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Showing posts from February 9, 2020

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OUR DAILY BREAD February 16, Sunday DIVIDED IN LOVE Leslie Koh Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Ephesians 4:2 Ephesians 4:2–6 Leviticus 19–20; Matthew 27:51–66 When public debate erupted over a controversial Singapore law, it divided believers with differing views. Some called others “narrow-minded” or accused them of compromising their faith. Controversies can cause sharp divisions among God’s family, bringing much hurt and discouraging people. I’ve been made to feel small over personal convictions on how I apply the Bible’s teachings to my life. And I’m sure I’ve been equally guilty of criticizing others I disagree with. I wonder if the problem lies not in what or even in how we express our views, but in the attitudes of our hearts when we do so. Are we just disagreeing with views or seeking to tear down the people behind them? Yet there are times when we ne...

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OUR DAILY BREAD February 15, Saturday THE MOUSE THAT ROARED David H. Roper The one who is in [us] is greater than the one who is in the world.  1 John 4:4 Matthew 4:1–11 Leviticus 17–18; Matthew 27:27–50 Several years ago my sons and I spent a few days camping in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Northern Idaho. It’s grizzly bear habitat, but we carried bear spray, kept our campsites clean, and anticipated no major grizzly encounters. One evening, in the middle of the night, I heard Randy scramble around trying to get out of his sleeping bag. I grabbed my flashlight and turned it on, expecting to see him in the clutches of an enraged grizzly. There, sitting upright on its haunches and waving its paws in the air was a field mouse about 4 inches tall. It had Randy’s cap firmly clenched in its teeth. The little creature had tugged and tugged until he pulled Randy’s cap from his head. As I laughed, the mouse dropped the cap and scampered...

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OUR DAILY BREAD February 14, Friday WHEN LIFE IS HARD Xochitl Dixon I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”  Psalm 16:2 Psalm 16 Leviticus 15–16; Matthew 27:1–26 Physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, I curled up in my recliner. Our family had followed God’s leading and had moved from California to Wisconsin. After we arrived, our car broke down and left us without a vehicle for two months. Meanwhile, my husband’s limited mobility after an unexpected back surgery and my chronic pain complicated our unpacking. We uncovered costly problems with our new-to-us, old home. Our senior dog suffered with health issues. And though our new pup brought great joy, raising a furry ball of energy was far more work than anticipated. My attitude soured. How was I supposed to have unshakable faith while traveling on a bumpy road of hardships? As I prayed, God reminded me of the psalmist whose praise didn...

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OUR DAILY BREAD February 13 FREED FROM OUR CAGE Winn Collier [God] brought me out into a spacious place.  Psalm 18:19 Psalm 18:3–6, 16–19 Leviticus 14; Matthew 26:51–75 While out taking walks, writer Martin Laird would often encounter a man with four Kerry Blue Terriers. Three of the dogs ran wild through the open fields, but one stayed near its owner, running in tight circles. When Laird finally stopped and asked about this odd behavior, the owner explained that it was a rescue dog that had spent most of his life locked in a cage. The terrier continued to run in circles as though contained inside a confined box. The Scriptures reveal that we’re trapped and hopeless unless God rescues us. The psalmist spoke of being afflicted by an enemy, entrapped by “the snares of death” with the “cords of death . . . coiled around” him (Psalm 18:4–5). Enclosed and shackled, he cried to God for help (v. 6). And with thundering power,...

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OUR DAILY BREAD February 12, Wednesday THE MIRACLE OF WHITE SNOW Linda Washington Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.  Isaiah 1:18 Isaiah 1:15–20 Leviticus 13; Matthew 26:26–50 In the seventeenth century, Sir Isaac Newton used a prism to study how light helps us see different colors. He found that when light passes through an object, the object appears to possess a specific color. While a single ice crystal looks translucent, snow is made up of many ice crystals smashed together. When light passes through all of the crystals, snow appears to be white. The Bible mentions something else that has a certain color—sin. Through the prophet Isaiah, God confronted the sins of the people of Judah and described their sin as “like scarlet” and as “red as crimson.” But God promised they would “be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). How? Judah needed to turn away from wrongdoing and seek God’s forg...

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OUR DAILY BREAD February 12, Wednesday THE MIRACLE OF WHITE SNOW Linda Washington Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.  Isaiah 1:18 Isaiah 1:15–20 Leviticus 13; Matthew 26:26–50 In the seventeenth century, Sir Isaac Newton used a prism to study how light helps us see different colors. He found that when light passes through an object, the object appears to possess a specific color. While a single ice crystal looks translucent, snow is made up of many ice crystals smashed together. When light passes through all of the crystals, snow appears to be white. The Bible mentions something else that has a certain color—sin. Through the prophet Isaiah, God confronted the sins of the people of Judah and described their sin as “like scarlet” and as “red as crimson.” But God promised they would “be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). How? Judah needed to turn away from wrongdoing and seek God’s forg...

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OUR DAILY BREAD February 11 Tue NEARBY NEIGHBORS Kirsten Holmberg Better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.  Proverbs 27:10 Proverbs 27:1–10 Leviticus 11–12; Matthew 26:1–25 Our neighborhood, like many others, uses a website to help neighbors connect immediately with those surrounding them. In my community, members warn one another of mountain lion sightings and wildfire evacuation orders, as well as supply one another with child care when the need arises. It has even proven to be a resource for locating runaway pets. By leveraging the power of the internet, those living near one another are connecting again in ways that are often lost in today’s fast-paced world. Being in relationship with those who live nearby was also important long ago in the days of King Solomon. While family relationships are truly important and can be a source of great support, Solomon indicates that the role of a  friend  is vital—especially when ...

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OUR DAILY BREAD February 10, Monday IN IT TOGETHER Arthur Jackson Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Romans 12:15 Romans 12:9–16 Leviticus 8–10; Matthew 25:31–46 During a two-month period in 1994, as many as one million Tutsis were slain in Rwanda by Hutu tribe members bent on killing their fellow countrymen. In the wake of this horrific genocide, Bishop Geoffrey Rwubusisi approached his wife about reaching out to women whose loved ones had been slain. Mary’s reply was, “All I want to do is cry.” She too had lost members of her family. The bishop’s response was that of a wise leader and caring husband: “Mary, gather the women together and cry with them.” He knew his wife’s pain had prepared her to uniquely share in the pain of others. The church, the family of God, is where all of life can be shared—the good and not-so-good. The New Testament words “one another” ar...