Scripture: Proverbs 17:27a Wise are those who restrain their talking… Thought for the Day: Walt Whitman said, “Simplicity is the glory of expression.” Too many of us clergy do not know the Proverb or the quote from Walt Whitman…or we just don’t care. After preaching a sermon, I often think that if I could have had just one more hour away from the sermon and then one more
Scripture: Luke 14:33 In the same way, none of you who are unwilling to give up all of your possessions can be my disciple. Thought for the Day: Building on what was discussed yesterday, I reference these challenging words from Richard Foster (Freedom of Simplicity): Jesus Christ and all the writers of the New Testament call us to break free of mammon lust and live in joyous
Scripture: Luke 16:13 No household servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Thought for the Day: This verse of scripture comes at the end of a fascinating parable that Jesus shared, and it acts as almost a summary or direct
Prayer for the Week: As the Psalms proclaim, you are the giver of inward peace. O Gentle and Compassionate God, you are the One who mends relationships and heals the fractured places of life. Whether it is confession of our own sinfulness or the sorrowful cry when we have been wounded by others, you are there. Allow your Spirit to spill over us; allow your Spirit to be
Scripture: Leviticus 5:5-6 …at that point, when you have become guilty of sin in one of these ways, you must confess how you have sinned and bring to the LORD as compensation for the sin that was committed a female from the flock, either a sheep or goat, as a purification offering. The priest will then make reconciliation for you, to remove your sin. Thought for the Day:
Scripture: Proverbs 14:12 There is a path that may seem straight to someone, but in the end it is a path to death. Thought for the Day: Staying with Proverbs 14 for one more day – Even the best of us have moved forward confidently only to discover that the path we chose was not the best path. I think of that when it comes to both the
Scripture: Proverbs 14:6 A mocker searches for wisdom and gets none, but knowledge comes quickly to the intelligent. Thought for the Day: Sticking with Proverbs 14, I am struck by the common sense of these words. And if they are so basic and full of common sense, why did the author even need to reference them? I think the answer comes when we take a deep breath and
Scripture: Proverbs 14:4 When there are no oxen, the stall is clean, but when there is a strong bull, there is abundant produce. Thought for the Day: I must confess how much I like this Proverb. We can have a perfectly clean life assuming we don’t include anyone else or bring in anything that is really necessary for life. I like what the author, Brené Brown, writes about
Scripture: Exodus 20:8-10 Remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy. Six days you may work and do all your tasks, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. Do not do any work on it—not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your animals, or the immigrant who is living with you. Thought for the Day: The Formula One
Scripture: Acts 13:47 This is what the Lord commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, so that you could bring salvation to the end of the earth. Thought for the Day: Paul and Barnabas offered these words to the Gentiles, and though the “us” could be Paul and Barnabas or everyone who was there, the point remains the same – we have been made