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  Luke 12:1-7 Listen to today's devotional I remember the first time I stood up to a bully. In my mind, victory had to be mine. But no, it didn't work out the way they portrayed it on TV. The bully didn't walk away afraid and I didn't win the ensuing fight. You don't always come out on top, even if you do the right thing. I thought bullies were just playground problems. So, it surprised me to learn adults can easily bring middle school drama to adult life. And imagine my disappointment when I learned some bullies even carry Bibles. Once, Jesus ignored a crowd of people who were rushing over each other to see him. His sight was set on his disciples. He warned them to watch out for what The Message Bible calls "Pharisee phoniness." Part of the lesson was that you can put on a religious show only for so long. It will catch up to you. To those who preferred the phoniness, the biggest issue with Jesus was his willingness to call it out. Their little egos couldn...

  Revelation 2:8-11 Listen to today's devotional My mom used to own a cleaning agency on Galveston Island. As a kid, I loved tagging along. I did help a little. Most times, though, I was a barefoot sand explorer. Or I'd run through the beach houses like they were castles. Mom knew these houses impressed me. And I remember asking her something like, "How rich do you have to be to have a couple of these?" Not one, but a couple! Now, she never gave me an actual figure. But she did use my beach-house gawking to explain our family's richness. We had each other and there was always something on the table to eat. Throw in a few more classic mom-isms and it was clear we were rich, just not beach-house rich. All these years later, I'm still not. But Mom was right. I am rich. Not because I have a full storehouse, but because I have a full heart. Not because I own a beach house, but because I'm standing on the promises of Christ my Savior. I've learned to count t...

  Esther 7 Listen to today's devotional Marin Luther King Jr longed for us to build and become a "Beloved Community." In his final book, W here Do We Go From Here , published just before his assassination in 1968, King reflected on the impact the fight for civil rights had on the nation. There had been victories in the fight for equality. But eliminating racism and hatred would be no easy task. Pursuing such an objective would require us to answer several questions. Will we choose the chaos of violence and hatred or will we choose community? Will we destroy one another or build together the hopeful future we envision? In this pursuit, MLK recognized the relationship between power and love. The connection between the two is often misunderstood. Power is often only seen as evil and love is not, basically. But power and love can work together. They must work together. "Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic," th...

Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube Monday: Chosen by God Devotional: Reflect on the metaphor of the NFL draft. Just as teams search for the best players, God seeks us with a different kind of selection process. Instead of looking for perfection, God sees potential in our imperfections and chooses us out of love and grace. Reflection Questions: How does knowing that God chose you change your perspective on your own value and purpose? Are there parts of your life where you seek perfection rather than accepting your current state as part of God’s plan? Additional Scripture: John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." Tuesday: Peace in the Midst of Chaos Devotional: Consider the chaos the disciples felt after Jesus’ crucifixion. In a locked room full of fear, Jesus appeared to them and ...

  1 Samuel 17:19-23 Listen to today's devotional Everyone on the battlefield heard what Goliath said. He'd been spewing the same mockery day after day. He intimidated and threatened the people of God. And every day was the same. They heard him and shrunk back. After forty days, young David made his way to the ranks. It was un expected arrival that proved to be all the difference. As David joined the armies, Goliath shouted again just as before. Scripture says something so simple that we might skip it's power: "And David heard him." Well, of course, he heard him. Everyone did. But this hearing wasn't just with his ears. David heard with his spirit. He heard with his faith. He heard with conviction. The shepherd boy heard in his soul Goliath's contempt. And that hearing is what makes the story what we remember. Now, we all hear things everyday. We hear the lies. The injustice. We hear of people's grief. But, sometimes, what we hear doesn't just land ...

  Psalm 150 Listen to today's devotional I've always joked that you can make a better case to play drums in worship than you can an organ. Not many people appreciated that as we went through the worship war years. But Psalm 150 backs me up. No, I'm not suggesting the psalm is mandating what instruments we should use in our worship. That's not how I read the text at all. Instead, Psalm 150 seems to be a pull-out-all-the-stops approach to the worship of our good God. It's not an "only these" list, but a sense of "bring everything you've got." Are there times to be more reflective and quiet in our sanctuaries? I believe so. Do we need less distractions and more meditation? Probably. And are some people looking to worship music to soothe a consumeristic itch? I'm sure. But the surpassing greatness of God draws us to celebration. As one worship song asks, "How can I keep from singing?" So, we gather our instruments not for the hype, ...

  Luke 24:1-12 Listen to today's devotional I arrived at the church at 6pm for our Good Friday service. The service began at 7, so I wanted to be early. But I didn't know what early was. When we arrived, we noticed several chairs at the door to one of our buildings. People had already began lining up to enter. Except, they weren't there for Good Friday. They were there for the food pantry distribution we would do later. Like more than twelve hours later on Saturday morning. At our Easter sunrise service, I couldn't help myself. I had to make some corny joke about being at church so early in the morning. When I did, that line of people came to mind again. The women of Luke 24 went early to the tomb. I'm not sure if their timing had to do with proper ritual or their sense of urgency. Either way, they were drawn to the tomb at early dawn. That day, spices in hand, they went to serve Jesus in his death. Instead, they experienced firsthand the power of his resurrection. ...

  Revelation 12:1-12 Listen to today's devotional I watched  The House of David  and thought about how far warfare has developed. We moved beyond sticks and stones, swords and shields. Today, we fight with drones, bombs, and cyber attacks. We fight with misinformation masked as truth and propaganda dressed up like patriotism. Nations don’t always send soldiers. They often send lies wrapped in funny memes and legislation. In the middle of all war, people suffer, especially the poor, the young, the vulnerable. How many of our modern conflicts are just another example of a "rich man's war and a poor man's fight"? Revelation 12 illustrates for us a different kind of battlefield. It isn't a military fight, but a moral one. A dragon tries to kill a child before he’s born. It would have been enough, of course, to kill the mother having the child. Evil, though, doesn't just want to kill hope. It wants to make sure it never even has breath. Revelation reminds us th...

  John 19:5-16 Listen to today's devotional Every year, we notice the shift in the crowd's tone between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. One moment, they're shouting "Hosanna!" That's a word of praise and of seeking protection. In a matter of days, the crowds shout, "Crucify him!" The people dropped their palm branches only to raise their fists in condemnation. I assume not everyone in the Good Friday crowd was there on Sunday. Not everyone knew who Jesus really was. They hadn't heard him preach peace. They never saw him feed hungry people or ever witnesses him heal the sick. What they saw was what the government and religious leaders wanted them to see. A bloodied man, labeled a criminal and a problem needing to be addressed. When Pilate stood and said to the crowd, "Behold the man!" they saw someone caught in the machinery of conspiracy and injustice. This man was beaten by a system built on violence, dominance and terror. And what societ...

  1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Listen to today's devotional It was my job to plan worship for a community outreach project. The weather looked like we would be able to be outside for this special gathering. Only, there weren't many large gathering spaces to choose from. So, had things worked out, we would have set up on the community basketball court. Before the weather changed our plans, I had envisioned our communion setup. Our table would be a graffiti-covered concrete bench. Personally, it would be a symbol of God's willingness to meet us on our terms. Christ became flesh to dwell among us, after all. As Jesus traveled, he didn't only meet in synagogues and in the temple. He met with sinners at their tables and their spaces. The kingdom of God has come and it may surprise us where it's willing to be. We ended up meeting inside. So, no concrete stained-glass altar. Even though it would have been a powerful visual, our communion was just as meaningful inside as it would...

  Hebrews 12:1-3 Listen to today's devotional There's a temptation to do all we can to defend Jesus. We must protect all things Christian. Or all things supposedly Christian. Or anything related to  my  Christian culture. I say that's a temptation because, if you're not careful, it will morph into a pursuit all its own, often devoid of anything Christ-like. We end up protecting our symbols and slogans more than we try protecting the people Jesus came to love. Christianity becomes a cause to stake our flag to. We shouldn't relegate the way of Jesus to a cause. Especially if we sacrifice morality, integrity and our Christian witness. Besides, when Jesus was literally on trial, he didn't even defend himself. Long before he approached Jerusalem for the final time, he understood where his way would lead. He didn't reroute his mission or shy away from it. In fact, he prepared his disciples for it so that they would understand what mattered more to him. As Eugene P...

  1 Corinthians 1:22-31 Listen to today's devotional If we're honest, a lot of us probably wouldn't pick ourselves. We know too well who we really are. What's been done to us. What we've done to others. We carry scars, secrets and shame that often weigh on our sense of worth. Now, we dress ourselves up for everyone to see. There's a mask for pain and a smile to hide our insecurities. But we're still left with a full measure of self doubt. That said, I hope this is an encouragement for you: Have you ever noticed the Bible doesn't always look to clean up its heroes? In the Bible, time and time again, God is willing to look past who we really are. Moses was a murderer with a temper. Gideon was so afraid he had to see a sign from God--twice. King David played the harp, but he also played with people's lives. And Peter was pretty good at putting his foot in his mouth, if he wasn't denying he even knew Jesus. And yet, God used them. Not after they got ...

  John 12:1-11 Listen to today's devotional My wife had a family member who sold perfume and cologne. He always had a good stock on hand. So, once, he gave me an entire box of cologne. I was set. When we left his house, I put the box in the trunk of our car. And then I forgot about it. Fast forward about a week or so later. I remembered the cologne. Not because it crossed my mind. But because the box had tipped over and several of the bottles busted. As I'm sure you know, there is such a thing as too much cologne. Way too much. Especially in a sedan. The smell lingered for weeks. At least weeks. When I read about the time Mary anointed Jesus, I remember that box of cologne. Of course, I see what she did for its beauty and prophetic insight. But there's one line in the story that gets me every time. After Mary brought her costly perfume, John 12 says, "The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume (12:3). My cologne wasn't an act of worship like Mary's....

 Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube Monday: Freedom through Jesus Scripture: Luke 4:18-19 Devotional: Today, reflect on the freedom Jesus brings. The sermon emphasized that the forces of evil bind people, but the Spirit of God frees them. Jesus came to liberate us from spiritual strongholds and oppression. Consider the freedom you've experienced in your life. Reflection Questions: What areas of your life have experienced freedom through Jesus? Are there any areas where you still seek liberation? Prayer: Ask God for the courage to seek freedom in all areas bound by fear or doubt. Tuesday: The Wholeness Jesus Brings Scripture: Luke 8:43-48 Devotional: Embrace the wholeness and peace that Christ brings. The sermon reminded us that Jesus not only heals but makes us whole. Consider the peace that Jesus offers amidst your life's challenges. Reflection Questions: How do you define wholeness in your life? In what ways has Jesus brought you peace this week? Prayer: Pra...

  Hebrews 2:1-9 Listen to today's devotional I set up a hummingbird feeder in my backyard. Imagine my visions of a million birds fluttering in and out. I pictured a little backyard revival. But I’ve only seen two birds. Just two. And only once. Now, I thought I had done everything right. I mixed the sugar water. I hung the feeder. I waited. But here’s what I didn’t know: sugar water doesn’t last forever. Especially in our south Texas heat, sugar water spoils quickly. I thought, for the most part, you set up a feeder and wait until it's empty. But it needs more care than that. Otherwise, it grows mold. It turns sour and causes illness to the birds. I should change the feeder every 2-3 days. Now I know there is harm in neglecting the water. As I'm reflecting on today's passage, I'm also taking into mind an upcoming baptism. During that ceremony, we'll pray over the water and remember various points of our story with God that include water. When we do, we realize i...

  Habakkuk 3:2-15 Listen to today's devotional People often long for the "good old days," assuming they were good for everyone. In that sense, nostalgia can be a corrupting force, numbing us to the truth of things. We often dress up the past in nice Sunday clothes and forget the suffering there. Our talk of simpler times almost makes it seem like there was no struggle, no injustice or even sin. As best we can, let's be careful to not let our memories get manipulated. There was no righteousness under the lynching tree. No peace in segregated schools or concentration camps. Notice that the message of the prophets of God don't tell us to go back to something. How could we, really? Rather, knowing what we know and having experienced what we have, we press forward. That forward motion, we pray, moves us toward greater righteousness and justice. Holiness and faithfulness. Now, we must look back. Not to escape into our fantasies of a false past, but to remember what we h...

  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Listen to today's devotional One step forward. Two steps back. That's often more than a feeling. For many people, that's a lived reality. Why is it that just as soon as things start looking up, here comes another situation to bring us down? We finally get comfortable and find a sense of tranquility. But here comes another storm. Another burden to carry. Another blow to our peace. We know scripture affirms God's steadfast love. We also know it never pretends to remove us from the world's pain. What scripture does is anchor our faith in something much deeper than unrealistic longings. God's love doesn't disappear when trouble comes. Remember those great words from Psalm 23. The shepherd learned God would walk with him through the valley, not around it. So, as sure as you'll face difficulty, you'll also have God's presence with you. What I mean to offer to you today is the reminder of God's steadfastness. And that turning to...

  Exodus 40:1-15 Listen to today's devotional Most cultures around the world consider Sunday to be the first day of the week. That was a surprise for me to learn. I grew up with the idea you put in all your work starting Monday. By Friday, you're looking forward to taking two days off to end the week. We called it the weekend, after all. I can't speak to the cultures of the world, but I know Christians made Sunday the first day. I'm not sure we know why. But since the church took its mission, apparently, they came together to break bread on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). In Hebrew,  Sunday  even translates to "the first day." That helped me think of Sunday worship differently. If Sunday is the first day, then one of the first things I do to start my week is worship. That has a way of setting priorities and guiding how I approach the following days. That's what today's text has me thinking about. In Exodus 40, the Lord commands Moses to set up t...