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To test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven

THURSDAY, November 12 (Charles Simeon) Listen Now:  ... Full story

You are gods, and all of you children of the Most High

 WEDNESDAY, November 11 (Martin of Tours) Veterans' Day (U.S.) Remembrance Day (Canada)   Listen Now:  ... Full story

To test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven

Tuesday, November 10 (Leo the Great) Matthew 15:21-28. Lord, help me. Listen Now: Powered by ... Full story

A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins

SUNDAY, November 8 23 Pentecost Mark 12:38-44. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Read the Bible cover to cover and you will come away with the unmistakable fact God always takes the side of the poor. That is a ... Full story

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him

SATURDAY, November 7 (Willibrord of Utrecht) Matthew 14:22-36. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him. It was well past dark and bitterly cold on the runway that night in early 1978. Ice was everywhere. We were allowed to stay in our heated cars and vans as we ... Full story

This is a deserted place

FRIDAY, November 6 (William Temple) Matthew 14:13-21. This is a deserted place. You all know a Mrs. Smith--the person who is always around when you complain and has more troubles than you. When I whined it was 115 degrees in the desert she said, "That's nothing. It was 125 ... Full story

You will restore my life

Psalm 71. You have showed me great troubles and adversities, but you will restore my life and bring me up again from the deep places of the earth. The story of the execution of John the Baptist sticks in the throat. You know exactly how the story will end, but every time you read ... Full story

Jesus came to his hometown

WEDNESDAY, November 4 Matthew 13:53-58. Jesus came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power?" Jesus' homecoming in Nazareth is less than well- received. Look, ... Full story

“Have you understood all this?”

TUESDAY, November 3 (Richard Hooker) Matthew 13:44-52. "Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." You have to hand it to the disciples. While they rarely understood anything Jesus said or did, they were always ready to claim they did. Who, after all, wants to appear ignorant when ... Full story

You have rescued my soul from death

MONDAY, November 2 (All Faithful Departed) Psalm 56. You have rescued my soul from death. Word has reached me that John B. Tillson Jr. has died. His death did not make the front page of newspapers or stir wide interest. But for me it was shattering. By his passing ... Full story

See, the home of God is among mortals

SUNDAY, November 1 All Saints' Day Revelation 21:1-6a. See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes.... Full story

Fear and trembling have come over me, and horror overwhelms me

SATURDAY, October 31 All Hallows' Eve Psalm 55. Fear and trembling have come over me, and horror overwhelms me. And I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee to a far-off place and make my lodging in the wilderness." ... Full story

Happy are they who trust in the LORD!

FRIDAY, October 30 Psalm 40. Happy are they who trust in the LORD! they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.  Sometimes it feels as if the real me has become lost in my daybook, my resumé, or my checkbook. I feel proud when they ... Full story

They replied, “The survivors there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame…”

THURSDAY, October 29 (James Hannington and his Companions) Nehemiah 1-1:11. They replied, "The survivors there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame..." When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.... Full story

For he is our peace

WEDNESDAY, October 28 Saint Simon and Saint Jude Ephesians 2:13-22. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances. ... Full story

Day and night without ceasing they sing, “Holy, holy, holy

TUESDAY, October 27 Revelation 4:1-11. Day and night without ceasing they sing, "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come." The London subway system displays many signs warning travelers to be careful when stepping from the train to the platform or ... Full story

I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever!

MONDAY, October 26 (Alfred the Great) Revelation 1:4-20. I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying: "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever!"... Full story

Then Job answered the LORD: “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand”

SUNDAY, October 25 21 Pentecost Job 42:1-6, 10-17. Then Job answered the LORD: "Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." Saint Augustine felt that all sins were forms of the one most basic sin: pride. He asked ... Full story

You, LORD, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains

SATURDAY, October 24 Psalm 30. "You, LORD, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains." Then you hid your face, and I was filled with fear. When I get on an elevator alone, I repeatedly push the "Door Close" button. I doubt that it does much ... Full story

Is not this the carpenter’s son?

FRIDAY, October 23 Saint James of Jerusalem Matthew 13:54-58. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter's son?" Our modern culture struggles to move from reliance on printed information to reliance on the Internet's miracles of knowledge storage and dissemination. ... Full story

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him

THURSDAY, October 22 Psalm 37:1-18. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, the one who succeeds in evil schemes...The lowly shall possess the land; they will delight in abundance of peace. Ads for sleep medications often include sleep masks. Apparently, people anxious to ... Full story

He said to them, “Have you not read what David did?

WEDNESDAY, October 21 Matthew 12:1-14. He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests." If game ... Full story

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life

TUESDAY, October 20 Psalm 26. Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life. (NIV)  The service manager at the car dealership gave me a certificate for a "free" oil change, but only after verifying that I had given the dealership a good rating on my last visit. That ... Full story

The LORD…heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds

MONDAY, October 19 Saint Luke (tr.) Psalm 147. The LORD...heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars and calls them all by their names. I am a terrible cook, even with devices that give spoken step-by-step instructions. The problem isn't information; the ... Full story

There are varieties of gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1-11. There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord. As the search for alternative energy sources ramped up, one ad for wind energy exhorted, "Believe in the wind." Those simple words apply to the "wind" of the Spirit, too, moving through ... Full story

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal

Psalm 119:145-176. All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. (NIV) In 2008, a museum discovered a previously unknown piece of music, apparently written by Mozart, as it is undeniably in the composer's own hand. A researcher said of the music, dated in the late eighteenth century, "This is absolutely new. ... Full story

But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are acting faithfully

2 Kings 22:1-13. "But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are acting faithfully." (NIV) "Only the hand that erases can write the true thing," wrote Meister Eckhart. Trusting in God means that we have an "eraser" for mistakes--our own and those of others. King Josiah believed in honoring ... Full story

Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other

1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1. "All things are lawful," but not all things are beneficial. Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. The tipping point, according to the book by that title, is a culmination, a time in which a series of small changes "tips" the balance to effect a large change. Many ... Full story

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12. Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. A friend was distressed when his five-year-old daughter began ... Full story

And you have said

2 Kings 19:21-36. And you have said, "With my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon; I felled its tallest cedars, its choicest cypresses." Rising costs for wheat flour make it difficult for the poor to afford bread. Some cultures have explored such products ... Full story

“Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.”

Matthew 8:1-17. "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." An expert interviewed during the hurricane clean-up indicated that the equipment being brought in included "IBBs," or "itty-bitty boats." Those small craft, though unimpressive to look at, would be used to bring one or two people at a time to safety.... Full story

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock

Matthew 7:22-29. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; but it did not fall. I was once fired from a job for ... Full story

The gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it

Matthew 7:13-21. The gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. How often have we been told that "you can't get something for nothing," "there is no free lunch," or "you must pay the piper"? These are all clichés with an element of truth. ... Full story

How awesome is this place!

TUESDAY, September 29 Saint Michael and All Angels Genesis 28:10-17. How awesome is this place! When we contemplate being in the presence of God, it is indeed awesome. Once I visited a church and found in the pulpit a plaque that read "This is an awful place." Somewhat shocked, I asked the rector why such ... Full story

And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?

MONDAY, September 28 Matthew 6:25-34. And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? My mother-in-law was a world-class worrier. She passed some of that on to her daughter, but my wife discovered a way ... Full story

The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective

SUNDAY, September 27 17 PentecostJames 5:13-20. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. When I was in seminary, my tutor gave me some advice that has served me well. He said whenever you agree to pray for someone, it is a serious commitment so make sure you follow through. If your prayer ... Full story

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

SATURDAY, September 26 (Lancelot Andrewes) Matthew 6:19-24. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Years ago I went to a stewardship conference where the speaker led us through an exercise no doubt familiar to many readers. He asked each of us to bring our checkbook ... Full story

Do not heap up empty phrases

Friday September 25 (Sergius of Moscow) Matthew 6:7-15. Do not heap up empty phrases. In this passage, Jesus teaches us the Lord's Prayer. It is the model for all prayer. It has no empty phrases; every word is loaded. This prayer is learned early in ... Full story

…your Father who sees in secret

THURSDAY September 24 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. ...your Father who sees in secret. One of my earliest memories is of hearing this passage read in church and being terrified. I did not comprehend the context of the passage nor connect it with almsgiving, but simply saw God as a great ... Full story

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

WEDNESDAY, September 23 Matthew 5:38-48. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. One day the intercessor was reciting the prayers of the people and wanted to pray for some Americans who had been ambushed and killed overseas. Cautiously he said, "And let us remember those seven ... Full story

Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch

1 Corinthians 5:1-8. Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch...not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. In this passage, Paul is chastising the Corinthians for purported loose living and boasting. He reminds them that the ... Full story

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came

MONDAY, September 21 Saint Matthew Matthew 9:9-13. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. Today is the feast of Saint Matthew. Matthew was a tax collector when Jesus called him to be ... Full story

Whoever welcomes one such child…welcomes me.

SUNDAY, September 20 16 Pentecost Mark 9:30-37. Whoever welcomes one such child...welcomes me. Several months ago I saw a wonderful picture of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, clad in a brightly colored chasuble and sitting on the floor in church, surrounded by children. Our presiding bishop travels extensively. She is so available that whenever she ... Full story

Whoever does (the commandments) and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven…

SATURDAY, September 19 (Theodore of Tarsus) Ember Saturday Matthew 5:17-20. Whoever does and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven....Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. This scripture lesson is great good news ... Full story

Let your light shine before others

 FRIDAY, September 18 (Edward Bouverie Pusey) Ember Friday Matthew 5:11-16. Let your light shine before others. Once again we reflect on the subject of light. Most of us have known people who want to claim center stage. In school it was the class clown. ... Full story

Blessed are…

THURSDAY, September 17 (Hildegard of Bingen) Matthew 5:1-10. Blessed are... In the gospel reading for today we hear the Beatitudes. Last Saturday we reflected on what it means to be pleasing to God. This lesson follows that one naturally. Part of the fruits ... Full story

Follow me

WEDNESDAY, September 16 (Ninian of Galloway) Ember Wednesday Matthew 4:18-25. Follow me. Several years ago I visited the Holy ... Full story

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light

TUESDAY, September 15 Matthew 4:12-17. The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. Yesterday, Holy Cross Day, we reflected on John's "children of light." Today we read Matthew, and the theme of light continues. The light is, of course, Jesus. In the television show Ghost ... Full story
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…so that you may become children of light

MONDAY, September 14 Holy Cross Day John 12:31-36a. ...so that you may become children of light. Today is Holy Cross Day. Some reflect on the Christus Rex with Christ the King depicted on a cross of glory. Some reflect on a crucifix with a Christ of agony who died ... Full story
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The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher

SUNDAY, September 13 15 Pentecost Isaiah 50:4-9a. The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher. The Church of Nigeria is the fastest growing province in the Anglican Communion. A few years ago, when relations were more cordial than they are now, Archbishop Peter Akinola visited our ... Full story

…with whom I am well pleased

SATURDAY, September 12 (John Henry Hobart) Matthew 3:13-17. ...with whom I am well pleased. These words were spoken by God about Jesus at his baptism. It is something every child wants to hear from his parents, teacher, and pastor. It is something we seek as adults from our boss, our peers, and our lover. ... Full story

Prepare the way of the Lord

FRIDAY, September 11 Matthew 3:1-12. Prepare the way of the Lord. Camel hair clothing, locusts, wild honey...what a strange character we meet today. And yet the people came to him to be baptized. Sometimes God uses very unlikely people as messengers.... Full story
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…among whom you shine as lights in the world….Be glad and rejoice.

THURSDAY, September 10 (Alexander Crummell) Philippians 2:12-30. ...among whom you shine as lights in the world....Be glad and rejoice. Paul uses this imagery to encourage the early Christians to keep strong in the midst of a "crooked and perverse generation." In days when proclaiming Jesus Christ as ... Full story

Forward Day by Day Devotional on Itunes

Forward Day by Day Devotional on Itunes
The Eureka! Network is excited to announce that the Forward Day by Day Devotional audio podcast is live on Itunes. You will find the Forward Day by Day Daily Devotional below in the Daily Eureka! section. Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of The Episcopal Church. Since 1935 we have ... Full story
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They saw the child…and paid him homage…they offered him gifts

WEDNESDAY, September 9 (Constance and her Companions) Matthew 2:1-12. They saw the child...and paid him homage...they offered him gifts. Those who have been reading the lectionary each day have seen a great shift. Readings from the Gospel of Mark ended with the empty tomb, and now we move to ... Full story

Terror and amazement had seized them

TUESDAY, September 8 Mark 16:1-8(9-20). Terror and amazement had seized them. Mark describes the women at the tomb as filled with terror and amazement. These seem like contradictory emotions. But a few months ago, I came to see them more clearly. My grandson had waited expectantly until he ... Full story

I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being

SUNDAY, September 6 14 PentecostPsalm 146. I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. On any given Sunday, worship is conducted in a huge variety of ways. Some churches sing praise music, others ancient hymns; some use incense, ... Full story

Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last

SATURDAY, September 5 Mark 15:33-39. Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. Whenever I leave the Good Friday service, I am wrung out. The dramatic reading of the Passion and the emotional preaching drive home the tragedy of Jesus' last moments on the cross. Once ... Full story

The chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him

FRIDAY, September 4 (Paul Jones) Mark 15:22-32. The chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him. Jesus was not having a good day. Betrayed, arrested, beaten, and hanging on a cross, with only hours to live--couldn't they give him a break? Yet they mocked him because he ... Full story

They compelled a passer-by…

THURSDAY, September 3 Mark 15:12-21. They compelled a passer-by... Years ago I took forty young people on a mission trip to an Indian reservation. In Nebraska we discovered that our bus company planned to drop us off and return in three weeks. However, our contract called for the bus ... Full story

You say so

WEDNESDAY, September 2 (The Martyrs of New Guinea) Mark 15:1-11. You say so. Some people seem stuck on themselves. Whether in a social setting or interaction with coworkers, we sometimes feel trapped by people who appear to be working too hard to convince us how important they are. ... Full story

I do not know this man

TUESDAY, September 1 (David Pendleton Oakerhater) Mark 14:66-72. I do not know this man. It is easy to stand with or emulate those we admire when the world is heaping praise upon them. But to continue to stand with them when the crowd turns is a different matter. When palm branches wave ... Full story
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