December 29, 2017 DAILY READING Matthew 12:46-50 This weekend’s reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 FIELD NOTESOk, yes, this is a strange passage. Jesus’ mother and brothers come to visit him. His disciples go to Jesus and inform him that his mother and brothers are there to see him. Rather than going to them, the writer says that…

December 28, 2017 DAILY READING Psalm 148 This weekend’s reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 FIELD NOTESPraise the Eternal!All you in the heavens, praise the Eternal; praise Him from the highest places!All you, His messengers and His armies in heaven:     praise Him!Sun, moon, and all you brilliant stars above:     praise Him!Highest heavens and all you waters…

December 27, 2017 DAILY READING 1 John 1:1-9 This weekend’s reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 FIELD NOTESChrist is light. In Him, there can be no darkness. And yet, in this world, we know darkness well, don’t we? It pervades every aspect of our culture. From entertainment, to politics, to the way businesses are run—darkness it seems, is…

December 26, 2017 DAILY READING Acts 7:51-60 This weekend’s reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 FIELD NOTESStephen is stoned for his witness and his faith. He, being falsely accused, resists the temptation to deny Christ, but rather stands for what is right and is promptly put to death for speaking the truth in an adversarial crowd. I have…

December 25, 2017 DAILY READING Luke 2:1-14 This weekend’s reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 FIELD NOTESFrom The Voice translation: Around the time of Elizabeth’s amazing pregnancy and John’s birth, the emperor in Rome, Caesar Augustus, required everyone in the Roman Empire to participate in a massive census — the first census since Quirinius had become governor of…

December 24, 2017 SCRIPTURE READING Luke 2:1-20 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from…

December 23, 2017 DAILY READING Psalm 89:1-4 John 7:40-52 This weekend’s reading: Luke 2:1-20 FIELD NOTESToday we focus on Psalm 89:1-4. We’ve read it for three days in a row, and it’s beautiful words of praise are beginning to be inscribed in our hearts. Through the Psalm, we learn that God’s love is steadfast and…

December 22, 2017 DAILY READING Psalm 89:1-4 Hebrews 1:5-14 This weekend’s reading: Luke 2:1-20 FIELD NOTESThis time of year, angels are everywhere. We see their gilded images printed on Christmas cards, fashioned in twinkling lights on roofs and treetops, appliquéd on tree ornaments and Christmas stockings. We hear the lilting refrain of “Angels We Have…

December 21, 2017 DAILY READING Psalm 89:1-4 Hebrews 1:1-4 This weekend’s reading: Luke 2:1-20 FIELD NOTESWhen I was in college, I had a professor whose office displayed beautiful artwork framed in simple wooden frames. When I had occasion to visit her I often admired the tall, gold-leaf designs which I later found out were rubbings…