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 […]
Narrative Lectionary
Devotional Thoughts on Matthew 5:1-25
Devotional Thoughts Matthew 1:1-20 January 19-25, 2015 Monday, January 19, 2015 “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 […]
Devotions on Matthew 2:13-23
Devotional Thoughts – Matthew 2:13-23 December 29, 2014 – January 4, 2015 Monday, December 29, 2014 “Now after they [the wise men] had left an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt,’” (Matthew 2:13). The small family of Mary, Joseph […]
Devotions on Matthew’s Christmas Story
Devotional Thoughts Matthew 2:1-12 December 22-28, 2014 Monday, December 22, 2014 “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 […]
Devotions on Matthew 1:18-25
Devotional Thoughts on Matthew 1:18-25 December 15-21, 2014 Monday, December 15, 2014 “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 in […]
Devotions on Isaiah 42:1-9
Devotional Thoughts on Isaiah 42:1-9 December 8 – 14, 2014 Monday, December 8, 2014 “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 […]
Devotional Thoughts on Esther
Devotional Thoughts Esther 4:1-17 December 1-7, 2014 Monday, December 1, 2014 “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 […]
Devotional Thoughts on Habukkuk
Devotional Thoughts on Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:2-4, 3:17-19 November 24-30, 2014 Monday, November 24, 2014 “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 […]
Devotions on Jeremiah 1:4-10, 7:1-11
Devotional Thoughts – November 17-23 Jeremiah 1:4-10, 7:1-11 Monday, November 17, 2014 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:4). It was a mild night, with (mercifully) no mosquitoes nipping at any exposed area of my skin. The moon was new. The sky was black and the stars were dazzling white. […]
Thoughts on Isaiah 36:1-37:7
Devotions on Isaiah 36:1-3, 13-20, 37:1-7, 2:1-4 November 10-16, 2014 Monday, November 10, 2014 “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 […]