Pray for Peace
Read: Isaiah 11:1-9 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. (v. 6) What does God have in store for this fallen world? When God’s kingdom has fully come, […]
A Guide to Doing Devotions with Your Kids
Sharing your faith with your kids can be a joy and a privilege, but it can also feel a little overwhelming. One place to start is family devotional time—a daily practice of reading the Bible and praying together. Kids learn differently, and their needs matter too! Here are a few ideas to get started with […]
Welcome a Stranger
Read: Hebrews 13:1-6 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (v. 2) Strangers can be strange, and we might not choose them as friends. But one element of hospitality is this: hospitality accepts differences. The host doesn’t ask the guest to change. Indeed, part of being a good […]
Visit a Friend
Read: Luke 1:39-45 Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. (v. 45) Mary must have smiled. Finally, after all the gossip and the whispering and the snide, disapproving looks, finally someone believed her. Elizabeth believed her, and believed in her. “Blessed are you […]
Look at the Stars
Read: Psalm 8 When I look at your heavens . . . the moon and the stars . . . what is man that you are mindful of him? (vv. 3-4) We caught fish all day on the river, then camped for the night along the shore. It was a clear, cool night, and there was only a sliver of […]
Wait with a Purpose
Read: Luke 1:46-55 My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (v. 46) Every December when his children were little, pastor and writer Lou Lotz and his wife would make an Advent Activity Calendar and hang it on the fridge. Every day they’d lift up the paper flap and there would […]
December 2022 Prayer Guide
BHUTAN — Give thanks for opportunities to speak in local churches and train up new church planters. In addition, the team in Bhutan now offers tutoring for school students on weekdays. On Saturdays, short Bible stories are shared with the children, as well as Christian songs and activities. Currently the team is working with 73 […]
The Guest Who Never Leaves
Read: Revelation 3:14-22 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. (v. 20) Even the most congenial host would be dismayed at the thought of a guest who never left! But what if the guest is Jesus Christ himself? And what if he desires close and personal fellowship with us? He is truly the guest we […]
The Reward for Hospitality
Read: Matthew 25:31-46 As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (v. 40) As people, we are often impressed by the “grand gestures” of others—the one-time heroic act, the great sacrifice on another’s behalf. While these can be awe-inspiring, our lives are generally made up of […]