Scripture: 1st Corinthians 12:26-27 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. Thought for the Day: Notice how the scriptures say, “If one member suffers, all suffer together…” It does not say that members of the body cause other members to suffer. In a recent
Scripture: 1st John 1:4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. Thought for the Day: Tonight (Tuesday evening), I am writing this devotional so my joy may be complete. My joy tonight is connected to our church’s Prison Ministry, and the breath-taking impact we are having on the lives of women who are incarcerated. I am blessed by those who give so much
Scripture: Ephesians 4:22-23 You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Thought for the Day: For those who did not see it, I clothed myself on
Scripture: Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. Thought for the Day: In the English translation of the Hebrew, there are some words and phrases that have lost their meaning. I had never quite understood what it meant ‘to walk before’ God. Even as a metaphor, I wasn’t
Scripture: Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Thought for the Day: Albert Ellis, the psychologist and author, once wrote: The art of love is largely the art of persistence. The Lord’s love is steadfast, and we
Scripture: Matthew 23:12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. Thought for the Day: I was just reading the other day about Kate Middleton, the woman who married into British Royalty, yet she still likes to do her own grocery shopping and cooking. Witnessing little acts of humility raises something within the human soul. Someone quietly provides an act of
Scripture: 1 Kings 10:14-15 The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold, besides that which came from the traders and from the business of the merchants, and from all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land. Thought for the Day: Though this may sound impressive, it is actually the beginning of Solomon’s decline. The six
Scripture: Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Thought for the Day: Carl Sandburg wrote, “Nothing happens unless first we dream.” I want to dare you to dream; I want to challenge you to seek the dream God is dreaming for you; I want to invite you to risk some discomfort and possible apprehension in discovering the dream God has envisioned
Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32 “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, “I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will
Scripture: Matthew 11:28 And Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Thought for the Day: A great Buddhist teacher once wrote, “View all problems as challenges. Look upon negatives that arise as opportunities to learn and grow. Don’t run from them, condemn yourself, or bury your burden in saintly silence.” Those closing words about