Blog (Page 230)
Daily Devotions: November 9, 2017
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-15 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” vs. 13 Early in his missionary journeys, Paul believed in the immanent return of the Lord Jesus. But, as time passed, he began to hear that some believers had concerns. They were wondering about loved ones who had recently died. Would they miss out on the…
Daily Devotions: November 8, 2017
Psalm 70 “But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!” vs. 5 There’s nothing like tough times to kindle a spark of faith in us. During the good years…when the stock market is up, our health is good, and family is doing well…we can go for long periods without even thinking about God. Months pass without a serious prayer…we can go for decades without darkening…
Daily Devotions: November 7, 2017
Amos 5:22-24 “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” vs. 24 These words, directed by the prophet Amos to the leaders of Israel, have a contemporary ring to them and remind us of the inspired oratory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Like Amos, King saw clearly the inequities of society and made an eloquent plea for an end to injustice in segregated America. Prophets like Amos and Dr. King generally are not well…
I Left Refreshed
Donna Campbell Recently, I attended the Boundless Compassion Retreat at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center. My initial purpose in attending a retreat was simply to step into another space and time to quiet the noise of my life, slow down, and clear my head. I chose this retreat to support my quest to become a more compassionate soulful being. Though I am very familiar with Spirit in the Desert, I had never attended an extended retreat there wholly immersed…
Daily Devotions: November 6, 2017
Amos 5:18-21 “(The Day of the Lord) is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake.” vss. 18b-19 The people of Israel were supremely arrogant as they enjoyed their unprecedented economic prosperity. They knew that they were God’s people and that God had even greater things in mind for them. One day the Lord…
Daily Devotions: November 5, 2017
Matthew 5:7-12 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” vs. 11 Jesus told his disciples to expect persecution if they were bold enough to take up his cross and walk in his way. And that’s exactly what happened! In the early years, many disciples were derided and ridiculed…and many suffered and died for being believers. Even today, in parts of the world, to be a…
Daily Devotions: November 4, 2017
Matthew 5:1-6 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” vs. 5 In the context of today’s political climate and the general trend of culture this word of Jesus to his disciples seems more of a joke than anything else. A glance at the dictionary tells us that the meek are submissive and unassuming, willing to put up with injury, and unwilling to speak up or offer any kind of resistance. In our world the meek aren’t even…
Daily Devotions: November 3, 2017
1 John 3:1-3 “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” vs. 1a Folks in the early Christian communities lived precariously as they waited for the promised revealing of the Lord Jesus. There were a multitude of forces arrayed against them, ranging from the erratic cruel Roman despots to the insidious false prophets who tried to undermine the gospel of grace. Believers found solace in faith,…
Daily Devotions: November 2, 2017
Psalm 34:5-10, 22 “This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble.” vs. 6 The little bit of personal testimony in today’s verse provides an intriguing backdrop for this psalm of thanksgiving. It reminds us that our scriptures emerged from an historical context that was not much different from our own. Like many of us, the psalmist had experienced suffering. It could have been any number of things: health, relationships, persecution…we really don’t…
Margin for Mission
Bob Ulland and his wife, Myrna, moved to Arizona from Duluth, Minnesota in 2013 and became aware of Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center through their connection with Living Water Lutheran Church in Scottsdale. Ken Bash, a member of Living Water and former board member and long-time supporter of Spirit in the Desert, talked to Bob about becoming a member of Spirit in the Desert’s board of directors. Bob said, “Ken can be persuasive, and I was elected to the…
A Place Where the Spirit Dances
Paula Sturgeon was a young girl when she and her parents drove north from their home in Scottsdale, Arizona to eat at the International Restaurant in Carefree. She remembers the exotic middle eastern food served in what is now the Estrem building of Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center. At the time, she had no way of knowing the restaurant was going to become a major church-sponsored retreat center, and, years later, she would be a strong supporter and board…
Daily Devotions: November 1, 2017
Psalm 34:1-4 “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” vs. 1 Not all of us bless the Lord with every breath we take, nor is it likely that we continually offer praise with the words of our mouths. If we did there’d certainly be a different atmosphere in our social environment. Too often we forget the importance of a word fitly spoken and instead fill the air with careless and sometimes…