The Kingdom of Heaven Matthew 13:24-43 Monday–The Kingdom of Heaven “’The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat’” (Matthew 13:24-25). Traveling through the heartland of the United States during the summer, a person […]
Author: Kevin Ruffcorn
Passing On Scruples
Shadows, Evie Yoder Miller (Resource, Eugene, 2020) Loyalties, Evie Yoder Miller (Recourse, Eugene, 2020) Passing On Scruples Evie Yoder Miller’s enlightening novels, Shadows and Loyalties, are books one and two of a series entitled, “Scruples on the Line.” They are works of historical fiction set in and around the time of the Civil War. That […]
Matthew 6:19-34–Your Treasure-Your Heart
Your Treasure-Your Heart Devotions on Matthew 6:19-34 Monday–Your Treasure-Your Heart “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Heidi was a special education teacher. She loved her job, and as a follower of Jesus, Heidi thought that it was the vocation to which she had been called. When she […]
Matthew 5:1-20, Sermon on the Mount
Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:1-20 Monday–Sermon on the Mount “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him” (Matthew 5:1). Juan trudged to the bus stop holding his mother’s hand. It was his first day of kindergarten and Juan was both excited and […]
Matthew 4:1-17, Jesus Tempted
Jesus Tempted Devotional Thoughts on Matthew 4:1-17 Monday–Jesus Tempted “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1). Odd. We never think of the Spirit leading us anywhere with the intent of having us tempted by the devil. We even pray in the Lord’s Prayer, […]
Matthew 3:1-17–Prepare the Way
Prepare the Way Devotional Thoughts – Matthew 3:1-17 Monday–Prepare the Way“Repent for the kingdom of God has come near” (Matthew 3:2). Diego was following the directions of his GPS but he had a nagging feeling that he was going the wrong way. The neighborhood that he was driving through didn’t look familiar to him. When […]
Luke 2:1-14–The Birth of Jesus Christ
The Birth of Jesus Christ Luke 2:1-14 Monday–The Birth of Jesus Christ “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus” (Luke 2:1). It was a week before Christmas, one year ago, when Kai was called into his boss’s office and informed that he was being let go. The bottom dropped out of […]
Matthew 1:18-25–Story of Jesus Birth
Story of Jesus Birth Devotions on Matthew 1:18-25 Monday–Story of Jesus Birth “Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place this way.” (Matthew 1:18a). My wife, Faye, and I moved to Arizona from the Mid-West. We have two granddaughters who live in Minneapolis—a fifteen hundred mile, three hour flight from us. We keep […]
Isaiah 42:1-9, A Light to the Nations
Light to the Nations Devotional Thoughts on Isaiah 42:1-9 Monday–Light to the Nations “Here is my servant, whom I uphold my chosen, in whom my soul delights” (Isaiah 42:1a). It was a warm, sunny spring day. Baseball was in the air, at least for Austin’s PE class. The teacher gathered the class together and picked […]
Esther 4:1-17, Book of Esther
Book of Ester Devotional Thoughts on Esther 4:1-17 Monday–Book of Esther “Giving them orders to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews” (Esther 3:13) Injustice comes in all shapes and sizes. For Esther and Mordecai, the grave injustice that they faced was the edict to annihilate the Jews. We might face bullying at […]