Archive for July 2018

Abandonment and Despair

July 11, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 13This weekend’s reading: Proverbs 2:1-9 FIELD NOTES The following is an excerpt from Henri Nouwen’s Uncensored Prayer: “Prayer, first of all, is crying out to God from our heart. ‘Give ear to my words, O Lord, and consider my sighing’ is a prayer from the heart. ‘Listen to my cry for…

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Instruction

July 10, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 15This weekend’s reading: Proverbs 2:1-9 FIELD NOTES “All books of Scripture, both Old Testament and New, are inspired by God and useful for instruction, as the apostle says; but to those who really study it the Psalter yields especial treasure. Within it are represented and portrayed in all their variety…

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Praise | July 9, 2018

July 9, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 24This weekend’s reading: Proverbs 2:1-9 FIELD NOTES “At the center of the Bible is the book of Psalms. This great collection of songs and prayers expresses the heart and soul of humanity. In them, the whole range of human experiences is expressed… David and the other writers honestly pour out…

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Pushing Back Against Death

JULy 7, 2018 DAILY READING Matthew 8:18-22This weekend’s reading: Colossians 2:6-15​ FIELD NOTES So often it seems, we give up too soon, weary from our work that bears so little results. So often, we forget that Jesus, who has called us, is the one who also empowers us. We forget that Jesus brings forth a bounty…

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Are We All Talk?

July 6, 2018 DAILY READING 2 Corinthians 10:7-11This weekend’s reading: Colossians 2:6-15​ FIELD NOTES Do our actions match our words—or better yet, do our words match our actions?  Are we all talk?  When you say you love people, do you actually love people, or do you live a life of gossip or division?  When you say you’re…

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You Already Have Everything

July 5, 2018 DAILY READING 1 Corinthians 4:8-13This weekend’s reading: Colossians 2:6-15​ FIELD NOTES I wonder what our churches would look like if we realized that we have received the full power of the Holy Spirit, inherit in us, rather than living as if we were still waiting for God to empower us, or worse even,…

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Behind the Veil

JULY 4, 2018 DAILY READING Mark 9:14-29This weekend’s reading: Colossians 2:6-15​ FIELD NOTES In his modern classic, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, scholar N.T. Wright says this: “Jesus is, at the moment, present with us, but hidden behind that invisible veil which keeps heaven and earth apart, and which we pierce in those moments, such…

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Be Prepared

July 3, 2018 DAILY READING 2 Corinthians 9:1-5This weekend’s reading: Colossians 2:6-15​ FIELD NOTES If Davis called with a job that only you could do, would you be prepared to do it?  Are you ready to serve others at any time?  On the rare occasion that my wife and child are both out of the house, and I…

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Upstanding Character

JuLY 2, 2018 DAILY READING 2 Corinthians 8:16-24This weekend’s reading: Colossians 2:6-15​ FIELD NOTES Are you someone whom people find trustworthy?  Paul speaks up in this passage about the character of his trusted friend, Titus.  Titus was in charge of the money collected by the church.  When handling church funds, Paul wanted to make sure everyone…

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