“My grace is enough. It’s all you need.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 MSG) I’ve been thinking about Naomi this morning, how she left her country full and came back empty. She felt so marked by her experiences in exile that she was compelled to change her…
“He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives.” (Matthew 10:21 MSG) Yesterday, I watched “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” with my two teenagers. For a PG movie, it was kind of dark.…
“Later, when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them.” (Matthew 9:10 MSG) Jesus often did the unexpected. In fact, He had just made fast friends with a tax collector – the vilest…
“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, His generosity exceeds even yours in the glory that pours forth from Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 MSG) The Philippians were generous people and they had just given Paul a financial offering. This was…
“Back in the boat, Jesus and the disciples recrossed the sea to Jesus’ hometown.” (Matthew 9:1 MSG) Sometimes, after a brutal storm, Jesus asks us to climb back in the boat to cross the sea with Him again. I wonder if this boat-boarding was hard…
“When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.” (Matthew 5:44 MSG) Jesus is, of course, speaking to us about our enemies, about those who tend to bring out…
“Samuel took a single rock and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He name it “Ebenezer” (Rock of Help), saying “This marks the place where God helped us.”” (1 Samuel 7:12 NLT) I’ve been thinking about altars since last Sunday, when the Lord implored…
You know what I’ve noticed after a decade or more of daily devotionals? If we’re faithful to meet with God in the wee hours of the day, the Lord will often talk with us about the attitude, grace, perspective or particular fruit of the Spirit…
“I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess… Actually I don’t need anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content in my circumstances. I’m happy with little as with much, with much as will little. I’ve found the recipe for…
“Noah built an altar to God.” (Genesis 8:20 MSG) I’ve been thinking about Noah and how he began again in a new world. I’m still struck by the fact that his very first act on solid ground was altar-building. Think about it, he built an…