'family' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” vs. 1 Isaiah 11:1-4 In some homes, a Jesse tree has appeared in the family room right alongside the Christmas trees. Usually Jesse trees are not impressive in themselves; they’re just large dead branches stuck in some sort of non-descript container. They’re not at all like Christmas trees, but they are meant to be decorated. Each day during Advent some sort…
Daily Devotions
Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.” vss.3-4 Psalm 122 The ancient Israelites were convinced that God was responsible for their existence as a nation, and enshrined regular festivals of thanksgiving in their law codes. And the people were grateful! Ordinary folks recognized their dependence upon a benevolent God for survival and sustenance,…
Daily Devotions
Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.” vs. 26 Luke 14:25-30 There’s no doubt about it, sometimes the teachings of Jesus are baffling and we wonder what he could possibly have in mind. Here he tells the crowds that becoming his disciple is more important than the most intimate family relationships–it could even mean the loss of life. And he says…
Daily Devotions
Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’” vs. 13 Luke 12:13-15 There’s nothing that stirs up a family more than the division of an estate after a death has taken place. Ill feelings abound, attorneys are hired, and final disposition of lawsuits may take years to be settled. Even when a will exists and the intentions of the deceased seem crystal clear, family members end up at odds with…
Daily Devotions
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent.” vs. 9 Psalm 71:1-14 Some things never change! Even in the time of the psalmist, more than 2500 years ago, people had a fear of growing old. That fear stems not so much from the aches, pains, and muscle weakness that comes from aging, but the alienation and loneliness that can be almost more than our spirits can bear. Physical…
Daily Devotions
Then Judah said to his father Israel, ‘Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die—you and we and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me accountable for him.’” vss. 8-9a Genesis 43:3-11, 15 The ancestral stories we find recounted in the last half of Genesis are entertaining, but none of them are particularly uplifting. Each of the families portrayed…
Daily Devotions
And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” vss. 34-35 Mark 3:28-35 Promoting the nuclear family wasn’t part of Jesus’ platform as his ministry continued in Galilee. In fact, he realized that what he was teaching could actually threaten family unity–at one point he told his followers, “I have come to set a man against his father and…
Daily Devotions
and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.’” vss. 20-21 Mark 3:20-27 According to Mark it took a while for Jesus’ family to adjust to his popularity as he began his ministry. And that’s probably to be expected. He had had what seems to have been a normal childhood and adolescence in Nazareth–there…
Daily Devotion
He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” vs. 31 Mark 1:29-31 Mark adds a personal touch to his story by telling how Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law during a Saturday afternoon visit to the family home. Whether Mark intended it or not we can’t help but be amused at what happened. A cynic would say that this healing was done as much to benefit the…
Daily Devotions: October 3, 2019
October 3, 2019 For full passage click: 2 Timothy 1:1-7 … “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.” vs. 5 Timothy was a leader in the early church, and had a relationship with Paul that went back to the early missionary journeys. According to this letter, Paul knew the family. Evidently it was Lois, Timothy’s grandmother, and his mother,…
Daily Devotions: March 14, 2019
March 14, 2019 Psalm 27:7-14: “If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.” vs. 10 It would be wonderful if every person born in this world would be welcomed into a family that oozed with love and kindness. And wouldn’t it be terrific if all children would have parents who were slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love? Unfortunately that’s not the way it is! Too many children grow up in an atmosphere of…
Daily Devotions: June 10 , 2018
June 10, 2018 Mark 3:31-35…“And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” vss. 34-35 We get mixed messages from scripture about Jesus’ relationship with his family. John and Luke indicate that by the end of his life, Mary and his brother, James, were on board with his mission, but Mark tells us there was a disconnect early on.…