Scripture: Psalm 25:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Thought for the Day: I’ve always been struck by the words of Mother Teresa who said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” She had witnessed economic poverty and physical suffering like I could never imagine, yet isolation was in her experience that greatest impoverishment. Could
Scripture: 1st Kings 5:12 So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and the two of them made a treaty. Thought for the Day: Wisdom and peace are closely linked as is demonstrated in the following story. On a hot summer day, a lion and a boar went to the spring for a drink. The boar got there just
Scripture: 2nd Thessalonians 1:3 We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing. Thought for the Day: The 4th century poet, Decimus Magnus Ausonius, wrote, “Nothing more detestable does the earth produce than an ungrateful man.” I think most of us would agree, or
Scripture: Isaiah 29:24 Those who got off-track will get back on-track, and complainers and whiners learn gratitude. (the Message) Thought for the Day: I vaguely remember a parent’s voice saying something very similar to what we find in the second half of this passage. The parent was my mother and I was the one being told that I needed to learn a little gratitude. Some folks have real
Scripture: Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). Thought for the Day: I often hear people say, “Idolatry is a sin of the Old Testament. No one worships idols anymore.” I can’t disagree more! Idolatry may not take on the same form as it did 3000 years ago, but anytime we put something temporary
Scripture: Colossians 3:12-15 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your
Scripture: Daniel 5:23 You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven! The vessels of his temple have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know; but the God in whose power
Scripture: Mark 12:34a And when Jesus saw that one of the scribes had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Thought for the Day: There are some things in life where pretty close is really something to celebrate. There are other times when close isn’t anywhere near success. When Jesus hears the scribe speak of how love of the Lord
Scripture: Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Thought for the Day: When I met David (I’ve changed the name to protect the innocent/guilty), he quickly articulated his basic religious values. He said, “I’ve got my boat, my 4-wheeler, my guns, and my Harley. No matter what you try to say, they will always be my first love.” I believed him, and
Scripture: John 12:24-25 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Thought for the Day: How does the death of one bring life? It