Author Archives: patellison

A text — Matthew 18:21-3518:21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?”18:22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.18:23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be comparedContinue reading “Our Empathy Supply — Matthew 18”

A text — Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits–103:3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,103:4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns youContinue reading “Our Place in the Grand Scheme — Psalm 103”

A text — Psalm 22: 1-2 Part of a Psalm of David. 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?    Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;    and by night, but find no rest. A reflection: If youContinue reading “Feeling God-Forsaken — Psalm 22”

A text — Acts 10:39-43 Peter’s Speech10:39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;10:40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,10:41 not to all the people but to us who wereContinue reading “The Job of Witness — Acts 10”

A text — Matthew 13:24-30, 36-4313:24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field;13:25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.13:26 So when the plants came up and bore grain,Continue reading “Wheat and Weeds — Matthew 13”

A text — Philippians 2:5-112:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found inContinue reading “Jesus’s Path, Not Nero’s – Philippians 2”

A text — Matthew 15: 21-2815:21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.15:22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”15:23 But he did not answer her atContinue reading “Crumbs from the Table – Matthew 15”

A text — Genesis 29:15-2829:15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”29:16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.29:17 Leah’s eyes were lovely, and RachelContinue reading “God and Sly Jacob — Genesis 29”

A text — Romans 8:6-118:6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.8:7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law– indeed it cannot,8:8 and those who areContinue reading “Five Minutes in the Morning — Romans 8”

A text — Psalm 23 A Psalm of David. [1] The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;[2] he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;[3] he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.[4] Even though I walk through the valleyContinue reading “The 23rd Psalm — Part 2”