'love' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;” vss. 1-2 Psalm 46:1-2 Most people have had occasions to be frightened over their years in this world. Danger lurks, and we never know when a storm will hit with an unimaginable fury and force. And even though we’ve gotten used to a comfortable and predictable environment, it…
Daily Devotions
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.” vs. 1 Luke 18:1-5 When things aren’t going our way, we will regularly turn to prayer to get our lives straightened out. In those moments we are looking for almost any source of relief, and there is always the hope that God can make things right. But then when the problem doesn’t go away and in fact the situation worsens, it’s easy to…
Daily Devotions
The Lord will keep your going out and you’re coming in from this time on and forevermore.” vs. 8 Psalm 121 According to Jesus the greatest commandment of the Law was “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and strength.” This verse is known as the Shema and in Deuteronomy the Israelites were told to write its words on parchment and post…
Daily Devotions
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.” vs.10 Psalm 111 For many people, believing in a Higher Power is an afterthought, something to be considered when life starts to fall apart, and their plans for a good life go awry. Based on the declining levels of worship attendance, (fewer than 30% of the population each week), more people are living like this. Seemingly there…
Daily Devotions
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 2 Timothy 1:1-5 Paul had encountered Timothy when he visited the city of Lystra on his first missionary journey and he’d been impressed by the strength of his faith. Later, after he and Barnabas had parted company, Paul returned to Lystra with Silas, and asked Timothy to accompany them as…
Daily Devotions
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.” vs. 7 Psalm 37:1-9 No matter who we are, no matter what our political stance, we are living at a time when it’s possible to be driven to distraction by what “the other side” is doing. And because there is seemingly nothing, we can do to alter the course of events, it’s possible…
Daily Devotions
Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that* we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.” vss. 5-8 1 Timothy 6:6-10 That little phrase, “godliness with contentment brings great gain.” is worth remembering and holding close to our hearts. And in case we’re wondering what godliness is, Paul tells us that it’s connected to the pursuit…
Daily Devotions
Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’” vss. 3a, 4 Luke 16:1-9 Money talks! We all know it. Jesus knew it too. In this parable he shows how the dishonest steward used the power of money to secure his uncertain future. Even if he got…
Daily Devotions
This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” vss. 3-4 1 Timothy 2:3-7 The early Christians had no problem praying for the leaders of the Empire because they believed that God desired everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. There were no exceptions! Sometimes in our efforts to combat the brokenness of this world we…
Daily Devotions
Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall;” vs. 4 Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Amos wasn’t on a tour when he ventured north into Israel, so he was unimpressed by the stone fortresses of the capital Samaria and the trappings of wealth and prosperity. Like the rich of every time and place they spared no expense in furnishing their homes and they feasted on…
Daily Devotions
Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap…” vss. 5-6 Psalm 113:5-9 While we may not share the psalmist’s belief that God is seated at a distance from the earth, we can certainly agree that God is intimately connected to the poor and the needy. God is, and there is no…
Daily Devotions
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’” vs. 6 Luke 15:3-10 Because the parable of the lost sheep is so familiar we sometimes don’t even question the lunacy of the shepherd. Even in those pastoral times it’s doubtful that any shepherd would leave ninety-nine sheep in the wilderness and then go searching for one who had gone missing. It doesn’t…