The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit. (John 3:8) Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 17:1 – 19:37 Relate: Are you familiar with spoken word? It is a form…
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. (John 1:12-13) Read: Genesis 25:1-27, 1 Chronicles 1:28-34 Relate: OK, I’ve been sitting here now for a good hour…
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. (John 1:10-11) Read: Genesis 21:8 – 24:67 Relate: No question, hands down, the worst year of my school years was seventh grade. There were plenty of reasons and looking back now, I…
Read: Ezekiel 20:1-49, Hebrews 9:11-28, Psalm 107:1-43, Proverbs 27:11 For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:22) Relate: I have a friend who grew up on a farm. They used to raise cows and like most families that had animals, those cows were given names. Unlike the names you might give a cat or a…
Read: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34, Titus 3:1-15, Psalm 100:1-5, Proverbs 26:18-19 When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the…
Read: 1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32, Romans 3:9-31, Psalm 12:1-8, Proverbs 19:13-14 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. (Romans 3:22) Relate: I was reading up about the Trayvon Martin case and came across a Huffington Post article talking about…
Read: Judges 7:1-8:17, Luke 23:13-43, Psalm 97:1-98:9, Proverbs 14:7-8 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Relate: What is the price of forgiveness? What is the price of the inability to forgive? Some sad stuff has happened in my life but not much bad stuff has happened. I’ve experienced death…
Read: Deuteronomy 32:28-52, Luke 12:35-59, Psalm 78:56-64, Proverbs 12:24 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. (Luke 12:50) Relate: Just before I sat down to read and start writing this, I made a phone call I didn’t want to. I had two things…
Read: Mark 11:1-11 So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples. (Mark 11:11) Relate: Just think of the excitement and the momentum of the day. The crowds are pouring into the…
Read: Jeremiah 51:1-53, Titus 2:1-15, Psalm 99:1-9, Proverbs 26:17 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. (Titus 2:14) Relate: Jesus died. God died. It’s something we know, and we’ve heard so many times that it’s hard to allow…
THE RIVER WALK 