Daily Devotional

We have major road construction happening on the main street right outside of our home neighborhood. The street will expand to more lanes, which is very much needed.

Winter has arrived. The past few weeks have brought bitterly cold temperatures and heavy snow and ice. On the weekend of January 4, an inch of ice first fell in Overland Park, Kansas. The temperatures continued to plummet, and the precipitation eventually turned to snow. What started as an ice storm eventually turned into a blizzard. Eventually, over a foot of snow was recorded in the area.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

One of the best examples of loving your neighbor is found in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus was in the area around the Sea of Galilee. He was at a house with many from the community and some Pharisees and teachers of the law who had come to hear him teach. The house was beyond capacity. They were standing in every corner and sitting in every seat. Although Jesus had only just started his ministry, his name and the stories of his miracles and teachings were spreading.

James “Jimmy” Earl Carter Jr. served as the 39th president of the United States of America. Jimmy Carter led a remarkable life of service. Today, he will be memorialized in a national funeral service at the National Cathedral.

Tim King is the owner of a construction and remodeling company in Illinois. Usually, he works on projects away from family, but recently, he helped his parents remodel part of his childhood home. Tim is now 53 years old. His parents have been living in the same house for almost five decades. After living in the home for such a long time, things needed refreshing.

My daughter is learning to drive. She has completed her driver’s education and will take her test after she turns 16. She now has her permit and shuttles me around town. She is doing a great job! Currently, I am trying to make sure she understands the rules of the road, both written and unwritten. She is a great student and learns quickly, but there is so much to learn.

Mikal Bridges is a small forward for the New York Knicks. He was drafted in the first round after playing for Villanova University for three years. Mikal is 6’6” and incredibly athletic. He has had an extremely successful NBA career, recently named the NBA Player of the Week. Mikal Bridges currently holds the record for most consecutive NBA games played. He has not missed a game since he was drafted over six years ago. Mikal is living the dream of being a professional athlete well.

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”