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Focus Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word. Read Galatians 5:16-25 (NRSV) Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is […]

Focus Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today. Read Luke 9:18-27 (NRSV) Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who […]

  Written by: Stevey Ukena If you’ve ever sat down to write something, and ended up staring at a blank screen, you know what I’ve been doing. For days. Not because I don’t know what I want to say, but because I’m not sure which things I should say. It’s like the opposite of writer’s […]

Focus Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you. Read Ephesians 1:15-23 (NRSV) I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to […]

If you are considering purchasing a Bible for a child or if you are the person to select Bibles for children at church, this post from Hope4CE is full of great information, “At a recent gathering of the East region the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators, Elizabeth “Lib” Caldwell, a retired professor of Christian Education […]

Focus As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God, however that may take place. Read Luke 2:25-35 (NRSV) Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on […]

Focus Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time. Read 2 Chronicles 15: 1-15 (NRSV) The spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and […]

No one wants to deal with the painful reality of abuse, but it happens—and it happens to people who are in the church and by perpetrators who are also in the church. Sometimes it even happens at the church—and not just to children or youth! Abuse is not limited by gender, age, race, religion, education, […]

Focus Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer. Read Revelation 21:5-14 (NRSV) And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are […]

There has been a lot of news recently concerning conflicts over “freedom of conscience” and/or one’s freedom to behave within the constraints of her/his “sincerely-held religious beliefs.” Like any good partisans, folks on both sides of the issues have turned to the principles of marketing in labeling their causes, claiming that their position “protects freedom” […]