Tue Jul 22 – When Jesus Speaks
I was bruised by self loathing. I couldn’t love myself. Then Jesus took my hands and whispered into my heart, “I love you. I will always love you.”
Devotional
Devotional
Mon Jul 12-God’s Secret Plan
Whenever we read Colossians, we read it through the lens of time. Scholars now agree that this document was written and edited by a follower or followers of Paul years after his imprisonment and death. The letter was likely written to the church in Colossae (a city in Phrygia, Asia Minor) to address false teachings
Devotional
Fri Jul 18 – Coheirs of Grace
Paul is asking us to set aside what we think we know about others, specifically the things that make “them vs. us,” and just come with the same love and grace that God gives them.
Devotional
Thu Jul 17-A Green Olive Tree
When reading a psalm written by David—especially when we can connect it to a specific event in his life—it’s helpful to explore the historical context. Doing so gives us insight into what he might have been feeling and what motivated his words. Psalm 52 was written in response to the betrayal and evil actions of Doeg the Edomite,
Devotional
Wed Jul 16-True Devotion
Let us decide to encourage someone each day. Let there be encouragement each day and let it begin with me.
Devotional
Tue Jul 15-How are These Things Possible
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan we don’t know anything about the victim, was he friend or foe, his language, his skin color, nothing. He is simply a human being in need. Clearly Jesus is asking us to care for people regardless of their identity
Devotional
Mon Jul 14-Playing Favorites
In today’s scripture, Christians were showing favoritism to the rich and powerful, while dishonoring the poor, a judgement made totally on class and appearance. The writer of James says that when we do this we “deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In other words, we are not acting like followers of Jesus.
Devotional
Fri Jul 10-A Throne Built to Last
I know it’s not Christmas…but I can’t help thinking of one of my favorite scenes from the movie Elf. Buddy confronts the department store Santa and blurts out: “You sit on a throne of lies!”
Devotional
Thu Jul 10-Not Mine to Judge: A Reflection on Shared Humanity
Have you ever judged someone? Truly judged them — not for a mistake they made or something they chose, but for something they cannot change? Something that is simply a part of who they are?
Devotional
Wed Jul 9-Jesus Sat With the Outsider-Can We?
As Joshua prepared to leave the people of Israel, he didn’t just celebrate their victories—he issued a warning. Now that they had entered a time of peace, the real challenge would begin: would they remember the journey that shaped them, or would they slowly drift toward comfort, forgetting who they were and who God called them to be?
Devotional
Tue Jul 8 – Tempers Lost
Sometimes life piles up; work gets busy, schedules change, children act up, and the house just gets to looking like a tornado came through. Then the dog gets underfoot one more time, you stub your toe, or step on a sharp toy and…THAT’S IT!
Devotional
Mon Jul 7-Who Is My Enemy?
The first time I read Psalm 6 in preparation for writing this devotion I wanted to reach into my Bible and smack the Psalmist for crying and carrying on like he was. I wanted to say to him “Just stop crying! Apologize, say you are sorry, and get on with acting like you are really SORRY!
