Author Archives: patellison

A text – Luke 12:32-40 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is,Continue reading “Readiness – Luke 12:32-40”

A text – Psalm 49 1 Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,2 both low and high, rich and poor together.3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp. 5 WhyContinue reading “Wealth and Faith – Psalm 49”

A text – Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 18-23 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given toContinue reading “Looking for the Not Empty Thing – Ecclesiastes 1”

A text – Luke 12:13-21 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, forContinue reading “Stepping Back – Luke 12:13-21”

A text – Psalm 138 1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,    for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.3 On the day I called, you answeredContinue reading “We Are God’s Creations – Psalm 138”

A text – Genesis 18:20-32 20 Then the Lord said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! 21 I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me, and if not, I will know.” 22 So the men turned from there and wentContinue reading “Petitioning Like a 3-Year-Old – Genesis 18:20-32”

A text – Luke 11:1-13 11 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, may your name be revered as holy.    May your kingdom come.3     Give us each dayContinue reading “Being Without Shame – Luke 11:1-13”

A text – Psalm 15 1 O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? 2 Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right and speak the truth from their heart;3 who do not slander with their tongue and do no evil to their friends nor heap shame upon their neighbors;4 in whoseContinue reading “There Is Hope for Us – Psalm 15”

A text – Genesis 18:1-10 18 The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground. 3 He said,Continue reading “Share Something with Others – Genesis 18:1-10”

A text – Luke 10:38-42                            38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, so she came to him and asked, “Lord,Continue reading “Focus – Luke 10:38-42”