Prayer for the Week: It has always been the simple and humble people of this world who have brought about change to the very fabric of this world. Creator and Sustainer, we ask for you to raise up another flock of such folks. And if you are already raising up such a group around us or among us, we ask for eyes to see them and hearts that
Scripture: Luke 7:13 When he saw her, the Lord had compassion for her and said, “Don’t cry.” Thought for the Day: I think Jesus gets a pass on this one, but I am always cautious about telling someone, “Don’t cry.” Crying can often be one of the healthiest and cathartic actions we can do. Jesus could say to her, “don’t cry,” because he knew that change was on
Scripture: Luke. 7:11-12 A little later Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a great crowd traveled with him. As he approached the city gate, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. Thought for the Day: I find two separate ways of hearing this story
Scripture: Luke. 7:9-10 When Jesus heard these words, he was impressed with the centurion. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I tell you, even in Israel I haven’t found faith like this.” When the centurion’s friends returned to his house, they found the servant restored to health. Thought for the Day: Probably not quite as shocking as the notion of a Good Samaritan, but the
Scripture: Luke 7:3-5 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Jesus to ask him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they earnestly pleaded with Jesus. “He deserves to have you do this for him,” they said. “He loves our people and he built our synagogue for us.” Thought for the Day: Life is complicated! Jesus makes a move
Scripture: Luke 7:1-2 After Jesus finished presenting all his words among the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion had a servant who was very important to him, but the servant was ill and about to die. Thought for the Day: As we begin the seventh chapter of Luke’s Gospel, we find a transition from Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain. It was during this powerful sermon that Jesus shared
Scripture: Luke 6:47-48 I’ll show what it’s like when someone comes to me, hears my words, and puts them into practice. It’s like a person building a house by digging deep and laying the foundation on bedrock. When the flood came, the rising water smashed against that house, but the water couldn’t shake the house because it was well built. Thought for the Day: There are three parts
Prayer for the Week: Calling and Commitment; Choosing to follow; Discipleship.Good and Gracious God, Call me again – Invite me to be committed – Prepare me to follow – For I desire to be a disciple, a disciple of Jesus.I cannot expect this to happen overnight or without discipline or by osmosis. Walk alongside me correct me where I’m off the path and gently
Scripture: Luke 6:39 Jesus also told them a riddle. “A blind person can’t lead another blind person, right? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Thought for the Day: These words are from today’s sermon text. Some translations say parable, and others translate the word as riddle. When I read the word riddle, I can only picture a guy in a green suit with a big question mark
Scripture: Luke 6:35-37 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. “Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive,