Scripture Index

Genesis	Genesis 1:28, 31 Pretending Doesn’t Make it So Genesis 1:28 The Climate of Homespun Truths Genesis 1:26 Planning for a Healthy World Genesis 1:1-31 Pope Francis and the Environment Genesis 1:1-31 Childhood Lessons on the Environment Genesis 8:22 Rainbows and Memories Genesis 17:7-8 An Antidote for Doubt Genesis 25:19-33, 27:1-46, 33:1-17 Listening In the Center Genesis 28:16 Sacred Space- Holy Ground
Exodus	Exodus 1:15-22 Checking Pharaoh’s Power Exodus 3 Lent – Letting God be God Exodus 3:7-8 The Long Journey to a Promised Land Exodus 3:7-8 In the Wilderness Exodus 2:14 Who is God to You? Exodus 20 Remembering to Remember the Sabbath Exodus 20:8 Grace in Action
Leviticus	Leviticus 19:10, 33 Hearing the Cries of God’s People Leviticus 19:18 Love Draws the Circle Wide Leviticus 25:3 Facts Always Win
Numbers
Deuteronomy	Deuteronomy 5:15 It Really Does Take a Village Deuteronomy 8:7-18 There Are No Bootstrap People Deuteronomy 10:17-19, 24:17 Immigration Policy – Child Abuse Deuteronomy 24:20 A Place for the Refugee Deuteronomy 30:19 Choosing Life in a Warming World
Joshua	Joshua 24:15 In a Multitude of Choices, Choosing the God of Life
Judges
Ruth
I & II Samuel	I Samuel 16:7 Inauguration – Changing Visions – Changing Dreams II Samuel 12:9 Prophets and the Word of God II Samuel 18:5,33 God’s Pain Over Lost People
I & II Kings	I King 3:5-9 A Heart With the Skill to Listen
I & II Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther	Esther 4:13-14 Perfect Love in a Time of Challenge
Job	Job 19:23-25 Does Anyone Really Need God
Psalms	Psalm 8:3-5 The Gift of Sabbath Time Psalm 15:1-2 The Tragic Implications of Denial Psalm 15:1-3 When the Long Night Ends Psalm 18:6 What Color Will it Be? Psalm 18:28 Reimagining Christmas Traditions Psalm 19:1 The Heaven’s Are Telling – God’s Good Gifts of Creation Psalm 23 Upon the Night View of the World, a Day View Must Follow Psalm 23 Letting Our Shepherd Lead Psalm 23 Resting in God’s Gift of Creation Psalm 24:1 What Kind of World are We Leaving Our Children Psalm 27:1 Holding in the Center Psalm 27:10 God Never Stops Loving Psalm 30:5b Grief’s Expression Psalm 30:5b Grief Catches Us Unaware – A Revision Psalm 32:1-2 God’s Grace in the Hard Lessons of Life Psalm 34:18 Weighing the Scales of Justice Psalm 40:2 God’s Saving Grace Psalm 42 100,000 Laments, 100,000 Cries of Pain Psalm 42:1 Sabbath Time Psalm 42:5 Hanging on to Hope Psalm 42:11 Why Art Thou Cast Down, O My Soul? Psalm 56:8 The God Who Stores Tears Psalm 57:1 Sheltering in the Shadow of God’s Wings Psalm 82:3 Immigration Policy – Recognizing Child Abuse for What It Is Psalm 83:3-4 Wading Through the Aftermath of George Floyd’s Death Psalm 84:3 A Trip to the Headwaters of the Mississippi Psalm 90:12 Priorities – Remember the Big Rocks First Psalm 91:4-6 Sheltering in the Shadow of God’s Wings Psalm 92:1-2 Giving Thanks in an Imperfect Time Psalm 92:12-14 Aging Gracefully Psalm 92:12-14 Aging with Grace Psalm 96:11-12 Every Good and Perfect Gift Psalm 101:1-2 Swimming With the Pigs Psalm 101 Quotes and Prayers Tucked in My Bible Psalm 103:1-13 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Psalm 103:13 Forgiveness Comes as a Refreshing Balm Psalm 119:10 Prayer for the New Year – A Faithful Heart Psalm 130:3 Howard Thurman on Moments of High Resolve Psalm 133:1-2a & 3 Families – Hanging on to the Precious Psalm 137:1-4 Seed of Mercy, Goodness and Love Psalm 137:1-4 An Antidote to Doubt Psalm 139 The God From Whom We Cannot Hide Psalm 139:7-10 Millennial’s and the Faith Community Psalm 139:7-10 The Courage to Break Free Psalm 139:9-10 The Long Arm of God Psalm 139:23-24 Being a Christian is More than Something We Believe Psalm 139:23-24 An Unintentional Observer of a Life Psalm 146 Subversive Scripture Psalm 147:3 Trusting in the Fallow Time
Proverbs	Proverbs 1:8-9 Susanna Wesley’s Faith Proverbs 3:5 Moral Imagination- Lifting Domes Proverbs 3:5-6 Sometimes the Answers are Already within our Grasp Proverbs 3:5-6 Going in Circles Proverbs 15:1 Offering Grace in Covid Times Proverbs 16:18 Please Don’t Let Me Look Dumb Proverbs 17:6 The Gratitude Jar Proverbs 17:17 The Footprints of a Friend Proverbs 17:17 Friendship is Built on Trust Proverbs 17:22 Life’s Little Bumps – Sometimes the Story is Enough Proverbs 18:12-13 Leaving Our Bubbles of Truth Proverbs 21:21 The Power of a Word Proverbs 22:6 Milk Spilled with Love Proverbs 22:28 The Gift of Setting Boundaries Proverbs 27:9 Blessed are the Bonds of Friendship Proverbs 28:15-16 Which Truth is True Proverbs 29:18 Grasping Hold of the Vision
Ecclesiastes	Ecclesiastes 3:1 In the Era of the Urgent – Clinging to the Important
Song of Solomon	Song of Solomon 2:11-13 Love Story in the Garden Song of Solomon 8:7 Treasured Memories
Isaiah	Isaiah 1:23 Immigration Policy – Recognizing Child Abuse Isaiah 2:3b-5 Walk in the Light of the Lord Isaiah 7:14 Emmanuel, God With Us Isaiah 9:2 The Longest Night, Isaiah 9:2 Christmas Will Come and Go – But the Christ of Christmas Will Remain Isaiah 9:2-7 Hope in a World of Darkness Isaiah 9:2,6 There is Both Mystery and Miracle About Christmas Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6 Star Child Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6 Yearning for the Perfect Christmas Isaiah 11:6 When Wolves and Lambs Lie Down Together Isaiah 11:6-9 A World of Enough, Isaiah 11:6-9 Advent Waiting with Expectation Isaiah 30:18 Weary in the Waiting Isaiah 35:1-10 Shaped and Formed in the Wilderness Isaiah 35 The Holy Way Isaiah 35:1-10 Out of Darkness – Hope Isaiah 40:3 Prepare a Way for the Lord Isaiah 40:28-31 Strength Under Pressure Isaiah 40:21-31 God’s Care is Forever Isaiah 42:1-4 A Bruised Reed He Will Not Break Isaiah 43:1 Named by God Isaiah 43:1b-2 “Thou Knowest, O God, I Am Thine! Isaiah 43:1-2 I Have Called You by Name Isaiah 43:2-3 Seeing Outside the Frame Isaiah 43:10-18 Is it Well With Your Soul? Isaiah 45:2 The Mood of Christmas Isaiah 48:8-12 Life Wrapped in Unexpected Packages Isaiah 49:14-16 Giving Thanks for Saints in Our Lives Isaiah 49:15 God’s Mother-Like Love Isaiah 52:7-9 How Beautiful Upon the Mountains Isaiah 61:1-4 A Garland Instead of Ashes Isaiah 61:1-3 Needing Some Christmas Promise
Jeremiah	Jeremiah 8:22-9:1 Jeremiah- “Oh that I Might Weep Day and Night” Jeremiah 9:23-24 Seeing 20/20 in 2020 Jeremiah 17:7-9 Setting Deep Roots Jeremiah 23:5-8 Poking Holes in the Darkness Jeremiah 29:5-7 When Plans Go Amiss
Lamentations	Lamentations 3:17-20 How Long God, How Long Lamentations 3:19-224 Memories that Haunt Lamentations 3:22-23 Cold Winters and Springtime Hope Lamentations 3:22-23 Mercies New Every Morning Lamentations 3:22-24 Surprised by God’s Angels of Mercy Lamentations 3:49 On the Other Side of Good Friday
Ezekiel	Ezekiel 2:3-5 Choosing Life in a Warming World Ezekiel 36:25-27 A New Heart
Daniel
Hosea	Hosea 2:18b Remembering a Name
Joel	Joel 2:13-2:12 Ash Wednesday’s Call to Repentance
Amos	Amos 5:24 Another Week – Another Shooting Amos 5:24 Faith and the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Amos 5:24 Seeing 20/20 in 2020
Obadiah
Jonah	Jonah 4:2-3 Jonah and God’s Too Persistent Call Jonah 1-4 Jonah – God’s Petulant Prophet
Micah	Micah 4:1-5 The Promise of Peace Micah 4:3-4 In a Moment, Life Changes Micah 5:2-5 The Trip to Bethlehem Micah 6:8 *Finding the Way Home Micah 6:8 Conflicting Values Tear at the Fabric of Our Nation Micah 6:6-8 Prayer and Action
Nahum
Habakkuk	Habakkuk 2:1-5 Advent’s Waiting Time Habakkuk 3:17-19 Though the Fig Tree Does Not Blossom Habakkuk 3:17-19 Yet, I Will Rejoice in the Lord
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah	Zechariah 7:9-10 Democracy USA Style Zechariah 8:16-17 The Pain of Trusting A False Prophet
Malachi
Matthew	Matthew 1:1-17 Skeletons in the Closet Matthew 1:18-25 A Dream and the Voice of an Angel Matthew 1:22-23 A Tree Full of Blessed Memories Matthew 2:1-2 Follow the Star Matthew 2:1-2 A New Year – Leaving Christmas Behind Matthew 2:1-12 After the Celebration – Epiphany Matthew 2:1-12 Returning From Christmas Matthew 2:13-23 Mary and Joseph – Running From Danger Matthew 2:13-23 Confronting Evil – Even at Christmas, Matthew 2:13-23 Turning the Pages of a Year Matthew 5:4 Jesus Weeps with Those Who Weep Matthew 5:6 Making a Life of Difference Matthew 5:6-7 The Power of a Movement Matthew 5:9 To Say a Prayer for Peace Matthew 5:14-15 Letting Your Light Shine Matthew 5:15-17 Brightly Beams God’s Mercy Matthew 5:43-45 What is a Christian to do in this World of Alternative Facts Matthew 5:43-48 The Legitimization of Hate Matthew 5:43-45 We Have to Stop the Hate Matthew 5:48 Left Over Ashes Matthew 6:10 An Apology for a Former President Matthew 6:28-29 Consider the Lilies Matthew 6:33 The Search for Happiness Matthew 6:33 Getting the Big Rocks into Place First Matthew 7:1-2 God’s Limits or Ours? Matthew 7:1-3 Becoming Free to be Compassionate Matthew 7:1-3 God is on the Side of the Poor Matthew 7:3 Jury Duty and the Question “Isn’t Christianity all about Forgiveness and Redemption” Matthew 7:15-17 The Pain of Trusting a False Prophet Matthew 7:36-50 Well, That was Embarrassing Matthew 9:36 Jesus Had Compassion on Them Matthew 10:29-31 Just the Right Amount of Rain Matthew 11:28-30 Why Jesus? Matthew 11:28-30 Offering Grace in Covid Times Matthew 13:10-17 Stumbling Into God’s Arms Matthew 16:24-25 The Way of the Cross – Grace and Mercy Matthew 16:24-26 The Value of a Soul Matthew 18:1-7, 10 Angels Watching Over Me Matthew 18:21-22 The Trouble with Words Matthew 19:24 Easier For a Camel Matthew 21:8-9 Finding Your Place in the Parade Matthew 21:28-32 The Quality of a Commitment Matthew 21:31 Breaking Free From Sex Trafficking Matthew 22:37-40 The Heavy Cost of Politicizing Covid Matthew 23:37-38 Climate Science is Not an Opinion Matthew 25:40 Health Care Debates and Anxieties Matthew 25:40 Hunger at the Dollar Store Matthew 25:40 Common Decency in Immigration Policy Matthew 25:37-40 Un-Dividing a Divided Washington Matthew 25:31-46 Faith and the Plight of Refugees Matthew 25:31-46 The Power to Push Back the Darkness Matthew 25:31-46 Conflicting Values Tear at the Fabric of our Nation Matthew 25:31-40, 5:3-9 Politics Through the Lens of Jesus Matthew 25:35-36, 40 They Will Know We Are Christians by Our _____. Matthew 27:46 A Good Friday Time Matthew 27:46 On the Path to Easter Matthew 28:1-10 I Believe in Easter Matthew 28:20 Jesus Keeps Calling
Mark	Mark 1:15 Repent, and Trust in the Joyful Message of Hope Mark 4:41 Put Your Hand in the Hand of the One Who Quiets the Storm Mark 6:19-24 Whatever Became of Salome? Mark 9:6-8 Following Jesus- The One Who is – Or the one We Want Him to Be Mark 10:14, 16 When the Heart Bleeds Mark 12:31 God Calls us a Higher Standard – That of Loving Our Neighbor as Ourselves Mark 12:30-31 Missing – Online Christian Values Mark 12:31 Fear that Divides Mark 15:34 The Intersection of Blessing and Grace
Luke	Luke 1:1-3 Jesus Keeps Calling Luke 1:5-17 Making Ready a People Luke 1:26-38 Mary’s Yes- Both Gift and Dilemma, Luke 1:26-38 Walk Softly as You Go Through Christmas Luke 1:47-53 In Spite of it All – Angels Still Sing Luke 1:26-38 Getting Ready for Christmas Luke 1:38-45 The Strength of a Mother’s Love Luke 1:38-45 Do You Hear the Angels Song- “Be Not Afraid” Luke 1:46-47 Mary’s Song Luke 1:49-53 Christmas Promise in a “Not Yet” World Luke 1:57, 67-79 Reflecting God’s Light Luke 1:67-79 Christmas is for Imperfect People Luke 2:1-7 On a Silent Night Luke 2:1-14 He is Born Luke 2:1-20 Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days of Christmas Each Year Luke 2:15-20 Telling the True Story Luke 2:15-20 The Singing of Angels Luke 2:21-24 Each Child a Miracle Luke 2:25-38 Christmas is for Those Who Refuse to Grow Up Luke 3:4-6 Against the Backdrop of Pain – Advent Waits Luke 9:28b-29 Transcendent Moments Luke 10:27 Love Like a Magic Penny Luke 10:25-37 Syrian Refugees – Adrift and in Desperate Need Luke 10:25-37 Moving Beyond our Fear to Care Luke 12:27 Fulfilling a Vision Luke 13:21 Leaven in the Kingdom of God Luke 15:10 God’s Pain Over Lost People Luke 15:11-24 Forgetting to Come Home Luke 15:11-24 God Never Stops Searching for Us Luke 15:11-24 Saved From Our Predicament Luke 15:11-24 We Cannot Fall From Grace Luke 15:11-24 Prone to Wander Luke 18:6-8a The Gift of Persistence Luke 19:41-44 The Tears of Holy Week Luke 19:42 A Covid19 Palm Sunday Luke 22:3-4 Judas – Betrayer or Confused Disciple? Luke 23:34-46 The Intersection of Blessing and Grace Luke 24:1-5 Easter is God’s Message of Hope Luke 24:5 Easter’s Evidence -Transformed Lives, Changed Hearts Luke 24:1-11 Doubt & Faith Intermingle
John	John 1:1-18 Christ our Hope John 1:1-16 Dwelling Among us in Love John 1:4-5 Needing Some Christmas Promise John 1:1-5 Just When the Night is Darkest John 1:1-5 Trusting in the Light John 1:1-8 By God’s Grace – Light Will Shine John 1:1-17 God’s Welcome Sign, For All the World’s People John 1:10-17 The Power to Become Children of God John 1:1-5 A Moment of Grace John 1:12 A Christmas Star John 3:8 Laughing the Laughter of the Spirit John 3:16 The Climate of Homespun Truths John 3:16-17 Jesus Came to Save the World John 3:16-17 Grace Upon Grace John 8:32 Covid In a Generation of Instant Gratification John 10:10 Life with Abundance John 11:25-26 Easter Wonder and Awe John 12:3-7 Mary’s Extravagant Generosity John 13:24-25 Just Love John 13:25 Love Draws the Circle Wide John 13:34 Fear Divides – Love Unites John 13:34 Remembering Decency- John McCain John 14:26 Star Wars and the Holy Spirit John 15 Star Wars and the Holy Spirit John 15:5-6 Favorite Quotes John 15:12 The Power to Bless John 15:12 The Power of a Small Group John 16:33 Everywhere, Always in God’s Hands John 20:19-29 Hovering Behind Locked Doors John 20:24-29 Thomas and Other Skeptics John 20:24-25 Doubting Your Doubts John 20:24-29 Noticing God
Acts	Acts 2 Laughing the Laughter of the Spirit Acts 2 Star Wars and the Holy Spirit Acts 4:19-20 Telling Our Stories of God’s Love Acts 20:35 Circles at Christmas
Romans	Romans 5:3-5 What Color Will it Be? Romans 8:26 Standing at the Door Romans 8:28 All Things Working Together for Good Romans 8:35, 37-38 Assumptions- Coloring Our World with Misinformation Romans 8:38-39 Tears of Confusion Romans 8:38-39 God With Us in the Small Stuff Romans 12:1-2 The Challenge of Trump to Christian Ethics Romans 12:2, 16-18 Spreading our Grevances Romans 12:9-12 The Great Storm of the Lord Romans 12:9-13 A Clouded Pentecost Romans 12:9-13, 16-17 Transformational Thinking Romans 12:14-18 Living Peaceably with All Romans 12:21 Planting Seeds of Mercy, Compassion and Love Romans 13:10 Interconnected and Interdependent Romans 13:10 Recovering Christian Ethics in the Age of Covid-19 Romans 15:13 Where is God? Romans 15:13 Finding Joy in Each Other
I & II Corinthians	I Corinthians 2:9 How Great Thou Art I Corinthians 5:17 Easter’s Rescue Mission I Corinthians 12:4-6 Who in Your Life Needs Some Applause? I Corinthians 13:1-3 Living Beyond our Fears, into the Joyous Generosity of God I Corinthians 13:4-7 Growing Values in a Time of Covid I Corinthians 13:4-8a Love – The Condition Under Which We Flourish I Corinthians 13:7-8a Revolving Doors and The Grace of Interruptions I Corinthians 13:12 Seeing Through a Glass Darkly I Corinthians 13:1 & 13 Noisy Gongs or Christ Centered Love I Corinthians 13:13 Love is the Rudder I Corinthians 15:54b-55 A Cross Stands at the Center of Easter II Corinthians 1:3-4 Imagined Slights and Small Misunderstandings II Corinthians 4:7-9 The Power to Overcome II Corinthians 4:7-9 Choosing One’s Attitude – Finding Meaning II Corinthians 4:16-18 Do Not Lose Heart II Corinthians 5:17 Sometimes There is a Hole in the Ceiling Made for the Hand of God II Corinthians 5:17 A New Year – A Time to Bless and to Heal II Corinthians 9:7 The Joy of Generosity II Corinthians 9:7 Wealth – A Means of Blessing Others II Corinthians 12:9 Carried by Grace
Galatians	Galatians 5:13-14 The Enigma of Donald Trump in the Evangelical World Galatians 5:14 Jesus Doesn’t Give our Politics a Pass on Loving our Neighbor Galatians 5:22-23 It Takes So Little to Be Kind Galatians 5:22-23 Needed – Patience, Persistence, Love Galatians 5:21-22 Getting a Character Do-Over Galatians 6:2 Waiting Through a Storm Galatians 6:2 Reminded of Small Blessings
Ephesians	Ephesians 1:15-20 What Can I Give Him? Ephesians 2:8 Standing in the Need of Grace Ephesians 3:16-19 Empty Your Pockets Ephesians 3:16-19 How Wide the Heart, How High the Soul Ephesians 3:16-19 The Unappreciated Cottage Cheese Ephesians 3:17b-19 Steadfast Love Transforms all Failure Ephesians 4:16-19 Prophets and the Word of God Ephesians 4:30-32 Lent – A Season of Turning Around Ephesians 4:32 Forgiveness Lives in the Center of Relationships Ephesians 6:10-18 Are You Listening to Screwtape of Listening to God? Ephesians 6:16-21 Unanswered Prayer and God’s Answers
Philippians	Philippians 1 Failing Forward With Jesus Philippians 1:3-11 Set on Fire With Gospel Love Philippians 1:6 If I Were Just a Better Christian Philippians 2 Civility is Basic to Christian Life Philippians 2:3-4 Leaving the Judging to God Philippians 4:5-9 Fixing Blame Philippians 4:6-7 How Long God, How Long? Philippians 4:8 What is Feeding Your Soul? Philippians 4:13 Fate or Destiny – You Decide
Colossians	Colossians 3:12-15 Put on Compassion – Put on Love
I & II Thessalonians	I Thessalonians 1:2 The World Needs All the Saints God Can Muster I Thessalonians 3:7, 9 Counting Blessings One By One I Thessalonians 5:14 Creating Space to Listen I Thessalonians 5:17 The Gifts of Prayer I Thessalonians 5:18 Giving Thanks in the Difficult Times I Thessalonians 5:18 Thanking God in the Midst of Turmoil
I & II Timothy	I Timothy 2:1-3 The Incapacity of Washington to Govern I Timothy 2:1-3 Leadership in Trying Times II Timothy 1:4 Face to Face II Timothy 1:5 God’s Mother Like Love II Timothy 4:7 Finishing the Race
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews	Hebrews 11 Needing a Certificate of Martyrdom? Hebrews 11:1 The Hand of Jesus Holding Us Up Hebrews 12 Waymarks of the Journey Hebrews 12:1 Pilgrims on a Journey Hebrews 12:1 Blessed to Have Tarried With the Saints Hebrews 12:1-2 Sustained by the Prayers of Friends Hebrews 12:6 The Grace of Maturing in Faith
James	James 1 Hearing the Cries of God’s People James 1:17 Every Good and Perfect Gift James 1:22 One Act of Love at a Time James 5:7-8 A Season of Growth
I & II Peter	I Peter 1:3-4 Hovering Behind Locked Doors I Peter 2:1-2 Disappearing Differences I Peter 2:25 Guardian of Souls I Peter 3:8-11 Planting Peace I Peter 4:8 Difficult Relationships and the Four Minute Rule I Peter 5:7 Cast Your Cares on God
I, II, III John	I John 2:9-10 Lent – Time for a Spiritual Checkup I John 4:18 Will We Live Out Our Heritage as People of Faith or Will We Succumb to Fear I John 4:19-21 Walking with a Limp I John 4:20-21 Can We Listen to our Neighbor’s Story I John 5:20-21 Wanted: Another Great Awakening
Jude
Revelation	Revelation 21:4 When the Heart Bleeds