Scripture: John 1:16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Thought for the Day: What is grace upon grace? According to William Barclay, this phrase is referring to how grace comes to us as we need it. Grace is not one-dimensional, with only one means of expressing itself. Grace is multifaceted, with an ability of conveying itself in any circumstance. Last night, I spent some
Scripture: Matthew 1:1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Thought for the Day: In our English translation, we miss an important word. In Greek, the word genealogy is geneseos. That word looks a lot like Genesis, and that’s because it is. As the book of Genesis is a story describing the creation of the world and the
Scripture: Matthew 1:24-25 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. Thought for the Day: Joseph was about ready to jettison Mary because she had become pregnant before their marriage, and Joseph was pretty certain he was
Scripture: Mark 10:45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. Thought for the Day: Yesterday, I had the joy and honor of attending a graduation in Austin. Joseph Cano, a member of our congregation, finished his training to become a State Trooper in Texas. He, along with 108 other men and women, joined
Scripture: Daniel 6:13 Then they responded to the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day.” Thought for the Day: The internet here at the church office was running slow the other day, so I did a quick speed test. A speed test shows
Scripture: Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel. Thought for the Day: I love the words of James G. Kirk who said in speaking Emmanuel, God with us, “Your footsteps shall accompany us, your breath shall give us new life, your arms will console us, and your
Scripture: Jeremiah 8:18 My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. Thought for the Day: Yesterday, I went to CNN’s website to check the stock market, yet I never made it to the stocks after reading the headline: The Slaughter of Children. The murder of more than 130 children makes all my wishes for a good return on my investments seem rather petty. Since
Scripture: Luke 2:1-2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. Thought for the Day: Many have leveled the complaint that Christianity is too far removed from the realities of most people. They say that Christianity is not relevant, and it does not speak to
Scripture: Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Thought for the Day: George Mason is the Sr. Minister at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. He has been this amazing figure and faithful voice for many years, and he has worked with us Disciples
Scripture: Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God. Thought for the Day: It was the great Green Bay Packers’ coach, Vince Lombardi, who said, “We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.” Mary seemed to think that what the angel suggested would be impossible, and I would probably have joined her in that assessment. Yet when God is an