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 […]
Devotional Thoughts
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 […]
Devotions on Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:2-4, 3:17-19–Habakkuk
Habakkuk Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:2-4, 3:17-19 Monday–Habakkuk “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen” (Habakkuk 1:1)? Ken opened the letter. It began, “We regret to inform you …” Ken had been praying and looking for a job for months, and this was another turn down. Ignacio and Amelia prayed […]
Isaiah 36, 31, 2–Swords into Plowshares
Swords Into Plowshares Devotions on Isaiah 36:1-20, 31:1-7, 2:1-4 Monday–swords into plowshares “King Sennacherib of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them” (Isaiah 36:1). What do you do when tragedy strikes? The doctor walked into the hospital room and told Mike that Mike had cancer. It wasn’t a “good” […]
Micah 5:2-4, 6:6-8–What Does the Lord Require
What Does the Lord Require Devotional Thoughts on Micah 5:2-4, 6:6-8 Monday–What Does the Lord Require “But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah” (Micah 5:2a). Have you ever noticed how often I use the small and the weak? It isn’t that I’m against rich and powerful. […]