The Holy Spirit Comes Devotions on Acts 2:1-4 Monday–The Holy Spirit Comes “They were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1). The panorama of the Serengeti in Tanzania was magnificent. Wildlife was everywhere. There were thousands of herds of wildebeests, zebras and various species of gazelle. The lions traveled in prides and the hyenas […]
Narrative Lectionary
Genesis 1:1-2-4, God’s Image
God’s Image Devotions on Genesis 1:1 – 2:4a Monday–God’s Image “In the beginning God created” (Genesis 1:1). Things weren’t going right for Carlota; life was a struggle. She felt she was battling forces that were bigger and more powerful than she was—and she was losing. Luck and fate were against her. Bad karma was adversely […]
Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 8:6-7, Deep Love
Deep Love Devotions on Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 8:6-7 Monday–Deep Love “My beloved speaks and says to me” (Song of Solomon 2:10a). The Song of Solomon is a love poem about the love between two people. Most commentators justify its existence in the Bible by making it an allegory for God’s love. Though I don’t […]
Ecclesiastes 3:1-17–Seasons
Seasons Devotions for Ecclesiastes 3:1-17 Monday–Seasons “For everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1a). People in Minnesota and Wisconsin enjoy four distinct seasons. There’s spring when the snow melts, trees bud and flowers start to peek out of the ground. Summer follows with its warm days, green grass and time spent by a lake. […]
Proverbs 1:1-7, 3:1-8, Wisdom
Wisdom Devotions on Proverbs 1:1-7, 3:1-8 Monday–Wisdom “For gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice and equity” (Proverbs 1:3). One of the most precious gifts that God has given us is the ability to learn. We are all blessed with an innate curiosity. We use this ability to gain knowledge and understanding about what we […]
Isaiah 61:1-11, Suffering Servant
Suffering Servant Isaiah 61:1-11 Monday, Suffering Servant “The spirit of the Lord is upon me” (Isaiah 61:1a). In this passage of Isaiah, the servant is talking. Who the servant is has been a hotly debated topic. The Church has appropriated this passage and applied it to Jesus. The writer of Isaiah probably didn’t have […]
Isaiah 9:1-7, Wonderful Counselor Mighty God
Wonderful Counselor Mighty God Devotions on Isaiah 9:1-7 Monday–Wonderful Counselor Mighty God“But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish” (Isaiah 9:1). Low clouds and rain had been hanging around the small Oregon town for two weeks. The weather was starting to affect even those with the hardiest psyches. Attitudes were tempered, […]
Devotions on Romans 5:1-11–Justified by Faith
Justified by Faith, We have Peace with God Justified by Faith Romans 5:1-11 Monday–Justified by Faith “Therefore since we are justified by faith” (Romans 5:1). Cody was working hard on his writing assignment, when his teacher walked by his desk. She bent down and pointed to the left hand side of Cody’s paper. “Cody,” she […]
Devotions on Acts 13:1-3, 14:8-18–Paul and Barnabas
Paul and Barnabas Acts 13:1-3, 14:8-18 Monday–Paul and Barnabas “Now at the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabus, Simeon, who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul” (Acts 13:1). One of the favorite songs of the Sunday school that I attended […]
Devotions on Acts 10:1-17, 34-35–God Shows No Partiality
s God Shows No Partiality Acts 10:1-17, 34-35 Monday–God Shows No Partiality “He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God” (Acts 10:2). A video recently went viral. It showed a teenage boy on a New York sidewalk. It was […]