Scripture: 1st Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Thought for the Day: My friend, Karen Johnson, posted a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Facebook yesterday. It caught my attention, in part, because I had that quote taped to the small bookcase to the left of my desk… the bookcase that was underwater a week ago. It was good to
Scripture: Psalm 6:6-7 I’m worn out from groaning. Every night, I drench my bed with tears; I soak my couch all the way through. My vision fails because of my grief; it’s weak because of all my distress. Thought for the Day: There are many who not only can relate to these word, but feel as if someone must have been monitoring their emotional state. The scriptures are
Scripture: Romans 12:12 Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. Thought for the Day: Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “A weed is a plant we’ve found no use for yet.” I can’t say for sure, but I would guess that Emerson would put the emphasis on the word yet. Please don’t take that to suggest that everything ugly and
Scripture: Acts 7:55 (the Message) But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed – he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. Thought for the Day: I like the way the Message translates this part of Acts 7. Stephen hardly noticed the crowd around him that was gaining a mob-mentality. The world around him was in
Scripture: 1st Corinthians 15:58 As a result of all this, my loved brothers and sisters, you must stand firm, unshakable, excelling in the work of the Lord as always, because you know that your labor isn’t going to be for nothing in the Lord. Thought for the Day: Stand firm, be unshakeable and excel in the work of the Lord. Beautiful imagery, but on our best days such
Scripture: Ephesians 2:20-22 As God’s household, you are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. The whole building is joined together in him, and it grows up into a temple that is dedicated to the Lord. Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit. Thought for the Day: I am thankful for the church
Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 9:6 What I mean is this: the one who sows a small number of seeds will also reap a small crop, and the one who sows a generous amount of seeds will also reap a generous crop. Thought for the Day: Price gouging! Can you believe it? I just read a second article about people taking advantage of the moment and people’s vulnerabilities. It breaks
Scripture: Psalm 119:68 You [LORD] are good and you do good. Teach me your statutes! Thought for the Day: Ok…I’ve got to confess to you all that I had to check on my calendar if August had 30 or 31 days. I’m a bit tired as I’m sure many of you are. We had a small group at the church today, but we had to come in by
Scripture: Matthew 8:15 Jesus touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served them. Thought for the Day: This and other stories of Jesus healing with a touch always intrigued me as a child. It was less about the healing, though that was powerful, and more about his touch. I would picture in my mind the hand of Jesus outstretched, reaching for me.
Tonight (Monday), I reflect on the day and what I have seen and heard. First, let me say how incredible our church is. And of course, when I say church, I’m talking about the idea taught in the song, I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together… It is the people opening their homes and lives to others, and of course, there are