DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, March 1, 2026
George Herbert,
priest, poet, and hymn-writer, 1633
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Amos
5:6-15; Hebrews 12:1-14; Luke 18:9-14
SCRIPTURE
Luke
19:11 — The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you
that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this
tax collector.’
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I learned to brag early in life. As the
oldest child in our family, I could read about Dick and Jane before any of my
brothers or my sister. When I had a classmate in my grade, I felt pretty puffed
up seeing that my grades were better than his, never mind that he far excelled
me in our limited sports contests. Compared with my city cousins, I could lift
more hay bales, milk more cows, do more fieldwork on a tractor, or face more
deadly beasts in the hog pen than they could. Fortunately, I had a few “big kids”
at school, uncles and aunts in my family, and other adults in my life to give
me a “reality check” (we called it “putting me in my place” back then). When
comparing ourselves to other sinful humans, it is easy to get puffed up, like
the Pharisee in the temple. What he failed to do, and we must do, is compare
ourselves with a gracious, loving, forgiving, patient, and holy Creator and
Savior! When we do, we give ourselves a “reality check.” God creates out of
nothing. We create by the grace of the gifts God gives us. God loves, forgives,
and renews the worst of sinners. We aren’t always as kind. Jesus became our
perfect model for life and comparisons. How do we compare with Him? If we are
honest, most of us discover that we fall tremendously short of what God
intended us to be. Then, as often as we find out and confess our shortcomings,
we are forgiven and renewed. We sing, “Create in me a clean heart, oh God,
and renew a right spirit within me,” with confidence and joy, knowing our
great and awesome God is already at work, doing in us what we cannot do
ourselves. May our boasting be centered on the good works of Christ rather than
mere comparison with other “less than perfect” people!
PRAYER
O perfect God, you give me a reality check
every time I honestly confess my sins. You alone are unblemished, while I can
only come to your altar, knowing how short I fall. Forgive me and put the right
spirit within me as I go, and I will serve you joyfully. In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, March 2, 2026
John Wesley, 1791;
Charles Wesley, 1788; renewers of the Church
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Habakkuk
3:1-18; Philippians 3:12-21; John 17:1-8
SCRIPTURE
John
17:3 — And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
While
drawing a picture of Mighty Mouse “saving the day” in a farm scene, I had
already drawn on the blank spaces of the worship bulletin. My five-year-old
ears heard Pastor Ritzen say the words “eternal life.” Eternal seemed like a
long time, maybe even longer than the worship service itself. I can’t remember
his details, but my mind went into overdrive. My grandparents were pretty old.
Was eternal life as long as they lived? Where did heaven fit in that picture?
Somehow, I must have caught a few other words from the sermon that gave me the
impression heaven was eternal, but where was it? Were the stars in the sky
God’s robe? But if God was up there in heaven, how could He be down here too? I
drew a couple of silos on my farm on the bulletin that reached up to the
twinkling stars on God’s robe. I wondered if that was how God could be up there
and down here at the same time. Perhaps there was a giant silo that acted as a
tunnel between heaven and earth. Maybe Mighty Mouse had the answer - he could
fly! So perhaps God had wings like the angels. (Sorry, Pastor Ritzen, but I
missed the rest of your sermon. Before I knew it, you were done, my bulletin
didn’t have anymore white space to draw, and I decided “heaven is where God
is”, wherever that might be, and it would last a long time!) As an
older, more theologically astute (?) adult, I’m aware that I still believe in
my child-like faith. Jesus makes it clear that heaven is knowing God - is
eternal - is as close to us as we allow Jesus to be. How close to heaven and
eternal life would you like to be? All you need to do is invite Him into your
world! He’ll be there when Mighty Mouse is long forgotten to “save the day”
eternally!
PRAYER
Come,
O Holy One, into my life, thoughts, and being. It’s hard to comprehend that you
are everywhere, but thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, which dwells
within me. Until I am in eternity with you, let me be content knowing that
there are mysteries that I will never understand. I pray this in the name of
Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Perpetua and her
companions, martyrs at Carthage, 202
Thomas Aquinas,
teacher, 1274
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ezekiel
18:1-4, 25-32; Philippians 4:1-9; John 17:9-19
SCRIPTURE
John
17:15 — I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to
protect them from the evil one.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
My
parents worried about us when we went out to play. There were the dangers of
trees we liked to climb, a creek with a patch of quicksand, a mean-spirited
bull across a fence through which we could easily crawl, and a farm pond just
over the hill. While they were concerned about our safety, they did not lock us
in a padded room, away from every danger. When my twin brothers went to Vietnam,
Mom and Dad did not try to twist a congressman’s arm to get them out. When they
found out one of them would be sent to Vietnam and the other someplace else,
they asked a congressman to intervene so that they could serve together. Their
prayers were modeled after the high priestly prayer of Jesus several times a
day. They didn’t ask that the Twins and their other four children be taken out
of harm’s way but that God would protect us from all evil. Jesus knew that His
“children,” His disciples, had to live in the world to affect the world. There
was a period in history when monasteries and places of isolation were considered
refuges from the temptations and evil influences of the world. However, those
living in isolation seldom were able to have any meaningful or spiritual impact
on the world outside their cloistered walls. Like the twelve Jesus chose, we
must live in the real world to bring about positive change through our example
and work among real people. The prayer Jesus prayed for his disciples, He
prayed for every one of us who enlisted in His spiritual army. We face dangers
daily, but thanks be to God, we are protected from the evil one by the One who
has the power to do it!
PRAYER
Sometimes,
it would seem so easy to run away from it all and hide myself, O God. But I ask
that you protect me from all evil this day and send me out into the world to
spread your love through my work. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, March
4, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ezekiel
39:21-29; Philippians 4:10-20; John 17:20-26
SCRIPTURE
John
17:22 — “The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may
be one, as we are one,...”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
We
took pride (for that matter, we still do) in being members of the Sydow family
and the Roenfeldt family on Mom’s side, even though we had to admit to a few
questionable characters on the family trees. There were family feuds and
disagreements occasionally, but if a member of our extended family was going
through tough times, the ripple effect touched us all. I had ten aunts and
uncles on Dad’s side and 14 on Mom’s side, still living when I was growing up!
Family pride caused us to pull together when a need arose. There was also a
sense of school pride in the schools I attended. Even today, when I hear that a
former classmate or even an alumni I never knew from one of my schools has
received an award or made the news, I feel a sense of pride. I also feel sorrow
when I hear that one of them is sick, or dies, or is in trouble. There is an
unseen connection I have with them. Jesus prays that all His disciples will
experience that sense of oneness with Him and one another. When the church is
being the body of Christ we were called to be, we, too, should be able to
experience that oneness. We should be able to set aside our denominational
differences to share and express to the world that “in Christ,” we are one, and
together, as “the body of Christ,” we share the glory of God with a world
living in deep darkness. Satan loves to separate. Jesus loves to create
oneness. May you live in the oneness of Jesus’ all-encompassing love and grace!
PRAYER
Thank
you, my Lord, for giving me a sense of community and a church family that I can
call my own. I pray that I might consider all of your children part of a larger
family. Forgive me when I let differences get in the way of loving and being
one with them. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, March 5,
2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Daniel
9:3-10; Hebrews 2:10-18; John 12:44-50
SCRIPTURE
John
12:47 — “I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I
came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
When
I started playing a sousaphone in the band, I was uncertain about the director.
He had taught me the basics of the big wrap-around horn, but waving his stick
in front of the band on my first day with the band made him seem more ominous. I
could see him cringe occasionally out of the corner of my eye. Admittedly,
beginning band can often sound like fingernails scraping on a blackboard, so he
had good reason to cringe. Thankfully, he was a patient man. He didn’t yell or
chew us out when we played the wrong notes. Instead, he took time to help us
individually work through the difficult passages. It didn’t take long before I
realized he wasn’t there to beat music into us but to draw the best music out
of us. By the end of the year, we were not ready for prime-time TV, but the
“cringe times” had decreased significantly, and we sounded reasonably good.
Jesus was like that band director for his disciples and us. He didn’t come to
judge the “squeaks and squawks” of our sins but to save us from them and to
draw the best “music” possible from our lives. As our director, Jesus lets the
past of sin pass into history, thrilled with the music of love, mercy, justice,
and peace we can play when following His direction, His Way, His Truth, and His
Life. May your life become a symphony with the body of Christ as you follow the
Director of all Life!
PRAYER
Thank
you, Jesus, for selecting me to play in your band, being patient when I play
the wrong notes, and not giving up on me. Help me improve daily so that this
large band can become one and make beautiful music with you as our director. In
your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, March 6, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
37:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-19; Mark 1:1-13
SCRIPTURE
Mark
1:8 — “I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
My
second-grade teacher was good at art. She made it look so easy when she drew
pictures on the blackboard at the front of the room. I always wondered why she
didn’t become an artist. However, while in college, I saw some real artists at
a street fair, effortlessly creating paintings that made Miss Robinson’s
drawings seem primitive. Even they were primitive compared to what I saw at an
art gallery in Seattle. I was also thrilled to see the gracefulness of gymnasts
at practice in college, but they were only beginners compared with those I have
seen at Olympic events. The first concert for a name star that I attended was
by John Denver. Before his concert, a fantastic group came out to “warm us up.”
In and of themselves, they were great! I wouldn’t have minded a whole concert
of their music, but they reminded us that John was on his way for the concert!
And our excitement grew. The concert was fantastic, and I can’t remember the name
of the other group. John the baptizer saw himself for who he was - an announcer
for the main attraction. He could prepare - warm us up - for the one who was to
come. His “art” was primitive by comparison. He baptized with water. The One
coming would do so with the Holy Spirit - God Himself!!! I love to preach, but
I always pray that I am following John’s example, always pointing to the One of
whom I preach. John is a good model for all of us to follow. How well does your
life “warm people up” to receive the Lord and Savior of all? May you discover
new and better ways of using the gifts He gives you to announce “the main
attraction.”
PRAYER
Instruct
me in your ways, dear Jesus, so I will be prepared to “warm people up” to
receive you. I pray that everything I do will reflect you and focus people on
your greatness. Thank you for people like John who pointed the way to your
coming. In your name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, March 7,
2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
37:12-24; 1 Corinthians 1:20-31; Mark 1:14-28
SCRIPTURE
Mark
1:14-15 — Now, after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the
good news of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has
come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
was in a school play in high school. I enjoyed working behind the scenes as a stage
manager but was not overly excited when I ended up with a speaking part. In
fact, the thought of going on stage in front of people put my fear meter over
the top. I nervously paced backstage, going over and over my lines, waiting for
the play to begin. I was concentrating so hard that I missed the two-minute
signal and almost walked across the stage just as the curtain was being drawn.
Then, just as it came time for me to go on stage, someone said there was smoke
somewhere, and I was pushed out on stage to deliver my two lines of dialogue. I
got them out rather stiffly, but out of the corner of my eye, I could see someone
stomping on a portion of the curtain off-stage. I was distracted and missed my
cue to leave the stage. Fortunately, one of the leads had the good sense to add
a line in his script, something like, “Isn’t it time for you to go to your
room?” And I went. The time was
fulfilled! Jesus had to create His own script, too. He was the lead character
in the Divine drama, and very few, if any, people knew who He was. His lines
were short but packed with powerful meaning: “Repent and believe.” Most
people probably missed their importance at the time, just as most people don’t
truly grasp their significance in our day. To repent is to acknowledge sin and
consider its impact on our relationship with God. To believe is to do something
about our repentance - to make a plan, be accountable to someone, and then act
on it. Just saying we’re sorry isn’t enough. Are you ready to “Repent and
Believe”? Jesus ushered in the Kingdom so that we could enjoy eternal time with
Him. The time is now! The stage awaits! That is Good News!
PRAYER
I
am sorry for putting you last on my list, my Lord, and for treating others as
if they didn’t matter. Forgive and direct me so I turn around to follow you and
your script for me, O Holy One. Help me overcome my unbelief so that I can act
on my remorse. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, March 8, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
37:25-36; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; Mark 1:29-45
SCRIPTURE
Mark
1:35 — In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to
a deserted place, and there he prayed.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
There
was something neat about getting up in the dark before I became a teenager. It
meant a special breakfast, just with Dad, or a trip to someplace far away.
However, when the “teens” arrived, my body wanted to stay in “St. Mattress” to
“meditate,” although, in truth, I just wanted a little extra sleep. But, when
the alarm went off at four AM, the most I could drag it out was about ten
minutes, before the thunder and lightning struck, making sleep impossible
anyway! The thought of actually getting up early to pray and meditate didn’t
take root in my system until after I was out of school and started writing.
Then, it seemed as if some of my best ideas came in those early morning hours.
I began to understand why Jesus spent that time in prayer. I’ve been following
that pattern, especially when there are worries, concerns, or needs for which I
have no solutions. I sit silently for a few minutes, offer my petitions, and
wait in silence. Sometimes, the outcome is simply a sense of peace. At other
times, images, words, or people come to mind for which I pray. I try to write
down what I experience. The results are letters to people, ideas for sermons,
songs to be sung, or, quite often, devotional thoughts like these. Early
morning hours are not for everyone, but they are a true blessing for me. Do you
have a time and place where you can allow God to speak to you? May you be
happily surprised when you commit yourself to keeping an appointment with your Lord!
PRAYER
There
are so many noises and distractions in our world, dear Lord: people needing my
attention, things I want to accomplish, the telephone ringing, or some other
background noise that draws me away from you. Quiet me so you and I may spend
just a little time alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, March 9, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
39:1-23; 1 Corinthians 2:14 - 3:15; Mark 2:1-12
SCRIPTURE
Mark
2:4 — And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they
removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the
mat on which the paralytic lay.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
A
popular restaurant near Ozark, Missouri, advertises itself as “the home of the
throwed rolls.” The waiter walks around with pans of large, hot, fresh-baked
dinner rolls, which he throws to people from wherever he happens to be. The
restaurant is usually packed with busloads of tourists on their way to or from
Branson. One of the last times we ate there, we saw two buses unload their
passengers. The line-up curved outside the front door and across the front of
the building. We almost turned around and drove away, but took a chance there
might be two seats somewhere and wove our way through the crowd to the desk. To
our surprise, there were just two unoccupied seats, and we were ushered right
in past two long lines of hungry tourists. The paralyzed man was hungry for
healing. We don’t know much about him, but he had long ago given up on getting
to the front of the line. However, he had some friends who cared about him
enough that they were not about to let busloads of “tourists” stand between
their friend and the one who could heal him. Not only did they carry him there,
but when the way was blocked, they tore the roof off, made a hammock, and
lowered him down to where he needed to be. What a testament to friendship. The
“rest of the story” tells us that Jesus took notice, forgave the man of his
sins, and healed him. What kind of friend are you? Are you willing to overcome
any obstacle to see your friends hear the good news, receive forgiveness, and
find healing for their souls? Jesus waits to see. May this be a day when you
“tear the roof off” your excuses to act in the name of Christ!
PRAYER
Thank
you for those people you have graced me with by being friends, dear God. I have
been blessed by their presence in my life. Forgive me when I don’t act as I
should toward them. Change me so I truly am the friend that they need so they
also know who Christ is. It is in His name that I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, March 10,
2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
40:1-23; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Mark 2:13-22
SCRIPTURE
Mark
2:21 — “No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the
patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Dad
sent me to the corn crib to repair some of the boards falling apart on the
access door. I took a hammer, some boards, a saw, and plenty of nails big
enough to secure King Kong’s cage. I cut the boards to the correct size and
tried to nail them into place, but my nails went into old, splintering two-by-fours
that had been nailed into a hundred million times before. Nothing would hold.
Dad came by to check on my progress. He wasn’t pleased with my choice of
“bridge spikes” for nails but saw my problem. We had to replace the two-by-fours
before we could make the other repairs. Jesus pointed out a similar problem
with cloth. After a while, it gets old and weak, and it cannot stand the strain
put on it by a patch that will shrink. The resulting tear will create an even
worse condition. Sometimes, we must replace the old. Sometimes, in our lives,
we need to search for what is important to us. We can hold on to “the way we
always did things.” We can’t continue to
act and talk the way we always did. What are we willing to let Jesus replace
with a “new cloak” of righteousness or a “new wineskin”? He’ll provide the “new
creation,” but He wants us to decide to let Him change us. What an exciting
possibility it is to be a new creature in Christ!
PRAYER
Ew...
sometimes I hold on for dear life, those things which I am used to and are like
a comfortable “old cloth,” my Lord. I hate to let them go. Forgive me and make
me new again so I will accept other things that are new for the sake of your
kingdom. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, March
11, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
41:1-13; 1 Corinthians 4:1-7; Mark 2:23 - 3:6
SCRIPTURE
Mark
2:27 — Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not
humankind for the Sabbath;”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Our
visiting city cousins never understood the lifestyle and work ethic of the
farm. They caught glimpses of it by following us but never got their feet
muddy. Occasionally, one of them would spend the night and thought getting up
at 4 AM to milk cows was a great adventure, something they could brag about.
However, they never wanted to spend a whole week with us. After the first full
day, they were tired and ready to return home. The glamour faded from their
eyes. I guess most of the non-farm population looks at farming with rose-colored
glasses, seeing in it the movie version of the “gentleman farmer” sitting on
his porch sipping lemonade and relaxing. The major problem of farming, much
like that of pastoral ministry, is establishing and taking a day off - a
Sabbath. The biblical model Genesis and Deuteronomy give us reminds us that God
created everything in six days and declared the seventh day a Sabbath. However,
we forget that God created people on the sixth day. Thus, on the first day
after the creation of humans, God told them to rest before they went to work.
Some of us have it backward. We work until we are ready to drop and then take a
day of rest to catch up. No wonder we often hear, “TGIF!” (“Thank God it’s
Friday!)That wasn’t the way God intended it. God intended the Sabbath to be a
day for humankind to rest up for the next six days, not from the last six days.
How do you use the Sabbath God intended for you? May you discover the blessing
of being recharged by God’s Word for a new and exciting week to come!
PRAYER
Thank
you for creating me and all things, O God. Thank you also for giving me Sabbath
rest so I can charge myself for the coming week and the work I need to do. Fill
me with your Spirit as I worship you and praise your wonder and glory. I pray
for all this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, March
12, 2026
Gregory the Great,
Bishop of Rome, 604
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
41:14-45; Romans 6:3-14; John 5:19-24
SCRIPTURE
John
5:14 — “Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you have
been made well! Do not sin anymore so that nothing worse happens to you.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
After
we finished our chores, we took baths in preparation for a trip to town. Mom
warned us to stay clean so we’d be ready to go. However, while Mom was getting
the other boys ready, my sister and I were sent down the hill from the house to
ensure the hogs had water in their trough. Their trough was right next to the
cattle’s water tank, which often overflowed, to the delight of the hogs. They
had created a wallow in which they enjoyed rooting and resting. Unfortunately,
they frequently pushed their water trough into the wallow, so we had to fish it
somehow out and clean it out before we could fill it for them. That morning, we
wanted to be especially careful. The trough was too heavy to pull out with a
stick, so we threw a log on the path. I carefully walked on the log while my
sister held my hand for balance. We were almost to the trough when I lost my
balance, pulling her off balance, too. The two of us landed in the mud, clean
clothes and all. We did get the pigs watered, but Mom was not pleased! Who knows
what messy sins caused the paralyzed man Jesus healed to be sick for 38 years?
We only know that Jesus healed him. Like my mother, Jesus wanted the man to
“stay clean” for his journey through life. Those of us struggling with weight
know fully well that losing weight does us no good if we go back to the same
bad eating and exercise habits we had before. Once God forgives our sins, we
must take the same advice given by Mom, by a nutritionist, and by Jesus: Do not
sin anymore! Isn’t it great to know that Jesus wants to make us whole? But
isn’t it even better to know that Jesus wants us to stay whole, healthy, and
forgiven?
PRAYER
It
is such a struggle, dear Father when I try to do the right thing but continue
to slip back into the mud of my sins. Please forgive me and strengthen me so I
will follow your clean path all my life. I thank you for picking me up once
again if I fall. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, March 13, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
41:46-57; 1 Corinthians 4:8-21; Mark 3:7-19
SCRIPTURE
Mark
3:14-15 — And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him,
and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out
demons.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
The
nature of farming changed over the years, even as I was growing up. When I was
small, my parents milked three or four cows, raised a few chickens, a couple
dozen pigs, and a small pen of feeder cattle, and farmed enough land to produce
the feed for the animals and hopefully enough left over to sell to pay for
seed, fuel, and food they didn’t raise themselves. As I grew older, the number
of animals and the acres of land increased. They depended on the ability of my
sister, my brothers, and me to help feed and care for them. When I left for
college, we milked about 50 cows, and the number of other animals and the acres
of land increased accordingly. However, the numbers began diminishing when my
sister and brothers left home. It was more than two people could handle. Jesus
knew that He could only reach a limited number of villages, preach a limited
number of sermons, and heal a limited number of people. To increase His
ministry, he chose twelve to teach and send out in His name to do the same
thing He was doing. Later, He would select more. While some disagree with the
concept of “apostolic succession,” it is rooted in how Jesus multiplied His
ministry. It did not convey some mystical or supernatural “holier than thou”
quality on the apostles. It simply conveyed to them an authority and a
responsibility to fulfill His mission on earth. In that sense, we are all
called disciples (learners) and apostles (sent ones) and bearers of the
“apostolic succession” Jesus places on every baptized member of His body, the
Church. Praise the Lord! In Jesus’ name, you have a mission!
PRAYER
Thank
you, dear Lord, for calling me to discipleship. Let me always be mindful of the
great importance of the work of your kingdom. Thank you for placing me in a
large group of other believers who can work with me. I pray this
in your Holy Name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, March
14, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
42:1-17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8; Mark 3:19-35
SCRIPTURE
Mark
2:28-29 — “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and
whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Some
friends had a stray dog wander onto their place. It seemed skittish and afraid
of people. Loud noises sent it running. They fed it, provided a place to sleep,
and attempted to befriend him, but could never get too close without it
growling or running away. The dog acted as a noisy watchdog for their farm for
several years until they noticed the disappearance of chickens and baby pigs.
Since the dog took off and wandered for days and weeks, they assumed coyotes
were raiding the pens when the dog was gone. Other farmers complained of
similar losses. Then, our friend happened to come in from the field, heard a
pig squealing, and saw the dog killing a young pig and dragging it off. With
that, he went to the house, got his gun, and ended the dog’s life. He could put
up with the dog’s growling and wayward ways, but killing livestock was an
unforgivable sin. Jesus declares that God is willing to forgive just about any
wayward way, but when we take advantage of His grace, turn our backs on Him,
and deny His existence, there can be no forgiveness. It’s hard to give someone
a gift if they turn their back on us, and God refuses to take away a person’s
free will to force His grace on them. It grieved our friend to have to kill the
barnyard dog, but the dog had turned its back on the hand that fed it and
provided for it. There was nothing more he could do. No doubt God feels an even
more profound grief when His children turn on Him. May we always return to the
loving grace of our Creator and Redeemer!
PRAYER
O
God, you have created me with your mighty and loving hand. Thank you for giving
me life and free will. Keep me in your embrace, and never let me stray far from
your side. Forgive me for those times I have turned my back on your ways. In
Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, March 15, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
42:18-28; 1 Corinthians 5:9 - 6:11; Mark 4:1-20
SCRIPTURE
Mark
4:1 — Again, he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered
around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole
crowd was beside the sea on the land.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
enjoy gardening, so on warm spring days, my mind wants to think about moving
plants and planting seeds. I already have some seeds planted in flats. If they
all survive, I’ll have way more than garden space. One of the hardest things
for me is throwing plants away. At one time, I had cramped about 60 herbs into
a small garden area. I was forced to thin some of them out. They can’t thrive
perfectly if they compete for moisture and nutrients with other plants. If my
herbs were people, I’d have been forced to back up into the middle of the
street with them, not something the street department would appreciate. I wish
I had that effect on people when I speak the way Jesus did. Those people were
so hungry and thirsty for His Word that they backed Him into the Sea of Galilee
and forced Him to get in a boat to finish His sermon. They must have spread the
Word to their friends and neighbors because the crowd kept growing. Many people
are hungry and thirsty for the Good News in the world. They don’t know they are
hungry or thirsty, so they need a friend or neighbor to invite them to receive
the best news. You might not be a gardener, teacher, or preacher, but you could
be a friend. You need not even elaborate on the message. All you need to do is
be a friend and invite. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. Then, maybe next
Sunday, there will be so many people at worship that you’ll have to sit in the
front pew! Wouldn’t that be fun?
PRAYER
Stir
your Holy Spirit within me, O my Savior, and use me to spread and cultivate
your Good News. Forgive me and change my heart when I feel “crowded out” when
new people come to worship. Instead, let me rejoice as you do. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, March 16, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
42:29-38; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; Mark 4:21-34
SCRIPTURE
Mark
4:21 — He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel
basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
There
were lots of things I hid when I was young. I hid toys I didn’t want my younger
brothers to break. I hid a sandwich I wanted to eat later in a drawer in my
room. (Mom wasn’t happy when she found it!) Somewhere in the grove of trees
north of the house, there is a tin can with a secret code, two silver pennies,
and a piece of cellophane-wrapped caramel still waiting to be found. (I forgot
to draw a map to it.) But I never tried to hide a light unless it was the
flashlight under the covers when I wanted to read a new comic book (again),
which counts. The marvelous thing about candles is the flickering light that
fills a room. Grandma’s hurricane lamp was even better. She could read her
Bible by its light if the lights went out. The only people who wanted to hide a
light were bank robbers and other bad guys trying to hide from the law. A
friend told me that during WWII, he flew over Germany and was ordered to drop
the unused bombs anywhere they saw light from villages they flew over. No
doubt, that was another good reason to hide your light. However, the followers
of Christ, with nothing to hide and everything to share, are encouraged to “let
their light shine for all people to see.” Still, some claim to be Christians in
certain places but don’t want some other people to know they are Christians.
How do you let your light shine? Are you willing to speak like a follower of
Christ? Are you willing to act as Christ would in every time and place? May God
give us all the courage to let our lights shine in all circumstances!
PRAYER
I
can sing with joy the song of my childhood, “this little light of mine, I’m
going to let it shine,” because you have made me your light, my dear Lord. Use
me as a guide so others will see the brightness of your love for them. In the
name of the Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, March 17,
2026
Patrick, Bishop,
missionary to Ireland, 461
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
43:1-15; 1 Corinthians 7:1-9; Mark 4:35-41
SCRIPTURE
Mark
4:39 — He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!”
Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
take after my Uncle Clarence in his love for napping after lunch. It didn’t
last more than 15 or 20 minutes, but he claimed it helped him work harder the
rest of the day. When I was about seven, he and his two boys came to help us
thresh oats. After a hard morning of work and a big “dinner,” he settled on the
couch for a nap. With two cousins to play with, napping was not on our minds.
Unfortunately, our roughhousing woke Clarence before he wanted to be awakened.
It was the only time I saw him angry. One loud “Enough!” and we all knew
lightning and thunder had struck, and we had better be quiet! We took our games
outside, but Clarence was in a bad mood the rest of the day. After a long, hard
day preaching, teaching, and healing, Jesus was exhausted and fell asleep in
the boat. The storm came up quickly, creating instant terror in the disciples
who, no doubt, had lost friends to storms at sea. In a panic, the disciples
woke Jesus from His nap. Instead of yelling at them, He rebuked the source of
the problem, and “there was a dead calm.” Lots of storms rage about us in our
lives - storms of conflict, storms of struggle, storms of finances, storms of
activity, storms of illness or injury or depression. Jesus gives us a better
way to deal with them. He confronts the source of the problem rather than their
side-effects. The medical world has been doing more and more of that same
thing, trying to get to the source of the infection, the cancer, and the
symptoms of an illness. For some, it is stress. For others, it is diet, lack of
exercise, smoking, drinking, failure to drink water, or an addiction. Jesus
stands with us in our boat, willing to rebuke the storms if we are willing to
face them. Who or what will you listen to? Those who scream “Defeat!” or the
One who proclaims, “Peace! Be still!”?
PRAYER
When
storms are raging within me and around me, thank you, dear Savior, for your
calming assurance that you are in charge. Help me to face my storms and the
things that battle for the health of my body and soul, knowing you can handle
everything thrown at me. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, March
18, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
43:16-24; 1 Corinthians 7:10-24; Mark 5:1-20
SCRIPTURE
Mark
5:9 — Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion,
for we are many.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
We
didn’t call the veterinarian very often. We tried to care for our animals
ourselves. But sometimes, an animal would be sick for no apparent reason. There
were many symptoms, but nothing our remedies seemed to work on. The vet would
come with his bag and trunk full of supplies. He would check all the symptoms
we described and then check for other things I seldom understood. Finally, he
would give us the name of the illness. He had to do that before he could give
us a remedy for the animal. Jesus, the Great Physician, had to do the same with
the man possessed by a legion of demons. He needed to determine their name and
number to deliver the remedy. Medical science has followed that pattern, too,
and, in recent years, has discovered that spiritual symptoms are often as
important, possibly even more important, than physical symptoms. Chaplains and
pastors are frequently included in the healing team, recognizing that true
healing only comes from above. Doctors admit that they are their own worst
patients. They need another doctor to give them a diagnosis and prescribe
treatment. We all need other members of the community of faith, the church, to
help us name our “demons” and cast them out. Thank God we have been grafted
into the body of Christ at baptism so that we are not alone. Have you been to
see the Great Physician lately? He may have a healing word for you, too!
PRAYER
O
Great Physician, thank you for putting me into a community of faith, the
hospital, and your church, where I can hear your healing words and be touched
by others you have sent to heal. Use me also to give a healing touch to those
in need and help me to do no harm. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, March
19, 2026
Joseph, guardian
of our Lord
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
44:1-17; Romans 9:1-10; John 5:25-29
SCRIPTURE
John
5:29 — “...The hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his
voice and will come out– those who have done good, to the resurrection of life,
and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
was acquainted with death early in life, not only with the death of some very
good dogs, hit by cars, and other farm animals that died from various causes
but also with the death of very close grandparents. I also worked in funeral
homes when I was in college and seminary. I can’t remember a year going by
since then when I did not conduct or attend numerous funerals. I have witnessed
the burials of infants and very old people, youth in their prime, and old
codgers who were “over the hill.” It seems to me that the most challenging part
of funerals is always the burial. That seemed to make it absolutely final. Up
to that point, there may have been, however slim or impossible, a hope that the
deceased would open their eyes and be OK. Burial takes even that shred of
possibility away. I’ve even seen people collapse at the graveside. At one
burial, a woman flung herself on the casket, causing the funeral director to
panic at the thought of the apparatus holding the casket falling into the grave.
She left the rest of us gasping in shock. Jesus knew His first disciples (and
the early church) would have similar problems. Death and burial seem so final.
But Jesus declares that death and the grave do not have the final Word. God
does! God can even raise the dead from their graves. In the book of Revelation,
we are reminded that God is doing a NEW thing and giving us NEW (and much
improved!) bodies that are fit for heaven. Whether cremated or buried on land
or in the sea, the dead in Christ will hear His voice and come out of their
graves with new bodies adorned and dressed by God Himself! Praise God from whom
all blessings flow!!!
PRAYER
Thank
you, O God, that death is not the final Word. Thank you for the promises of new
life when this old body is cast off, and I will be given a new one in you.
Sometimes, I miss those who have gone before me horribly, but let me rejoice
that someday, we may all praise your name together again. I pray this in the
name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, March 20, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
44:18-34; 1 Corinthians 7:25-31; Mark 5:21-43
SCRIPTURE
Mark
5:25-26 — Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for
twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all that
she had, and she was no better but rather grew worse.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
One
of the boys in town, a couple of years younger than me, had a bad heart from an
early childhood illness. What made him stand out was that his sisters pulled
him around town in a coaster wagon. He looked perfectly healthy to me, but
evidently, he was sicker than he looked. His parents were very poor. No doubt,
what little they had went for doctors and medicines for him. We probably know
people who seem to spend every dime they get, going from doctor to doctor
trying to get well. Some, but not all, are simply hypochondriacs who love the
attention they get from being sick and taking pills. This boy was not one of
them. Even today, the only medical cure for him would probably be a heart transplant.
The woman, healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe, was not hypochondriac
either. She had done everything humanly possible and spent all her money to get
relief, but nothing worked - until Jesus! Is there a physical, mental, or
spiritual ailment you’ve been struggling with? Have you tried everything
humanly possible without results? Jesus is nearby. Reach out to Him, and He
will reach out to you. I love Michelangelo’s painting of God and man reaching
out to each other. Note - the man (us) is so close to touching the finger of
God but doesn’t seem willing to exert the effort! Are you? May you discover the
full impact of God’s grace today!
PRAYER
O
Mighty Healer, reach down and touch me with your caring love and remove all
that is keeping me from a healthy life. Restore my body and soul and send me
out, telling others about your love for them. Thank you for the knowledge that
someday, there will be no more sickness, sorrow, or pain. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, March
21, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
45:1-15; 1 Corinthians 7:32-40; Mark 6:1-13
SCRIPTURE
Mark
6:12-13 — So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out
many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
had a brief stint as the manager of a music store in Concordia, Kansas. The
owner of the store I worked at when I was in college in Norfolk, Nebraska, also
owned a store in Concordia. The previous manager had been caught “fixing the
books” and was fired. While the new manager was moving in, Tom sent me to keep
the store open. I had two years’ experience working in the main store, and
business in Concordia was very slow in the summer, so I represented the store
owner. It was not all that exciting, but it was a great experience. It also
helped me discover what I did not want to do with the rest of my life! Jesus
sent the twelve disciples out as His representatives, not to keep the store
doors open but to do what they had seen Him do. They came back really charged
up and excited about what they were called and sent to do. Knowing “the rest of
the story,” we know they were just beginning to get their feet wet in the
mission Jesus called them to carry out. Have you considered being a disciple
(learner) of Jesus? Have you stepped out in faith to do what Jesus did? Is it
possible that you’ve been sitting on your call long enough, and Jesus is
waiting patiently for you to act on your call so that He can empower you to be
the best you can be in His name? May the Spirit fill you with the anticipation
of accepting His call and the joy of watching Him work through you!
PRAYER
You
called me, dear Jesus, at the time of my baptism. Stir your Holy Spirit given
to me at that baptism, so I take my call seriously. Whatever you would have me
do, empower me and give me the abilities that I need so that I might act. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Jonathan Edwards,
teacher, missionary, 1758
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
45:16-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 6:13-29
SCRIPTURE
Mark
6:14 — King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were
saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and for this reason
these powers are at work in him.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
We
played “gossip” in country school. Sitting in a circle, someone whispered a
word or a phrase in someone else’s ear, who passed it to the next person. The
“message” was passed on until it reached the originator. Seldom did the same
message return to the sender without minor and/or major revisions, some of
which were hilarious, but some so severely distorted that we wondered how they
got into the game. Word spreads fast, especially in a rural area or a small
town, often with the same effect. Word had spread like wildfire about this
preacher from Nazareth. It’s anybody’s guess how strange the message must have
been when it reached Herod’s ear. Already paranoid, Herod’s nerves didn’t need
these rumors. His guilt over his murderous past may have multiplied his fears
of having his throne taken from him by this miracle worker. While we may
deplore Herod’s lifestyle, methods of getting his way, and his cruel streak,
the grapevines for spreading good and bad news still function in our day. How
good are you at spreading the truth about the One who was Truth in the flesh?
The forces of evil have no problem using the grapevine and the rumor mills to
spread lies and deceptions. We can be disgusted with them, but we must also
admire their smarts in using what is available. May we use every method to
spread the Word and “keep the rumor going that God is alive”!
PRAYER
I
am so sorry for the times I have been more than eager to gossip and share the
“bad” news about others, my Lord. I am also sorry that, at the same time, I
have sat silently when someone has needed to hear your “Good News.” Forgive me,
change me, and then send me out to spread the rumor that you live. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, March 23, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
46:1-7, 28-34; 1 Corinthians 9:1-15; Mark 6:30-46
SCRIPTURE
Mark
6:30-31 — The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had
done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by
yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no
leisure even to eat.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
We
first traveled to Europe with a ten-person choir in 1990. It was both a dream
come true and a trip of a lifetime. We went with songs to sing and words to
share in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. Eleven others joined us, mostly
older people for whom it was a dream they never thought possible. We sang in
churches, large and small, to audiences primarily small. We were like the first
disciples sent to proclaim good news in many ways. When we returned to the
small town of Soldier, Iowa, we bubbled over with story after story. We could
hardly contain ourselves. Jet lag was our common malady. It was the voice of
Jesus urging us to rest for a while. Jesus knew the adrenaline rush of the
disciples from personal experience. He also knew they needed to rest to prepare
themselves for their ministry in the world effectively. It is an excellent
model to follow: rest for work rather than work for rest. How do you spend your
Sabbath? Do you use it to rest up from a long, hard week, or do you spend it
trying to rest up for the work God has given you to do? Do you use it to rest
at all? When God created people, the first thing God gave them to do with Him
was take a Sabbath of rest before they went about their work of being fruitful
- and productive. May you discover that kind of rest of a true Sabbath!
PRAYER
Thank
you for giving me the Sabbath, O God, so I may rest and be prepared to do the
work you have called me to do. Refresh me in your Word, in singing hymns and
coming to your table. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, March 24,
2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis
47:1-26; 1 Corinthians 9:16-27; Mark 6:47-56
SCRIPTURE
Mark 14:23 — Then
he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and all of them
drank from it.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Amazingly, our
whole school didn’t get sick and die! Our teacher would fill a large crock
water container for us every day. I never paid too much attention to how often
the tin cup hanging nearby was washed - probably once a week, if that. It was a
“common cup” used by everyone from kindergarten through eighth graders to the
teacher herself. We undoubtedly shared our colds and fevers quite freely over
the years at District #35. The “common cup” Jesus shared with His friends was a
tangible lesson in oneness. Many churches use small individual cups for
communion, but the option of a single cup illustrates that same oneness. There
is something special about everyone sharing the same cup, but we must remind
ourselves it is not the cup that is important. It is what the cup contains.
“This is my blood....” Jesus proclaims. We receive Jesus Himself in the great
mystery of Holy Communion, in the meal commemorating the great Passover feast
Jesus and His disciples were celebrating “... the night He was betrayed”. But there
is even more! That Passover meal commemorated the night when the angel of death
“passed over” the houses of the children of Israel who had painted their
doorposts with the blood of an innocent lamb. Jesus declares Himself to be that
“lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” with His body and blood. So
much holy history is packed into that small morsel of bread and a tiny sip of
wine. May you experience the joy of your salvation when you receive the body of
Christ and the blood of Christ, shed for you, and declare: “AMEN!”
PRAYER
As I receive your
body and blood through the bread and wine, my dear Savior, let it fill me with
your forgiveness and love for others. Thank you for this gift and the
ever-lasting covenant you made for me and everyone. As you have made me one
with you, help me to be one with others. AMEN!
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, March
25, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE
IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 47:27 -
48:7; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Mark 7:1-23
SCRIPTURE
John 13:38 — Jesus
answered (Peter), “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you,
before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
One of my city
cousins came to stay with us at the farm for a few days, about haying time. We
knew we’d be picking up bales in the hot sun and asked if he was sure he wanted
to stay that week. He was really excited. “Sure!” he said, “sounds like fun.”
He probably thought we were just pulling his leg when we told him we thought he
was crazy. The next day, he wasn’t quite ready to go out of bed at 4 AM to help
with chores, but he made it to the barn as we finished milking and washing up.
After breakfast, we had to search around to find some work gloves and a hat,
neither of which he thought he needed. When we finally reached the field and he
saw all the bales, I could see he wasn’t sure he’d made the right decision. By
the time we had our first full load, he was riding the tractor. That night, he
was ready to go home. In the excitement of the hour, Peter is firm in his
relationship with Jesus. He’s willing to die for Him! Peter can’t imagine
anything but success in overcoming all obstacles. In his wildest dreams, Peter
could not imagine turning his back on Jesus or denying he knew Him. But we know
the “rest of the story.” Sadly, there are moments in our lives when our
relationship with Jesus is on the line. We may have been committed like Peter
at our confirmation or when we joined the church. However, on Sunday morning,
when the golf course beckons, the fish are biting, and the game is about to
start, or in a restaurant, when the food is served and it’s time to pray, will
we deny ourselves and our comfort, or deny Jesus? Thank God, He gives us new
opportunities to return to the Lord daily!
PRAYER
When I made the
vows at my confirmation and other times, I intended to always be true to them,
dear Jesus. I am sorry for being like Peter and ignoring them when I felt there
were “better things to do.” Forgive me and make me stronger in my commitment to
you. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, March
26, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE
IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 48:8-22;
Romans 8:11-25; John 6:27-40
SCRIPTURE
John 6:33 — “For
the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the
world.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
If our cows had
been rational beings who could talk, they probably would have believed that the
hay that floated down from the hay loft was their “bread from God.” One part of
our barn was open so the cows could escape the bad weather. One side of the hay
mow was open next to that area so we could throw down bedding and hay during
the winter. It was not a large area, but most of the cows squeezed in in bad
weather. They didn’t seem to mind being hit by slabs of hay bales. I think they
looked forward to it. The “bread from heaven” God sent Moses and the wandering
Israelites appeared to fall from heaven each morning. The bread from heaven”
God sent for us came in the form of a baby in a manger who grew to be a man of
grace and love. The manna in the wilderness was only good for a day before it
spoiled. The “bread of Life” called Jesus is a “bread” which will be with us
forever. Which would you rather have? The only time we fed our cattle “from
above” was when the weather was bad. The “bread of God which comes down from
heaven” comes to us every day. In fact, He is the bread that does more than
“stick to our ribs.” He is a bread that sticks to our souls to give us life in
this world and the next. We need not settle for a bit of hay when things get
bad, nor a bread that gets moldy and spoils with age. We can rejoice in the One
who “gives us this day our daily bread.” Hungry yet? Jesus is serving!
PRAYER
Come to me, Bread
of Life, for I am starving for what only you can give. Nourish me so I will
grow in trust and love for you and others. Sustain me throughout this day and
every day. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, March 27, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE
IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 49:1-28; 1
Corinthians 10:14 - 11:1; Mark 7:24-37
SCRIPTURE
Luke 24:30-31 —
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and
gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he
vanished from their sight.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I think it was
Mark Twain who said that the rumors of his death were highly exaggerated. I
discovered that truth from the other side. I heard that someone I knew had
died. We were not in the area at the time, but when we returned years later, I
sat across from a man who looked somewhat familiar. I didn’t want to embarrass
myself by asking his name. His voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t name him.
Several hours after dinner, I got to think about him. I was puzzled because the
person I thought he looked and sounded like was supposed to be dead! I finally
asked someone from the area. It was the person I thought it was, and “the
rumors of his death were highly exaggerated!” On the other hand, the disciples
of Jesus watched his torture under the whip in horror. They witnessed His
pain-wracked body hanging on a cross. Many of them saw Him breathe His last
breath, helped take His bloody, lifeless body from the cross, and helped place
it in a borrowed tomb. He was dead! There was no doubt about that! It was not just
a rumor. On the third day, the rumors started flying. People were seeing Him
alive! Walking and talking with Him did not jog their memories, but when He
broke bread with them, the Truth freed their eyes, minds, and hearts! It was no
rumor! He was dead, but now He is alive! May the shocking truth of Easter reach
your heart, mind, and soul with the best news of all! As St. Paul declared,
“Because He lives, we shall live also!”
PRAYER
O glorious day, my
Savior! You are still not dead, but you are alive! When I come to your table to
receive the bread and the wine, when I break bread with you and others who
surround me, let the realization of Easter come to me, knowing that because you
live, I also will live. Hallelujah. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, March
28, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE
IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 49:1-28; 1
Corinthians 11:2-34; Mark 8:1-10
SCRIPTURE
Mark 8:8 — They
ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven
baskets full.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
To raise money for
a choir trip to Scandinavia, we made and sold pizzas by the dozens. The
afternoon we set aside to put the ingredients together, there were only a
handful of people and case upon case of ingredients. We looked at each other
and wondered if we had made a mistake in planning the project. How could so few
of us make a dent in the mountain of pizzas we needed to make? Then, one by
one, more people arrived. Before long, we had an army of pizza makers buzzing
around, laying out packages, measuring ingredients, layering them on, labeling,
and packaging the finished pizzas for distribution. At one point, we had so
many people we were bumping into one another. It was the opposite of the
problem Jesus and the disciples faced - thousands of people and very few
ingredients to feed them. In both situations, God provided. It’s incredible
that in the short book of Mark, there are two stories of Jesus feeding
multitudes of people - 5000 in one story and 4000 in another. And still, the
disciples didn’t get it. Shortly after this occurred, they were on a boat
arguing where they would get enough food for supper. How dumb can they be!? But
wait! Don’t we do that whenever the ushers pass the offering plate? Don’t we,
too, wonder if we’ll have enough to give generously? God has provided for all
our needs to date, just like He did for His disciples. Do we think God will
stop providing? “Look at the birds of the air....” “Look at the flowers....” Jesus assures us
that God will provide. The manna did not stop falling in the wilderness until
the people reached the Promised Land. What an incredible promise! Need people?
Need ingredients? Need anything! God will not fail, and He may even use us to
see that others have what they need, too!
PRAYER
O God of
abundance, thank you for providing us with our daily needs. You lavish grace
upon grace, forgiveness upon forgiveness. Help us to trust in you enough that
we will be as generous with what you have given us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Hans Nielsen
Hauge, lay preacher, renewer of the Church, 1824
THROUGH THE BIBLE
IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 50:15-26;
1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Mark 8:11-26
SCRIPTURE
Mark 8:14 — Now,
the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread, and they had only one loaf with
them in the boat.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The night I slept
overnight at school because of a blizzard was much more difficult for the older
kids. I was a skinny kindergarten runt who seldom ate half the lunch Mom packed
for me. The older kids hadn’t left much more than a few leftover bread crusts.
About six o’clock, when it was apparent we were staying the night and that
there wouldn’t be anything to eat, we all started searching our lunch bags and
boxes. I still had half a sandwich, most of a piece of cake, and a half-eaten
apple. Sharing with eight hungry people wasn’t much, but I didn’t mind. I was
too excited to be hungry. Only about an hour later, a neighbor saw the school
lights and came on his tractor to investigate. He left and returned an hour
later with a feast in a large picnic basket. There was so much we had leftovers
the following day. God had provided through a neighboring farmer. As I
mentioned yesterday, twice the disciples saw Jesus take a few loaves and fish
and feed thousands of people. Now, on the boat, they realize they only have one
loaf and 13 hungry mouths to feed! How forgetful can they be?! But then again,
we do the same thing, don’t we? God provides for all we need, but we still
worry about what we will have to eat or what we will wear. If we are honest, we
might be able to admit that it’s not the things we need to worry about. It’s
the things we want. This would be a good day to consider what is important in
our lives. Then, we can give thanks for all that God has provided.
PRAYER
As I stop to pray
and to ponder dear Father, I can scarcely believe how generous you have been
with me. I have always had enough to eat and, most of the time, would have had
enough to share. Thank you for all that you have provided. In your Son’s name,
I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, March 30, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE
IN TWO YEARS
Exodus 1:6-22; 1
Corinthians 12:12-26; Mark 8:27 - 9:1
SCRIPTURE
Mark 8:36 — For
what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We had some farm
animals that just had to go. They were mean, dangerous, or expensive to keep.
There was a dog that started killing chickens. We tried scolding, but that did
no good. We tried tying a dead chicken around his neck, but it seemed to be
more repulsive to us than to the dog. Spanking did no good, either. When
nothing we could do worked, Dad had to shoot the dog. Then there was the bull
that charged anyone entering the cow yard. Dad used a two-by-four across his
nose to keep from being trampled by him. When Dad avoided his charge only with
the sharp points of a pitchfork, the bull was loaded up and sold. You would
think even dumb animals would know enough to quit doing things that would cause
pain. However, some humans get hooked on destructive behaviors, too, don’t we?
Over-eating, overworking, smoking, drinking, gambling, drugs, worldly success,
or just plain forgetting to set our sights and our priorities on eternal life
can put us on the wrong path, too. What is most important to you in this life
and the next? Is it getting all your wants met in this life, or is it
developing a relationship with the One who can give you everything you need in
this life and the next? What a gracious God we have! No matter what path we’ve
been on, He welcomes us back to His path whenever we are willing to turn back.
Which path have you been on? Ready to switch? He’ll even help you do it!
PRAYER
Forgive me,
Heavenly Father, when I think that “the one who dies with the most toys wins.”
You have given me so much, and sometimes I want more and more. Help me set my
priorities for you, and share what you have given me. In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, March 31,
2026
John Donne,
priest, poet, 1631
THROUGH THE BIBLE
IN TWO YEARS
Exodus 2:1-22; 1
Corinthians 12:27 - 13:3; Mark 9:2-13
SCRIPTURE
Mark 9:5 — Then
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three
dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
There were several
special places I loved to play. The hillside near the storm cellar door, a
leaning tree in the grove of trees, the metal grain bin, and the chicken coop
roof were some of the most special places. They were places I went when I
wanted to be alone and away from my sister and brothers. Occasionally, I’d
invite one or more of them to my special places. I can’t say I heard or saw God
in any of them, but I talked to Him often when I was alone. Peter’s offer to
build three booths on that mountain did not seem so strange to me. I cleared my
special places of leaves, weeds, and trash and sometimes set up branches for
walls to set them apart from the surrounding area. Peter may have been rash in
rushing to do something, but he did understand that something extraordinary had
occurred, something he didn’t want ever to forget. His ancestors had set up
altars and pillars where they believed God had spoken or wrestled with them.
The problem with special places, even churches, is that we want to lock God in
the special place and throw away the key! Jesus wants a special place for us to
meet Him, but He always insists, as He did on the Mount of Transfiguration,
that we come down from the mountain to live and serve in the world. If you
don’t have a special place for meeting God, ask Him to lead you to one. Go
there often, but don’t stay. May God rejuvenate you in your “holy” place and
send you forth recharged!
PRAYER
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