Read: 2 Kings 6:8–17 Don’t be afraid . . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with [the enemy]. 2 Kings 6:16 Don is a border collie who lives on a farm in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. One morning, he and his owner, Tom, set...

Read: Romans 11:33–12:2 Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 The weeks after Christmas are the busiest time of year in the US for merchandise returns as people trade unwanted gifts for what they really want. Yet...

Read: Psalm 23 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6 Wanting to mature in her spiritual life and become more thankful, Sue started what she called a Thanks-Living jar. Each evening she wrote on a small piece of paper one thing...

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:18–6:2 I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Our preschool-age granddaughter Maggie and her kindergarten-age sister Katie hauled several blankets to the backyard, where they proceeded to build a blanket tent in which to play....

Read: Matthew 14:13–23 [Jesus] went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14:23 It was a busy morning in the church room where I was helping. Nearly a dozen little children were chattering and playing. There was so much activity that the room became warm and I propped...

Read: Haggai 2:15–23 “I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,” declares the Lord. Haggai 2:23 When I first made the acquaintance of a new friend from abroad, I noticed his posh English accent and that he wore a ring on his little finger. Later...

Read: Romans 8:31–39 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1 In June 2015, the city of Paris removed forty-five tons of padlocks from the railings of the Pont des Arts pedestrian bridge. As a romantic gesture, couples would etch their initials onto...

Read: 2 Peter 1:12–21 We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16 Raucous laughter marked the guests in my father’s hospital room: Two old truck drivers, one...

Read: Luke 2:25–38 When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son. Galatians 4:4 Sometimes I joke that I’m going to write a book titled On Time. Those who know me smile because they know I am often late. I rationalize that my lateness is due to optimism,...

Read: Luke 2:8–14 Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10 On the final day of a Christian publishing conference in Singapore, 280 participants from 50 countries gathered in the outdoor plaza of a hotel for a group...

Read: Isaiah 9:1–7 On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2 Rev. Martin Niemoller, a prominent German pastor, spent nearly eight years in Nazi concentration camps because he openly opposed Hitler. On Christmas Eve 1944, Niemoller spoke these words of hope to his...

Read: Psalm 103:1–18 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:2 One year, those responsible for decorating their church for Christmas decided to use the theme of “Christmas lists.” Instead of decorating with the usual shiny gold and silver ornaments, they gave each person a...