Psalm 89:1–4 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’” Read the context What contracts are hardest to break? A 12-month lease? A...
1 day ago • 1 min read
Luke 1:46–49 And Mary said:“My soul glorifies the Lord — and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name. Read the context Your manager passes over you on a project. You didn't get the invite to the party. Do you ever feel unnoticed? Mary recognizes in her song that she should be unnoticed by God, but instead he chose her to...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Luke 1:41–43 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Read the context An acrobatic catch in the end zone... A walk off home run. You jump off the couch to celebrate your team. John the Baptist knew victory had arrived even before he was born. He...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Isaiah 40:25–26 “To whom will you compare me?Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one — and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Read the context Orion's Belt... The Big Dipper... The North Star. If you look up at night can you recognize the big ones? Up in the sky are more lights than you can count, painted...
4 days ago • 1 min read
Matthew 3:10–11 "The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Read the context In springtime, you don't hesitate to clear out what's dead. The ax is at the root. John's warning is clear: judgment is coming, and no one...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Romans 15:5–7 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Read the context Group projects can be frustrating. Differing opinions, ideas, and voices all push against each other. But the best groups thrive when all come together....
6 days ago • 1 min read
Isaiah 11:2–4a The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. Read the context Someone cuts in line in front of you — loud and...
7 days ago • 1 min read
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....
8 days 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...
9 days ago • 1 min read