Scripture: Mark 12:34a And when Jesus saw that one of the scribes had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Thought for the Day: There are some things in life where pretty close is really something to celebrate. There are other times when close isn’t anywhere near success. When Jesus hears the scribe speak of how love of the Lord
Scripture: Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Thought for the Day: When I met David (I’ve changed the name to protect the innocent/guilty), he quickly articulated his basic religious values. He said, “I’ve got my boat, my 4-wheeler, my guns, and my Harley. No matter what you try to say, they will always be my first love.” I believed him, and
Scripture: John 12:24-25 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Thought for the Day: How does the death of one bring life? It
Scripture: Genesis 2:4-5 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up–for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man
Scripture: Jeremiah 33:8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. Thought for the Day: We may hear the words, “You are forgiven,” but if the power of guilt remains over us, the gift of forgiveness remains elusive. Guilt is an ugly influence that continues to give power to
Scripture: Acts 7:48-49 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as the prophet says, “Heaven is my throne, and earth my footstool. What house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?” Thought for the Day: I’m getting ready to speak at a conference of church leaders who are asking tough questions about faith communities
“…most sermons are like airplanes that circle over the congregation in a perpetual holding pattern. They neither take off nor land on a street we recognize or in the neighborhood where we live.” Excerpt From: Meyers, Robin. “The Underground Church.”
Scripture: 1st Peter 4:10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Thought for the Day: Each person has been gifted for the purpose of building up the Kingdom of God here on earth, yet there are many people who do not see themselves as gifted. For whatever reason, they perceive their abilities as insignificant or
Scripture: Luke 4:21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Thought for the Day: A man picks up the morning paper and begins to read it. Suddenly he realizes it is dated two months in the future. All the stories he is reading have yet to occur. He flips to the stock pages and he is thrilled to discover
Scripture: 1st John 3:18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. Thought for the Day: I came across a little stewardship thought I wrote years ago based upon these words of scripture. It said, “We bring the gift of ourselves in hopes that love may flourish among us and through us. This comes through our honesty before the Creator who