Devotional (Page 4)

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from heaven! Praise God on the heights! Praise God, all of you who are his messengers! Praise God, all of you who comprise his heavenly forces! Sun and moon, praise God! All of you bright stars, praise God! (Psalm 148:1-3, CEB) I have talked in the past about my growth in appreciation for the rhythms of the Christian liturgical calendar. One such revelation was learning that in many corners of the Christian church, Easter…

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord all the earth! Psalm 96 bursts forth with a command, a delightful privilege, to sing something brand-new. This new song is an opportunity to delight in, and magnify the Lordship of God. Interesting to me that we should hear this from one of the oldest song books in the world. More than any other complaint about the church over the course of my life, new music has faced…

Matthew 28  2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just…

You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  ~ Psalm 139:1 – 3 Many of us were assigned George Orwell’s sci-fi thriller “1984” to read in school. In 1949 Orwell penned a cautionary tale warning that Big Brother is always watching. Over the last seventy years, we’ve transitioned…

A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Wes preached on Luke 5:1-10, the story of the miraculous catch of fish.  It is the story of a once in a lifetime catch of fish, that happened as a miracle of Jesus.  It is even more the story of the conversion of three fishermen.  It is easy to get caught up in the miracle of verses 1-10 and miss the greater miracle in verse 11.  I have added Luke 5:11 to my list…

How many times have you been reading the scripture that you have read multiple times and all of the sudden a particular verse jumps out at you? As I was reading in 1 Corinthians the third chapter, all of a sudden, the 16th and 17th verses caught my attention.  What does it mean we are the temple of God? I have read this passage many times over the years and never thought much about it, but this time it grabbed…

Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow; tear your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive. (Joel 2:12-13) In the years before high school, my family and I were what I would call “church hoppers.” We attended somewhat regularly, but for various reasons we would attend one…

    In the process of being a Pastor, I am called upon to do different things. Sometimes it is praying for someone or just being quiet and listening. Sometimes I get to have a fun time and pray for a baby or officiate at a wedding. Most pastors do a lot of memorials. I love to walk along with others in whatever life event they are going through.   The last memorial was amazing. If ever there was a Proverbs 31 woman,…

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Very few places in scripture says what or who God is and yet the Apostle John writes in 1 John that God is light and then a few chapters later says that God is Love. Recently I read a book…

The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16–17 I’m sure we all know someone whose life circumstances just don’t seem fair.  We might say, “they’re such a good person.  Why do things like this happen to such good people?”  Even within our own congregation, I can think of…

Psalm 119: 147-149 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, That I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life. As a young man I heard over and over again the value and benefit of spending time with God. I was the oldest of seven children; Our house was busy…

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of participating in my mother-in-law’s memorial service.  As is true of most funerals, several people shared stories from her past.  It was great to remember fun shared times together.  I chose to spend my time looking to the future. I was thinking about the parable of the talents the other day.  I thought about how the master gave varying talents of money to his servants.  At the end of the parable the…