Scripture: Romans 1:9-10 For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. Thought for the Day: The gift of Christ inspired Paul and countless others throughout the centuries to serve others, sacrificing on behalf
Scripture: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Thought for the Day: Yesterday was the anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk. It was 1903, and there were many who mocked their ‘stupidity.’ Even some well-known scientists said, “It is impossible.” From the birth narratives through the empty tomb, we find people who looked into the unknown, and by 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: We are all a work in progress, and our progress is occurring
Scripture: Ephesians 1:1 (the Message) I, Paul, am under God’s plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful Christians in Ephesus. Thought for the Day: “Oh the best made plans…” You know the experience — you’ve had something on your calendar for 6 months, and you’ve been looking forward to it. Everything is in place; the hotel reservations are made; the schedule
Scripture: Luke 1:46-48 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; Thought for the Day: Mary’s song reminds us of how God sees each person, not on some wide scale of worthiness and unworthiness, but as full of
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Thought for the Day: A commercial came on TV for a retail chain, and the voice joyfully exclaimed that everything was on sale. The line that caught my attention was, “Can Christmas get any
Scripture: Colossians 4:5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Thought for the Day: One of the things I have been reflecting on during this Season of Advent is time. We all make comments like, “There is never enough time” or “I wish there were eight days this week”. This thinking, at least in my experience, usually is found around the holidays when we
Scripture: Exodus 14:15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. Thought for the Day: The Israelites were fleeing from enslavement in Egypt, and all the people could do was complain. They even had the audacity to ask, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the
Scripture: Luke 1:72-75 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. Thought for the Day: I like the idea of ‘showing’ mercy. In our
Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Thought for the Day: Today is Anti-Human Trafficking Day. That part of me that desires to remain naive cannot believe that we have an Anti-Human Trafficking Day in 2013, but naiveté is a friend of those who promote trafficking of human beings – including within the sex