June 17-23, 2019 Monday–Psalm 69 “Save me for the waters have come up to my neck” (Psalm 69:1). There are those moments of panic, when we do not think that we will survive. It might be when we are swimming and find ourselves exhausted in deep water struggling to stay afloat. Perhaps our financial house […]
Kevin E Ruffcorn
Devotions on Psalm 113:1-9–Praise the Lord
May 27-June 2, 2019–Praise the Lord Monday “Praise the Lord” (Psalm 113:1a)! Some people believe that it is their mission in life to complain. They complain when it is cloudy and rainy, and are then upset when the sun comes out because it is too bright. While grabbing items off the store shelves […]
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 […]
Escape or Engage? “The Road to Edmund
Escape or Engage? I recently had the opportunity to preview the movie, “The Road to Edmund.” I want to heartily recommend it to you, but it depends. Why do you go and watch a movie? If you go to movies to be scared out of your wits by animated dolls, guys in hockey masks, chainsaws […]
Mixed Feelings a Book Review of “Life in the Overflow”
“Mixed Feelings,” on Life in the Overflow A review of Life in the Overflow, by Chuck Ammons I was recently offered the opportunity to review a book whose title intrigued me—“Life in the Overflow.” Books that offer a glimpse at a deeper walk with God always appeal to me. After reading the book, though, […]
Luke 12:13-34, Parable of the Rich Fool
Devotions on Luke 12:13-34–Parable of the Rich Fool August 27-September 2, 20189 Monday, August 27, 2018–Parable of the Rich Fool “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15). Greed is part of our DNA. The question that […]
Ruth 1:1-22, Your People Will Be My People
Devotions for Ruth 1:1-17, Your People Will Be My People July 16-22, 2018 Monday, July 16, 2018, Your People Will Be My People “There was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons” (Ruth […]
1 John 4:1-6, Greater is He Who is in You
Devotions on 1 John 4:1-6–Test the Spirits July 2-8, 2018 Monday, July 2, 2018–Test the Spirits “Test the Spirits to see if they are from God” (1 John 1:1a). In the tabernacle and temple periods of Jewish history, the high priest would seek God’s leading through the use of the Urim and Thummim. As […]
1 John 1:1-4, That Your Joy May Be Full
Devotions on 1 John 1:1-4–That Your Joy May Be Full June 18 – 24, 2018 Monday, June 18, 2018–That Your Joy May Be Full “We declare to you … what we have heard” (1 John 1:1a). When we were children, we played a game called, “Telephone.” We’d sit in a circle. One person would […]
Exodus 20:17, Coveting and Luther’s Small Catechism
Devotions on Exodus 20:17 As you know, the Narrative Lectionary reading for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost is very short—one verse. It is rather difficult to prepare seven days of devotions on one verse. I have decided, therefore, to use Martin Luther’s Small Catechism and his explanation to the Ten Commandments as the basis for […]