'worship' Tagged Posts (Page 5)
Daily Devotions: April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020 Luke 24:24-35 … “Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” vs. 35 Some believers have reported that what they’re missing most in the physical distancing related to the current reaction to the spread of the corona virus is participation in Holy Communion. There are no shortages of worship services on YouTube and being live-streamed, but while it’s nice to check…
Daily Devotions: February 4, 2020
February 4, 2020 For full passage click: Isaiah 58:3-9a … “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” vs. 6 We humans are drawn to the trappings of religion and the intricate rituals that have become interwoven with our worship. We decorate our altars and sanctuaries with fine linens, valuable chalices, and beautiful paraments of many…
Daily Devotions: December 27, 2019
December 27, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 148 … “Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!” vss. 8-9 The Psalmist doesn’t leave anything out in his review of creation; all things have their origin in God and each in their own way offer regular praise to their Maker. When we’re able to see outside the narrow confines of our consciousness, we can see…
Daily Devotions: October 8, 2019
October 8, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 111:1-5 … “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” vs. 1 The Psalmist wasn’t thanking the Lord for any answered prayer or a particular blessing that had come to him. Instead, he was reflecting on the goodness and mercy of God throughout all the generations–and he didn’t hold back! His song of thanksgiving came from the…
Daily Devotions: August 5, 2019
August 5, 2019 For full passage click: Isaiah 1: 1, 10-15 … “When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.” vs. 15 Isaiah had harsh words for Jerusalem and its rulers during the years of his ministry. He was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and saw clearly the hypocrisy of their religious posturing. It wasn’t that they…
Daily Devotions: July 11, 2019
July 11, 2019 Colossians 1:1-8 …“Just as (the word) is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.” vs. 6b The number of believers grew quickly in those early Spirit-filled years. Paul hadn’t gone to Colossae but Epaphras had, and the results were stunning. We don’t know much about this Epaphras fellow, but he evidently had a good grasp…
Daily Devotions: July 2, 2019
July 2, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 66:1-5 …“Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.” vs. 1-2 The psalmist was calling together a praise choir, one that could make a joyful noise to God and properly glorify God’s name. And he wasn’t just calling on human voices! He believed that all the noise of the earth could be construed as a praise song to God. When…
Daily Devotions: May 20, 2019
May 20, 2019 For full passage click: Acts 16:9-13 …“On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.” vs. 13 Paul didn’t have much of an itinerary for his missionary journeys. He simply went wherever the Spirit guided him and he paid attention to dreams! When a man appeared in a vision imploring him to…
Daily Devotions: May 10, 2019
May 10, 2019 For full passage click: Revelation 7:9-17 …“for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” vs. 17 One of the visions John shared with his readers has given believers of every time and place a measure of comfort in their encounters with death. He describes a great white robed choir standing…
Daily Devotions: March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 32:6-11 …“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.” vs. 11 The psalmist would have loved praise services. He couldn’t get enough of exultations and shouts of joy and wanted all the upright and the righteous to join in giving thanks to the Lord. Some who read these words might have the impression that they don’t have an invitation to the party.…
Daily Devotions: March 7, 2019
March 7, 2019 For full passage click: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 …“you shall make this response before the Lord your God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous.’” vs. 5 Sometimes Christians have a negative reaction to creeds and some congregations don’t use them in their liturgies. They don’t want any human devised doctrinal statement to stand in the…
Daily Devotions: January 23, 2019
January 23, 2019 To read full passage click: Psalm 19 …“The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” vss. 1,3-4 Pastors, jealous of nature’s hold on our imagination, will often disparage those who would rather go to the mountains than sit in…