Scripture: Hebrews 6:7-8 The ground receives a blessing from God when it drinks up the rain that regularly comes and falls on it and yields a useful crop for those people for whom it is being farmed. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it’s useless and close to being cursed. It ends up being burned. Thought for the Day: The first house Donna and I purchased had
Scripture: Hebrews 6:1a So let’s press on to maturity, by moving on from the basics about Christ’s word. Thought for the Day: What does the author mean when referencing the basics about Christ’s word? What we translate as basics in this verse can also mean starting place. Yes, it was a starting place but I doubt Christ ever intended it to be the final destination. Too often, Christians
A PRAYER… May we seek to be fully committed to you, O God, who has forever been committed to us. Our hearts yearn to declare with confidence “We Are All In!” when it comes to our devotion to you. Our hearts yearn, but our daily living does not always match such a declaration. O Spirit
As I said yesterday, it is the ten year anniversary of when I first started writing my daily devotionals. The following is the first one that I have from a decade ago. For some reason, I didn’t keep the first devotionals that I wrote. Note, it was written to First Christian Church of Naples, but I find that it fits well at Cypress Creek Christian Church ten years
Scripture: 1st Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Thought for the Day: Let me begin by saying that today is an anniversary of sorts. It was ten years ago while serving at First Christian Church of Naples that I
Scripture: Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Thought for the Day: Among Paul’s writings, this is one of my favorites (though I have many). Each of those characteristics requires the human ego, along with fear and self-righteousness, to take a backseat. In fact, they probably need to be vanquished all together if we seek to truly embody
Scripture: Matthew 2:11 They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Thought for the Day: Do you remember a moment in your life when you felt as if you saw Jesus for the very first time? Do you remember a moment
TODAY IS EPIPHANY (arrivial of the magi/wisemen) Scripture: Matthew 2:7-9 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look,
EPIPHANY IS TOMORROW Scripture: Matthew 2:3-5a When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea… Thought for the Day: People like stability; people like conformity; people like cohesion. It is fascinating how much people will
GETTING READY FOR EPIPHANY Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” Thought for the Day: Do we spend time seeking, inquiring and discerning? The magi