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  2 Kings 2:19-22 Listen to today's devotional I’ve lived in some great places. Each town or city we’ve called home has shaped our family, our story and our ministry in unique ways. Every place offers its own kind of beauty, opportunity, or culture. Of course, no place is perfect. As great as these cities are, each has its needs. Some have more needs than others. In 2 Kings 2, the people of Jericho tell Elisha, “The location of this city is good.” They probably didn't know how right they were. Jericho is one of the oldest cities in the world today. But not everything's good. There's a great need in the city. The people say, “The water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” There's an idea that the unfruitfulness of the land is akin to loosing a child or being barren. That represents a great loss. Having bad water is no small issue. Think of the people in Flint, MI. They've been fighting for ten years for water justice. Contaminated water means poor health, failed ...

Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube Monday: Walking in Step with the Spirit Reflection: As we begin this week, consider how your actions align with Paul's encouragement in Galatians 5:25 to "keep in step with the Spirit." Reflect on how worship, such as singing hymns, can be a practice of staying connected with the Spirit and each other. Questions: In what ways do you already experience being led by the Spirit in your daily life? How can you incorporate spiritual practices, like singing or praying, to enhance your connection with the Spirit this week? Additional Scripture: Galatians 5:16-26 Tuesday: The Tradition of Hymns and Testimony Reflection: Hymns are not just traditions or teaching tools; they are testimonies. Reflect on the testimonies present in the songs you sing and how your own life story parallels these expressions of faith. Questions: Can you think of a hymn or song that has deeply impacted your spiritual journe...

  2 Kings 1:9-12 Listen to today's devotional I assume James and John had Elijah on their minds. In Luke 9, Jesus sends messengers ahead of him into a Samaritan village. It probably didn't surprise the disciples when the people do not welcome him. To them, those were Samaritans, after all. Their rejection stirred a memory of how others rejected God's word and power. "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" That's something Elijah did. Twice. Now, they wanted to defend Jesus with that same divine force they thought they could control. But Jesus rebuked the brothers. In scripture, fire coming down from heaven is a sign of God's power and approval. Fire came down on Elijah's drenched offering to show that "you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all things at your word" (I Kings 18). Later, the Lord directed Elijah to speak against King Ahaziah. The king sent men up to Elijah and comma...

  1 Kings 22:51-53 Listen to today's devotional Some researchers say your personality is pretty much set by age three. And, by first grade, you've already got a pretty good glimpse of the kind of adult you'll become. But that doesn’t mean nothing ever changes. You’re always becoming something. The question is what. Maybe you’re becoming more generous, more patient. Or maybe you’re growing more bitter, more impatient or more distracted. To think you're the same person you've always been may ignore the way life shapes you. It doesn't take into account how your experiences of culture, community, pain and joy, for example, have all played their part in what you're becoming. Evagrius Ponticus was a well known theologian of the church in the fourth century. His theological insight led him to the position of Archdeacon in Constantinople. With that position came power, status and reputation. But the weight of that life began to pull at him. He recognized what that i...

  2 Kings 9:30-37 Listen to today's devotional The prophet Elijah spoke judgment against Ahab and Jezebel. They would both die, and the dogs would take care of what remained. Ahab died about three years before Jezebel. Her death was as gruesome as prophesied. 2 Kings 9 tells this story. I assume she knew what was coming. But she didn't run away or even ask for mercy. She stood at her window after "she painted her eyes and adorned her head." She glared outside and called out to her accuser, not as a victim, but as a queen. It was a final performance. A defiant, composed image she chose to show everyone. And then she fell. As I'm reflecting on that story today, I keep thinking about that image: Jezebel fixing herself up. It’s so like us. When things fall apart, we reach for whatever helps us feel in control. We can't help it. For some of us it might be makeup, a sharp outfit, the perfect social media post or even religious language. But it’s all a mask. It helps...

  Ephesians 2:11-22 Listen to today's devotional As an eleven-year-old, I didn’t understand what I was watching in November 1989. I saw crowds of people standing around and on a wall. They cheered as they chipped away at it with hammers and pickaxes. Then a big chunk of it fell to the ground. I remember how excited a TV announcer was in a commercial later on. He was selling pieces of the Berlin Wall. But I didn’t know the history or the tension that wall represented. So, the joy of destroying such a powerful symbol of division went over my head. It doesn’t anymore. The Berlin Wall was more than just concrete. It stood for years of hostility, separation, and fear. When it came down, people celebrated freedom, unity, and the hope of something better. That’s the same kind of hope scripture points to in Ephesians 2. Jesus tore down the wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles, making peace where there had been only division. Unfortunately, we’re still surrounded by walls today. Wall...

  1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Listen to today's devotional I like to tease a local lawyer every time I catch his TV commercial. To reassure potential clients that he really cares, he says, “Nobody’s a nobody.” Yes, I agree. That's a little cheesy. But it's also a great, gospel-oriented line. Because in the kingdom of God, that’s not marketing. It’s truth. The lawyer wants you to believe that your case matters. God wants you to believe that you matter. Not because of your résumé, your reputation, or your reach, but because of how deeply you are loved. You don’t earn that kind of worth. You receive it. It’s not just that nobody’s a nobody. It’s that everybody is beloved.  We often talk about when we decided to follow Jesus. What led us, what changed in us. Of course, that’s an important part of our story. But 1 Corinthians 1 reminds us of another important part: "It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus." Yes, you chose to follow. Yes, you’re walking the walk. Bu...

 Job 6:24-27 We worship a God who hears us all. The story of the Exodus begins with that reminder: God heard their cry. Even now, scripture affirms that God hears our prayers, even when we don’t have the right words. Or any words at all. We give praise to a God who listens with compassion and love. But when it comes to listening to each other, we often fall short of that same grace. In the story of Job, his friends show up. But they aren’t that helpful. They arrive with their religious assumptions and confident answers. But they don’t really listen. They’d rather analyze Job’s pain than sit in it with him. They reprove his words instead of receiving them. It's as if  "the speech of the desperate were wind." To them, Job’s cries feel like wasted breath. They even take offense. The conversation has become too raw, too messy, maybe even too unholy for their neat theology. And in all their back-and-forth, notice what’s missing: They never acknowledge Job’s pain. They never co...

Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube Monday: Jesus Among Us Scripture Reading: Luke 8:26-39 Devotional Thought: We often think of Jesus as concerned only with spiritual realms and heavenly matters. Yet, the sermon reminds us that Jesus steps into our worldly experience, confronting not just spiritual darkness but also the real-world issues we face. His presence affirms that he walks with us in our pain and struggles. Reflection Questions: In what ways have you limited your understanding of Jesus' concern to only spiritual matters? How does knowing that Jesus walks with you in real-world struggles change your perspective on your current challenges? Additional Scripture: John 1:14 - Reflect on the significance of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Tuesday: A Collision with Power Scripture Reading: Luke 8:30-33 Devotional Thought: The man possessed by demons shouted, "My name is Legion." This name, a Roman military t...

  Isaiah 56:9-12 Listen to today's devotional Why were the Titanic's lifeboat drills cancelled the very day she sank? No one really knows. But in hindsight, it's hard not to see that as a missed moment. A miss that cost many people their lives. Of course, no one boards a ship expecting it to sink. No one wakes up thinking this will be the day that unravels everything. Everything is always fine until it's not. In some way, then, we all live with a bit of a "tomorrow will be fine" mentality. We take for granted things will work out the way we plan them. That there's always more time. Now, to be sure, I'm not an alarmist. But I have learned how fragile life is. And not just life, but the societal systems around it we think will always hold. They don't always. And the don't hold for everyone. I am a hopeful person. Mainly because of what I believe about the promises of God. But real hope doesn't mean ignoring the realities of the world around u...

Daniel 1:3-8 Listen to today's devotional No one's ever accused me of being a picky eater. But even I can appreciate Daniel's choice to refuse a royal spread. Most likely, the food offered to Daniel and his friends was the same King Nebuchadnezzar enjoyed at his table. Taste and variety aside, there were good reasons for Daniel's refusal to "defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine." Namely, the food likely didn't meet kosher laws, and it may have been used in pagan worship. Interestingly, Daniel was willing to learn the "literature and language." He even took on a new name from his oppressors. He served in the king's court. But he drew a line at food. In exile, Daniel held onto something that kept him connected to who he was. His diet became a powerful, quiet act of resistance. A friend of mine move to the U.S. for a few years for school. When he returned home, his family and friends immediately noticed how his eating habits ha...

  Ephesians 5:15-20 Listen to today's devotional I only know this because I've watched Interstellar several times and take to Google after every viewing. In physics, time dilation means that time doesn't move the same for everyone. It moves differently depending on your speed and gravitational pull. So, astronauts moving super fast in space age slightly slower than people who remain on Earth. The faster you move, the slower time seems to pass. That sounds strange, but we already know what that feels like. Think about how time crawls when you're bored. Or how time flies when you're having fun. And don't some days feel like a blur while others just seem to go on and on? We experience time differently depending on what we’re doing and how we’re moving. Reflect on that as we consider some of the words of Ephesians 5. The apostle Paul says, because the days are evil, to make the most of the time. He's not telling us to cram more into our schedules. This isn't...

  Psalm 124 Listen to today's devotional Beloved, we are a people who have been delivered. The word  Hebrew  is thought to mean "from the other side." That might point to a geographical beginning, ancestors who crossed rivers and borders. But it also stirs memories of God delivering Moses and the people from Pharaoh across the other side of the sea. In that sense, God's deliverance means we were there and now we're here. And the people of God have long seen deliverance as part of their identity. You see it repeatedly throughout the psalms. God parted seas, broke chains and made the impossible possible. Thankfully, that story doesn't stop with the Old Testament. God's beloved today live in deliverance. In Jesus, God has broken our captivity. We are freed from our sin, shame, fear and even the sting of death itself. As our liturgy affirms, Jesus frees us for joyful obedience. So, we may not call ourselves  Hebrew , but God has brought us from the other side....

While I was sitting at annual conference, I came across the article about the students at Lydia Patterson Institute. I can't tell you how angry I felt.  There's a lot I don't say, but I am tired of seeing our children and most vulnerable being used in a game only the rich and powerful can win.  I think often of that line: We weren't meant to survive because it's a set up.  But I'm hopeful there are more of us who cannot stomach much more of this. And that will lead to a change of heart and lead us to greater compassion.  In the meantime, let's remember a few things Jesus didn't say.  Stay blessed...john

  Ephesians 4:1-6 Listen to today's devotional There are things in life that just fall into place. Unity isn’t one of them. The apostle Paul reminds us to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. Notice, he didn't say to merely wish for it or want it to happen. God desires a unity for us that takes more than social media posting. You definitely can't assume it's someone else’s job. We are to make every effort. And that’s work. The word “keep” implies something already given. So, unity isn’t something we manufacture. Instead, it’s what God has created through Christ. Our task is to guard it, nurture it, protect it. Realize that unity is less about getting everyone to agree and more about refusing to let go of peace when disagreement shows up. But here’s the truth I'm sure you know: it’s easier to walk away. It’s easier to pick apart, to assume the worst and to give up on people who frustrate us. Peace takes patience. Unity takes humility. Community takes gu...

  Proverbs 3:13-18 Listen to today's devotional "Just remember," Barbara Jordan once said, "the world is not a playground but a schoolroom. Life is not a holiday but an education. One eternal lesson for us all: to teach us how better we should love." I don’t think she meant we’re not allowed to enjoy life. Instead, she had come to value the lifelong process of learning. Not just in classrooms, but in every moment life offers. She saw life as a training ground, one that deepens our capacity to love and expands our ability to serve. When we understand that, we begin to glimpse wisdom. And wisdom, the writer of Proverbs says, is one of God’s great gifts: “Happy are those who find wisdom.” Not because life becomes easier, but because life becomes richer. Of course, life's lessons aren’t always enjoyable. They’re often difficult, uncomfortable and even painful. Maybe that’s why we sometimes distract ourselves with temporary, surface-level things. But the more we ...

Psalm 48:1-3, 12-14 Listen to today's devotional I'll admit to you that I'm the worst photographer in my family. I've always loved snapping photos, but I walk away with more memories than great shots. Still, I've learned something from the real photographers I know. They don't start by aiming a camera. They start by looking for the light. And since I'm being so honest, I'm only technically a musician. Recently, I was asked to lead worship at this year's Annual Conference. I don't know what they heard about me, but I'm not that kind of musician. All I do is have a little fun with chords and beat on drums. But I do know you start with tuning. Whether it's photography, music or life, how we start matters. I've known people who've had hard starts, emotionally, spiritually or even just a bad start to a day. It can color how you see everything that comes next. It can make you feel like you're always trying to catch up. If that's...

Isn't this a funny example of being the light right where you are? Michael Jr has a good bit about being "over saved," squeezing religious talk into conversation. But this feels a little different.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by DaLaun Dillard (@ddillardtv) Stay blessed...john

  1 Corinthians 2:12-16 Listen to today's devotional It always surprises me when we in the church expect people outside the faith to "act right." Sometimes, it even seems like we want them to behave better than we're willing to ourselves. 1 Corinthians 2 tells us that those who are unspiritual consider "the gifts of God's Spirit" foolishness. If that's true, of course they're going to avoid God, the church or anything that smells spiritual. Why would you expect anything different? Spiritual things don't make sense without spiritual eyes. We lose our footing, and our witness, when we respond with judgment or ridicule. The more faithful way is to model something different. God has given us a new way of thinking. Paul puts it this way: "We have the mind of Christ." We are only in our right mind when we live out of his. And where did Christ's mind take him? How did it shape his heart, his priorities and his compassion for the world?...

  Joel 2:28-29 Listen to today's devotional Our church celebrated Pentecost Sunday yesterday. As a small reminder of the Holy Spirit's presence, I gave everyone red pinwheels. It was a symbol of wind, breath and movement. Later in the day, someone shared a picture from our worship. In it, an older saint was sitting next to one of our youth. The elder is blowing into the pinwheel while the young person watches with a wide, joyful smile. When I saw that I wondered if this was an image of what the prophet Joel saw? The prophet said, "your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." This happens when God pours out the Spirit on humanity. All people are meant to be drawn together in prophetic vision. Joel saw a Spirit-led community where generations sit side by side. They aren't divided. They don't compete. Instead, they share the same sense of awe at the Spirit's presence. What Joel knew is wh...