Posts by Michele Crater

A Wrathful God

July 12, 2021 DAILY READING Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Genesis 27:30-46; Romans 1:18-25 OR Psalm 131; Jeremiah 27:1-11, 16-22; Romans 1:18-25 FIELD NOTES I have to admit, I really struggle with passages that are full of God’s wrath and judgment like the passage from Romans today.  I like to think of God as loving and gracious, not angry…

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Surrendering to the Life Guard

July 10, 2021 DAILY READING Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 27:18-29 Luke 10:21-24 Psalm 145:8-14 Zechariah 4:1-7 FIELD NOTES Even the greatest swimmers cannot swim forever stranded in the Pacific Ocean without help. They need someone to save them.  They need a savior. If you are ever drowning in water and someone comes to save you, please remember…

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“Yes, But” vs “Yes, And”

July 9, 2021 DAILY READING Romans 7:7-20 Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 27:1-17 Zechariah 2:6-13 Psalm 145:8-14 FIELD NOTES Paul’s inner conflict is ours, “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate… I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good…

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Action vs. Blame

July 8, 2021 DAILY READING Zechariah 1:1-16 Psalm 45:10-17 Genesis 25:19-27 Romans 7:1-6 Psalm 145:8-14 FIELD NOTES Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey were bitter political enemies.  Just before he died, Humphrey told Nixon that life was too short to be bitter enemies.  He asked Nixon to forgive him.  They reconciled.  Richard Nixon, then, escorted Mrs. Muriel Humphrey at his funeral.  Historians…

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Repent

July 7, 2021 DAILY READING Matthew 11:20-24 Psalm 47 Isaiah 51:1-3 Psalm 119:161-168 Jeremiah 18:1-11 FIELD NOTES One person held the four key positions at a church I pastored.  He told me that God had provided many miracles for his family and him during the previous three years.   After we had that meaningful conversation, I arrived…

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Test the Spirits

July 6, 2021 DAILY READING 1 John 4:1-6 Psalm 47 1 Kings 18:36-39 1 Kings 21:17-29 Psalm 119:161-168 FIELD NOTES What word from God does our nation need right now?   In our scripture, John tells us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (4:1)  He talks of the Spirit of Christ versus…

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Praise

July 5, 2021 DAILY READING Psalm 47 Genesis 22:15-18 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Psalm 119:161-168 1 Kings 21:1-16 FIELD NOTES Happiness depends upon events that happen such as jokes, celebrations, and victories.  When the event is over, the happiness fades. Joy comes from a relationship. No matter what happens to us, we still have each other. Thus, while totally…

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True Friendship

July 3, 2021 DAILY READING 1 Samuel 18:1-4 FIELD NOTES “David and Jonathan provide us with perhaps the most intriguing story of friendship in the Bible. Theirs is a relationship of loyalty, trust, and support. Every time we read this story it leads us to the question: What kind of friend am I? A true…

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