Humble Love
Humble Love June 13, 2018 Read: Philippians 2:1–11 | Bible in a Year: Ezra 6–8; John 21 The greatest among you will be your servant. Matthew 23:11 When Benjamin Franklin was a young man he made a list of twelve virtues he desired to grow in over the course of his life. He showed it to a friend, who suggested he add “humility” to it. Franklin liked the idea. He then added some guidelines to help him with each item…
Verse of the Day – Colossians 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Verse of the Day – Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Called by Name
Called by Name Read: John 20:11–18 | Bible in a Year: Ezra 3–5; John 20 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” John 20:16 Advertisers have concluded that the most attention-grabbing word that viewers react to is their own name. Thus a television channel in the UK has introduced personalized advertisements with their online streaming services. We might enjoy hearing our name on television, but it doesn’t mean much without the…
Advice from My Father
Advice from My Father June 11, 2018 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 After being laid off from an editorial job, I prayed, asking for God to help me find a new one. But when weeks went by and nothing came of my attempts at networking and filling out applications, I began to pout. “Don’t You know how important it is that I have a job?” I asked God,…
Verse of the Day – Romans 5:3-4
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope
A Warm Welcome
A Warm Welcome June 10, 2018 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 “Who will hug everybody?” That was one of the questions our friend Steve asked after he got the news that he had cancer and realized he would be away from our church for a while. Steve is the kind of man who makes everyone feel welcome—with a friendly greeting, a warm handshake, and even a “holy hug” for some—to adapt an application from Romans…
Verse of the Day – 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
The Perfect Father
The Perfect Father June 9, 2018 Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Psalm 27:10 Standing in the crowded store aisle, I struggled to find the perfect Father’s Day card. Although we had reconciled after years of a strained connection, I had never felt close to my dad. The woman next to me groaned and shoved the card she’d been reading back into the display. “Why can’t they make cards for people who don’t have…
Verse of the Day – Isaiah 54:17
no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.
Faces
Faces June 8, 2018 We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18 When our granddaughter Sarah was very young, she explained to me what happens when you die: “Only your face goes to heaven, not your body. You get a new body, but keep the same face.” Sarah’s concept of our eternal state was a child’s understanding, of course, but she did grasp an essential truth.…
Verse of the Day – Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.