'life' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” vs. 10 Isaiah 35:5-10 When the people of Judah were in exile in Babylon, some adapted and established roots there, but most longed to return to their homeland. These were encouraged in their hope by their prophets, faithful leaders who continued to believe that God would…
Daily Devotions
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near.” vss. 11-12a Romans 13:11-14 It’s so easy to lose track of time. Everyone knows the feeling! We get involved in one thing or another and before we are even aware that time has passed, a glance at our watch…
Daily Devotions
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” vss. 31-32 John 8:31-33 When Jesus uses the word “truth” he’s talking about more than doctrines or theoretical propositions. Everything is relational with him, and here he’s promising his disciples a relationship that will put their hearts and minds at rest and also give them…
Daily Devotions
No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” vs. 34 Jeremiah 31:31-34 In the midst of calamity, Jeremiah produced a vision that has captivated the hearts of all believers and is especially suited for people living in these troubling times. One day, he…
Daily Devotions
As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” vss.6-7 2 Timothy 4:6-8 The timing and the circumstances of our birthing are presumably out of our control. One day, in the fullness of time, we plop out into the world with a resounding cry, and from that point on it’s one adventure after…
Daily Devotions
The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’” vs. 44 John 11:41-44 What happened with Lazarus was not a resurrection–Lazarus emerged from the tomb, lived out his life with his sisters, and then died. Even so this story has touched our hearts like none other, and has been a favorite of Jesus followers for centuries. It shouts…
Daily Devotions
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” vs. 2 Revelation 21:1-3 Apocalyptic writings emerge in times of fear and dread, those moments when nations are on the move and catastrophes loom. It should be no surprise then, that our age teems with apocalyptic thinking. A glance at the trailers of current movies shows a huge interest in science fiction (the new apocalyptic) and…
Daily Devotions: May 9, 2020
May 9, 2020 John 14:1-6 … “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” vs. 1 It’s no accident that we most frequently hear these words from the Gospel of John in the context of a funeral or a memorial service. There are literally no more comforting words in all of Scripture. It’s all here, all the hope and promise of our life in Christ. Whenever we feel discouraged, whenever our hearts are broken,…
Daily Devotions: September 2, 2019
September 2, 2019 For full passage click: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 … “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live…” vs. 19 The Israelites had been set free from their bondage in Egypt by the grace of God, and had been formed into a people by their experience in the wilderness. Now they faced a critical moment–ahead lay…
Daily Devotions: July 3, 2019
July 3, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 66:6-9 …“Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.” vss. 8-9 Life at its best can be precarious; we never know when our footing will be lost and our dreams dashed. Even when we live prudentially and carefully, we can’t control everything; the unexpected is always close at hand. Natural disasters, accidents, shootings,…
Daily Devotions: May 2, 2019
May 2, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 30:6-12 …“What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?” vs. 9 It seems that the psalmist was dealing with some sort of calamity in his life, a situation that could lead to death. Perhaps it was some dread illness, we really don’t know. But like us, he was not above doing a bit of bargaining…
Daily Devotions: October 29, 2018
October 29, 2018 Isaiah 25:6-9 …“And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.” vs. 7 A long, long time ago the prophet had the sense that there was more to the cycle of life than meets the eye. It wasn’t just a matter of being born, living for a time, and then dying. There just had to be more…