Daily Devotional

Few people have achieved the success and popularity of Taylor Swift. Her fans are in the millions. They are simply known as “Swifties.”  Last month, she became the first female artist to reach over 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Her list of awards is far too long to list. She has been named as the Time Person of the Year and was the youngest female to appear on the Forbes’ list of 100 Most Powerful Women. She is currently on tour. This tour is known as the Eras Tour. The tour is set to earn over 1 billion dollars. It is one of the most successful music tours in history.

The success of Taylor Swift is undeniable. She began as a young country singer and now is one of the most successful performers in the world. What caught my attention this past week is that, amid her success, Taylor Swift is committed to making a difference and helping others. At each stop on her tour…

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”

“Be kind and compassionate to one another…” – Ephesians 4:32

Mercy Ships is an international ministry that is committed to bringing hope and healing to communities around the world that desperately need quality medical care. They provide surgeries on their medical ships, as well as work to strengthen the medical care of local communities. The medical staff on the Mercy Ships are mostly volunteer medical professionals from around the world.  They have had a significant impact on the world.

Aly Hogarth-Hall is a nurse from New Zealand.  She has volunteered aboard a Mercy Ship on several occasions.  20 years ago, Aly was in Sierra Leone with other medical personnel from the volunteers on a Mercy Ship.  Aly learned about a woman named Catherine who was in labor and in desperate need of advanced medical help. Catherine was not able to afford the procedure to safely deliver her child…

The Bible is filled with stories of ordinary people who bless others through their faithful service to God. Because these special people were willing to say “yes” when God called, lives were changed, and the world was changed for the better. They used their talents, their fortunes, and their time to make a difference.

One of my favorites, a faithful follower of Jesus, is Ananias. He is a disciple who lived in Damascus, far from all the action that was happening in Jerusalem.  One day God called to Ananias and asked him to go to a house in Damascus and pray for a man named Saul of Tarsus.

I have no doubt that Ananias was shocked when God called him into service that day…

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.” – Romans 1:8

The book of Romans is one of the most theologically rich letters written by the Apostle Paul. Throughout the 16 chapters of this amazing letter, Paul articulates his deep understanding of the Christian faith. In the book of Romans, we are taught some of Paul’s foundational understandings of the faith. Paul takes on topics such as the meaning of the law, salvation, death and so many other questions of faith.

Perhaps the first lesson that Paul teaches in this great work is the lesson of gratitude…

“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” -Matthew 19:26

Dorothy Hoffner has helped to teach the world an important lesson. There are few, if any limits, that can keep us from living life to the full. Dorothy Hoffner just celebrated her 104th birthday by jumping out of a plane at 13,500 feet. Dorothy boarded the plane, just outside of Chicago. She first walked to the plane, with the help of her walker. Dorothy then stepped into her harness and boarded her flight.

This was not the first jump for Dorothy. Her first time was at age 100. Dorothy said the entire thing was “delightful, wonderful, and could not have been better.” Her next plan…

And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Dick Butkus is a legendary football player. His jersey has been retired at both the University of Illinois and with the Chicago Bears. He has been inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Each year, the best high school, college, and pro football linebacker receives the Butkus Award, named after one of the greatest to ever play the position.  His accomplishments on the football field are remarkable. Few have ever had a career like #51, Dick Butkus.

When he finished playing the game he loved, Dick Butkus dedicated much of his life to helping others. He created the Butkus Foundation to help with causes that he felt would make a difference in people’s lives. He dedicated much of his time to charity because he knew he had a place of leadership in his community and the nation. Football had offered him a chance to do far more than hit running backs and sack quarterbacks…