Do Good in Secret
Read: Matthew 6:1-4 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (v. 3) He was a candidate for public office, and his campaign speech was one long, self-congratulatory tribute. Those of us in the audience were given a guided tour through the treasure room […]
Feed the Birds
Read: Matthew 6:25-34 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (v. 26) The book Birds of the Bible by Peter Goodfellow describes how ravens fed Elijah, how God sustained the children of […]
Embrace the Unexpected
Read: Luke 1:5-25 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. (v. 7) The Christmas story abounds with unexpected happenings. Think about it. Zechariah and Elizabeth didn’t expect to become parents at their age. The shepherds didn’t expect an entourage of angels to appear in the sky. King Herod […]
Listen to the Elderly
Read: Luke 2:25-38 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. (v. 25) Anna and Simeon were old. They were past the age of working, managing a household, or taking care of children. Instead, each in their own way, they […]
Pray for Peace
Read: Isaiah 11:1-9 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. (v. 6) What does God have in store for this fallen world? When God’s kingdom has fully come, […]
A Guide to Doing Devotions with Your Kids
Sharing your faith with your kids can be a joy and a privilege, but it can also feel a little overwhelming. One place to start is family devotional time—a daily practice of reading the Bible and praying together. Kids learn differently, and their needs matter too! Here are a few ideas to get started with […]
Welcome a Stranger
Read: Hebrews 13:1-6 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (v. 2) Strangers can be strange, and we might not choose them as friends. But one element of hospitality is this: hospitality accepts differences. The host doesn’t ask the guest to change. Indeed, part of being a good […]
Visit a Friend
Read: Luke 1:39-45 Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. (v. 45) Mary must have smiled. Finally, after all the gossip and the whispering and the snide, disapproving looks, finally someone believed her. Elizabeth believed her, and believed in her. “Blessed are you […]
Look at the Stars
Read: Psalm 8 When I look at your heavens . . . the moon and the stars . . . what is man that you are mindful of him? (vv. 3-4) We caught fish all day on the river, then camped for the night along the shore. It was a clear, cool night, and there was only a sliver of […]