SPIRIT ABLAZE: A podcast of the Northeast GMC

Devotional for January 22, 2026 with Rev. Steven Taylor

Welcome to Week 3 of The Great Invitation! After hearing Jesus' calls to "come and see" and "follow me," it's natural to wonder: Do I actually have what it takes to live this way? Join Rev. Steven Taylor as we look at Matthew 5 to discover how Jesus answers that question - not by lowering the bar, but by redefining what it means to be truly blessed.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:3 (NRSV)
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Devotional for January 15, 2026 with Rev. Steven Taylor

In week one of our series, The Great Invitation, we explored the first step of discipleship: Jesus’ simple call to "come and see." But His invitation doesn't end there. Join Rev. Steven Taylor for week two as he reveals the next invitation from Jesus that changes everything.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”   Matthew 4:19–20 (NRSV)
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Devotional for January 8, 2026 with Rev. Steven Taylor

Welcome to the start of a new year and a fresh devotional journey, The Great Invitation! Join Rev. Steven Taylor as he reminds us that a life of faith doesn't start with a heavy list of demands or expectations but with Jesus’ warm, personal call to simply "come and see."
"The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’"   John 1:43–46 (NRSV)
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Devotional for January 1, 2026 with Rev. Steven Taylor

Happy New Year!
On this New Year’s Day, we not only celebrate the arrival of 2026, but we look back with gratitude for all that God has done in our lives and look forward with hope to what God is already doing in the days, weeks, and years to come.
In today's reflection, Rev. Steven Taylor invites us to continue to look at The Perfect Gift - Jesus - and consider the missional call He places on our lives. It’s a call to listen, to trust Him, to go with God, carrying His light forward into the year and into the world!“Forget the former things;    do not dwell on the past.See, I am doing a new thing!    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?I am making a way in the wilderness    and streams in the wasteland."  Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)CLICK HERE FOR PRINT VERSION OF THIS DEVOTIONAL

Devotional for December 25, 2025 with Rev. Steven Taylor

Merry Christmas!
On this Christmas Day, we come to the final week of our Advent journey, The Perfect Gift. Over the past weeks, we have unwrapped Jesus as the Word of God, the Messiah, and Immanuel, God with us. Today, as homes are filled with light, voices, and celebration, we turn the gift one last time and look into the manger itself. Join Rev. Steven Taylor as he invites us to pause and behold the Christ Child: the Light of the World who has come to change everything forever.
Scripture Readings
“Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10–11
“In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:4–5
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Devotional for December 18, 2025 with Rev. Steven Taylor

Welcome to Week 3 of our Advent devotional journey, The Perfect Gift. So far, we have unwrapped Jesus as the Word of God and Jesus as the Messiah, the One who speaks truth and brings salvation. This week, join Rev. Steven Taylor as he turns the gift once more to discover Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. This is the promise that God has not remained distant, but has chosen to draw near, to enter our lives, and to stay.
Focus Scripture:
“All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us.’”  Matthew 1:22–23
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Devotional for December 11, 2025 with Rev. Steven Taylor

Welcome to Week 2 of our Advent journey, "The Perfect Gift." Last week, we saw Jesus as the Word of God, speaking life, truth, and transformation - the first side of this gift. Join Rev. Steven Taylor this week as he turns the gift and unwraps the second side: Jesus, the Messiah, the promised Savior who fulfills God’s covenant and brings hope to the whole world.
Focus Scripture: 
“Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope… so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Romans 15:4–6
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Devotional for December 4, 2025 with Rev. Steven Taylor

Welcome to Week 1 of our Advent devotional journey, "The Perfect Gift." As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we’ll take time each week to unwrap a different “side” of the greatest gift God has ever given us, His Son, Jesus Christ. Join Rev. Steven Taylor in these weekly reflections that will help you slow down, breathe deeply, and rediscover Jesus with fresh anticipation. 
Focus Scriptures: 
“In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains… and many peoples shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord… that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’” Isaiah 2:2–3
“You know what time it is… now is the moment for you to wake from sleep… The night is far gone, the day is near.”  Romans 13:11–12
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