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 […]
Year 1, Narrative Lectionary, Matthew.
Samuel 12:1-9, Psalm 51–David and Bathsheba
Devotions on 2 Samuel 12:1-9, Psalm 51:1-9–David and Bathsheba October 15-21, 2018 Monday, October 15, 2018–David and Bathsheba “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:1a). It was an off-handed comment; one that was said without thought. It was not meant to offend, but rather to be funny. As […]
Devotions on Psalm 146:1-10
Devotions on Psalm 146:1-10 June 29 – July 5, 2015 Monday, June 29, 2015 “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord O my Soul” (Psalm 146:1)! Antonio was experiencing a great amount of stress at work. Organizational charts were changing in order to be more efficient with lower costs. There was increased pressure to produce […]
Devotions on Psalm 1:1-6
Devotions on Psalm 1:1-6 May 25, 2015-May 31, 2015 Monday, May 25, 2015 “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked” (Psalm 1:1a). In the media’s coverage of the Baltimore demonstrations there is a video clip of a mother pulling her sixteen year-old son out of the demonstrations and away […]
Devotions on Matthew 25:31-46
Devotions on Matthew 25:31-46–The Coming of the Son of Man April 1-7, 2019 Monday, March 16, 2015–The Coming of the Son of Man “When the Son of Man comes to his glory and all the angels with him, then he will set on the throne of his glory” (Matthew 25:31-32). Very few high school […]
Devotions on Matthew 25:1-13
Devotional Thoughts on Matthew 25:1-13 March 9-15, 2015 Monday, March 9, 2015 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom” (Matthew 25:1). James was on the hunt. He had recently graduated magna cum laude from a well-known college. Armed with his degree, […]
Devotions on Matthew 22:1-14
Devotional Thoughts on Matthew 22:1-14 March 2 – 8, 2015 Monday, March 2, 2015 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son” (Matthew 22:2). Life was hard. Villagers worked hard to sustain a meager existence. Times were slightly better when the weather was good and […]
Devotions on Matthew 20:1-16
Devotional Thoughts on Matthew 20:1-16 February 23 – March 1, 2015 Monday, February 23, 2015 “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 […]
Devotions on Matthew 14:3-33
Devotional Thoughts on Matthew 14:13-33 February 2-8, 2015 Monday, February 2, 2015 “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 in […]
Devotional Thoughts on Matthew 6:7-21–The Lord’s Prayer
Devotional Thoughts Matthew 6:7-21 January 26, – February 1, 2015 Monday, January 26, 2015 “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 owners Mike and Tommy discussed […]