DAILY READING Philippians 4:4-8 FIELD NOTES From the sermons of A.W. Tozer:  It is something of a happy paradox that while the thoughts deeply affect the will and go far to determine its choices, the will on the other hand has the power to control the thoughts. A will firmly engaged with God can swing…

DAILY READING Job 42:10-17  FIELD NOTES In this last part of the Book, we see Job restored and being made whole after praying for his friends. Job’s friends had made the error of assuming that Job’s suffering was caused by a great sin he had committed. Even though the counsel of his friends had caused…

DAILY READING Psalm 147:12-20 FIELD NOTES Charles Wesley published these words in 1750 for New Year’s Day worship. Let them be our prayer as we begin a New Year. Wisdom ascribe, and might and praise To God, who lengthens out our days, Who spares us yet another year, And lets us see his goodness here;…

DAILY READING 1 Kings 3:5-14 FIELD NOTES As another year comes to a close today, you may find yourself looking back over the last twelve months and evaluating the results of your choices and decisions. Were they wise? Are you pleased with where your year took you? In today’s reading, Solomon, the great king of…

DAILY READING John 1:10-18 FIELD NOTES Next week, on January 6, we will celebrate “Epiphany” — the twelfth day following Christmas which commemorates the day the wise men from the East visited Jesus and honored him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Merriam Webster’s online dictionary gives us more definitions of the word “epiphany”…

DAILY READING Acts 7:44-53 FIELD NOTES I’ve had the privilege of visiting several amazing and beautiful places of worship through the years — including York Minster in England; St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. When one enters these wonders of engineering, architecture and art, it’s natural to think, “Oh,…

DAILY READING Luke 8:16-21 FIELD NOTES I like to read self-help books. Maybe the topic is time management — learning how to prioritize tasks, get things done, and achieve my highest goals. Or maybe the book is about fitness and health — “growing younger” or following a low-carb diet. I’m especially attracted to any book…

DAILY READING Proverbs 1:1-7 FIELD NOTES I took piano lessons throughout my childhood. Beginning as a first grader who could barely plunk out “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” to my graduating recital when I played Chopin’s “Military Polonaise,” I studied with the same teacher — Mrs. J. Victor Barr. Mrs. Barr was a gentle, kind, sweet-spirited…