Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 190)
Daily Devotions: January 11, 2019
January 11, 2019 To read full passage click: Acts 8:14-17 …“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit…” vss. 14-15 These were exciting, heady days for the community of believers in Jerusalem. There was opposition and opportunity, and the movement lacked a play book and written instructions. Before long, they were…
Daily Devotions: January 10, 2019
January 10, 2019 To read full passage click: Psalm 29:5-9 …“The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.” vss. 7-8 Those who have experienced powerful summer storms know exactly what the psalmist was referencing in his song of praise to the Lord. The jagged flashes of lightning from dark foreboding clouds accompanied by the rolling crashes of thunder fill us with awe and…
Daily Devotions: January 9, 2019
January 9, 2019 To read full passage click: Psalm 29:1-4 …“Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.” vs. 1 Humans have always wondered about God. In the beginning they saw God connections everywhere, particularly in the unexplained mysteries of the universe. In those times, God was the standard cause for everything humans didn’t understand. As knowledge grew and scientific investigation revealed the natural forces at work in the world around us, some began…
Daily Devotions: January 8, 2019
January 8, 2019 To read full passage click: Isaiah 43:4-9 …“Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.” vs. 4 When we take time to study the history of the Jewish people we can’t help but be impressed by their dogged determination to hang on to their heritage and religious practices. They’ve endured almost endless persecution and prejudice through thousands of…
Daily Devotions: January 7, 2019
January 7, 2019 To read full passage click: Isaiah 43:1-3 …“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” vs. 1 The Israelites were feeling very alone. They’d been transported hundreds of miles from their homeland and were living as strangers in a foreign country. Many felt that their God had deserted them, and…
Daily Devotions: January 6, 2019
January 6, 2019 To read full passage click: Matthew 2:1-12 …“On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” vs. 11 Officially, the season of Christmas ended yesterday. Presumably trees and decorations have been taken down or stored away, and folks are ready to get on with the new year. The gift-giving is over and…
Daily Devotions: January 5, 2019
January 5, 2019 To read full passage click: Ephesians 3:7-12 …“Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power.” vs. 7 While many question whether Paul was the actual writer of the book of Ephesians, there is no doubt that its content is consistent with what we know of his life. He was completely committed to the message of inclusive grace that had…
Daily Devotions: January 4, 2019
January 4, 2019 To read full passage click: Ephesians 3:1-6 …“that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” vs. 6 Paul’s gospel insight changed everything in those exciting Spirit-directed and chaotic early days of the Church. The promise of life and forgiveness that had been given to the children of Abraham through the revelation of the prophets was intended for all people. No…
Daily Devotions: January 3, 2019
January 3, 2019 To read full passage click: Psalm 72:10-14 …“He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.” vss. 13-14 There are over 65 million displaced persons in the world today, and more than 25 million refugees and more than half of these are children. They’ve been forced from their homes by oppression and violence…
Daily Devotions: January 2, 2019
January 2, 2019 To read full passage click: Psalm 72:1-7 …“Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.” vss. 1, 4 The people of Israel always had high expectations of their rulers, and even sang about their hopes in temple rituals. The psalmist might have composed this psalm for an enthronement ceremony, and there…
Daily Devotions: January 1, 2019
January 1, 2019 For full passage click: Isaiah 60:1-6 …“Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” vs. 1 Epiphany is the season of light, a time to celebrate the dawning of the good news in a world of darkness. It’s a time to rededicate ourselves to our calling as children of light and focus on the many ways we can let that light shine before others. Way back in the time of the…
Daily Devotions: December 31, 2018
December 31, 2018 To read full passage click: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 …“He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” vs. 11 We’ve come to the end of another year, and many are thinking about the months that have just slipped away. Some will recall it as the best year ever, full of…