Scripture: Proverbs 12:20 Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil, but those who counsel peace have joy. Thought for the Day: I love how the Proverbs offer what appears to be a simple rule like: A brings about B, but C will bring about D. Most of us want D, so we thus avoid A. What I find interesting is these often straightforward axioms offer
Scripture: 2nd Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you. Thought for the Day: Black Elk, the great voice from the Native American culture, said, “The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the
Scripture: Acts 17:1-3 After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This is the Messiah,
Scripture: John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. Thought for the Day: Quick apology – my devotional from yesterday announced International Peace Day as today, but in further research, I discovered that my pronouncement was a bit premature.
Scripture: Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths. Their roads they have made crooked; no one who walks in them knows peace. Thought for the Day: Tomorrow is the International Day of Peace, a day set aside by the United Nations for active peacemaking among individuals, communities and nations. I’m glad we have this day, but I
Scripture: Colossians 4:2-5 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should. 5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the
Scripture: Exodus 23:13 (the Message) “Listen carefully to everything I tell you. Don’t pay attention to other gods – don’t so much as mention their names.” Thought for the Day: Echoing again the words of Dag Hammarskjöld from his book, Markings: Your cravings as a human animal do not become a prayer just because it is God whom you ask to attend to them. We have all seen
Scripture: 1st John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. Thought for the Day: I have referenced Richard Rohr a number of times recently, and once again, I turn to him and his discussion on fear-based Christianity. He writes: You cannot easily get to love when
Scripture: Matthew 21:10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” Thought for the Day: So different was Jesus and his teachings that the people wanted to know, “Who is this?” Today, people ask, “Who is this guy?” because it appears we have a Jesus with multiple personalities. The Jesus people see is dependent upon the denomination, tradition or lack thereof that
Scripture: Exodus 3:2-5 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called