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DAILY READING Acts 7:35-60 FIELD NOTES Stephen, an early leader in the church and the first martyr for the Christian faith, was put on trial being accused of blasphemy. The religious authorities of the time claimed that he had both dishonored their temple and Old Testament law. For Stephen, the grace of God far outshined…

DAILY READING Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 FIELD NOTES Today’s Psalm focuses on God’s protection in the midst of danger. We are never guaranteed a world free from the threat of danger and violence, but we know that we can turn to our Lord whenever we face danger. No matter the dangers we face, or the intense…

DAILY READING Ecclesiastes 3:20; Psalm 30:5 FIELD NOTES Today, known as Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of Lent as we prepare for Easter. Just as we think of Advent preparing us for Christmas, the season of Lent prepares us for Easter. Think of both as times of preparation.   Today, we are called to remember…

DAILY READING Jonah 2:1-10 FIELD NOTES I have a greater appreciation for Jonah these days. I feel at times as though I am in the belly of the great fish, not knowing when or where I will be spit out.  Maybe you feel stuck in the belly as you live through the extended reality of…

DAILY READING Psalm 114 FIELD NOTES This psalm celebrates God’s wonders at the Exodus. It tells us that God is in the business of making impossible things possible: Splitting seas. Turning rocks into water. Releasing captives. Even raising people from the dead. When a family member of mine turned away from her faith, it was…

DAILY READING Psalm 23 Luke 18:35-43 FIELD NOTES In today’s story, a blind man asks Jesus for help. “Son of David, have mercy on me,” he shouts as Jesus makes his way past him, surrounded by a noisy crowd. When Jesus hears this one, lone voice above the din, he asks that the man be…

DAILY READING Psalm 23 Acts 17:16-31 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 in Thailand or the Amazon.  Our…

DAILY READING Psalm 23 Colossians 1:15-23 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. It’s not an exaggeration to say…

DAILY READING Psalm 142 Amos 9:11-15 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 leaves shaded our patio with dappled…