ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 9, 2021Scripture: Esther 4:15-16Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 8, 2021Prayer for the Week: In this Season of Lent, this time in the Christian Year when our eyes begin to take focus upon the betrayal and loneliness of a man’s execution, we are drawn to our knees in humility and sorrow. O God whose love was born in a manger and authenticated upon a cross, we employ this time of prayer for the purpose of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 7, 2021Scripture: Proverbs 14:31Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him. Thought for the Day: Is kindness the opposite of oppression? I don’t know if kindness by itself has the power to overcome oppression, but it is better than doing nothing. If you’re like me, there are times when I can become overwhelmed by the immensity
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 5, 2021Scripture: John 4:4-5Jesus had to go through Samaria. He came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, which was near the land Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Thought for the Day: This is the beginning of the story often entitled: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. Jesus and his disciples have been in Judea, the area West of the Dead Sea where we find Bethlehem
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 5, 2021Scripture: 1st Corinthians 4:10aWe are fools for Christ… Thought for the Day: There are strong admonitions against foolishness throughout the Old Testament, specifically in what is called the Wisdom Literature. Yesterday’s devotional spoke to one of those passages, and I purposely drove the point home to create the contrast with Paul’s comment about being fools for Christ. Are we to be foolish or not? It
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 4, 2021Scripture: Proverbs 16:21-22The skilled mind is called discerning, and pleasant speech enhances teaching. One who has insight is a fountain of life, but the instruction of the foolish is folly. Thought for the Day: I don’t mean to step on any toes here, but there are plenty of folks who are taking instruction from the foolish. Don’t get defensive, but we need to be honest
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 2, 2021Scripture: Philippians 4:19My God will meet your every need out of his riches in the glory that is found in Christ Jesus. Thought for the Day: What do you grieve this day? Many of us know a very real and palpable grief. Change, brought on by a whole host of losses, has bombarded us from every direction as of late, and change requires us to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGMarch 1, 2021Prayer for the Week:BreatheProvide us space to breatheBreatheProvide us resolve to breatheBreatheHoly Spirit – O Divine BreathEnter inDwell deeplyFill our lungsFill our livesFill us with loveHoly Spirit – O Divine BreathBestow spiritual emotional resilienceImpart hope conviction for this dayBreathe that is what we need to doBreathe find a sense of peaceBreathe aware of your presenceBreatheJust breatheAmen… and continue to breathe
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGFebruary 28, 2021Scripture: Galatians 1:6-7I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. Thought for the Day: As Paul listened to messengers who brought him a word from a