Psalm 130:1–4 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;Lord, hear my voice. — Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, — so that we can, with reverence, serve you. Read the context "Can anybody hear me?!" Your voice echoes out from the bottom. Alone and afraid... Sin has made you helpless in it's trap. All you can do as cry out for help. A rope lowers down. A hand reaches down to pull you out....
1 day ago • 1 min read
Luke 1:35–37 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” Read the context Some promises seem too good to be true — a great deal on a car... an offer in your spam folder... You can't trust it. As Mary...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Luke 1:13 & 17 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ... And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Read the context The messenger arrived at the city out of breath, but ready to share important news:...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Isaiah 40:3–5 A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness preparethe way for the Lord;make straight in the deserta highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up,every mountain and hill made low;the rough ground shall become level,the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Read the context "There are only two seasons... Winter and construction." Work on our roads never ends. Isaiah the...
4 days ago • 1 min read
Romans 13:11–12 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Read the context The morning means it's time to get dressed. When you step out into the world, you need to be ready to go. Paul wants you to dress for the occasion. The day is coming...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Matt. 24:42–44 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Read the context You're prepping for family to come over when you get the heads-up: "We'll be there in about 5 minutes." It's...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Isaiah 2:1–3 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days:the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” Read the context When you're not sure what you're waiting for,...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Psalm 24:7–10 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory. Read the context The parade stretched on for miles. Everyone wanted to celebrate the return of the king. The city couldn't...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Phil. 4:10–13 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through...
9 days ago • 1 min read