SCRIPTURE Philippians 1:21-24 – For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, yet I cannot say which I will choose. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is…
SCRIPTURE Philippians 1:3-5 – I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. SATISFACTION Several years ago, I sat down and thought: “Ahhhh.” I didn’t sigh out loud, but…
SCRIPTURE Psalm 143:8 – Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. KERMIT As a child, I only knew one Kermit. He was small and green, and he sang songs and…
SCRIPTURE Ephesians 2:8-10 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared…
SCRIPTURE Psalm 143:1 – Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness. A LEVEL PATH As I read the scriptures for today, I remembered when these texts last appeared in the lectionary. April 1, 2020 – we were three weeks into a phenomenon that would…
SCRIPTURE Psalm 130:5-6 – I wait for the LORD; my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. WORTH WAITING FOR Patiently waiting is not my go-to response when I want something to…
SCRIPTURE Psalm 130:2 – Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! THE BIG RED BOW My fifth birthday had been celebrated a few weeks earlier, and each Wednesday evening since cake day had been spent learning the song. Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells. Once a…
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 60:19 – The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night, but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. LIGHT I’ve never been a big fan of the dark. I suppose it started…
SCRIPTURE John 11:40 – Jesus said to [Martha], “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” ENCHANTING A couple of years ago, Bill and I attended a wonderful celebration like no other. The wedding was glorious as they often are, but the reception can be described using…
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 59:9 – Therefore justice is far from us, and deliverance does not reach us; we wait for light, but there is only darkness; and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. AMAZING LIGHT Why is there never a lightbulb at my house? That’s not exactly the right question. Why is there never the…