Posts by jhumphries

July 20, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 23Acts 17:16-31This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES When you think of “idols,” what do you think of first? I think of some kind of primitive, scary-looking statue covered with gold and with emeralds for eyes — something that Indiana Jones would be searching for deep in a rainforest…

July 19, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 23Colossians 1:15-23This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES If you were to see a picture of my husband as a young adult and then look at a photo of our son who’s in his early 30s now, you would be amazed at how much two people can look alike.…

July 18, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 142Amos 9:11-15This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES Several years ago, we lived in a house that had a patio bordered by a large cherry tree. In the spring, the tree would be covered with pale pink blossoms shimmering in the light breeze. In the summer, its thick green…

July 17, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 142Acts 23:12-35This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES Today’s passage from Acts reads like an action movie — complete with intrigue, a plotted assassination and an escape by night under military protection. What was it about Paul that made him so dangerous to the religious establishment in Jerusalem? He…

July 16, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 142Amos 5:1-9This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES One of the first constellations I learned to identify in the dark winter sky was Orion. With its three bright stars aligned diagonally like the belt of a warrior, it was easy to spot on a clear night, striding across the…

July 14, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 19This weekend’s reading: Proverbs 2:1-10 FIELD NOTES “If we are to pray well, we too must discover the Lord to whom we speak, and if we use the Psalms in our prayer we will stand a better chance of sharing in the discovery which lies hidden in their words for all…

July 13, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 23This weekend’s reading: Proverbs 2:1-10 FIELD NOTES “History instructs us, the law teaches us, prophecy foretells, correction punishes, morality persuades, but the book of psalms goes further than all of these. It is the medicine for our spiritual health. Whoever reads it will find in it a medicine to cure the…

July 12, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 139This weekend’s reading: Proverbs 2:1-10 FIELD NOTES “All of the psalms are designed to teach us one thing… to worship. These psalms reflect every human emotion, but they do so in a distinct and important way: they are emotions seen in relationship to God. Every psalm is written in the…

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…

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…