Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalm 39:12 (New Living Translation) Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears. For I am your guest— a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me. This is the life of a Christian. I am a traveler passing through this place. It is not my home. […]

[Read more →]

Ephesians 5:12 (New Living Translation) It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. I am writing this the week of data dumps from the Ashley Madison hack. That was a website that people were using privately with some guarantee of privacy, a.k.a., in secret. What is the Ashley […]

[Read more →]

Romans 4:6-8 (New Living Translation) 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: 7 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. 8 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared […]

[Read more →]

Romans 4:4-5 (New Living Translation) 4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. There is a big difference between a gift and a contract. It is […]

[Read more →]

Romans 2:1-4 (New Living Translation) 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? This is one of those verses that hits me like a baseball bat (yes, I have […]

[Read more →]

1 Corinthians 14:3 (New Living Translation) But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. Old Testament prophesying meant predicting the future. God told the prophets what was to happen, the prophets told the people, and it happened sometime in the future. There is much discussion and disagreement about what “prophesying” means in […]

[Read more →]

1 Peter 4:4 (New Living Translation) Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. Why don’t you… Why aren’t you excited about… Why won’t you… What’s wrong with you? People say these things to Christians. Old friends from high school or […]

[Read more →]

1 Peter 3:8-10 (New Living Translation) 8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. […]

[Read more →]

Ephesians 1:2-4 (New Living Translation) 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you […]

[Read more →]

John 12:3-5 (New Living Translation) 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. 4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume […]

[Read more →]