MonroeOHUMC

From Stuck to Sent—How God Uses Your Second Chance Reflections on John 21:15–19 and Acts 9:10–20 Have you ever felt like you messed up too badly for God to use you? You’re not alone. Peter did too. So did Saul. Peter had promised Jesus, “Even if everyone else falls away, I never will.” But when the pressure came, he denied Jesus—not once, but three times. That failure haunted him. He knew Jesus had risen. He’d seen him. But restoration hadn’t yet come. He must’ve wondered, “Does Jesus still want anything to do with me?” Saul was worse by comparison. He wasn’t just a failure—he was an enemy. He hunted down early Christians, dragging them from homes and throwing them in prison. He stood by, approving, while Stephen was stoned to death. He wasn’t on God’s team. He was actively working against it. And yet, in both cases, Jesus shows up. Not with condemnation. Not with shame. But with a call. For Peter, it comes by the fire. Jesus cooks breakfast and asks three simple but powerful...

What Are You Waiting For? John 21:1–19; Acts 9:1–20 Rise Up: How to Start Living Again Have you ever put something off because you didn’t feel ready? Maybe you thought, "I’ll reach out to that friend... when I’m in a better place." "I’ll get serious about my faith... when life settles down." "I’ll answer God’s call... when I feel stronger." Waiting can feel safe. It can feel wise even. But sometimes, waiting keeps us stuck. We tell ourselves: “One day…” But one day keeps getting pushed farther away. What if the moment we’ve been waiting for... is already here? The truth is: none of us ever feel fully ready to rise up and live the life God is calling us to live. We think we need to clean ourselves up first. Get stronger. Smarter. Holier. But if we’re honest, we’re often hiding behind “I’m not ready yet” because we’re scared. Because we’ve failed. Because we carry regrets. Because we feel unqualified. And that’s exactly where the ...