Scripture: Psalm 85:10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Thought for the Day: Love and faithfulness, righteousness and peace, are concepts discussed in religious and academic settings. Most often these ideas are tossed around as theories, yet in this Psalm the author wants to make sure his audience recognizes that they were never intended to be abstract. The words take on
Scripture: Luke 8:48 Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” Thought for the Day: As I sat by her hospital bed just days before her death, I found myself jealous of her faith that seemed unconcerned with the words of the doctors. She clearly understood that her body was going to die very soon, but her trust in God left me
Scripture: Colossians 4:2 (the Message) Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Thought for the Day: I have come across a number of what I call “genuine prayers for those of us far from perfection”. They are the kind of prayers that express gratitude for the dishes piled high in the sink, for there was a good meal served with those dishes. Or
Scripture: Luke 8:19-21 Then his (Jesus’) mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” Thought for the Day: Wow! If I had said
Scripture: Mark 2:27 Then Jesus said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath…” Thought for the Day: Red Skelton once said, “If by chance some day you’re not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I’ve said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your
Scripture: Psalm 54:1-3 Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. Thought for the Day: In light of the recent announcement of the Pope’s retirement, I am borrowing one of his thoughts associated with this season. Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “Lent is like
Scripture: Acts 18:25-26 Apollos had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. Thought for the Day: Though
Scripture: 1st Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. Thought for the Day: Henri Nouwen remains one of my favorite authors. On the topic of love for one another, he says, “Your body needs to be held and to hold, to be touched and to touch.
Scripture: 1st Samuel 3:4-5 Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. Thought for the Day: Tonight at our Ash Wednesday Service (6:45pm), I will take a few minutes to reflect on these words
Scripture: Luke 7:40-50 Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled