Category: MOMENT WITH GOD-A DEVOTIONAL ON EVERY BIBLICAL BOOK

  • INTO THE MESS

    Reflections on Jonah “Cookies are not treasure!” Max’s shrill voice rose over the din of the cafeteria, causing every head to turn. “Treasure is permanent!” he wailed. I had to summon all my strength to keep a straight face in front of the infuriated 8-year-old. Max was one of 96 kids attending a summer day…

  • THE HIGH COST OF SIBLING RIVALRY

    Reflections on Obadiah During my years in pastoral ministry, I have discovered a strange reality: It seems more conflicts occur within the church than without. This dysfunctional church-family dynamic is a far cry from the Apostle Paul’s admonishments to “Love one another with brotherly affection” (Rom 12:10). Shouldn’t people who have the Holy Spirit living…

  • AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS

    Reflections on Amos I lay awake, staring into darkness, mentally replaying a conversation from earlier that day. My friend had misunderstood me and then condemned me for it. I felt deeply wronged. I also felt a toxic mixture of anger, self-pity and self-righteousness creeping through my veins. It is often much easier to pray, “Forgive…

  • KINGDOM HERE, KINGDOM COME

    Reflections on Joel The book of Joel reminds us that the Day of the Lord is coming—a time when “everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Joel 2:32) and God will restore his people. But sometimes that day seems far away. When I was 13 my mom had a seizure…

  • THE GRACE SCANDAL

    Reflections on Hosea I’m learning that grace is not like glory. Grace applies in all moments, all postures. It doesn’t wait for anything. Where there is darkness, there can also be grace. Though glory may require acknowledgment, grace can stand quietly in the shadows. The book of Hosea portrays a wonderful picture of grace: “Then…

  • MEETING GOD

    Reflections on Daniel As we know from the book of Daniel, God watches over his people. We can take comfort in the fact that his wisdom far exceeds our own (Dan 2:20–22). But in the midst of difficult circumstances, it can be challenging to remember that God is always near. April 11 came and went.…

  • GOD, NEAR AND FAR

    Reflections on Ezekiel Today we often take our church buildings for granted; but in Ezekiel’s day, the temple was a big deal. The temple served as God’s earthly dwelling place, representing his presence among his people. Because of the people’s disobedience and idolatry, however, God removes his glory from the temple (Ezek 10:1–22). Yet in…

  • BEFORE THE TEARS ARE WIPED AWAY

    Reflections on Lamentations My brother Tripp died unexpectedly when I was in college. When I returned to school, still shell-shocked from his funeral, I was met with a barrage of friendly fire in the form of “Christian comfort.” One after another, friends offered snippets of hope: “God works all things for good,” “God is in…

  • WHEN EVERYTHING CRUMBLES

    Reflections on Jeremiah We spend our time building for the present. We stack bricks of time and energy into relationships, savings and careers. We believe our passion will serve as the mortar that will hold it all together. When it all comes crumbling down—when a spouse cheats, when a position is terminated, when tragedy strikes—we’re…

  • WHEN THERE IS NO JUSTICE SEEK PEACE

    Reflections on Isaiah It was a normal, hectic New York City commute. I was walking through the Staten Island Ferry terminal to the subway, when I witnessed two young men collide. What was clearly an accident quickly became a showdown. The men began hurling racial epithets at one another and squared off for a fight…