Rejection by others, acceptance by God

https://odb.org/2026/09/28/accepted-by-god Judges 10:17–11:8 (NIV): 17 When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head over all who live in Gilead.”11 Jephthah the Gileadite wasContinue reading “Rejection by others, acceptance by God”

The heart that matters

https://odb.org/2026/09/21/the-heart-of-the-matter 1 Samuel 16:6–12 (NIV): 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at theContinue reading “The heart that matters”

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God

https://odb.org/2026/09/18/seeking-gods-kingdom Matthew 6:25–34 (NIV): 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or storeContinue reading “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God”

Commit our struggles unto the LORD

https://odb.org/2026/09/17/look-to-god Nehemiah 4:6–14 (NIV): 6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, theyContinue reading “Commit our struggles unto the LORD”

The gift of salvation and eternal life

https://odb.org/2026/09/16/eternity-with-god John 11:17–27 (NIV): 17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, sheContinue reading “The gift of salvation and eternal life”

Patience as a virtue

https://odb.org/2026/09/15/be-patient Ephesians 4:1–6 (NIV): 4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 ThereContinue reading “Patience as a virtue”

Our God will help us

https://odb.org/2026/09/14/the-god-who-helps Exodus 2:23–25 (NIV): 23 During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked onContinue reading “Our God will help us”

Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning

https://odb.org/2026/09/11/divine-comfort Psalm 30:1–5 (NIV): 1 I will exalt you, LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths  and did not let my enemies gloat over me.       2 LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.       3 You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared meContinue reading “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning”

Generosity lived as a legacy

https://odb.org/2026/09/10/legacy-of-generosity Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Though we didn’t live in the same state as my maternal grandparents, I’m grateful to have known them as well as I did. They traveled regularly to Colorado to see us, and weContinue reading “Generosity lived as a legacy”

A tale of the two wedding banquets

https://odb.org/2026/09/09/gods-open-invitation Luke 14:15–24 (NIV): 15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sentContinue reading “A tale of the two wedding banquets”