Devotional

The message of Thanksgiving and the message of Christmas are always packaged into one message – so, on this Thursday, as Thanksgiving is always observed on Thursday… Homily Norman Rockwell longed to use his artistic abilities to support the war effort. It was his desire to display the “big idea,” summarizing the ideal for which Americans were fighting. Months passed without an inspiring thought. Suddenly at 3:00 AM on Thursday, July 16, 1942, Rockwell sat bolt upright in bed with the answer. President Roosevelt, in his State of the Union address, pronounced “four essential human freedoms” that justified the nation’s…

Christological Titles – Christ Thesis With sanctimonious pride the token – the coin – was boldly laid upon the table of our Lord. Having been previously visited by the church elders with an accompanying inquisition into the worthiness of the patron’s soul, the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper could be received at Seceder Church in Ireland. The candidate was indeed deemed worthy to receive the sacrament of forgiveness. It was the annual observance that focused on the solemnity of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Only the pure in heart were welcome to participate. The days previous were always approached by…

Christian Life For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you. Titus 2:11-15 Homily…

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 STORY Frederick Douglass approached the front door of the White House, seeking admission into Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Ball. Just as Douglass was about to knock on the door, two policemen seized him, barring the black man’s entrance. Douglass, a large, powerful man, brushed the officers aside and stepped into the foyer. Once inside, two more officers grabbed the uninvited guest, all the while uttering racial derogatory comments. As Douglass was being dragged from the…

no devotional for this holiday

Comfort I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, Isaiah 42:6 (NIV) Isaiah 42:1-9 STORY Actress Ann Jillian appeared in 25 films, mostly for television. Her best-known role was for the TV program It’s a Living which premiered in 1985. She came to the forefront with the 1988 movie The Ann Jillian Story, which chronicled her battle with breast cancer. The actress struggle with cancer and her resulting double mastectomy was much publicized. The inducement for Ann’s…

Judgement A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. Matthew 12:36 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:18 STORY Billy Sunday was a professional baseball player from 1883 to 1891 for teams in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. He was converted through the street preaching of…

Integrity Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out. Proverbs 10:9 (NRSV) STORY The Houston Astros defeated the Los Angels Dodgers in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. A contributing factor for the Astros victory was the stealing of signs from the opposing players by using hidden cameras. After an investigation that was completed in 2019, the team was fined $5 million and forced to forfeit its first and second round draft picks for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, though no players on the team faced any repercussions, aside from public fallout.…

Miracles but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:24-27 STORY Rana Awdish wrote a book titled In Shock, that was published in 2017. In her book, Dr. Awdish described how she never imagined that her…

Witnessing 34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God…