Learning to love others the way Jesus loves us
Psalm 119:9-16 I sat down this morning and started to write, but before I could think about this section of Psalm 119, I wrote two full pages reflecting on this pause button called COVID19. I am in week 8 of quarantine, which is a lot even for an introvert. Once I made the surreal trek… Continue reading BETH
James 1:9-18 Steadfastness implies disciplined stability under stressful circumstances. There is no question that we are living in stressful times that test our faith, interrupt our focus, and tempt us to fear. When we are steadfastly persistent in our time with the Father, He will teach us what we can learn in the middle of… Continue reading Steadfast in the middle
James 1:5-8 We are living in a time of unprecedented chaos. We watch the news, get lost in social media posts, debate over how seriously to take COVID 19, and shake our collective heads at the maddening inconsistencies of what we see and hear. It is easy to be overwhelmed by it all. God is… Continue reading Wisdom in the middle
James 1:1-2 I am a pragmatic philosopher at heart. While it's interesting to consider all the possibilities of all possible worlds in time and space, at the end of the day, I want what is useful. So did James. As the brother of Jesus he was skeptical until after the resurrection. I mean, having a… Continue reading Joy in the middle
Nahum chapter 1. It seems like every blockbuster movie or popular novel tries to create a sequel that matches the drama and characters of the original. Most of the time, the sequel falls flat. Either the original writers don't return or there's some formula that they try to squeeze the story into or they just… Continue reading Nineveh: the Sequel
Psalm 61. These are strange days. No one knows what the next weeks or months hold. Insecurity breeds fear which leads to irrational behavior. But for those who know the Lord, there is a refuge. From the end of the earth, from the end of our resources, from the end of everything familiar, God hears… Continue reading The Rock that is higher than I.
Matthew 14:14-33 At the church I attend here in Las Vegas we are working through a study of what it means to be a Jesus follower. This morning's reading included then section of Matthew where Jesus walked on water. I went back a few verses for context and I think someone who reads this may… Continue reading Take heart.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 (part 3). There is so much packed into this one verse! I may use these short devotions as an outline for something longer eventually! Steadfastness of hope is one I struggle with, particularly with the little things, like where I will work next year. I get discouraged when I see so few… Continue reading Steadfastness of hope
Joel 1:1-3:21 Joel's word from the Lord opens with a dire warning. I had to look up the context of the book and I learned that it was written after a massive natural disaster: locusts that consumed everything (insightforliving.org). Joel starts by telling the people to remember this disaster, and to prepare for even worse.… Continue reading Yet, even now
For the next few days I will ponder the book of Galatians. Paul opens this letter with his credentials. As a scholar, I understand the importance of leading with my resume. If people are going to pay attention to my scholarship, I have to demonstrate my expertise early. That demonstration is also tailored to the… Continue reading Galatians
Defaulting to Grace 