Scripture: Psalm 107:21-22 Let them thank the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all people. Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices and declare what God has done in songs of joy! Thought for the Day: In Ancient Israel, there were rituals by which people brought sacrifices to the temple. Included among these sacrificial offerings, we find the sacrifice of animals. Now I have pointed out
Scripture: Psalm 107:15-20 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. For he shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron. Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities endured affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord
Scripture: Psalm 107:10-14 Some sat in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in misery and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor; they fell down, with no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress; he brought them
Scripture: Psalm 107:4-9 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town. For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things. Thought for the
Scripture: Psalm 107:1-3 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Thought for the Day: For the next few days, I will be looking at this Psalm.
Scripture: Psalm 58:2 No: in your hearts you plan injustice; your hands do violence on the earth. Thought for the Day: The author is asking a question of the powerful who control the lives of others – controlling them in an unfair and unjust way. There are many who today wield power over other human beings. Just recently, I heard more stories of young girls/women (11, 12 and
Scripture: Mark 3:14 Jesus appointed twelve and called them apostles. He appointed them to be with him, to be sent out to preach… Thought for the Day: Today, I am attending a preaching conference. To be honest, I am really excited about joining more than a 1000 other geeky preachers to listen to sermon after sermon after sermon. Those presenting at this event are some of the best
Scripture: John 14:14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. Thought for the Day: This is part of our sermon text for today. These are the words of Jesus according to the Gospel of John. Over the years, I have found myself in some odd conversations around these words. Shortly after I was diagnosed with MS, I was told by another pastor
Scripture: John 14:12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Thought for the Day: I shared this information before, but it is important to restate it. The word we translate as believe is Pisteuo. It is often thought of as
Scripture: Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, so does shame, but wisdom brings humility. Thought for the Day: Maybe it has never happened to you, but I have experienced a few bubble bursting moments. My ego was flying like a helium balloon on a long string. I was dancing in the air and enjoying the view, but then something unexpected punctured my skin and had me completely deflated. I