February 10, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Friday, February 10.
Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14
In 1772, John Fawcett was a young pastor in Yorkshire, England. His little church was made up of working class people who dearly loved their pastor. And he had grown to love them, too. But, as always happens, young pastors, especially those who are gifted preachers, receive offers to move to larger churches. A prestigious congregation in London offered Fawcett a position and, after much prayer, he accepted.
February 9, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, February 9.
There’s only five shopping days till Valentine’s! Today we look at the story of two Christian love songs - with the same title - but written two centuries apart.
In 1738 Charles Wesley was 31 years old and had just experienced a spiritual conversion. In honor of this experience he wrote a hymn. He called it “And Can It Be”. Wesley went on to write more than 6000 hymns. And in his spare time, he and his brother, John, founded the Methodist Church!
February 8, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Wednesday, February 8.
Do you have a day each week that's your "long" day? A day when you go from early till late? Maybe that describes most of your days! Wednesday is my long day. Like most Baptist churches, Wednesday nights are a busy time with lots of different activities. I don't get home till after 8pm on Wednesdays. And at 6am each Wednesday, I attend a men's prayer breakfast at an area restaurant. A long day.
February 7, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Tuesday, February 7.
“I would be a Christian, if it were not for Christians.” This is a quote from the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi. Before he was assassinated in 1948, Gandhi led India to win its independence from England. And his method of nonviolent resistance influenced American civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
February 6, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Monday, February 6.
Hope you enjoyed yesterday - your "day of rest". Sundays, for church people, can often be everything but days of rest. Busy churches have busy Sunday schedules - worship services (often multiple), Sunday School, small group Bible studies, rehearsals, committee meetings, fellowships, etc, etc, etc! I grew up in a pastor's home and Sundays were always long and full.
February 3, 2023 - Good Morning. It’s Friday, February 3.
I lost a good friend a few days ago. Her name was Portia. I’ve never known anyone else named Portia. And I’ve never known anyone else quite like Portia Gaines.
Miss Portia was a faithful reader of these little daily devotions. And time and time again, more than any other reader, she would respond with an email of thanks and encouragement. Or she would share her thoughts about what I had written. Or sometimes she would tell a story of her own.
February 2, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, February 2.
Happy Groundhog Day! Later this morning, that little varmint, Punxsutawney Phil, will emerge from his burrow, and if he sees his shadow, there’ll be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, then we’ll have an early spring. It is, without a doubt, the silliest holiday on the calendar! So, in the spirit of the day, here’s some silly questions.
*How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? (364)
February 1, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, February 1.
A former pastor of mine would often say that there were three ways that God answers prayer - “Yes,” “No,” and “Wait.” When people say “God didn’t answer my prayer,” they’ve forgotten that third kind of answer.
January 31, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Tuesday, January 31.
My cat leads a busy and interesting life. There’s the two hours of eating and grooming. There’s the one hour of demanding to either go out or come in. And then there’s the 21 hours of deep sleep that she needs to build up the strength to do it all over again the next day.