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  Jeremiah 12:1-4 Listen to today's devotional Jeremiah 12 begins with a question many of us might ask: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? His lament is honest. "You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts” (v. 2). The prophet is naming the frustration and anger we all feel when wrong seems to thrive while good struggles. This week, we had another school shooting. Another day of loss, grief and heartbreak. Another day of asking Jeremiah’s question. And, once again, explanations. In years past, when people said we need to take mental health seriously, some scoffed and called it an excuse. Now, mental health is a prominent part of the discussion. But then we also say it's not a gun problem it's a problem of evil. Sure. I agree. But what if our evil is also our gun problem? What if our evil is refusing to take seriously what needs to be done, just because we don’t like it, or it doe...

  Psalm 46 Listen to today's devotional This morning, I watched a video someone sent me. It was the day after Hurricane Harvey hit our area. The electricity had been out, but we had invited anyone who felt safe to come to the sanctuary for worship. By the time we gathered, the lights came back on. The church doors stood wide open because the air conditioner hadn’t yet cooled the building. The video showed us singing _Leaning on the Everlasting Arms_. Between verses, we read from Psalm 46. In that moment, the words were not just familiar phrases in our worship book. They were living truth for us: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. That day, we were grateful simply to have made it through another storm. Others in our community weren’t as fortunate. We faced the hard work of cleaning up at church and at home. There were things to repair, things to replace. That’s the reality of a storm's aftermath.  But we all know not every storm comes with thundercl...

  Ezekiel 20:39-44 Listen to today's devotional Who doesn't love  The Lion King ? Hakuna matata, if you don't. It's a classic story and a great movie. One of my favorite scenes comes right after Simba sees a vision of his father, Mufasa, in the sky. "You have forgotten me," Mufasa says. A lot has happened to separate Simba from his past, his family and, might I say, his calling. Then Rafiki shows up. He listens to Simba wrestle with his past, and suddenly bops him with his staff. You don't see that coming. That hit on the head becomes a part of a larger lesson and wake-up call for the soon-to-be king. We all need those kinds of moments. Ezekiel can be our Rafiki today, though without the jokes and singing. There's a lot in his writings that might shock or surprise you. In chapter 20, God gives the people their own bop, saying, "Go serve your idols, every one of you now and hereafter." That's not what you expect God to say. But that's ...

  Revelation 3:7-13 Listen to today's devotional In AD 17, a massive earthquake struck modern-day Turkey. Known as the Lydia earthquake, it devastated more than a dozen cities. Some were completely destroyed. Thousands of people died, and the ruins stood as haunting reminders of what some considered to be the worst earthquake in history. Even more traumatic, tremors continued for years afterward. One city especially marked by this was Philadelphia. Imagine surviving the terror of the “big one.” Now think about having aftershocks stir that memory again and again. I’ve never experienced an earthquake. I’ll take a hurricane over that any day, and I’ve been through several. Growing up in Galveston, even though I was eighty years removed from it, the great 1900 storm still shaped part of who I thought I was. In the same way, I can imagine how the Lydia earthquake continued to shape the identity of Philadelphia for generations. By the time Philadelphia is mentioned in the book of Revelat...

  Hebrews 3:12-14 Listen to today's devotional It’s easy to underestimate the power of a kind word or a gentle reminder of God’s presence. But haven't you had some experience where those kinds of little things have inspired you? We all need that from each other. Hebrews might call that  every day encouragement .  The Bible shows us that this daily blessing is not optional to a life with God. It's essential in keeping our heart focused on God's goodness and faithfulness. In keeping our faith strong. Life wears on us. We all face challenges, disappointments and temptations. If left unchecked, they can slowly harden our hearts. That's why daily encouragement isn't just nice. It's necessary. Now, encouragement doesn’t always have to be some grand gesture. It can be a text to a friend, a quick note of gratitude to a coworker or a willingness to just listen patiently to someone. I always thought people were being nice when they responded to the daily text messages...

  Acts 17:1-9 Listen to today's devotional For years, my denomination's vision statement has been to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. I can recall people who asked how we thought we could really transform anything. That sounded like too bold a statement, maybe even too lofty an ideal for the modern church. I always thought it was great. It didn't mean I had to single-handedly change the entire world. It meant God was doing work through how we all love and serve God and neighbor. I still believe God can transform the world through us. Through my church. Your church. Really, through God's church. I want us to believe that again. That God's love can work so profoundly within us and through us that people change their minds about who God is and what the world could be. In Acts 17, Paul and Silas continue teaching in a local synagogue. Their teaching persuaded some people to begin following them, following Jesus. As a result, a group of...

  Psalm 103:1-8 Listen to today's devotional A small group from our church is watching  The Chosen  together. I don't want to spoil anything, but part of today's reading connected to the most recent episode we watched. There's a moment where Mary, the mother of Jesus, reflects on raising Jesus as an infant. She remembers feeling glad that young Jesus needed her help. She cleaned up after him, taught him how to walk and did what mothers usually do for their growing children. Eventually, Jesus grew and didn't need Mary's help. He started a movement many people followed. What could she do for him now? After Mary shares her feelings, Jesus enters the scene. He is weary from a day of teaching and healing and makes his way to his tent. Mary approaches him. She washes his feet and cleans his wounds. She helps him prepare to rest. Part of her recalling mentioned being a teenager when Jesus always needed her help. Now, she is decades removed from that. Her helping days w...

  Luke 19:45-48 Listen to today's devotional As a pastor, I’ve served churches that considered themselves “older.” In fact, I still have at least a decade before I reach the average age of many of those congregations. In those churches, a conversation that always comes up is this: Why aren’t younger people more engaged with the church and its mission? Church leaders often look for the silver bullet that will make this happen. Some churches are more willing to try whatever they’ve heard might make all the difference. But I’d like to suggest something that has to be in place no matter what else we do. We see it in today’s reading. Jesus reminded everyone of God’s purpose for the temple when he flipped tables and drove people out. As he did, he quoted scripture: “My house shall be a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.” The Message Bible calls it a “religious bazaar.” In other words, the priorities of those leading the worship life of the temple were way off. Now, J...

  Psalm 74:1-3 Listen to today's devotional In the pastoral world, it’s often said there are three things that bring people to church: death, divorce and disaster. Death and divorce touch individuals and families in personal ways. But disaster is something that can strike anyone, anywhere and all of us together. Some people criticize the idea that it takes something terrible to wake us up to God’s reality. But isn’t that just being human? It’s certainly nothing new. Psalm 74 is introduced as “a maskil of Asaph.” Scholars debate exactly what a maskil is, and even who Asaph was. But his name can mean “gatherer,” “collector,” or even “congregation.” So what has the gatherer called the congregation to do? To lament. The people had seen what felt like God’s silence and inaction, leading, most likely, to the destruction of the temple. Now, people debate which particular national crisis this psalm points to. What is clear is that it was a tragedy that touched everyone. The psalmist c...

  Isaiah 5:18-19 Listen to today's devotional My wife loves crime documentaries. Often, when I overhear her watching them, people talk about the choices that got them into trouble. They knew what they were doing was wrong, but they did it anyway. There’s a sense of control in that. “I’m doing what I want, and no one can stop me.” Isaiah 5:18–19 calls this exactly what it is. It's dragging sin along like it’s a tool and mocking God’s timing and grace because you think you got away with it. To be clear, this isn’t just about criminals on TV. We all need to check our attitudes and actions. Some of us treat sin like a tool. We know it’s wrong, but we try to get something out of it anyway. We justify it, even drag others along and act like we’re in total control. Then we get impatient with God when things go wrong, saying, “Fix this already!” Spoiler alert: rushing God never works, and dragging sin around won’t benefit us. Here’s the good news: God sees the sin, the cords, the ropes...

Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube  Monday: Embracing the Wilderness Focus: Understanding the purpose of the wilderness in our spiritual journey. Reflection: The wilderness may appear as a detour, but it’s a crucial part of God’s plan for us. Just as the Israelites had to journey through the wilderness to reach the Promised Land, our own wilderness seasons are meant for our preparation, not punishment. Scripture: Exodus 16:1-3 Deuteronomy 8:2-3 Questions: What "wilderness" experience are you currently facing? How can you shift your perspective to see this time as preparation rather than punishment? Can you recall past wilderness experiences that have led to growth or blessing? Tuesday: Daily Bread and God's Provision Focus: Relying on God’s daily provision. Reflection: God provided manna daily to the Israelites, teaching them to rely on Him each day. This reflects our need to trust in God’s provision, knowing that He provides exactly what we need for today. Scripture: E...

  Hebrews 10:32-39 Listen to today's devotional Boldness takes many forms. Personally, when I’ve heard about Christian boldness, it’s been in the context of telling people to come to Jesus. And yes that takes courage. Those who speak prophetically also need a boldness not all of us feel we have. Are you bold in those ways? Maybe you’re bolder than you think. Hebrews is often read like a sermon. A message meant to encourage believers whose faith has grown tired. The preacher knows the kind of faith God planted in this community. It’s the same faith we see in the heroes of Scripture and in the church’s story. But somewhere along the way, this congregation lost step with that faith. Life happened. Pressures mounted. They couldn’t always endure “being publicly exposed to insults and afflictions.” They were, like the old hymn says tired, weak and worn. The preacher calls them to remember what they once had: “You had compassion for those in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plunder...

  John 1:14-18 Listen to today's devotional Think of the joy, peace and wonder we feel each Christmas. There's something deeply meaningful about celebrating God with us. Unfortunately, we often confine the incarnation to December. But the incarnation isn't only powerful or worth our reflection around the holy days of winter. Our calling as God's church becomes clearer when we recognize the incarnation in our daily lives and ministries. Just as baby Jesus was God with skin on, you and I become God's presence in the world, too. No, we are not God nor do we try to be. At least we shouldn't try to be! Instead, our actions become the way God "shows up" for others. We're God's skin. We love because God loves. We care because God cares. We serve because Christ served. In all that action, we are not satisfying our own sense of duty, responsibility or righteousness. The work we commit to stands as a real sign of a real God who holds real people in real ...

  Luke 12:41-48 Listen to today's devotional We all know how to think. We do it constantly. Ironically, without very much thought. A simple definition of thinking is "the action of using one's mind to produce thoughts." Your mind. Your thoughts. And isn't that where trouble can start? For the unfaithful slave in Jesus' parable, it was. Jesus first paints a picture of a master entrusting a servant to care for the others while he is away. Things turn when the slave "says to himself" things that don't reflect his master's will. Whereas the master wanted the slave to fulfill his concern for the others, the slave starting thinking more for himself. And, as the Internet world says today, he let his intrusive thoughts win. His thoughts are to neglect his responsibilities and abuse the others while he indulges himself. There was no prayer. No checking with the master's instructions. There was no accountability. That's what can happen when you...

  Psalm 89:1–18 Listen to today's devotional I want to reflect on three P's of today's scripture reading. First, the psalmist says, “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever.” That is a choice to begin with praise. Praising God simply for who God is. We'll get get to our circumstances or struggles. But how would our prayers and trust deepen if we started with praising God’s steadfast love and faithfulness? Praise isn’t just something we do when we feel like it. It’s how we remind our hearts of the unchanging truth about God. When we praise, we step into God's bigger redemption story. That's where God’s love is stronger than any struggle we’re facing. Then comes power. God’s greatness is so unmatched the heavens declare it. The seas obey the Lord. The mightiest nations fall before God. The whole earth belongs to God. This is the God we worship. The One who rules with both strength and tenderness. Whose throne is built on righteousness and justice. And remembe...

  Psalm 11 Listen to today's devotional I was at home one day when I got a call from the church office. One of our members was there by herself. No one else was in the building which frightened her when she heard something. So, she locked herself in the office and called me to come help. When I hung up, I told my family I'd be right back. "What happened," they asked. I gave them a quick answer as I searched for my keys. Just as I was about to head out the door, my son, who was about eight at the time, brought me something. It was a sparring stick we had laying around the house. He wanted me to bring it to protect our friend at church. On one hand, I'll say trusting God is a little like that moment. It gives us confidence to step toward a need instead of running away from a problem. We know there's something that must be done, and God gives us strength to do it. We move toward the need, not always away from danger. On the other hand, for my friend at church, fe...

 Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube Life can get heavy when we carry things God never asked us to hold. Let go of the extra baggage and trust God for the journey ahead. Discover the freedom and joy that comes when you travel light with Jesus. Monday: The Art of Traveling Light Scripture: Hebrews 12:1 Reflection: The sermon introduces us to the concept that overpacking is not just a travel problem, but a life one. Consider what "baggage" you carry that's more emotional or spiritual than physical. Reflect on how overpacking plays a role in your personal, emotional or spiritual journeys. Questions: What are some things you carry that you know you don’t really need? How does carrying this baggage affect your daily life and relationship with God? Tuesday: Trust and Provision Scripture: Luke 10:1-4 Reflection: Jesus instructed his disciples to travel without a purse, bag, or extra shoes, teaching them to rely on God's provision. Reflect on areas of your life where you rely ...

  Ecclesiastes 6:1-6 Listen to today's devotional When I tell people what my favorite book of the Bible is, they think they know why. Yes, the book of John does have the greatest verse of all time in it: John 1:6 (There was a man sent from God whose name was John). But it's not the name of the book that I'm drawn to. It’s the light, the promise, the invitation to abundant life in Jesus that runs through every chapter. Now, people who have read Ecclesiastes are surprised when I tell them that's my second favorite. It seems so dreary and cynical when you first read it. But I love it! I don't think the Teacher of the text is trying to drag into despair. I think he's trying to wake us up. The book tells me to enjoy the gift that is the abundant life of Jesus. You know the old phrase we say when someone dies unexpectedly. "You never know." We call that wisdom, but we don't always live like we believe it. My children, the Fletchermints, are in their twen...

  Psalm 50:22-23 Listen to today's devotional I forget. A lot. Apparently, I'm in good company. Forgetfulness is something many of us share. But here's a question worth pondering: Could any of us forgetters ever forget God? Scripture says yes. Not in the way we forget to pick up milk or where we left our keys. But in the deeper, more troubling way of neglecting God’s presence in our lives. Psalm 50:22 offers a clear and urgent warning to God forgetters. The urgency is so strong, a literal translation might be "Please, don't forget!" The psalmist knows we will not forget God ever existed to us. Instead, he knows well the reality that we can ignore God. What we forget is to care. We cease to care about the Lord or the way of Jesus. We get wrapped up in our own plans, anxieties and desires, that we slowly begin to ignore God. Our culture of distraction and self-reliance makes that easier to do. Our other priorities don't diminish who God is. But they do cloud...