Daily Devotional

December 31, 2022 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them […]

December 30, 2022 “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” – Isaiah […]

December 29, 2022 “In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did […]

December 28, 2022 Kindness is all around us. We just need to look around and we will see individuals extending love and kindness to the […]

December 27, 2022 “Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and every-where; go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.” […]

“And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people’.” Luke […]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

If you were asked, “What business are you in?” – how would you answer? The word business has come to mean different things. For example, the answer to the above question might produce specific, vague, or even sarcastic responses:

“I’m a kindergarten teacher at Harrah Elementary.”

“I’m an entrepreneur.”

“It’s none of your business!”

However, by our baptism we are entering into the family business of our Heavenly Father. We are assured an apprenticeship with the Holy Spirit who is with us to guide and instruct us. The “business” of course, is the way we live our lives. We are to live in such a way as to reflect God’s love in all we say and do…

“Who will console you after I’m gone?”

Kim Hoffman never wanted to ask her husband that question, but she had just started hospice care after a four-year battle with cancer.  She was more concerned with her family’s future than her limited time on Earth.  Kim told her sons she would be their guardian angel.  Her husband, Daniel, told her that she was the only person who could console him.  But he promised Kim that he would dedicate his life to raising their sons.  That’s how he would honor her…