6.6.22: 1 John 4: How to See God
1 John 4: How to See God ——— God IS love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. […]
6.2.22: Matthew 22: Keeping it Simple
Matthew 22: Keeping it Simple ——– Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two […]
6.1.22: Genesis 9–The Rainbow Still Shines
Genesis 9–The Rainbow Still Shines ——– And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me […]
5.31.22: Deuteronomy 5:32 Do Not Turn Away
Deuteronomy 5:32 Do Not Turn Away ——– Do just as the Lord your God has commanded you You shall not turn away to the right or to the left ——– Memorial day is not just for fallen soldiers It is natural to turn away from horrible scenes like the fallen children and teachers It is […]
5.30.22: Struggle
Memorial Day grew out of the struggle to heal this land after the Civil War. The history of that conflict cannot be written only in Black and White. Blacks, Native people, and Chinese immigrants also served. At the time, most of them could not claim to be US citizens. They volunteered anyway. They served for […]
5.26.22: Leviticus 23:23-25–A Memorial Day
Leviticus 23:23-25–A Memorial Day ——– And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath a memorial day of blowing the trumpets a holy convocation You shall do no regular work on that […]
5.25.22: John 15: I am the vine, you are the branches
John 15: I am the vine, you are the branches ——– I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ——– It is hard to […]
5.24.22: Psalm 98: Creation’s Song
Psalm 98: Creation’s Song ——– Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; Let the sea roar, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord […]
5.23.22: John 15: No Greater Love
John 15: No Greater Love ——– My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this: To lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ——– The endless stream of hateful headlines can cause us to lose track of the fact that we are still surrounded by […]
5.19.22: John 14–I AM the Way
John 14–I AM the Way ——– If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you […]
5.18.22: Galatians 6–Sowing and Reaping
Galatians 6–Sowing and Reaping ——– Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, they will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God—harvests a crop of weeds. But the one who plants in response to God harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So […]
5.17.22: Genesis 31: Keeping Watch
Genesis 31: Keeping Watch ——– That place was called Mizpah, [Watchtower] because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between me and thee while we are apart.” ——– When Jacob and Laban said, “MIZPAH!” they weren’t the best of friends. They were calling God to watch the boundary between them. Over the years, friends and […]
5.16.22: Psalm 1: In all they do, they prosper
Psalm 1: In all they do, they prosper ——– Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers But their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night. They […]
5.12.22: Matthew 2:16-18 Rachel Weeping for her Children
Matthew 2:16-18 Rachel Weeping for her Children ——– When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then […]
5.11.22: Ecclesiastes 4: A Cord of Three Strands
Ecclesiastes 4: A Cord of Three Strands ————– Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will […]
5.10.22: Psalm 23–The Greatest Song of All Time
Psalm 23–The Greatest Song of All Time ——— The Lord is my shepherd There is nothing else I need He makes me lie down in green pastures He leads me beside still waters He restores my strength He shows me the right paths at the right time He has called me his own child And […]
5.9.22: Luke 24: The Road to Nowhere
Luke 24: The Road to Nowhere ——– Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with […]
5.5.22: Psalm 150: Praise with Whatever You’ve Got
Psalm 150: Praise with Whatever You’ve Got ——– Praise the Lord! Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet praise him with the harp and lyre Praise him with timbrel and dancing praise him with the strings and pipe Praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has […]
5.4.22: Luke 24: He Opened their Minds
Luke 24: He Opened their Minds ——– He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” They still did not believe it because of joy and amazement. Then he opened their minds so they could understand. ——– The risen Lord found the disciples in a state of confusion. […]
5.3.22: John 13: A Troubled Spirit
John 13: A Troubled Spirit ——– After Jesus had said this, he was deeply troubled in spirit. ——– The most devastating effect of the pandemic has not been viral. It has been spiritual, emotional, and mental. The past couple of years have been difficult for all of us. For those who struggle with depression or […]
5.2.22: Luke 24: Breaking Bread
Luke 24: Breaking Bread ——– When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ——– For Christians this story reminds us of the Communion Table. But this […]
4.28.22: John 20: In Business with Dad
John 20: In Business with Dad ——– Again Jesus said, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit! If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven– If you do not forgive them, they are not […]
4.27.22: John 20: Beam Me Up!
John 20: Beam Me Up! ——– On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The […]
4.26.22: Isaiah 49: A Closer Look
Isaiah 49: A Closer Look ——— Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. ——— God loves you with a perfect mother’s love. The […]