Daily Devotional

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight.
 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be a healing for your flesh
    and a refreshment for your body.

One of the great encounters in the gospel is between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Jesus and his disciples were traveling through the region of Samaria, a place that most Jews would never venture because of their disdain for the Samaritans. Jesus, not wanting to exclude anyone from His message of good news, traveled the direct route through the region and sat down to rest at the well, purchased by Jacob and given to his son Joseph long ago.

At this well, Jesus encounters a woman, whose name we never learn. They entered into a deep discussion that begins with Jesus asking for a drink and ends with Jesus telling the woman that he is the Messiah, the long-awaited Christ…

Susan Boyle is a Scottish singer who came to fame in a most unusual way. At the age of 48, she took a risk and auditioned on the show, Britain’s Got Talent. Susan was nervous to step on such a large stage. When she stepped on the stage, she was facing a massive crowed who had gathered in the 3000-capacity auditorium. Not only was it a capacity crowd, but sitting front row were the infamous Britain’s Got Talent judges.

As Susan Boyle stood nervous before Simon Cowell and the judges, she told them that she wanted to be a “professional singer.” The judges looked at her with doubt clearly marked on their faces. Susan was nervous. In fact, she had tried to back out of the audition, but her voice coach talked her into at least giving it a try. The judges were kind as she explained to them that she had never performed in front of such a gathering…

Many football players do far more than just work in the gym during the off-season. Many of them work at even more important aspects of life. They give of their time, the money, and their fame to help make the lives of others better.  Leonard Fournette is one example of a football superstar who uses the off-season to help people in need. In high school, Leonard Fournette was named the USA Today High School Football Offensive Player of the Year. He would play for LSU in college. While at LSU, he was named an All-American and set the school’s single-season rushing record. He would be drafted 4th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He would eventually play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he would become a Super Bowl champion.

Leonard Fournette knows what it takes to be successful on the field.  He also knows that he has the ability to make others successful, on and off the field. That is why he spent part of this last summer at camp. Camp Simcha is a camp for children who are dealing with cancer, disabilities, and chronic medical conditions…

Just after Christmas 2021, our family spent a fun week in New York City. We were able to see Central Park, get cannoli in Little Italy, and experience New Year’s Eve in Times Square. The best part was seeing our friends perform on Broadway. We saw Meghan Picerno, John Riddle and Lindsay Roberts-Greene in “Phantom of the Opera,” Tamar Greene in “Hamilton,” and watched Dan Micciche direct the orchestra for “Wicked.” It was an experience we’ll never forget.

Broadway had reopened in the fall after being closed for 18 months due to covid. Shows instituted rigorous testing regimes to keep cast members healthy, but more and more performers began to test positive as the omicron variant swept through the country. Some shows like “The Music Man” closed because so many actors were ill…

“…so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” -Romans 12:5

The Music Man is a bright and happy musical written by Meredith Wilson. The show centers around Professor Harold Hill. Professor Hill claims to sell music instruments and establish marching bands. The show begins as Professor Harold Hill arrives in River City, Iowa, a town full of stubborn and self-sufficient people who are not welcoming to strangers, especially traveling salesmen. Professor Harold Hill is neither a music teacher nor a salesman. He is a con man. The people of River City have good reason to not trust him, but love helps to overcome all the obstacles in this wonderful musical…

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” – Proverbs 3:27

Dolly Parton is a living legend. Few people have achieved the level of success that Dolly Parton has attained. As a musician, Dolly is truly remarkable. She is a singer. She plays multiple instruments. When she is not entertaining massive audiences, Dolly shows off her musical skills by writing hit songs that cross over multiple music platforms. She has written a hit Broadway show and movie. She is one of a few people in history who have been nominated for an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony award. When she is not writing and performing amazing music, Dolly Parton is starring in movies, TV shows, and building theme parks. She is a bright example of stardom and success.

The success of Dolly Parton is the dream of any musician and entertainer. With a net worth of over $600 million, Dolly could have easily retired to enjoy a life of ease. However, the drive that made her a hall-of-fame entertainer and world-class businessperson, has kept Dolly Parton working long past her debut in 1967. Now, at the age of 76, she is not just entertaining, she is making a difference in the lives of so many people.

In 1995, Dolly Parton helped to launch the Imagination Library…