Posts by Michele Crater

DAILY READING Psalm 77 Nehemiah 9:9-15 Romans 14:13-15:2 FIELD NOTES The book of Nehemiah tells the story of the newly returned Israelites from exile. The fragile community suffers under the Greek occupation of their ancestral home, leading to internal strife and division. Governor Nehemiah seeks to restore cultural unity among the people by affirming their…

DAILY READING Psalm 77 Joshua 3:1-17 Hebrews 11:23-29 FIELD NOTES When I was a hospice chaplain, one of my patients was a 97-year-old woman from Jamaica named Betty. Talking with her was the highlight of my day. Though Betty was full of joy and laughter, she hadn’t had an easy life. Growing up in poverty…

DAILY READING Matthew 6:7-15 FIELD NOTES Again, from The Voice translation: 9 Your prayers, rather, should be simple, like this:     Our Father in heaven,         let Your name remain holy. 10      Bring about Your kingdom.     Manifest Your will here on earth,         as it is manifest in heaven. 11      Give us each day that day’s bread—no more, no less— 12 …

DAILY READING Exodus 14:1-18 FIELD NOTES The Israelites are free.  They are on their journey away from Egypt.  And Pharaoh changes his mind.  He has lost his workforce.  He must get them back.  So he readies his army to go after them.   The Israelites see Pharaoh approaching and grow very fearful.  Moses encourages them not to be afraid, for God will…

DAILY READING 1 John 3:11-16 FIELD NOTES Michael Gungor, a Christian musician and author, recently made a statement on social media that was relevant to today’s passage.  He said:  “Love is the narrow path…demonizing the other and loving your own is the easy and natural thing to do.  The broad path that leads to destruction.” A provocative…

DAILY READING Exodus 13:1-10 FIELD NOTES We’ve all been through hard times.  Some harder than others.  Our question today is: how do we remember those moments when God brought us through hard times?   The story of the Exodus is not a small story.  Many of our hardships will seem small compared to the plight of the Israelites.  And yet,…

DAILY READING Exodus 12:29-42 FIELD NOTES How many times have you read the story of the Exodus?  How many times have you heard it taught in Sunday School, or worship?  I have read this story multiple times, and seen just about every movie made about it, and yet, in reading it this time, something new sticks out…

DAILY READING Psalm 121 FIELD NOTES Today, I want to highlight a different translation of this familiar Psalm.  This is from The Voice translation: A song for those journeying to worship.1 I look up at the vast size of the mountains—    from where will my help come in times of trouble?2 The Eternal Creator of heaven and earth and these mountains    will send the help…