Welcome to Weekday Word with Pastor Eric

Scripture:“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 Love always involves risk. To love is to open oneself to rejection, misunderstanding, and pain. And yet, Scripture tells us that God does not protect Himself from vulnerability — He embraces it. The incarnation itself…

Scripture:“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.” — 1 John 3:1 Love, in Scripture, is never cautious or calculating. It is generous to the point of excess. John reminds us that God’s love is not measured out carefully, but poured out lavishly, freely, and…

Scripture:“You have turned my mourning into dancing.” — Psalm 30:11 Joy has a longer horizon than we often expect. Some joys arrive suddenly; others reveal themselves only in retrospect. God’s joy does not rush the process of healing, but it promises restoration in time. Mourning is not ignored—it is transformed. The joy God offers is…

Scripture:“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” — Luke 2:20 The shepherds did not keep their joy to themselves. They shared it. And in sharing it, joy expanded. Joy was never meant to be contained; it grows when it moves. Community becomes the place where joy deepens, where…

Scripture:“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” — Psalm 126:5 Joy does not always arrive quickly, but it often grows quietly. The psalmist speaks of joy as something cultivated over time—through faithfulness, perseverance, and trust. Seeds planted in difficult seasons do not remain buried forever. This is one of the more…

Scripture:“Rejoice in the Lord always.” — Philippians 4:4 Paul’s call to rejoice comes from a place of confinement, not comfort. That context matters. Joy, as Scripture presents it, is not a response to favorable conditions; it is a posture rooted in trust. Joy does not deny hardship—it refuses to let hardship define reality. This kind…

“Do not be afraid… I bring you good news of great joy.” — Luke 2:10 The angels’ announcement of joy begins with a command to release fear. That order matters. The shepherds were not calm, prepared, or confident—they were startled and afraid. And yet joy was already on its way. God did not wait for…

Scripture:“You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” — John 16:20 Joy is often misunderstood as emotional brightness or constant cheer. Yet Jesus speaks of joy emerging not instead of grief, but through it. In the life of faith, joy and sorrow are not opposites competing for space; they are companions that often…

Scripture: “For He Himself is our peace… destroying the dividing wall of hostility.” — Ephesians 2:14 Peace often feels like something that happens within us—but one of its most surprising paradoxes is how powerfully peace works between us. According to Paul, Christ doesn’t just bring us inner steadiness; He breaks down walls that separate people…

Scripture: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” — Exodus 33:14 Another paradox of peace is that God gives us rest while still calling us forward. We tend to think peace is found when the journey stops—when challenges end, when decisions resolve, when the road becomes easy. But God promises…