GENESIS 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. COLOSSIANS 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Work. I’ve been thinking about it a great deal lately and this seemed an appropriate topic as everyone will be off celebrating not being at work over the Memorial Day …

PROVERBS 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. PROVERBS 16:32 32 Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. I’ve gotten better and worse at my patience level over the years. When I was in high school, I was always ready for the next thing—the next academic challenge, the next theater production, the next tennis match. When the “next” thing came, I …

JOHN 4:7-13 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a …

PSALM 86:11-13 11 Teach me your way, Lord,     that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart,     that I may fear your name. 12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;     I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your love toward me;     you have delivered me from the depths,     from the realm of the dead. David. What am I supposed to do with David? He doesn’t fit in with my perception of …

GENESIS: 32:22-28 22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the …

JOHN 14:25-27 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. I always …

REVELATION 21:4-7 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the …

MATTHEW 26:36-38, 40, 43 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 40 Then he returned …

1 CHRONICLES 4:10 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.   When naptime is declared irrelevant by people who don’t come up to my waist, I pray for sleep. When it’s pouring down rain and I’ve got Charlie with me …

Embracing the Spotlight. A Sunday Thoughts Link Up. LUKE 22:54-62 54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man …