The Azusa Pacific Blog

The puzzle is on the table in front of you – in what seems to be a million pieces.  Actually it may only be 500, or 1000 pieces.  But it might as well be a million.  You can’t imagine that this pile of tiny pieces could ever become a coherent image.  By faith you proceed to put pieces together – faith in the creator that he/she actually put an image on it that will take shape; faith that the creator made it so that all the pieces will fit together; faith that if you follow the creator’s pattern, it will lead you to a completed and whole picture.  Amazing how the picture takes shape – just like it was intended and when you don’t force pieces together that you think should fit.  Amazing how surrender to following the pattern of the creator will result in a whole picture.

And today you have pieces of the puzzle of your life – perhaps they feel like a big pile of disorganized parts with no coherence.  Let me suggest that if you surrender to the pattern of God’s image on your life, the many pieces will come together in making you whole.  And the pattern is evident in the person of Christ.  Walk with him, follow him and you will be whole.

If you have any prayer requests, please send them and our Prayer Partners will pray.

Blessings,
Kevin

The darkness of the night seems to magnify the anxiety of the day.  You wake up, can’t sleep, toss and turn.  Desperately you tell your body to sleep – but it won’t. Thoughts flood your mind in a rapid succession that leaves you tense and wide awake.  At night there’s no white noise to drown out the reality of tough situations that you face.  And in the middle of the night they come in their full force with no tempering.  You think of the ramifications – the most extreme; you consider the options – too few; you sense your anxiety – at the highest level.  And just about the time you successfully let go of one thought, another one pounces like a shadow in the corner lurking, waiting to get a foothold in your mind.  It’s dark, it’s quiet, you’re alone with your thoughts. But thankfully, there’s a presence there – as bright as the sun.  When the shadows overwhelm you in the night, think on the brilliance of Jesus’ love for you; His grace, His care, His comfort.  It won’t solve the issues that shadow you, but you will find peace – peace that confounds your shadows in the night and lets you rest in faith.  May the peace of Christ be with you!

If you have any prayer requests, feel free to let me know and our Prayer Partners will pray for you.

Blessings,
Kevin

It may be a beautiful day in every respect.  No clouds, crystal clear air, sunny and bright.  A day to write home about…except that it’s icy cold!  From the inside looking out, it’s a great day – to look at. But the moment you step outside you’re hit with arctic air that freezes your bones.  Sunny but cold: nice to look at but not so much fun to experience.  Jesus Christ is far more that simply some bright, sunny idea that’s nice to look at. The warmth of God’s love is not only an amazing ideal to think about it will thaw the hardest hearts and transform a burdened life!  Sunny and warm is truly the beauty of both seeing and experiencing – knowing that God loves you AND stepping into the warmth of His love.

If you have any prayer requests, send them to me and our Prayer Partners will pray.

Blessings,
Kevin

The Sunday School teacher was waxing eloquent about the virtues of baptism by immersion.  A little girl in the class innocently piped up and asked, “Does anyone ever go down and never come back up?”  Now what would make her ask such a thing?  Today her family laughs at the childish inquisitiveness.  But think about it…how many hide in the cleansing waters of their spiritual experience, but never connect it with their daily life.  It’s like they stay submerged – drowning in the peaceful quiet of the water; never emerging to face the reality of their world. Thankfully, when you allow your life to be immersed in Christ, you are washed clean but ALWAYS rise and connect as a new person to your daily reality.  And that’s how you face your day with joy and the peace of Christ!

If you have any prayer requests, let me know.  We will pray.  AND… I am sorry for the wrong date on the reminder about chapel!

Corrected date for the Student Chapel is tonight, May 9 – 7pm VIP Room.

Blessings,
Kevin

Kevin W. Mannoia
Chaplain
Azusa Pacific University

A simple message today: You are loved!  I saw it in an airplane magazine on a nice bracelet, bought it for my wife and watched as she opened the present.  The bracelet was really pretty.  And the cost was certainly because of the workmanship.  Yet what meant the most to her were those few words.  Words are flying all around you; issues besiege you; uncontrollable circumstances circle like predators.  In response your heart-rate goes up.  Anxiety peaks and uncertainty about how it will all play out keeps you on edge. Jesus cuts through the swirl with a simple yet profound assurance – You are loved!  God loves you so much that He sent Jesus, His son to make sure you didn’t miss the message: You are loved! Will you accept His love?

If you have any prayer requests, please let me know and our Prayer Partners will pray!

Living in His Love,
Kevin

Kevin W. Mannoia, PhD
Chaplain
Azusa Pacific University