Scripture: Luke 1:51-53 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Thought for the Day: “I like the Christmas Jesus best.” Those were the words of Will Ferrell’s (Ricky Bobby)
Scripture: John 11:32-35 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord,
Scripture: Romans 4:18 (the Message) When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, “You’re going to have a big family, Abraham!” Thought for the Day: I had to do a little
Scripture: John 1:9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. Thought: Just a few hours ago, a tragedy beyond description struck an elementary school in Connecticut. Like many of you, I am weeping for the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, friends and colleagues, who are hearing news that is simply unimaginable. There is no question it is time for us to have a
Scripture: Micah 3:5 Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths. Thought for the Day: In Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, I am struck by the words, “And in despair I bow’d my head: ‘There is no peace
Scripture: Luke 1:69-71 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thought for the Day: Going back to the Song of Zechariah (devotional from two days ago), I am struck
Scripture: Philippians 2:5-7a Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. Thought for the Day: 95 years ago today, Father Flanagan founded Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1938, the
Scripture: Luke 1:67-68 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them…” Thought for the Day: Zechariah burst into a spirit-filled song at the naming of his son, John. Zechariah had been unable to speak for months, and this song contained the joyous emotions that
Scripture: 2nd Timothy 1:9 [God]…who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began… Thought for the Day: We are saved that we might be called; rescued for a mission; liberated to do a holy vocation. These two ideas are inseparable, and
Scripture: Isaiah 58:6-7 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your