These are the collected "Focus on Faith" articles that Pastor Kirk Knudsen has written for the Kanabec County Times with a few other posts from Kirk mixed in.
In the struggle of Covid-19, what is God doing? What is he doing in me and in the world? Why are so many of us experiencing uncertainty, anxiousness, and suffering in such unprecedented ways? Here are a few thoughts about that....
On Easter Sunday 2020, most churches didn't or couldn't meet as gathered Christians. Most of us were hunkered down in our rooms, actually or proverbially, waiting to see what happens. Before they knew of his resurrection, Jesus’ followers were afraid, hunkered down in a room (John 20:19-23). Uncertainty reigned until Jesus unexpectedly appeared. Today and in the coming days, through Covid-19 and beyond, Jesus will show up in our “locked rooms” bringing peace, commissioning us, and promising help....
Jesus offers each one of us a new tomorrow. He removes our damaging labels and defeating lies. If anyone is in Christ, he/she is made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus will remove your labels too; from dirty to daughter, from loathed to loved, from broken to beautiful, from failure to fulfilled, from addict to accepted and from hurt to hopeful. When we seek Jesus in faith, h...
Keep Reading“Love your neighbor” isn’t just a Christian cliché, but a command by Jesus to actually meet those around us every day, looking for opportunities to help and serve them....
Keep ReadingOur failure can become our identity. Jesus tells a similar story in Luke 15:11-32 to teach us about fear, failure, and forgiveness. God loves you: period. He offers total forgiveness for all of our failure and sin when we receive Jesus’ offered gift of forgiveness and new life and follow him. In Jesus, our identity is totally forgiven, not total failure. Jesus can fix yo...
Keep ReadingChurches being integral to community thriving is a great testimony of God’s power, grace and love. Kanabec County Christians and churches partnering with and working alongside of local businesses, government, schools, civic/community organizations and each other can vitally help our city thrive and prosper. When our city prospers, God’s people prosper too. ...
Keep ReadingIt could be that Jesus, God’s own child, came into the world as a baby, among family, in normal, messy circumstances so you might know he understands you and has invited you to be a child of God too. It could be this is the time for you to receive the forgiveness Jesus offers and to embrace life living as a child of God....
Keep ReadingThere are three practices Jesus employed that can help us make and grow personal connections: Jesus wasn’t a slave to his schedule. Jesus went towards people others avoided. Jesus intentionally used his daily routines to connect with people....
Keep ReadingOn Easter Sunday 2020, most churches didn't or couldn't meet as gathered Christians. Most of us were hunkered down in our rooms, actually or proverbially, waiting to see what happens. Before they knew of his resurrection, Jesus’ followers were afraid, hunkered down in a room (John 20:19-23). Uncertainty reigned until Jesus unexpectedly appeared. Today and in the coming d...
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