a contemporary author.

One of the ways people deal with their fears is by making fun of the fear itself. That, in fact, is part of the origin of Halloween, which means “all hallows eve.” People were naturally afraid of death and dying, and so they decided to face their greatest fear by poking fun at death. In 1 John we are told that perfected love drives out fear. That is to say, when we become certain of God’s love, we don’t have to be afraid anymore. It’s as if God is the parent who comes in at night and tucks us in, turns on the night light, and tells us that there are no monsters. In God’s great love, all fear melts away. We can remove our fears by serving others. When we abandon our lives in service, we often discover that our fears lessen as our friendship and love deepens. As you and I think about our fears now, I hope that we will see that just as God has protected and redeemed those who have come before us, God will protect and redeem us, too. Even from death itself!

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Written by Kallistos Ware (1934-2022), an English Eastern Orthodox bishop and theologian. This is an excerpt from his book “The Orthodox Way.”

From this hour and moment I can start to walk through the world, conscious that it is God’s world, that he is near me in everything that I see and touch, in everyone whom I encounter.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. [Deuteronomy 31:6]

Written by Uli Chi, a contemporary business leader, writer, teacher, and mentor.

We live in an era where we are expected to create our own identity and sense of purpose. But Jesus shows us a better way. Jesus reminds us that discovering our God-given identity and purpose requires a long process of growth and discernment. Much of that Spirit-led process occurs in out-of-the-way and hidden places, much like what Jesus experienced for most of his life. If that’s how Jesus became wise and mature, don’t be surprised if that’s how it will be for you, too.  And if Jesus, at times, sought out those who were wiser than he, like the Jerusalem rabbis, to engage in a conversation of discovery, we should be willing to do that too. What all that means is that we need to take our spiritual journey seriously. Be present regularly for corporate worship. But also find time and places for dialogue and conversation with those further along the journey. It all begins with a hunger and thirst to learn more. And if you aren’t hungry and thirsty, ask God to create that hunger and thirst in you. In my experience, God is delighted to answer that kind of prayer.

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. [Proverbs 10:17]

Written by Theodyssey, an organization that helps people encounter God and be radically changed by the truth of His love. This is an excerpt from their study “When We Pray.”

Surrender can feel risky. But Jesus invites us not to obey out of duty, but desire – desire shaped by God’s goodness and grace. As we recognize the brokenness in the world, we are invited to pray not with fear, but with hope: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done . . . on earth as it is in heaven.” The final phrase of this verse – “on earth as it is in heaven” – carries a powerful invitation. It’s not just hope for a future paradise; it is a call to present partnership…We don’t bring the Kingdom by our strength, but through lives aligned with His. Jesus’ prayer reveals that God longs to carry out His will through surrendered, faithful people. We are not spectators, but participants. In our everyday moments – at home, in classrooms, on job sites, in grocery stores, and traffic – the Kingdom has opportunities to break in. The Lord’s Prayer isn’t just about waiting for God to fix things. It’s about stepping into His work. When we pray for God’s will to be done, we’re offering our lives to that purpose. In our work, relationships, and choices, we are called to be bringers of the Kingdom.

For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. [1 Corinthians 3:9]

Written by Josh Moody, a contemporary pastor.  This is an excerpt from his work “5 Ways You Can Make a Difference to Change the World.”

The one institution that will last for eternity is the church. This (the local church) is the “city on a hill [which] cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). It’s this great insight that drove the famous Augustine to write “The City of God. ” Essentially, his argument throughout his magnum opus was that the church (not Rome) was the city – it was the city of God. As the Roman Empire crumbled and weakened, as that city became evidently weak, so Augustine wrote to persuade his readers that the city in which they should invest their lives was the city of God, that is, the church. This, of course, is also the lesson of Noah in the Old Testament. As God brings his judgment to the world, Noah is told to build a boat to be a rescue agent for his family and creation. What is the New Testament equivalent? The church! That’s why medieval cathedrals are built like upturned boats. So, with our lives, our time, and finances, invest not in any kind of “city” (or polis, using the Latin name for the city) but in the city of God, the church!

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. [Matthew 5:14]