Week 20 Friday

Deaf Ears Today’s scripture selection: Jeremiah 37-41 Key verses: Jeremiah 37:1-2        If there was one thing the prophet Jeremiah deeply understood it was what it’s like to have your message fall on “deaf” ears.      The short passage at the beginning of chapter 37 of Jeremiah’s historical record says it all:      “Zedekiah… Continue reading Week 20 Friday

Week 20 Thursday

Speechless Today’s scripture selection: Job 39-40 Key verse: Job 40:4        Sometimes…there just aren’t any words.      Sometimes, either we have Said everything we can think to say or There just aren’t any simple answers or The pain is too deep or The beauty takes our breath away or It just seems best to… Continue reading Week 20 Thursday

Week 20 Wednesday

A Steadfast Heart Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 57-59 Key verses: Psalm 57:7-8        These days it’s popular for some to use the phrase “I Heart…” as in “I Heart Radio” or “I Heart My Doberman”.  I don’t really get it.  I mean, what’s wrong with that old fashioned word “love”?  Probably some ad agency’s… Continue reading Week 20 Wednesday

Week 20 Tuesday

A Father’s Grief Today’s scripture selection: Second Samuel 15-19 Key verse: Second Samuel 18:33 “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son!” The scripture comes right to the point: “The king was shaken.” David lived in a world where,… Continue reading Week 20 Tuesday

Week 20 Monday

The Prompted Heart Today’s scripture selection: Exodus 25-28 Key verse: Exodus 25:2 When God instructed Moses to have the people build a tabernacle – a place of worship – for Him, He said a very interesting thing. He said, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering.  You are to receive the offering for me… Continue reading Week 20 Monday

Week 19 Saturday

Excel in Everything Today’s scripture selection: Second Corinthians 6-8 Key verse: Second Corinthians 8:7 A lot of us like to excel at something – at least one thing. Maybe it’s part of our nature; maybe it’s a reflection of our competitive culture; maybe we just like to feel good about ourselves – plain old “self-esteem.”… Continue reading Week 19 Saturday

Week 19 Friday

Sounds of Joy and Gladness Today’s scripture selection: Jeremiah 32-36 Key verses: Jeremiah 33:10-11 One of my favorite things to do is work with the young children of the congregation I serve as pastor. Oh, from time to time, they get a little out of hand.  They get a little carried away; there is the… Continue reading Week 19 Friday

Week 19 Thursday

Where Were You? Today’s scripture selection: Job 37-38 Key verse: Job 38:4        The “discussion/argument” was coming to an end.  Job, suffering things he did not understand; confronted by so-called “friends” who only added insult to injury – it had all been very difficult.  And through it all, God had remained silent.      But… Continue reading Week 19 Thursday

Week 19 Wednesday

Mere Mortals Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 54-56 Key verses: Psalm 56:3-4        What are most afraid of?      Is it being… Impoverished? Alone? Ill? Unsuccessful? Attacked by others? Or it is any of a thousand other things that keep people awake at night?      If you think about it – most all of them… Continue reading Week 19 Wednesday

Week 19 Tuesday

Coming Clean Today’s scripture selection: Second Samuel 10-14 Key verse: Second Samuel 12:13 “The David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’  Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin.  You are not going to die.’” We humans are great at rationalizing away our worst behavior. King David had a real talent… Continue reading Week 19 Tuesday