ALL DAILY REFLECTIONS
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For several years now, TheHighCalling.org has provided a daily devotion. When you subscribe, you'll receive a short Bible reading, reflection, and prayer from our Laity Lodge Scholar in Residence, Mark D. Roberts. These short Biblical encouragements are the perfect wake up call to kick start your daily work!
From 2001 to 2007, these devotions were written by Eugene Petersen, translator of The Message. Eugene Petersen's devotions are still available in our archives.
8.1.10
Home Depot and Experiencing God's Joy >
READ Psalm 146:1-10 [J]oyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the LORD their God.
7.31.10
Calling on God in Truth >
READ Psalm 145:1-21 The LORD is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
7.30.10
Touching and Tasting >
READ 1 Corinthians 11:17-32
On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine . . .
7.29.10
Remembering Jesus >
READ 1 Corinthians 11:17-32 Then he broke it in pieces and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me." In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it."
7.28.10
Beginning with What Matters Most of All >
READ 1 Corinthians 11:17-32 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”
7.27.10
Doin' What Comes Natur'lly, Part 2 >
READ 1 Corinthians 11:17-32 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!
7.26.10
Doin' What Comes Natur'lly, Part 1 >
READ 1 Corinthians 11:17-32 For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk.
7.24.10
Why Should God Answer My Prayer? >
READ Psalm 143:1-12 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my plea!
Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
7.23.10
Men and Women Together: An Illustration >
READ 1 Corinthians 11:7-16 But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women.
7.22.10
Men and Women Together >
READ 1 Corinthians 11:7-16 But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women.
7.21.10
Why We Still Must Pay Attention to Culture >
READ 1 Corinthians 11:2-6 But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head.
7.19.10
Soli Deo Gloria >
READ 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
7.18.10
All I Really Want in Life >
READ Psalm 142:1-7 Then I pray to you, O LORD.
I say, “You are my place of refuge.
You are all I really want in life."
7.17.10
Avoiding the Sweetness of Evil >
READ Psalm 141:1-10 Don’t let me drift toward evil
or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
of those who do wrong.
7.16.10
So What About Christmas Trees? >
1 Corinthians 10:19-30 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For “the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.”
7.15.10
Enjoying the Meat of God’s Creation >
READ 1 Corinthians 10:19-30 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience.
7.14.10
Discovering the Full Meaning of Communion >
READ 1 Corinthians 10:14-17 When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?
7.13.10
Escape from Temptation >
READ 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
7.12.10
Becoming All Things to All People: An Example >
READ 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.
7.11.10
Remembering God's Justice >
READ Psalm 140:1-13 But I know the LORD will help those they persecute;
he will give justice to the poor.
7.10.10
Search Me, O God >
READ Psalm 139:1-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
7.9.10
The First Step in Sharing Our Faith with Others >
READ 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.
7.8.10
Giving Up Your Rights for a Greater Cause >
READ 1 Corinthians 9:1-18 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.
7.7.10
Strong and Weak Consciences, Part 2 >
READ 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.
7.6.10
Strong and Weak Consciences >
READ 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.
7.5.10
Why We Must Pay Attention to Culture >
READ 1 Corinthians 8:4-13
However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated.
7.4.10
God Will Work Out His Plans for My Life >
READ Psalm 138:1-8 The LORD will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.
Don't abandon me, for you made me.
7.3.10
The Verse in Scripture that Makes Us Most Uncomfortable >
READ Psalm 137:1-9 Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!
7.2.10
Are You "Into" God? >
Read 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.
7.1.10
What's Wrong with Knowledge? >
READ 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that "we all have knowledge" about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.
6.30.10
Balancing "God's Work" with Family Commitments >
READ 1 Corinthians 7:32-40 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. . . . In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.
6.29.10
The Advantage of Singleness >
READ 1 Corinthians 7:32-40 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. . . . In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.
6.28.10
Thriving Right Where You Are >
READ 1 Corinthians 7:17-31 Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.
6.27.10
Some Things Deserve to Be Repeated >
READ Psalm 136:1-26 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
6.26.10
Why Should We Praise the Lord? >
READ Psalm 135:1-21 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
celebrate his lovely name with music.
6.25.10
Seeing Life as a Gift >
READ 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. But God gives to some the gift of marriage, and to others the gift of singleness.
6.24.10
Why Your Body Is Wonderful >
READ 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
6.23.10
What’s Freedom For? >
READ 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.
6.22.10
What Did God Do to You? >
READ 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
6.21.10
Choosing to Lose? >
READ 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?
6.20.10
Living in the Circle of Blessing >
READ Psalm 134:1-3 Oh, praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD. . . . May the LORD, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Jerusalem.
6.19.10
A Pleasure We Need Today >
READ Psalm 133:1-3 How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
6.18.10
Being in the World >
READ 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.
6.17.10
A New Kind of Festival >
READ 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.
6.16.10
Not in Talk . . . But in Power! >
READ 1 Corinthians 4:18-21 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.
6.15.10
Are You a Fool for Christ? >
READ 1 Corinthians 4:8-17 Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.
6.14.10
The Key to Living with Gratitude and Humility >
READ 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
6.13.10
A Prayer for Church Leaders >
READ Psalm 132:1-18 May your priests be clothed in godliness;
may your loyal servants sing for joy.
6.12.10
A Calm and Quiet Soul >
READ Psalm 131:1-3 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
6.11.10
Your Eternal Review >
READ 1 Corinthians 4:1-4 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.
6.10.10
What If You Owned the Whole World? >
READ 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
6.9.10
How to Find God >
READ 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
6.8.10
On What Can We Base Our Lives? >
READ 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
6.7.10
What’s Really Important? >
READ 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.
6.6.10
Crying to God Out of the Depths >
READ Psalm 130:1-8 From the depths of despair, O LORD,
I call for your help.
6.5.10
Grass on a Rooftop >
READ Psalm 129:1-8 May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop,
turning yellow when only half grown.
6.4.10
The Mind of Christ >
READ 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 For, “Who can know the LORD’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to teach him?”
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
6.3.10
How Could I Ever Share My Faith in Christ? >
READ 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
6.2.10
The Folly of the Gospel >
READ 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.
6.1.10
What Defines You as a Christian? >
READ 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.”
5.31.10
Called into the Fellowship of Christ >
READ 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 God . . . is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
5.30.10
The Blessing of Fear >
READ Psalm 128:1-6 How joyful are those who fear the LORD
all who follow his ways!
5.29.10
Antidote to Workaholism >
READ Psalm 127:1-5 Unless the LORD builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the LORD protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
5.28.10
Grace and Peace >
READ 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
5.27.10
You Are a Saint >
READ 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
5.26.10
God Has Called You >
READ 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
5.25.10
Introduction to 1 Corinthians >
READ 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes.
5.24.10
Just as He Had Said >
READ Jeremiah 52:1-13 On August 17 of that year, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard and an official of the Babylonian king, arrived in Jerusalem. He burned down the Temple of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He destroyed all the important buildings in the city.
5.23.10
Streams in the Desert >
READ Psalm 126:1-6 Restore our fortunes, LORD,
as streams renew the desert.
5.22.10
You’re Surrounded! >
READ Psalm 125:1-5 Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people, both now and forever.
5.21.10
The End of Jeremiah’s Messages >
READ Jeremiah 51:1-64 "Then say, ‘In this same way Babylon and her people will sink, never again to rise, because of the disasters I will bring upon her.’ ” This is the end of Jeremiah’s messages.
5.20.10
Bound to the Lord Forever >
READ Jeremiah 50:1-46 They will ask the way to Jerusalem
and will start back home again.
They will bind themselves to the LORD
with an eternal covenant that will never be forgotten.
5.19.10
Lord of the Nations >
READ Jeremiah 49:1-39 This message was given concerning the Ammonites. This is what the LORD says:
“Are there no descendants of Israel
to inherit the land of Gad?
Why are you, who worship Molech,
living in its towns?”
5.18.10
In What Do We Trust? >
READ Jeremiah 48:1-47 Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill,
you will be taken captive.
Your god Chemosh, with his priests and officials,
will be hauled off to distant lands!
5.17.10
The Son of God >
READ Psalm 2:1-7
I will tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have begotten you.
5.16.10
What If? >
READ Psalm 124:1-8 What if the LORD had not been on our side
when people attacked us?
5.15.10
Gazing Upon the Lord >
READ Psalm 123:1-4 We keep looking to the LORD our God for his mercy,
just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
5.14.10
The Sword of the Lord >
READ Jeremiah 47:1-7 “Now, O sword of the LORD,
when will you be at rest again?
Go back into your sheath;
rest and be still.”
5.13.10
Discipline with Justice >
READ Jeremiah 46:1-28 "Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
for I am with you,” says the LORD.
“I will completely destroy the nations to which I have exiled you,
but I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you, but with justice;
I cannot let you go unpunished.”
5.12.10
A Word for Baruch >
READ Jeremiah 45:1-5 “Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
5.11.10
Have You Forgotten? >
READ Jeremiah 44:1-30 “Have you forgotten the sins of your ancestors, the sins of the kings and queens of Judah, and the sins you and your wives committed in Judah and Jerusalem?”
5.10.10
Knowing Better Than God >
READ Jeremiah 43:1-13 The people refused to obey the voice of the LORD and went to Egypt, going as far as the city of Tahpanhes.
5.9.10
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem >
READ Psalm 122:1-9 Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
May all who love this city prosper.
5.8.10
The Help We Need >
READ Psalm 121:1-8 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth!
5.7.10
The Challenge of Obedience >
READ Jeremiah 42:1-22 Whether we like it or not, we will obey the LORD our God to whom we are sending you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us.
5.6.10
The Painful Reality of Evil >
READ Jeremiah 41:1-18 But as soon as they were all inside the town, Ishmael and his men killed all but ten of them and threw their bodies into a cistern.
5.5.10
Reading the Bible on Its Own Terms >
READ Jeremiah 40:1-16 The LORD gave a message to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the other captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being sent to exile in Babylon.
5.4.10
The Rescue of Ebed-Melech >
READ Jeremiah 39:1-18 “Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
5.3.10
Sucking the Muck from the Bottom of the Well >
READ Jeremiah 38:1-28 So the officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard. It belonged to Malkijah, a member of the royal family. There was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into it.
5.1.10
The Word Gives Life >
READ Psalm 119:1-176 I will never forget your commandments,
for by them you give me life.
4.30.10
The View from the Palace Prison >
READ Jeremiah 37:1-21 So King Zedekiah commanded that Jeremiah not be returned to the dungeon. Instead, he was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. The king also commanded that Jeremiah be given a loaf of fresh bread every day as long as there was any left in the city. So Jeremiah was put in the palace prison.
4.29.10
How Do You Respond to the Word of God? >
READ Jeremiah 36:1-32 Each time Jehudi finished reading three or four columns, the king took a knife and cut off that section of the scroll. He then threw it into the fire, section by section, until the whole scroll was burned up.
4.28.10
The Faithfulness of the Recabites >
READ Jeremiah 35:1-19 The Recabites do not drink wine to this day because their ancestor Jehonadab told them not to. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you refuse to obey me.
4.27.10
Empty Promises >
READ Jeremiah 34:1-22 Recently you repented and did what was right, following my command. You freed your slaves and made a solemn covenant with me in the Temple that bears my name. But now you have shrugged off your oath and defiled my name by taking back the men and women you had freed, forcing them to be slaves once again.
4.26.10
The Lord Is Our Righteousness >
READ Jeremiah 33:1-26 "In that day Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
And this will be its name:
'The LORD Is Our Righteousness.' "
4.25.10
The Lord Is for Me >
READ Psalm 118:1-29 The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
4.24.10
The Beginning of Worship >
READ Psalm 117:1-2 For he loves us with unfailing love;
the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever.
Praise the LORD!
4.23.10
One Heart and One Purpose >
READ Jeremiah 32:1-44 “And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants.”
4.22.10
The New Covenant >
READ Jeremiah 31:27-40 “The day is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.”
4.21.10
No One Left Behind >
READ Jeremiah 31:1-26 For I will bring them from the north
and from the distant corners of the earth.
I will not forget the blind and lame, the expectant mothers and women in labor.
A great company will return!
4.20.10
Grappling with Divine Discipline >
READ Jeremiah 30:1-24 "For I am with you and will save you,”
says the LORD.
“I will completely destroy the nations where I have scattered you,
but I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you, but with justice;
I cannot let you go unpunished.”
4.19.10
A Future and a Hope >
READ Jeremiah 29:8-32 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
4.18.10
A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving >
READ Psalm 116:1-19 I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the LORD.
4.17.10
Not to Us, Not to Us! >
READ Psalm 115:1-18 Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
but to your name goes all the glory
for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
4.16.10
Work for the Peace and Prosperity of the City >
READ Jeremiah 29:1-7 “And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
4.15.10
Prophet Wars >
READ Jeremiah 28:1-17 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off Jeremiah’s neck and broke it in pieces.
4.14.10
Do Not Listen to the False Prophets >
Jeremiah 27:1-22 “Do not listen to your false prophets, fortune-tellers, interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers who say, ‘The king of Babylon will not conquer you.' "
4.13.10
Listen to Your Elders >
READ Jeremiah 26:1-24 Then some of the wise old men stood and spoke to all the people assembled there.
4.12.10
The Cup of Wrath >
READ Jeremiah 25:1-38 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled to the brim with my anger, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.
4.11.10
Tremble! >
READ Psalm 114:1-8 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob.
4.10.10
The Condescending God? >
READ Psalm 113:1-9 Who can be compared with the LORD our God,
who is enthroned on high?
He stoops to look down
on heaven and on earth.
He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
4.9.10
Hope for the Good Figs >
READ Jeremiah 24:1-10 I will watch over and care for them, and I will bring them back here again. I will build them up and not tear them down. I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them hearts that recognize me as the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.
4.8.10
Don’t Burden People with Your “Burdens” >
READ Jeremiah 23:1-40 “But stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the LORD.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”
4.7.10
Knowing God Actively >
READ Jeremiah 22:1-30 "He gave justice and help to the poor and needy,
and everything went well for him.
Isn’t that what it means to know me?”
says the LORD.
4.6.10
Justice in the Morning >
READ Jeremiah 21:1-14 This is what the LORD says to the dynasty of David:
“Give justice each morning to the people you judge!
Help those who have been robbed;
rescue them from their oppressors.
Otherwise, my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire
because of all your sins."
4.5.10
Heartburn for God >
READ Jeremiah 20:1-18 But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD
or speak in his name,
his word burns in my heart like a fire.
It’s like a fire in my bones!
I am worn out trying to hold it in!
I can’t do it!
4.4.10
God’s Resurrection Power for Us! >
READ Ephesians 1:19-23 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
4.3.10
The Seven Last Words of Christ for Holy Week: The Seventh Word >
READ Luke 23:44-56 “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands.”
4.2.10
The Seven Last Words of Christ for Holy Week: The Sixth Word >
READ John 19:19-30 “It is finished.”
4.1.10
The Seven Last Words of Christ for Holy Week: The Fifth Word >
READ John 19:28-29 “I am thirsty.”
3.31.10
The Seven Last Words of Christ for Holy Week: The Fourth Word >
READ Mark 15:1-34 "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"
3.30.10
The Seven Last Words of Christ for Holy Week: The Third Word >
READ John 19:1-27 "Dear woman, here is your son."
3.29.10
The Seven Last Words of Christ for Holy Week: The Second Word >
READ Luke 23:35-43 "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise."
3.28.10
The Seven Last Words of Christ for Holy Week: The First Word >
READ Luke 23:1-34 "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing."
3.27.10
A Pollyanna-ish Psalm? >
READ Psalm 112:1-10 Praise the LORD!
How joyful are those who fear the LORD
and delight in obeying his commands.
3.26.10
The Smashed Jar >
READ Jeremiah 19:1-15 “As these men watch you, Jeremiah, smash the jar you brought.”
3.25.10
The Potter and the Clay >
READ Jeremiah 18:1-23 “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.”
3.24.10
Stunted Shrubs or Towering Trees? >
READ Jeremiah 17:1-27 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land.
3.23.10
Fishers of Men? >
READ Jeremiah 16:1-21 “But now I am sending for many fishermen who will catch them,” says the LORD. “I am sending for hunters who will hunt them down in the mountains, hills, and caves.”
3.22.10
Daily Confections? >
READ Jeremiah 15:1-21 When I discovered your words, I devoured them.
They are my joy and my heart’s delight,
for I bear your name,
O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.
3.21.10
The Foundation of Wisdom >
READ Psalm 111:1-10 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Praise him forever!
3.20.10
The Mystery of Melchizedek >
READ Psalm 110:1-7 The LORD has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
3.19.10
Not Healing, but Terror >
READ Jeremiah 14:1-22 LORD, have you completely rejected Judah?
Do you really hate Jerusalem?
Why have you wounded us past all hope of healing?
We hoped for peace, but no peace came.
We hoped for a time of healing, but found only terror.
3.18.10
Open Your Ears! >
READ Jeremiah 13:1-27 Listen and pay attention!
Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.
3.17.10
In Honor of St. Patrick >
READ Genesis 50:14-23 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”
3.16.10
Is God Close to Your Kidneys? >
READ Jeremiah 12:1-17 You have planted them,
and they have taken root and prospered.
Your name is on their lips,
but you are far from their hearts.
3.15.10
Stubborn Hearts >
READ Jeremiah 11:1-23 “For I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, ‘Obey me!’ I have repeated this warning over and over to this day, but your ancestors did not listen or even pay attention. Instead, they stubbornly followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I brought upon them all the curses described in this covenant.”
3.14.10
What Should You Do When People Speak Poorly of You? >
READ Psalm 109:1-31 I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations
even as I am praying for them!
3.13.10
Established in God >
READ Psalm 108:1-13 My heart is confident in you, O God;
no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
3.12.10
Christmas Trees in Lent? (Part 2) >
READ Jeremiah 10:1-25 But the God of Israel is no idol!
He is the Creator of everything that exists,
including Israel, his own special possession.
The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
3.11.10
Christmas Trees in Lent? >
READ Jeremiah 10:1-25 This is what the LORD says:
“Do not act like the other nations . . .
Their ways are futile and foolish.
They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol.
They decorate it with gold and silver
and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails
so it won’t fall over.”
3.10.10
What Really Matters >
READ Jeremiah 9:1-26 This is what the LORD says:
“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD
who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
I, the LORD, have spoken!
3.9.10
The Prophet’s Pain >
READ Jeremiah 8:1-22 I hurt with the hurt of my people.
I mourn and am overcome with grief.
3.8.10
Den of Thieves, Part 2 >
READ Jeremiah 7:1-34 “Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
3.7.10
A Cry for Help >
READ Psalm 107:1-43 “LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he rescued them from their distress.
3.6.10
God of the “Even So” >
READ Psalm 106:1-48 Even so, he pitied them in their distress
and listened to their cries.
3.5.10
Den of Thieves >
READ Jeremiah 7:1-34 “Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
3.4.10
A Deeper Healing >
READ Jeremiah 6:1-30 “They offer superficial treatments
for my people’s mortal wound.
They give assurances of peace
when there is no peace.”
3.3.10
Unyoked Leaders >
READ Jeremiah 5:1-31 So I will go and speak to their leaders.
Surely they know the ways of the LORD
and understand God’s laws.”But the leaders, too, as one man,
had thrown off God’s yoke
and broken his chains."
3.2.10
Truth, Justice, and What? >
READ Jeremiah 4:1-31 "Then when you swear by my name, saying,
‘As surely as the LORD lives,’
you could do so
with truth, justice, and righteousness.
Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,
and all people would come and praise my name.”
3.1.10
False Worship >
READ Jeremiah 3:16-25 Our worship of idols on the hills
and our religious orgies on the mountains
are a delusion.
Only in the LORD our God
will Israel ever find salvation.
2.28.10
Seek the Lord >
READ Psalm 105:1-45 Search for the LORD and for his strength;
continually seek him.
2.27.10
Praise to the One Who Stretches Out the Heavens >
READ Psalm 104:1-35 Let all that I am praise the LORD.
O LORD my God, how great you are!
You are robed with honor and majesty.
You are dressed in a robe of light.
You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens.
2.26.10
Shepherds After God’s Own Heart >
READ Jeremiah 3:1-15 And I will give you shepherds after my own heart,
who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.
2.25.10
Cracked Cisterns >
READ Jeremiah 2:9-37 “For my people have done two evil things:
They have abandoned me—
the fountain of living water.
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns
that can hold no water at all!”
2.24.10
The Path to Worthlessness >
READ Jeremiah 2:1-8 This is what the LORD says:
“What did your ancestors find wrong with me
that led them to stray so far from me?
They worshiped worthless idols,
only to become worthless themselves."
2.23.10
The Most Important Promise >
READ Jeremiah 1:4-19 “They will fight you, but they will fail.
For I am with you, and I will take care of you.
I, the LORD, have spoken!”
2.22.10
Jeremiah: Setting the Stage >
READ Jeremiah 1:1-3 These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
2.21.10
The Lord Remembers We Are Only Dust >
READ Psalm 103:1-22 The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
2.20.10
Lonely as a Solitary Bird on the Roof >
READ Psalm 102:1-28 I lie awake,
lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.
2.19.10
A Unified Heart >
READ Psalm 86:1-17 Teach me your ways, O LORD,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
2.18.10
Return to the Lord >
READ Joel 2:1-32 That is why the LORD says,
“Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish.
2.17.10
Ash Wednesday >
READ Genesis 3:1-24 "By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.”
2.16.10
Mardi Gras? >
READ Nehemiah 8:1-12 And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
2.15.10
An Ironic Ending >
READ Mark 16:1-8 The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.
2.14.10
A Life of Integrity at Home >
READ Psalm 101:1-8 I will be careful to live a blameless life—
when will you come to help me?
I will lead a life of integrity
in my own home.
2.12.10
Joseph of Arimathea >
READ Mark 15:42-47 Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)
2.11.10
Faithful Together >
READ Mark 15:1-41 Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.
2.10.10
Those Who Did Not Desert Jesus >
READ Mark 15:1-41 Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.
2.9.10
Doing the Unthinkable >
READ Mark 14:66-72 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.
2.8.10
Jesus Answered the High Priest >
READ Mark 14:41-65 Jesus said, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
2.7.10
How Can We Exalt God? >
READ Psalm 99:1-9 Exalt the LORD our God!
Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!
2.6.10
Celebrating the Victory of God >
READ Psalm 98:1-9 Shout to the LORD, all the earth;
break out in praise and sing for joy!
2.5.10
A Time to Be Quiet and a Time to Speak >
READ Mark 14:41-65 Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
2.4.10
The Most Unexpected Prayer >
READ Mark 14:27-42 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
2.3.10
The Last Supper and the Future >
READ Mark 14:12-26 “I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”
2.2.10
Are the Poor With Us? >
READ Mark 14:1-11 “You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.”
2.1.10
Giving Our Best to the Lord >
READ Mark 14:1-11 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.
1.31.10
Above All Gods >
READ Psalm 97:1-12 For you, O LORD, are supreme over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
1.30.10
Why Do We Praise the Lord? >
READ Psalm 96:1-13 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!
He is to be feared above all gods.
1.29.10
A Startling Admission >
READ Mark 13:12-37 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”
1.28.10
The Spirit Will Help You Speak >
READ Mark 13:1-11 “But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”
1.27.10
The Widow’s Mite >
READ Mark 12:35-44 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.”
1.26.10
Love Your Neighbor >
READ Mark 12:28-34 “The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
1.25.10
Loving God with Your Mind >
READ Mark 12:28-34 “And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”
1.24.10
The Soul of Worship >
READ Psalm 95:1-11 Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,
for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
the flock under his care.
1.23.10
The God of Vengeance? >
READ Psalm 94:1-23 O LORD, the God of vengeance,
O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth!
1.22.10
What Belongs to God? >
READ Mark 12:13-27 “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them.
1.21.10
The Foolishness of the Father? >
READ Mark 12:1-12 Others he sent were either beaten or killed, until there was only one left—his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, “Surely they will respect my son.”
1.20.10
Praying with Faith >
READ Mark 11:20-33 “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”
1.19.10
Our Den of Thieves? >
READ Mark 11:12-19 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
1.18.10
The Unexpected Jesus >
READ Mark 11:12-19 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
1.17.10
Mightier Than the Waves >
READ Psalm 93:1-5 But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore—
the LORD above is mightier than these!
1.16.10
Fruitful in Old Age >
READ Psalm 92:1-15 Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
they will remain vital and green.
1.15.10
Hosanna! >
READ Mark 11:1-11 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting
“Praise God!"
"Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!"
1.14.10
The Jesus Prayer >
READ Mark 10:46-52 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
1.13.10
The Serving Son of Man >
READ Mark 10:35-45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
1.12.10
Servant Leadership >
READ Mark 10:35-45 “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”
1.11.10
Speaking Freely with Jesus >
READ Mark 10:35-45 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”
1.10.10
Hiding in God >
READ Psalm 91:1-16 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
1.9.10
Numbering Our Days >
READ Psalm 90:1-17 Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom.
1.8.10
A Surprising Return on Your Investment >
READ Mark 10:28-34 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life."
1.7.10
An Explanation and Invitation >
READ Psalm 19:1-14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
1.6.10
Epiphany: Celebrating the Appearing of God in Christ >
READ 2 Timothy 1:8-11 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.
1.5.10
Living Christmasly, Part 12 >
READ 2 Corinthians 5:1-21 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
1.4.10
Living Christmasly, Part 11 >
READ 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
1.3.10
Living Christmasly, Part 10 >
READ Galatians 4:1-7 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
1.2.10
Living Christmasly, Part 9 >
READ Philippians 2:1-11 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
1.1.10
Living Christmasly, Part 8 >
READ 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
