Pastor’s Blog
Daily Devotion Nov. 8, 2023
“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24, NRSV).
My family recently experienced a significant loss. Belle was my grand dog. She was a beautiful, thirteen-year-old pug who carried the nickname of princess. Belle crossed the rainbow bridge last week at the age of thirteen. She made everyone she met feel special. I am grateful for her presence in my life.
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Daily Devotion Nov 7, 2023
“ Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2, NIV).
Last week many of us lost a friend. Matthew Perry died tragically from drowning. Perry played the beloved character, Chandler Bing, in the 1990’s sitcom, Friends. Chandler’s quirky personality and wry sense of humor endeared him millions of television viewers.
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Daily Devotion Nov 3, 2023
“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints” (Philemon 1:7, ESV).
I recently received a letter of appreciation from a person I don’t know well. Apparently, this person witnessed an act of kindness I had performed for a stranger. The acquaintance took note of my actions and subsequently followed suit.
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Daily Devotion Nov. 2, 2023
“Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things…” (Psalm 98:1, NIV).
November has been designated as a month of gratitude for the church I serve. Each day will focus on a particular theme of gratitude. (Please see the calendar below for a complete listing.)
Today’s theme centers on a song for which we are most grateful. Recently, I have had J. J. Heller’s song, Things I’m Grateful For on my mind. In part, the lyrics rejoice in the lesser recognized blessings God gives us each day:
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Daily Devotion November 1, 2023
For the next month, each daily devotion will focus on the theme of thanksgiving, and will conclude with a brief prayer.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV).
The wrong preposition can lead to the wrong interpretation. In the brief passage above Paul states, “Give thanks IN all circumstances” (NIV). Note that Paul doesn’t tell the church to give thanks FOR all circumstances.
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Daily Devotion October 31, 2023
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8, NIV).
I am a planner. I write out in detail the lessons I will teach to a class. I map out the route to a destination with which I am unfamiliar on MapQuest. I prepare an itinerary of my activities
every day.
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