Scripture: Luke 1:8 Once when Zechariah was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing
Scripture: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thought for the Day: As we move into the season of Advent (this Sunday), we will speak often about hope, peace, joy and love. We will emphasize one on each Sunday of Advent, and there is much
Scripture: Job 7:6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and come to their end without hope. Thought for the Day: In an intriguing article by Salvatore Iaconesi, My open source cure for brain cancer, (CLICK HERE), Iaconesi describes the process around diagnosis. He observes that when “you are declared ‘diseased,’ you become a set of medical records, therapy, dosages, exam dates. It’s as if you disappear,
Scripture: Psalm 25:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Thought for the Day: I’ve always been struck by the words of Mother Teresa who said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” She had witnessed economic poverty and physical suffering like I could never imagine, yet isolation was in her experience that greatest impoverishment. Could
Scripture: 1st Kings 5:12 So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and the two of them made a treaty. Thought for the Day: Wisdom and peace are closely linked as is demonstrated in the following story. On a hot summer day, a lion and a boar went to the spring for a drink. The boar got there just
Scripture: 2nd Thessalonians 1:3 We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing. Thought for the Day: The 4th century poet, Decimus Magnus Ausonius, wrote, “Nothing more detestable does the earth produce than an ungrateful man.” I think most of us would agree, or
Scripture: Isaiah 29:24 Those who got off-track will get back on-track, and complainers and whiners learn gratitude. (the Message) Thought for the Day: I vaguely remember a parent’s voice saying something very similar to what we find in the second half of this passage. The parent was my mother and I was the one being told that I needed to learn a little gratitude. Some folks have real
Scripture: Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). Thought for the Day: I often hear people say, “Idolatry is a sin of the Old Testament. No one worships idols anymore.” I can’t disagree more! Idolatry may not take on the same form as it did 3000 years ago, but anytime we put something temporary
Scripture: Colossians 3:12-15 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your
Scripture: Daniel 5:23 You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven! The vessels of his temple have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know; but the God in whose power