This audio is the sermon I preached on Aug. 24, 2025, at Bemiss United Methodist Church in Valdosta, Georgia. We live in a world where laws, rules, policies, and even interpretations of Scripture can sometimes stand in the way of compassion. How many times have people been denied dignity, inclusion, or healing because of someone’s strict interpretation of the rules? The good news of Luke 13:10-17 is that God’s priority is mercy.

Here’s an easy breath prayer you can use to re-center yourself in God’s presence, love, and compassion at any time during the day: Stop what you’re doing. Close your eyes. Take three long, deep breaths - in an out through your nose - paying close attention to each inhalation and exhalation. Continue breathing slowly and purposefully. Then, on each inhalation, say to yourself, “I take refuge; on the exhalation, “in Jesus.

As crazy as it may sound, preaching the extravagant acceptance, mercy, love, and compassion of Jesus can get you in trouble in religious circles. We can teach and preach rule-following all day long and nobody bats an eye. But you start preaching God’s extravagant grace, you start preaching our call to live out that extravagant grace in our lives, in our relationships, people will turn against you. I’m okay with that now.

Children are much more adept at living in the present moment than adults. They’re constantly experiencing new things, new sensations, new wonders. As we grow older, we become desensitized to the things that also once brought us such joy and amazement. Sights, sounds, feelings, and experiences become commonplace and no longer have the same effect. As a result, we also lose the ability to connect with God through God’s creation.