Scripture: Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight Thought for the Day: I came across this confessional prayer by Lavon Bayler that was especially meaningful to me: God, you have forgiven us many times. Still we wander away from you, living as if we need not account to anyone for our words or deeds. We depend on
Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 5:15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Thought for the Day: This was the title of an article I read on NBCNews.com: “Teens beat man because ‘they were just bored’.” I’m sure you find this as troubling as I did, though I am equally concerned about those who believe this
Scripture: Acts 26:20 (the Message) I started preaching this life-change – this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life – right there in Damascus, went on to Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside, and from there to the whole world. Thought for the Day: Zach and I walked out of the church the other day, and he saw the big welcome sign that had: “Rev.
Scripture: Galatians 6:9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. Thought for the Day: I recently came across a fascinating Haitian Proverb. It is rather simple and straight forward, but as I have reflected more upon it, I find its simplicity to be quite profound. It’s funny how that happens. The
Scripture: Romans 2:1b …for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. Thought for the Day: I have never been a fan of the old saying, “Hate the sin, but love the sinner.” It’s catchy, but it is most often used as a self-righteous ploy to belittle those who we do not like or do not understand.
Scripture: Jeremiah 33:8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. Thought for the Day: Before his death, Lewis Smedes was a professor at Fuller Seminary. He wrote extensively about forgiveness, but one of my favorite quotes is: “The first and often the only person to be healed by
Scripture: 1st Peter 1:21 Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. Thought for the Day: Some of the most powerful voices of the faith come from those places where suffering are so great. I was recently rereading the book, “Cry Justice,” which is a collection of
Scripture: 1st Corinthian 13:8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. Thought for the Day: I watched most of the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics, and though there were a few odd moments, I kind of enjoyed them. But as I watched the athletes, some with
Scripture: Zechariah 7:8-11 The word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears in order not
Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 12:9…but the Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Thought for the Day: The comedian, Steve Martin, tried to show how hard it is to play a sad song on the banjo. There is