March 11-17, 2019-Laborers in the Vineyard Monday-Laborers in the Vineyard “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard” (Matthew 20:1). Wow, what a picture of heaven! There are no pearly gates, fluffy clouds, or gold streets. Nor are there feasts and […]
Year 1, Narrative Lectionary, Matthew.
Devotions on Matthew 16:24-17:8-Transfiguration of Jesus
February 25-March 3, 2019 Monday-Transfiguration of Jesus “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross” (Matthew 16:24). Denying oneself is not an American tradition. American’s have accumulated the greatest personal debt in the world largely because when we see something we want we purchase it immediately. Americans […]
Devotions on Matthew 14:13-33-Feeding of the Five Thousand
February 18-24, 2019-Feeding of the Five Thousand Monday -Feeding of the Five Thousand “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him” (14:13). In everything else Jesus is a role model, but I don’t think he is […]
Devotions on Matthew 13:24-43, The Kingdom of Heaven is Like
February 11-17, 2019-The Kingdom of Heaven is Like Monday, February 11, 2019 -The Kingdom of Heaven is Like “’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 […]
Devotions on Matthew 6:7-12, The Lord’s Prayer
January 28-February 3, 2019—The Lord’s Prayer The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Monday, January 28, 2019 —The Lord’s Prayer “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases” (Matthew 6:7). Two new bikes fresh from the wrapping paper of Christmas leaned against the park picnic table. Sitting on top of the table the bike’s […]
Matthew 5:1-20, Sermon on the Mount
January 21-27, 2019 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 apprehensive. He was […]
Jesus in the Wilderness
Devotional Thoughts on Matthew 4:1-17-Jesus in the Wilderness January 14-20, 2019 Monday-Jesus in the Wilderness “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 […]
Baptism of Jesus Christ
January 7-13, 2019 Matthew 3:1-17-Baptism of Jesus Christ Monday -Baptism of Jesus Christ “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 […]
Matthew 2:1-12-Magi Bible
December 31, 2018-January 6, 2019 Monday-Magi Bible “Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1). Faith pops up in the oddest places. Karen sat at the kitchen table surrounded by bills and trying to figure out how she was going to pay them. Tears of frustration welled up in her eyes and flowed […]
Matthew 1:18-25-Story of Jesus Birth
Devotions on Matthew 1:18-25-Story of Jesus Birth December 17-24, 2018 Monday, December 17, 2018-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 […]