Our Daily Bread

Topic:Forever Love Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 10–12 John 1:29–51 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Psalm 136:1–9 Years ago, my four-year-old son gave me a framed wooden heart mounted on a metal plate with the word forever painted in its center. “I love you forever, Mommy,” he said. …

Topic:Doubt and Faith Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 7–9 John 1:1–28 The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. Job 1:20–22; 2:7–10 MingTeck woke up with a severe headache and thought it was another migraine. But when he got out of bed, he collapsed onto the floor. He was admitted …

Topic:The Man Who Couldn’t Talk Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 4–6 Luke 24:36–53 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise. Psalm 96 Sitting in his wheelchair at a senior citizens home in Belize, a man joyfully listened as a group of American high school teenagers sang about Jesus. Later, as some of the teens tried to communicate …

Topic:Impossible Forgiveness Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 21–22 Luke 23:26–56 Father, forgive them. Luke 23:32–43 Liberators found the following prayer crumpled among the remains of the Ravensbruck concentration camp where Nazis exterminated nearly 50,000 women: O Lord, remember not only the men and women of goodwill, but also those of ill will. But do not remember the suffering they …

Topic:Strength for the Journey Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 19–20 Luke 23:1–25 All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 1 Kings 19:1–9 One summer, I faced what seemed an impossible task—a big writing project with a looming deadline. Having spent day after day on my own, endeavoring to get the words onto the …

Topic:Eclipse Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 16–18 Luke 22:47–71 I will restore David’s fallen shelter—I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins—and will rebuild it as it used to be. Amos 8:9–12; 9:11–12 I was prepared with eye protection, an ideal viewing location, and homemade moon pie desserts. Along with millions of people in the US, my …

Topic:Community Memory Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 12–13 Luke 22:1–20 He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you.” Luke 22:14–23 In his book Restless Faith, theologian Richard Mouw talks about the importance of remembering the lessons of the past. He quotes sociologist Robert Bellah, who said …

Topic:Free Indeed Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 8–9 Luke 21:1–19 If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:31–36 The film Amistad tells the story of West African slaves in 1839 taking over the boat that was transporting them and killing the captain and some of the crew. Eventually they were recaptured, imprisoned, and taken …

Topic:Right Beside You Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 6–7 Luke 20:27–47 The Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him. Deuteronomy 4:5–8 Each day at a post office in Jerusalem, workers sort through piles of undeliverable letters in an attempt to guide each to its recipient. Many end up in a specially marked box labeled “Letters …

Topic:Let Us Praise! Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 3–5 Luke 20:1–26 May the nations be glad and sing for joy. Psalm 67 When the alarm on Shelley’s phone goes off every day at 3:16 in the afternoon, she takes a praise break. She thanks God and acknowledges His goodness. Although she communicates with God throughout the day, Shelley loves …