Prayer for the Week: Where have I sinned and fallen short of your glory, O Lord? Where has my life failed to tell the story of Jesus and his love? Where have you attempted to utilize my gifts, and I refused the effort of your Spirit? I am thankful for your mercy, O God of All Creation, as my life has not always been what I would have
Scripture: Romans 8:6 The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. Thought for the Day: Selfishness, a life that focuses on the self, is always going to be limited and narrow in its perspective. By its very nature, selfishness is short-sidedness and an incomplete perspective. An attitude that comes from the Spirit is an
Scripture: Philippians 2:3 Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Thought for the Day: Today, I am facilitating a workshop on leadership. Though I am not mentioning the above passage, it sure popped into my mind more than once as I was preparing. A spirit of humility is a cornerstone for any effective leader, but how exactly does a
Scripture: Matthew 7:14 But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the road difficult, so few people find it. Thought for the Day: This Sunday, we are once again focusing on the idea of Rising, specifically rising from narrowness. A lot of folks read these words from Matthew’s Gospel, and surmise the pathway to God as narrowly defined by certain moral standards. You might have heard
Scripture: Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation. Should I fear anyone? The LORD is a fortress protecting my life. Should I be frightened of anything? Thought for the Day: Are these rhetorical questions? Yes, and No. They are rhetorical because everyone knows, in theory, that we have nothing to fear. At the same time, everyone who knows they should not fear still has fear.
Scripture: Psalm 130:6-7 My whole being waits for my Lord— more than the night watch waits for morning; yes, more than the night watch waits for morning! Israel, wait for the LORD! Because faithful love is with the LORD; because great redemption is with our God! Thought for the Day: As I read these words, my take away is for us to wait on the Lord, for if
Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 …but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength; they will fly up on wings like eagles; they will run and not be tired; they will walk and not be weary. Thought for the Day: You may or may not have read Sunday’s devotional, but I wrote about how the disciples were to stay put until they had been filled with heavenly power.
Prayer for the Week: “Fear not,” says the Lord, “for I am with you.” This declaration from scripture resonates within our spirits, Merciful God. We hear these words; we desire to embrace them; we seek to believe them and own them for our daily lives. Yet claiming to live a life without fear and actually living a life without fear are not the same. Such a life, as
Scripture: Luke 24:39 Look, I’m sending to you what my Father promised, but you are to stay in the city until you have been furnished with heavenly power. Thought for the Day: This will be the last of the devotionals from Luke, at least for now. This is the bridge to the Book of Acts where, in 40 days, the church will be born with the gift of
Scripture: Luke 24:41-43 Because they were wondering and questioning in the midst of their happiness, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish. Taking it, he ate it in front of them. Thought for the Day: We often, incorrectly, assume there was just “One Christianity” in the years after Jesus. In fact, there were many different strands and