Scripture: 1st Peter 3:14-16 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your
Scripture: Matthew 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? Thought for the Day: Why are tax collectors always described as bad guys? I’ve known some tax collectors (IRS agents), and they were pretty good people. In fact, some of them were leaders in the churches I served. Of course, the tax collectors
Scripture: Jeremiah 44:4 Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, “I beg you not to do this abominable thing that I hate!” Thought for the Day: Predictability can be rather boring, except when it comes to the love of God. I think the prophets, and a few years later, Jesus, went out of their way to demonstrate the tenacity of God. How God
Scripture: Proverbs 25:14 (the Message) Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses. Thought for the Day: Have you ever, when trying to get through to someone, felt like you were beating your head against a brick wall? Often the experience brings out emotions like anger, frustration and nastiness. Those approaches rarely cause a crack in the wall, only a bigger bruise on the forehead.
Scripture: Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. Thought for the Day: I was recently listening to the Bill Cosby routine when he talks about having children. In the beginning, when Bill is talking about he and his wife making the decision to have children, he said: “…we were afraid to ask God for specific things. We felt
Scripture: Luke 17:20-21 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” Thought for the Day: Apocalyptic literature, hopeful words spoken amidst crisis, stretches back
Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 2:8 So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. Thought for the Day: I was wanting to see what someone traditionally gave for a 41st anniversary. So many anniversaries have specific gifts assigned to them. One website suggested an
Scripture: Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Thought for the Day: You think you’ve had a bad day, just read Psalm 27. Here is someone who is having all kinds of problems, yet these words of encouragement are a call to trust in the Lord. The Hebrew word we translate, to be strong, conveys an unyielding
Scripture: Acts 12:5 While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. Thought for the Day: Our church ran an ad before Easter in the Belief Section, and it appeared among another ten or so ads. All of them were for other church Easter services, except for one. The very top ad was for a Bail Bondsman. I found that rather intriguing on
Scripture: Hebrews 12:14-15 Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. Thought for the Day: I’ve always loved the 12th chapter of Hebrews. An initial reading, and some folks find it rather