Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 132)
Daily Devotions: December 1, 2019
December 1, 2019 For full passage click: Matthew 24:42-44 … “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” vs. 44 Today we start the season of Advent. Some will be lighting the first candle on their wreath; children are perhaps opening the first surprise on an Advent calendar. Our text is from a section of Matthew’s Gospel dealing with the last days. We are being warned, it seems, to be ready,…
Daily Devotions: November 30, 2019
November 30, 2019 For full passage click: Matthew 24:36-41 … “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark…so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.” 38-39b Most of the time life is pretty ordinary! Oh, there are occasional moments of transition, but mostly we spend our time routinely going about our business, taking care of self and family, and rarely…
Daily Devotions: November 29, 2019
November 29, 2019 For full passage click: Romans 13:11-14 … “Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” vs. 14 As Paul writes to the Romans, his carefully reasoned theological constructs are not always easy to understand, but he closes with some practical advice that is hard to misconstrue. He wants them to know that proper theology can be helpful, but it’s not the bottom line. What really counts is…
Daily Devotions: November 28, 2019: THANKSGIVING
November 28, 2019 For full passage click: John 6:25-35 … “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” vs. 35 Thanksgiving is a holiday that seems to arise naturally out of human experience–people in nearly all countries have annual festivals to give thanks for harvest blessings. Often there will be prayers offered to God, even by those who don’t typically recognize…
Daily Devotions: November 27, 2019
November 27, 2019 For full passage click: Philippians 4:4-9 … “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” vs. 6 Thanksgiving Eve has become a favorite time for interfaith services. It seems that we can, for at least one day, put aside differences and concentrate on that which we have in common. And that’s a good thing! All of us, regardless of religious affiliation, receive amazing…
Daily Devotions: November 26, 2019
November 26, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 122 … “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.’” vss. 6-7 Jerusalem was not only the capital of Judah, it was the center of worship life for all devout Jews, no matter where they lived in the world. The temple was here and three times each year there were important festivals to attend. Even today three major…
Daily Devotions: November 25, 2019
November 25, 2019 For full passage click: Isaiah 2:1-5“ … He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” vs. 4 Isaiah believed that one day Jerusalem would be established as the hub of God’s rule. From there, God would establish order and justice among the nations and there…
Daily Devotions: November 24, 2019
November 24, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 24:39-43 … “Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’” vss. 42-43 In Luke’s Gospel Jesus continues his ministry as he hangs dying on the cross, first forgiving his taunting killers and then offering hope to the criminal hanging next to him. His promise concerning Paradise has been scrutinized and studied for centuries. It’s…
Daily Devotions: November 23, 2019
November 23, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 23:33-38 … “Then Jesus said, ’Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing.” vs. 34 Those of us who watch the Netflix series called “The Crown” have gotten a pretty good idea of what it’s like to sit on the throne of England. We know the glory, wealth, and prestige that comes from being a king or queen. In the…
Daily Devotions: November 22, 2019
November 22, 2019 For full passage click: Colossians 1:17-20 … “He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…” vs. 18-19 The Christ who was in the beginning, who is the image of God imprinted in every human, is seen fully in Jesus of Nazareth. In Jesus we…
Daily Devotions: November 21, 2019
November 21, 2019 For full passage click: Colossians 1:11-16 … “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.” vss. 15-16 These are two of the most spectacular verses in all of Scripture and deserve to be etched upon our hearts and maybe…
Daily Devotions: November 20, 2019
November 20, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 46:6-11 … “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” vs. 10 The Psalmist knew that God is heard most clearly in the sounds of silence and not in sermons or even the singing of Psalms. It’s nice to have solid preachers and gifted choirs in congregations, but God comes closest to us when we put aside words and simply…