Deuteronomy 32:2-3 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, July 24, 2019 “BLESSINGS, GENTLE SHOWERS AND RAIN” “Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew. Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants. I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God!” Deuteronomy 32:2-3 I came across these words in a poem by Ralph Cushman: “Singing through…Keep Reading

Rev. Nate and Julie Ware 1 Peter 3:10 Meticulous Gathering – Deliberate Witness Nate and I were talking about notes this morning. One of his degrees is in Journalism. He said that he first became meticulous about taking notes when one of the Generals in the military told him about his notes, his “tickler” file . . . Which served him well when making speeches and being called upon to…Keep Reading

Isaiah 31-34 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, July 23, 2019 “WHAT DOES A GOD-FEARING NATION LOOK LIKE?” Once again Isaiah turns from announcing God’s judgment against the nations to give those whom he addressed a ray of hope. In Isaiah 32:1-8 he describes the reign of the Messiah. From that description, we can discover some characteristics which any nation claiming to be a God-fearing nation should manifest. First, read the passage from…Keep Reading

Genesis 1:31 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, July 23, 2019 “He Saw That It Was Very Good” I haven’t heard a Whippoorwill or a bobwhite in a long time. Can you remember those hot and lazy summer days when nature sang its own songs? Then the hum of honeybees could be heard as they worked the clover, and the box turtle would come for a visit. Have you ever had a black…Keep Reading

2 Corinthians 12:9 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, July 22, 2019 “MY POWER MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS” “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 “Take away my weakness” is a prayer that many people have prayed. Even the…Keep Reading

Isaiah 28-30 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, July 22, 2019 “THE PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE” Both Israel and Judah were corrupt from top to bottom. Priests and prophets alike were drunkards who erred in vision and stumbled in judgment—so much so that their tables were full of vomit and filth (Isaiah 28:1-8). Scorners ruled in Jerusalem, maintaining power by lies (Isaiah 28:14-15). Israel would soon be carried away into Assyrian captivity and Judah would…Keep Reading

Matthew 5:20 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, July 3, 2019 “FREEDOM IN THE DEPTH AND JOY OF CHRIST” Jesus said, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20 Jesus was not teaching His disciples that a person is saved by doing more than others; they were already called “His disciples.”…Keep Reading

Hosea 8-14 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, July 21, 2019 “SOWING TO THE WIND” Hosea 8:7 has been used as the text for many sermons: “For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it.” Paul spoke of sowing and reaping, saying, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for…Keep Reading

HOSEA 1-7 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, July 20, 2019 “GOD, A GRIEVING HUSBAND” Hosea was a contemporary of Isaiah and prophesied to the northern kingdom, occasionally referring to Judah, the southern kingdom. Hosea’s marriage to Gomer and the heartache it brought to him is a living symbol of God’s love for his people. Gomer’s unfaithfulness pictures the spiritual adultery of Israel and Judah, and Hosea’s redemptive love, which neither casts Gomer…Keep Reading

Matthew 10:16 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, July 20, 2019 “Grits and True Grit (The Gospel of Jesus Christ)” “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16 It doesn’t take much to entertain us. We sit on our porch and watch a squirrel doing a high wire act over the street, rabbits in the grass, or the…Keep Reading

2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31; Psalm 48 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, July 19, 2019 “WE ALL HAVE CHOICES” A few days ago, we mentioned good king Hezekiah, who cleansed the temple, restored its worship, organized the priests, and sought God with all his heart (2 Chronicles 29-31), preventing for a time the fall of Judah. We will now consider this reign more fully. The inspired historian says: “And he did…Keep Reading

John 5:6 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, July 19, 2019 “Do You Want to Get Well?” A couple was talking about how they would love to have some fresh green beans. “Come to my house tomorrow and you can have some,” said a neighbor who had a beautiful garden. He was so happy to share the abundance of his garden with them. They did come and were led through the garden gate….Keep Reading