Daily Devotional

In the spring of 2010, my family and I were serving in the community of Tecumseh, Oklahoma. Aimee and I had come home from work. It was a beautiful day outside, and I was thinking about mowing. Aimee told me to wait because there was a high chance of storms, including tornadoes. I changed my mind, and we settled in to watch the weather unfold on TV.

Agnes Gonxha Bajaxhiu was born in Skopje, Macedonia. At age 12, she made an early commitment to follow her faith and serve the Church. At 18, she left home and joined the Sisters of Loreto. During her training, she changed her name to Sister Mary Teresa. Following her faith and her heart, she soon left for Calcutta to join the sisters who were working there as missionaries. Her goal was to become a teacher.

The disciples had the great privilege of witnessing Jesus teach and perform miracles. They saw him heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and even walk on water. One would think that the disciples would have the utmost faith in Jesus’ ability to overcome the smallest obstacles. Yet, repeatedly, we read that the disciples fail to believe that “All things are possible with God.” (Matthew 19:26)

Life is filled with ups and downs. What keeps you centered during those turbulent times? Do you have a regular rhythm that keeps your thoughts, heart, and body in check? Whether it’s reading Scripture, exercising, or sitting in quiet meditation, any of these routines can become deeply Christ-centered when you approach them intentionally.

Every day is an opportunity to share God’s love with our neighbors. Each interaction is a chance to shine the bright light of God’s love into others’ lives. Small moments have the potential for a big impact. We live in a world filled with challenging situations. When we offer a smile, a kind word, and a helping hand, we can share God’s love with the people around us.

Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

“Therefore, putting away falsehood, let everyone speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil.

Few people have done more work to grow the church than the Apostle Paul. Paul started at least 20 churches on his journeys. Countless more faith communities were started because missionaries from the churches Paul started continued to travel and preach. In addition to starting so many churches, Paul was a writer and teacher. He is responsible for writing or inspiring almost half of the New Testament. Through Paul’s ministry, the church grew and flourished.

Ella Bettner is a high school student with a big heart. In 6th grade, Ella realized there was a problem in her school district. Some of her fellow students could not afford their lunch. Some students had a negative balance with the district, keeping them from eating much at all. She wanted to do something to help her friends. Ella knows it is important to feed those who are hungry.

This past Sunday, Rev. Wendy Lambert concluded our sermon series, Three Simple Rules. The final rule, originally expressed by John Wesley, is “Stay in love with God.” We have been given practices to help us stay connected to God’s love and grace. When we worship, pray, and study, we keep the love of God in front of us. As Rev. Lambert talked about our need to stay in love with God, she shared about Corrie Ten Boom.