Devotions

  • Abundance
    For a covenant to hold, both parties must uphold their end of it.
  • Who is My Neighbor?
    Both in practice and in word, Jesus notices people who are hurting and tends to their wounds, whether those wounds are physical, spiritual, or emotional.
  • The Fruit of Ministry
    The strength of the community’s faith can be determined by the fruit they are bearing.
  • How Long?
    How might the church be a stronger voice for justice and compassion in the midst of diverse perspectives on what that looks like?
  • The Underbelly of Success
    When things are going well, how motivated are you to look at the underbelly of success?
  • Shalom
    Jesus knew that sometimes actions are more convincing than words.
  • Sowing and Reaping
    Paul encourages the faithful to sow the seeds of the Spirit.
  • Joy in the Morning
    Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
  • An Issue of Pride
    Pride often prevents us from admitting we are wrong, from offering sincere apologies, or from asking for help.
  • The Path of Discipleship
    The second half of this reading speaks to Jesus’ insistence that discipleship isn’t always easy.
  • Freedom From and Freedom For
    Of the fruits of the Spirit that Paul lists, which are easy for you and which are challenging?
  • Choosing Your Focus
    To what degree do you believe that remembering good times helps you through the bad?
  • Passing the Mantle
    What mantles have you reluctantly picked up?
  • Resistance
    What part of Jesus’ calling on your life do you resist?
  • The Law of Grace
    Paul says it is the grace of Jesus that puts us into right relationship with God.
  • Where is Your God?
    To what degree does listening and looking for God keep you grounded in hope?
  • The God of Big and Small
    When has God quietly shown up in your life lately?
  • Over My Head
    Read John 16:12-15. It would probably not be received well if a sermon began, “There are a lot of things… Read more: Over My Head
  • The Path to Hope
    Read Romans 5:1-5. The letter to the church at Rome is Paul’s attempt at laying out a framework for understanding… Read more: The Path to Hope
  • Creation Care
    How seriously do you take your role as a steward of creation?
  • Lady Wisdom
    When was the last time you frolicked in nature?
  • Satisfaction
    Maybe satisfaction comes in finding peace and gratitude in the here and now.
  • All in the Family
    Our identity comes from being a child of God, from being a part of God’s family.
  • Faith and Science
    The psalmist marvels at the ordering of the universe and how deeply interconnected it all is.
  • Pentecost
    In what way have you experienced the Holy Spirit?
  • Clothed with Power
    Jesus equips us and sends us to be bearers of good news.
  • The Gift of Prayer
    What a gift this prayer must have been to the community of faith.
  • He is Exalted!
    How incredible it is to think that God can see all things at all times, while still attending to the smallest of hurts, fears, and hopes!
  • Don’t Just Stand There!
    After this awe-inspiring vision of Jesus being lifted into the clouds, the disciples just stand there.
  • Peace
    What might you need to give over to God to experience peace?
  • Love Wins
    We need not read this book as a promise of death, destruction, and condemnation, but as a revelation of the God of life and love.
  • Practice the Pause
    Practicing the pause can prepare us for a meaningful, impactful expression and experience of worship.
  • Still Speaking
    To what degree do you believe the Holy Spirit still speaks?
  • Love One Another
    Jesus gives us a clear picture of what it means to love him: loving one another.
  • All Things New
    Hear God saying, “I am making all things new!”
  • Praise, Praise, Praise!
    What lessons can we take from nature in terms of praising God?
  • Who am I?
    Peter asked the question, “Who was I to hinder God?”
  • The Voice of the Good Shepherd
    How might listening to the voice of the Shepherd free you to live with assurance, joy, generosity, and gratitude?
  • To God and To the Lamb
    Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!
  • Even though…
    The familiar words of this psalm hold a powerful confession of trust.
  • Tabitha, Get Up!
    How might you be a blessing today to someone who is in need?
  • Feed My Lambs
    The best way to show love for Jesus is to care for the ones he loves – to do what he does and to go where he goes.
  • Worthy is the Lamb
    What object of devotion might rival your allegiance to God?
  • Joy Comes in the Morning
    What burden might you be carrying into God’s joy-filled morning?
  • Blind Spots
    We, as humans, have a tendency to view anything new or different as threatening.
  • Wait, Watch, and Wonder
    All the disciples needed clear evidence that Jesus was no longer dead, but had risen.
  • Threat to Power
    The religious authorities expected compliance, but the apostles refused to listen.
  • This is the Day
    Are there any songs these verses make you think of?
  • What if it’s True?
    What if death is real, but it’s not the end of the story?
  • It is Finished
    Jesus’ suffering is over, but his suffering is only part of the story.
  • Humility
    How does the world know we follow Jesus – not only as individuals, but as a faith community?
  • Betrayal
    Despite the welcome and hospitality shown to Judas, he still followed through on his plan to betray Jesus.
  • Conspiracy
    Lazarus is the clearest evidence of Jesus’ power and ability to restore life to one who was dead.
  • Hosanna!
    When was the last time you let down your guard and gave yourself over to the experience of hope and joy?
  • Spirit of the Living God
    Read Philippians 2:5-11. In this passage, the hearers are invited to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus.… Read more: Spirit of the Living God
  • O Give Thanks
    “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!”
  • Equipping God
    In what ways has God equipped you to sustain the weary?
  • Here and Now
    Rather than being paralyzed by fear and dread, Mary practices presence in the here and now.
  • Inside Out Transformation
    In what ways does your faith impact the way you live, work, and move about in the world?
  • Reunion
    Read Psalm 126. Here, the psalmist is imagining what it was like for those in exile to return home. They… Read more: Reunion
  • Home
    In God, we find our home.
  • Welcome Home
    This is a story of hope for all of us
  • New Creation
    What areas of your life might still need a little “recreating”?
  • The Weight of Guilt
    Guilt has a way of eating at us from the inside out.
  • Sacred Rites
    Rituals connect us to our history, giving meaning to our current experience.
  • Nurtured Towards Fruitfulness
    God is willing to put in the work to bring forth fruit from our lives.
  • Lessons of the Past
    “Have we learned nothing from history?”
  • Nearness of God
    Here, the psalmist expresses a deep, almost physical desire for God.
  • Come to the Waters
    For what do we truly hunger and thirst?
  • Foxes and Hens
    Even as the fox preys on the hen, the hen is protecting her brood.
  • On Motivations
    Spend time examining the motivations behind your spiritual practices.
  • Timing
    In the high-speed world we have created, we expect every need to be met in an instant.
  • Covenant
    What rituals do we use today to commemorate important commitments in life?
  • Resistance
    At every turn, Jesus uses scripture to resist the temptation.
  • Everyone Means Everyone
    You’ve probably heard the phrase “All means all.” Here, the author is saying, “Everyone means everyone.”
  • Sheltered
    Imagine yourself living in the shelter of the Most High and abiding in the shadow of the Almighty.
  • First Fruits
    Moses paints a picture of abundance for the Hebrew people as they wander in the wilderness.
  • Revelation
    Sometimes, we are weighed down to the point that we miss the revelation of Jesus.
  • Unveiled
    Turning to the Lord frees us from the need to pretend we are something we’re not.
  • Love and Logic
    God parents us with love and logic.
  • Removing the Veil
    Read Exodus 34:29-35. In this reading, Moses is coming down from Mount Sinai for the second time after having destroyed… Read more: Removing the Veil
  • The Cost of Discipleship
    Truly following Jesus is demanding, but its reward is to be under the care of the One who is unfailingly merciful.
  • Imperishability
    Everlasting life is beyond anything our human minds can imagine.
  • Choose the Good
    Are we life-givers or are we life-sappers?
  • Hindsight
    Hindsight often has a way of helping us to gain a new perspective on situations.
  • Blessed Are…
    Jesus is concerned with the lived experiences of the people to whom he is speaking.
  • On Resurrection
    It is the resurrection of Jesus that informs our hope that death does not have the last word.
  • Planted By Water 2.0
    Regular meditation on the scriptures is like sinking our roots into that which gives life and helps us to flourish.
  • Planted by Water
    Trusting God feels like being planted by a cool stream – refreshing, nourishing, fruitful.
  • Drop Your Nets
    How might Jesus be calling you to drop your net and let him work his power?
  • With My Whole Heart
    “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
  • From Generation to Generation
    Paul’s words are a beautiful reminder of the path the Gospel message has taken to finally arrive at your door.
  • On Worthiness
    “Here am I; send me!”
  • Hometown Heretic?
    Here, Jesus’ community becomes enraged at his challenging words.
  • Ideal Love
    In what ways have these qualities of love been shown by you or to you?
  • Refuge
    When have you felt you needed a refuge or a fortress for safety and protection?
  • Consecrated
    “Before you were born, I consecrated you.”
  • Hometown Hero
    When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day.
  • The Body of Christ
    Here, Paul celebrates the diversity within the body of Christ.
  • The Law of the Lord
    The words of scripture revive the soul, give wisdom, enlighten, and even give warning.