HOPE—Rev. Norma Lowrey Scripture: Ephesians 1:14 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called-his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. Thought for the Day: During the second session of the Jesus Apprentice series that we just completed, we were asked to look at a group of phrases to
Scripture: Romans 8:24-25 Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Thought for the Day: The great theologian, Paul Tillich, preached a sermon entitled, The Right to Hope. In the sermon, he said: There are two kinds of waiting, the passive waiting in laziness
Scripture: Romans 6:16 (Common English Bible) Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, that you are slaves of the one whom you obey? That’s true whether you serve as slaves of sin, which leads to death, or as slaves of the kind of obedience that leads to righteousness. Thought for the Day: In her book, A Fruit Always in Season, Mother Teresa
Scripture: Proverb 24:27 Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house. Thought for the Day: Take a deep breath! Now let it out slowly… Hopefully you are prepared for what I’m about ready to say (write): With the Thanksgiving leftovers still in refrigerator, it is time for Advent. This Sunday we begin our 2015 Advent Adventure: A Child
Scripture: Psalm 107:8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. Thought for the Day: I believe Meister Eckhart, the 14th century philosopher and mystic, summarized things well with the words, “If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice.” Prayer: Lord God, thank you! Amen.
Scripture: 1st Chronicles 16:7-10 Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the Lord by Asaph and his kindred. O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Scripture: Psalm 148:3 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Thought for the Day: On this day in 1877, Anna Sewell published the classic Black Beauty. It has become one of the best selling books of all time. In the novel, there is
Scripture: Genesis 12:2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Thought for the Day: Yesterday, I preached on the importance of seeing blessings as a gift that comes from above. We are not the source, but the vehicle God uses. Blessings originate within God, and when God pours them into
Scripture: Proverbs 9:9 (the Message) Save your breath for the wise – they’ll be wiser for it; tell good people what you know – they’ll profit from it. Thought for the Day: Today is Thanksgiving Sunday, an opportunity to think a bit more earnestly about gratitude. This day, I give thanks for all those who helped to make me a little wiser than I was. From my mother
Scripture: Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! Thought for the Day: Worship is many things, but among them is the opportunity for the community to collectively give thanks. Our expressions of gratitude are not to meet some need or expectation of God, but to meet a yearning within us. As people of faith, we have come to realize