Today at the team meeting, we decided to temporarily change the format of the daily devotionals over the next nine weeks as we enter into a communal discernment process to redefine the nature of our ministry to the children here at Westview. Four to five days of the week we will consider various lectionary readings, and meditate upon them (lectio divina) as our daily devotion. One or two days of the week, we will include a devotional thought. The plan is for the devotionals to resume their more normal form later this fall as we complete our project.
For those of you who need something a little more directed, you can go to the devotional blog at: www.wbhdevos.blogspot.com and either look through the chronological listing for a devotional, or you may enter a subject to search for in the blog by typing in the little white window in the blue stripe across the top of the blog. Since there are now over 365 devotionals posted on this site, we hope that you can find something there that builds you up, challenges you, or comforts you.
Hear the word of the Lord:
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act — they will be blessed in their doing.
If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:17-27 – NRSV
