Focus Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.   Read Psalm 25:1-10 (NRSV) To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me […]

Caught up in the story of indiscretion with Bathsheba are two very significant statements about Christian stewardship. They are found in the eighth verse of 2 Samuel 12 (vs.1-10, 13). These two statements recognize that first of all God gives us everything. The prophet Nathan tells David that God gave him his master’s house, and […]

Focus Breathe in clear thoughts of peace and reflection as you prepare to hear God speak to you through the scripture and the writer. Put aside all the things the world says you have to accomplish today and use this time to rest in God’s presence. Read Nehemiah 9:1-15 (NRSV) Now on the twenty-fourth day […]

Focus Let your soul take a moment of rest as you hear God’s word. Put your busy schedule, wandering mind, stressful thoughts, and burdened heart at the feet of the cross and open up to God’s voice as the Giver of Life tends your soul. Read Nehemiah 9:16-31 (NRSV) “But they and our ancestors acted […]

Focus Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God. Read Ephesians 4:25–5:2 (NRSV) So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do […]

Focus Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word. Read Psalm 130 (NRSV) Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the […]

The Israelites were unhappy and felt insecure (Exodus 32-24). Their leader had gone up on some mountain out of their sight. In their leader’s absence they began searching for a sense of place. As a security blanket they built an idol. Moses sought forgiveness for his people’s action. God revealed God’s self as merciful and […]

Focus Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer. Read Galatians 5:2-15 (NRSV) Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to […]

“But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” The father in the Prodigal Son story was filled with love and compassion for this rebellious son while he was still far off. The prodigal son had not made his confession and […]

Photo by Bart LaRue on Unsplash What an example Esau gives us in the story of his reunion with Jacob! He has been cheated and undermined by his brother Jacob to the point of wishing to kill him. But time has cooled Esau’s hatred and taught him that he loves his brother more than he hates what his […]