Water Daily

This week we look at Mark 10:2-16, in which Jesus gives some painful teaching about divorce – and how to come into God’s kingdom. Today we explore why he was talking about such things in the first place - and where can we find Good News in his statements.

This week we look at Mark 9:38-50, in which Jesus offers his followers some very challenging teaching. That includes a perplexing comment about how we are to "have salt" within ourselves... today we explore what on earth that might mean. 

This week we look at Mark 9:38-50, in which Jesus offers his followers some very challenging teaching. Today we search for the good news in what might be his most challenging teaching of all!

This week we look at Mark 9:38-50, in which Jesus offers his followers some very challenging teaching, including admonishing them not to put stumbling blocks in the way of children or people with a simple faith. Do we make it easy for people to meet Jesus through us? 

This week we look at Mark 9:38-50, in which Jesus offers his followers some very challenging teaching. He tells his followers to welcome people outside their community who seem to want to participate in his mission. Many churches might pay more attention to that teaching...

This week we look at Mark 9:38-50, in which Jesus offers his followers some very challenging teaching. In today's reflection we explore an intriguing thing he says, suggesting that we might be more open to the gifts of other faith traditions. 

This week we look at Mark 9:30-37, in which Jesus teaches his followers about discipleship, service and vulnerability. He invites us to welcome God as we welcome the most vulnerable among us, including children and those on the margins of our societies.

This week we look at Mark 9:30-37, in which Jesus teaches his followers about discipleship, service and humility. To illustrate his point, he put took a child in his arms and said, "You welcome her, you welcome me." We claim to prize our children highly... how do we feel about those unrelated to us? 

This week we look at Mark 9:30-37, in which Jesus teaches his followers about discipleship, service and humility. In saying his followers were to be "servants of all," was he suggesting they should be doormats? Or empowered and humble leaders? 

This week we look at Mark 9:30-37, in which Jesus teaches his followers about discipleship, service and humility. They were more interested in who was considered "the greatest." How do we step out of the "jockeying for position" game? 

This week we look at Mark 9:30-37, in which Jesus teaches his followers about discipleship, service and humility. So much of what he said was unsettling, but his disciples were afraid to ask him what he really meant. Do we ask God about the things that confuse us? 

Today we  look at James 3:1-12, which speaks of how damaging our tongues can be. Can we learn to use our faculty of speech to bless and not curse, to build up and not tear down? 

This week we look at Mark 8:27-38, in which Jesus talks about what true discipleship is – and costs. Jesus says it requires us to think like God - how do we do that? 

This week we look at Mark 8:27-38, in which Jesus talks about what true discipleship is – and costs. Does it always have to involve suffering? 

 This week we look at Mark 8:27-38, in which Jesus talks about what true discipleship is – and costs. He asked his followers, "Who do you say that I am? He asks us the same question...

This is Water Daily for September 6, 2021. This week we look at Mark 8:27-38, in which Jesus talks about what true discipleship is – and costs. The transition from the ease of summer into the more hectic pace of fall can mirror that journey.

This week we look at Mark 7:24-37, in which we have two healing stories - today we reflect on the healing of a man who could not hear or speak, and think about how the church of our day may need Jesus' healing in just the same way. 

This week we look at Mark 7:24-37, in which we have two healing stories - the second one in which Jesus heals a man who is impaired in both speech and hearing. Jesus is unusually "hands on" in this healing - what does that tell us about God?

This week we look at Mark 7:24-37, in which we have two healing stories. In the first, Jesus seems reluctant to deal with someone outside his community. Who's on the edges of our lives who's hungry for the riches we enjoy, spiritually as well as materially? 

This week we look at Mark 7:24-37, in which Jesus crosses some boundaries - and even gets kind of surly. What do we make of this fully human man who was also fully God, and able to release people from the worst kind of bondage? 

This week we look at Mark 7:24-37, in which Jesus tries to get some rest, but is pulled back to ministry. How well do we do at taking time apart and letting our spirits and bodies and minds recharge? 

Today we are looking James 1:17-27. What does it look like to really walk the walk, and not just pay lip service to our faith?

Today we are looking James 1:17-27, a New Testament letter to the early churches. The writer talks about the importance of listening more than speaking, and being slow to anger - and reminds us that God's Word (i.e., the Spirit of Christ) dwells within us. How does that change us? 

This week we look at Mark 7, in which Jesus says what matters is not what goes into a person, but what comes out. How would we rate the output of our lives? 

This week we look at Mark 7, focusing today on how our cultural obsession with what we put into our bodies may distract us from the more important work on what we put out into the world.