Reading for Today–April 19 Joshua 19:1-20:9 Luke 19:28-48 Psalm 88:1-18 Proverbs13:12-14 Some estimate that as many as one-third of the 150 Psalms fall into the category of Lament. The writer cries out to God and at some point he (most likely) comes to his senses and proclaims trust in God.
Continue readingReading for Today–April 18 Joshua 16:1-18:28 Luke 19:1-27 Psalm 87:1-7 Proverbs 13:11 Zacchaeus is described as very rich in the text and the crowd says he is a notorious sinner. When Jesus invites himself over for lunch, the wee little man replies, “I will give half my wealth to the
Continue readingReading for Today–April 17 Joshua 15:1-63 Luke 18:18-43 Psalm 86:1-17 Proverbs 13:9-10 “Pride leads to arguments; those who take advice are wise.” Proverbs 13:10 Vicki and I were having a conversation not too long ago. We were talking about the Enneagram–the current rage–and how our numbers were similar and different.
Continue readingReading for Today–April 16 Joshua 13:1-14:15 Luke 18:1-17 Psalm 85:1-13 Proverbs 13:7-8 Caleb comes to Joshua with a request. He wants the hill country of Hebron that had been promised to him years ago. Despite the fact that he is 85, he says “I am as strong now as I
Continue readingReading for Today–April 15 Joshua 11:1-12:24 Luke 17:11-37 Psalm 84:1-12 Proverbs 13:5-6 The Gospel reading today has the famous story of Jesus healing the ten lepers and yet only one returns to say thank you. Fred Craddock tells a story about a preacher who was haranguing his congregation about their
Continue readingReading for Today–April 14 Joshua 9:3-10:43 Luke 16:19-17:10 Psalm 83:1-18 Proverbs 13:4 Psalm 83 is not the most flagrant of the Imprecatory Psalms. That designation goes to Psalm 137 and the famous line about babies. But Psalm 83 is enough to make us stand up and take notice. “O my
Continue readingReading for Today–April 13 Joshua 7:16-9:2 Luke 16:1-18 Psalm 82:1-8 Proverbs 13:2-3 At this stage of life, when I see something new in the scriptures, I assume I may have actually seen it before but have since forgotten it. I have certainly noticed this when I prepare sermons and look
Continue readingReading for Today–April 11 Joshua 3:1-4:24 Luke 14:7-35 Psalm 80:1-19 Proverbs 12:27-28 “Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God Almighty. Make your face shine down upon us, Only then will we be saved.” Psalm 80:19 The Psalmist is in dire straits. His desperation is so great that he does
Continue readingReading for Today–April 10 Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24 Luke 13:22-14:6 Psalm 79:1-13 Proverbs 12:26 “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 I have not thought of Lois Narey for several years. She was an older
Continue readingReading for Today–April 9 Deuteronomy 33:1-29 Luke 13:1-21 Psalm 78:65-72 Proverbs 12:25 We search for meaning in events. We wonder why this bad thing happened or why a good thing did not take place. Why is a common question. Asking why is one thing. Thinking you know the answer is
Continue readingReading for Today–April 8 Deuteronomy 32:28-52 Luke 12:35-59 Psalm 78:56-64 Proverbs 12:24 “They turned back and were as faithless as their parents had been. They were as useless as a crooked bow.” Psalm 78:57 Reading Psalm 78 is anything but pleasant. In fact it is kind of depressing. All that
Continue readingReading for Today–April 7 Deuteronomy 32:1-32:27 Luke 12:8-34 Psalm 78:32-55 Proverbs 12:21-23 “Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them. Your treasure will be safe–no thief can steal it
Continue readingReading for Today–April 6 Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20 Luke 11:37-12:7 Psalm 78:1-31 Proverbs 12:19-20 “The Lord your God will cleanse your heart and the hearts of all your descendants so that you will love him with all your heart and soul, and so you may live.” Deuteronomy 30:6 Moses makes this grand
Continue readingReading for Today–April 5 Deuteronomy 28:1-68 Luke 11:14-36 Psalm 77:1-20 Proverbs 12:18 Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. Proverbs 12:18 I have been on the receiving end of healing words lately. More people have uttered words of thanks in the last three weeks
Continue readingReading for Today–April 4 Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26 Luke 10:38-11:13 Psalm 76:1-12 Proverbs 12:15-17 In the gospel reading today we have the story of Mary and Martha. Mary sits at the feet of Jesus while Martha scurries around getting the meal together. Martha asks for a little help, suggesting perhaps that her
Continue readingReading for Today–April 3 Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19 Luke 10:13-37 Psalm 75:1-10 Proverbs 12:12-14 The graphic words of Deuteronomy 23:1 are not the final words on this topic. Later the prophet Isaiah says, “For I say this to the Eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy, who choose to do what pleases
Continue readingReading for Today–April 2 Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30 Luke 9:51-10:12 Psalm 74:1-23 Proverbs 12:11 What happens in Psalm 74 is relatively common in the Psalter, but it is remarkable nevertheless. The writer unleashes complaints against God like this. We see no miraculous signs as evidence that you will save us. All the
Continue readingReading for Today–April 1 Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20 Luke 9:28-50 Psalm 73:1-28 Proverbs 12:10 We all have our favorite Psalms. For me, Psalm 73 is right there at the top of the list. The writer is mightily concerned about the bad guys getting ahead while the good guys are keeping their hearts
Continue readingReading for Today–March 31 Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20 Luke 9:7-27 Psalm 72:1-20 Proverbs 12:8-9 Sometimes the writer of Proverbs just makes me laugh. You read the statement and think with a grin, “Well, isn’t that the truth?” “It is better to be a nobody with a servant than to be self-important but
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