You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save lives. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mir

Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way. and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55: 6-9 (NRSV) Oluwasola

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel said: "Blessed be the name of God from age to age, for wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons, deposes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness; and light dwells with him. To you, O God of my ancestors, I give thanks and prais

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and

"....do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10 (NRSV) "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8 (NRSV) Wright Peavy, from Georgia, relates how his two-and-a-half-year-old grandson would always say "I lost Pop!" whenever Wright had to leave the house t

Read Mark 9:4-29 Jesus said to him, "If you are able! - All things can be done for the one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out, "I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:23-24 (NRSV) In Mark 9, when some of the disciples were unable to heal a boy with an evil spirit, Jesus reassured the father of the boy, who then responded, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" What a profound prayer! The desperate man was trying his best to believe, but he knew

We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. For Christ did not please himself, but, as it is written, "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfast

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. Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NRSV) James C. Leyrer, from Ohio, helps at a Christian food pantry. Recently they all held hands to pray for a fellow volunteer who was about to begin a strenuous series of surgical procedures to help alleviate some of his symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Their prayer was for healing but more importantly, they as

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Hebrews 12: 12-13 (NRSV) Urvashi H. Parmar is from Gujarat, India. For several months her severe arthritis affected her gait. When she watched a video of herself walking, she was astonished. Her right foot slanted, causing her to limp. Seeing her gait made her think of the way that problems we face ca

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26 (NRSV) Many years ago, Kendra Lelie, from Pennsylvania