Daily Devotional (Page 5)
Faith in Action
Faith in Action From Our Daily Bread – June 29, 2017 Read: James 2:14–26 Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.—James 2:18 As a friend drove to the grocery store, she noticed a woman walking along the side of the road and felt she should turn the car around and offer her a ride. When she did, she was saddened to hear that the woman didn’t have money for the bus…
Unfinished Works
Unfinished Works From Our Daily Bread – June 28, 2017 Read: Romans 7:14–25 Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!—Romans 7:24-25 At his death, the great artist Michelangelo left many unfinished projects. But four of his sculptures were never meant to be completed. The Bearded Slave, the Atlas Slave, the Awakening Slave, and the Young Slave, though they appear unfinished, are just as…
Five-Finger Prayers
Five-Finger Prayers From Our Daily Bread – June 27, 2017 Read: James 5:13–18 Pray for each other.—James 5:16 Prayer is a conversation with God, not a formula. Yet sometimes we might need to use a “method” to freshen up our prayer time. We can pray the Psalms or other Scriptures (such as The Lord’s Prayer), or use the ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication). I recently came across this “Five-Finger Prayer” to use as a guide when praying for…
Very Good!
Very Good! From Our Daily Bread – June 26, 2017 Read: Genesis 1:24–31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!—Genesis 1:31 nlt Some days seem to have a theme running through them. Recently I had one of those days. Our pastor began his sermon on Genesis 1 with two minutes of breathtaking, time-lapse photography of blossoming flowers. Then, at home, a scroll through social media revealed numerous posts of flowers. Later…
Soaking Up God’s Word
Soaking Up God’s Word From Our Daily Bread – June 25, 2017 Read: Deuteronomy 6:1–9 These commandments that I give to you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.—Deuteronomy 6:6-7 When our son Xavier was a toddler, we took a family trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. As we entered the building, I pointed to a large sculpture suspended from the ceiling. “Look. A humpback whale.” Xavier’s eyes widened. “Enormous,” he said. My husband turned…
Here to Serve
Here to Serve From Our Daily Bread – June 24, 2017 Read: John 13:3–17 [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet.—John 13:5 It was time for our church to commission a new group of leaders. To symbolize their roles as servant-leaders, the church elders participated in a memorable foot-washing ceremony. Each of the leaders—including the pastor—washed each other’s feet as the congregation observed them. What they did that day was modeled for us by…
Playing in Concert
Playing in Concert From Our Daily Bread – June 23, 2017 Read: Romans 12:3–8 So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.—Romans 12:5-6 During our granddaughter’s school band concert, I was impressed by how well this group of 11- and 12-year-olds played together. If each of them had wanted to be a solo performer, they could not have…
Silence
Silence From Our Daily Bread – June 22, 2017 Read: Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:20 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?—Habakkuk 1:2 Skittish chickens scattered as relief trucks clattered past the weathered huts of the village. Barefoot children stared. Traffic on this rain-ravaged “road” was rare. Suddenly, a walled mansion loomed into view of the convoy. It was the mayor’s house—although he didn’t live in it. His people lacked basic necessities, while he lounged in…
Reason to Smile
Reason to Smile From Our Daily Bread – June 20, 2017 Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:9–28 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.—1 Thessalonians 5:11 In the workplace, words of encouragement matter. How employees talk to one another has a bearing on customer satisfaction, company profits, and co-worker appreciation. Studies show that members of the most effective work groups give one another six times more affirmation than disapproval, disagreement, or sarcasm. Least…
Driven by God
Driven by God From Our Daily Bread – June 19, 2017 Read: 1 Kings 8:54–63 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him.—1 Kings 8:58 A few months ago I received an email inviting me to join a community of “driven people.” I decided to look up the word driven, and I learned that a driven person is someone highly motivated to succeed and who will work hard to achieve his goals. Is it good…
A Perfect Father
A Perfect Father From Our Daily Bread – June 18, 2017 Read: Proverbs 20:3–7 The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.—Proverbs 20:7 My father once admitted to me, “When you were growing up, I was gone a lot.” I don’t remember that. Besides working his full-time job, he was gone some evenings to direct choir practice at church, and he occasionally traveled for a week or two with a men’s quartet. But for all the significant…
Time Together
Time Together From Our Daily Bread – June 17, 2017 Read: Psalm 147:1–11 The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.—Psalm 147:11 On the two-hour drive home from a family member’s wedding, my mom asked me for the third time what was new in my job. I once again repeated some of the details as if telling her for the first time, while wondering what might possibly make my words more memorable.…