“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” – Matthew 16:1-3

It was late October 1991. The crew of the fishing boat Andrea Gail, out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, had taken the vessel five hundred miles out into the Atlantic. A cold front moving along the Canadian border sent a strong disturbance through New England, while at the same time a large high-pressure system was building over the maritime provinces of southeastern Canada. 

This intensified the incoming low-pressure system, producing what locals called the “Halloween Nor’easter.” As Robert Case, a meteorologist, put it, “These circumstances alone could have created a strong storm, but then, like throwing gasoline on a fire, a dying Hurricane Grace delivered immeasurable tropical energy to create the perfect storm.”

The hurricane, sweeping in from the Atlantic, completed the picture. The forces of nature converged on the helpless Andrea Gail from the west, the north, and the southeast. Ferocious winds and huge waves reduced the boat to matchwood. Only light debris was ever found. There had, of course, been earlier “perfect storms,” but this was the one made famous by the book and movie of that title. 

We may be able to predict the weather, but we need to look to the Lord to know the times. Today in prayer, worship the Lord that He has come into the world to save sinners and He will one day return.

“Jesus Christ is God’s last word. Beyond Jesus Christ the revelation of God cannot go. Here is God’s plan for all to see.” – William Barclay

God’s Word: “He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?” – Luke 12:54-56

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” – Matthew 15:8

John Ruskin (1819-1900), the famous art historian, wrote about a beautiful tradition that existed among the shepherds of the Swiss Alps during his lifetime. These shepherds grazed their flocks often in solitude, on the high slopes of the mountains, often long distances apart. There would always be one shepherd positioned highest on the mountain. He takes his horn, places it to his lips, and plays the notes that signal, "Glory to God in the highest."

This melody drifts down through the clear evening air, reaching the shepherd on the next lower pasture, who then places his horn to his lips and passes along the melodious message, "Glory to God in the highest," to the next shepherd below. According to Ruskin, on a clear evening, this sweet message can be heard up and down the valleys, echoing for a hundred miles as the shepherds unite in their evening worship.

Seek the Lord for He is God. Today in prayer, spend some extra time worshipping Jesus and seek to follow Him throughout the day.

“God is not moved or impressed with our worship until our hearts are moved and impressed by Him.” – Kelly Sparks

God’s Word: “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.’” – Isaiah 29:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” – Matthew 14:14

Pastor Mia Levetan wrote: “The Kingdom is Not a Mad Scramble for “Enough”

 I was recently at a eight-year-old’s birthday party, and at this birthday party there was a piñata. All of the kids took turns whacking a paper mache shark with a PVC pipe until eventually the shark busted and candies flew everywhere. 

At that moment it was every kid for themselves as they were diving in grabbing as many and as much candy as each kid possibly could. 

Even from a young age we believe this is how the world works, but there is a limited amount of something that you must fight for what you can, but the kingdom of God is different. Jesus teaches in God’s kingdom there is enough for everyone, he has compassion upon the people and gives of himself to each one of them.

At the birthday party, after all of the candy had been picked off the ground, the mom of the birthday boy asked if everyone got enough candy. And that is more of what the kingdom of God looks like: inquiring us asking us if we have what we need if we have enough.”

Jesus was known for His compassion to others and as His followers that should be our hallmark. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can be more compassionate to others.

“The value of compassion cannot be over-emphasized. Anyone can criticize. It takes a true believer to be compassionate. No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know no one cares or understands.” – Arthur H. Stainback

God’s Word: “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.” – Mark 8:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

“Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” – Matthew 11:21

In his book Growing strong in the Seasons of Life, the author Charles Swindoll tells a story about the 19th Century agnostic Thomas Huxley. The story goes like this – Huxley was in Dublin and was rushing to catch a train.

He climbed aboard one of Dublin’s famous horse drawn taxis and said to the driver - “Hurry, I’m almost late … drive fast”. Off they went at a furious pace and Huxley sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. After a while Huxley opened his eyes and glanced out the window to notice that they were going in the wrong direction. Realizing that he hadn’t told the driver where to take him he called out ‘do you know where you’re going’. The driver replied “No your honor, but I am driving very fast.’”

The Lord wants us to take responsibility for our sins, confess them, and turn away from them. Today in prayer, repent of any sin in your life and seek to follow Christ in all that you do.

“One of the most fundamental marks of true repentance is a disposition to see our sins as God sees them.” – Charles Simeon

God’s Word: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” – Acts 3:19

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

YOUR NEED TO REST                                  Thursday - December 11, 2025

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

In the “Discipleship Opportunity”, Daniel Im writes: “[D]o you have margin in your life, like the white spaces between these words and the edges of the page? Having margin is about intentionally scheduling white space in your calendar to pray, rest, read, plan, hear from others, and listen to what’s going on around you in order to discern what’s next.

Is margin a part of your daily and weekly rhythms? Or are you constantly going from one meeting to another often arriving late? Do you have space to breathe between sermons? Or do you feel like you never have enough time to prepare? And do you know how it feels to be all caught up on your emails? 

Or are you constantly apologizing for late or missed replies? When we lack margin, we often miss the subtle changes that are happening all around us. We don’t have the space to detect and discern them, let alone respond! We notice big events, like global pandemics, social unrest, local tragedies, government changes, and viral trends (do you remember the tortilla slap challenge?), but it’s the subtleties that go unnoticed. Subtle changes like shifting assumptions and changing language in our culture and church.

This is why I schedule margin into my calendar. Not only does it keep me grounded, but having the margin to meet with and listen to people in my church family helps me remember that I am not what I do, and that my identity isn’t tied to the size of my church, because my worth doesn’t come from any of that.

So whether it’s a formal sit-down over coffee or a meal, or an informal encounter in the neighborhood, grocery store, or church hallway, margin gives me the space to have these conversations and to listen. And it’s in these conversations where I often discern the subtle changes that are happening in our culture and church.”

Are you tired, needing rest? Today in prayer, come to Jesus and you will find rest in Him.

“Work a modest day then step back and rest. This will keep you close to God.” – William C. Martin

God’s Word: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” – Psalm 62:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

“All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” – Matthew 10:22-23

Christianity first reached Japan in 1549, due to the heroic missionary work of the Jesuit priest Francis Xavier and his companions. In the next sixty years, over three hundred thousand Japanese citizens converted to Christianity.

Conversions became so widespread that the Japanese ruling class suspected Christians were seeking to overthrow the government and colonize and enslave the Japanese people. The ruler, Hideyoshi, issued an order for the arrest and execution of Christians. Japanese evangelist Paul Miki was on track to become the first Japanese-born Christian priest, but he was arrested before this aspiration was fulfilled. 

He was among a group of twenty-six Christians who were rounded up and forced to undergo a six-hundred-mile march from Kyoto to their place of execution in Nagasaki. As they walked, Miki tried to convert those they encountered, and the prisoners sang an ancient Christian hymn, the Te Deum: “We praise you, O God; we proclaim you as Lord.

All the earth worships you, the Father everlasting.” When they reached their destination, they were crucified. Paul Miki delivered his final sermon from his cross: “After Christ’s example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope that my blood will fall on my fellow men as fruitful rain.”

Many Christians in today’s world are being persecuted. Today in prayer, pray for Christians in Indonesia who face persecution daily.

“Persecution for righteousness’ sake is what every child of God must expect.” – Charles Simeon

God’s Word: “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” – Mark 13:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” – Matthew 9:37-38

In his book “Dangerous Prayers” Pastor Craig Groeschel wrote: ““Hey, Craig, do you believe God still does miracles?” “Of course,” I said. “Good—because your prayers are so lame.” I tried to laugh with him, but my friend’s joke stung—mostly because he was right. We had just left a prayer service together, back when I started working in ministry. My buddy knew me well enough to tease me, but I suspect he was also making a point. Left speechless, I offered no defense as I processed the truth of his observation. I couldn’t deny that he voiced a secret I already knew but didn’t want to admit: my prayers were pathetic.”

The Lord knows your heart, ask boldly! Today in prayer, pray to the Lord that He will raise up more workers to share His Gospel and ask how you can help.

“Every heart with Christ is a missionary, and every heart without Christ is a mission field.” – Dick Hillis

God’s Word: “He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” – Luke 10:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

“When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” – Matthew 8:10

In his work “The Golden Day”, author Bob Burdette writes: “There are two golden days in the week, upon which, and about which, I never worry—two carefree days, kept sacredly free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is Yesterday; Yesterday, with its cares and frets, all its pains and aches, all its faults, mistakes, and blunders, has passed forever beyond my recall. I cannot undo an act that I wrought nor unsay a word that I said.

All that it holds of my life, of wrong, regret, and sorrow, is in the hands of the Mighty Love that can bring honey out of the rock and sweetest waters out of the bitterest desert. Save for the beautiful memories—sweet and tender—that linger like the perfume of roses in the heart of that day that is gone, I have nothing to do with Yesterday. It was mine! It is God’s! And the other day that I do not worry about is Tomorrow; Tomorrow, with all its possible adversities, its burdens, its perils, its large promise and poor performance, its failures and mistakes, is as far beyond my mastery as its dead sister, Yesterday.

It is a day of God’s. Its sun will rise in roseate splendor or behind a mask of weeping clouds—but it will rise. Until then, the same Love and Patience that held Yesterday holds Tomorrow. Save for the star of hope that gleams forever on the brow of Tomorrow, shining with tender promise into the heart of Today, I have no possession in that unborn day of grace. All else is in the safe keeping of the Infinite Love that is higher than the stars, wider than the skies, deeper than the seas. Tomorrow is God’s day! It will be mine!”

In all that you do, exercise your faith in Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you faith in all that you do and to rest in Him. 

“Faith is seeing the invisible, but not the nonexistent.” – A.W. Tozer

God’s Word: “Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” – Matthew 15:28

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:6-7

In his book “Hearing God”, Dallas Willard writes: “Agnes Sanford relates how, as the young wife of an Episcopal minister, her child came down with a serious ear infection. It lasted for six weeks while she prayed fearfully and fruitlessly.

Then a neighboring minister called to see her husband and learned that the child was sick. Quite casually, though intently and in a businesslike manner, he prayed for the little boy, who immediately shut his eyes, lost his fever flush and went to sleep.

When the boy awoke, his fever was gone and his ears were well. Sanford remarks,

The strange thing is that this did not immediately show me a new world. Instead, it perplexed me greatly. Why did God answer the minister’s prayers when He had not answered mine? I did not know that I myself blocked my own prayers, because of my lack of faith. 

Nor did I know that this [successful] prayer could not come from resentment and darkness and unhappiness, as a pipeline can be clogged with roots and dirt. This doubt and confusion remained in my mind, even though the child himself, whenever he subsequently had a bit of an earache, demanded that I pray for him.”

Jesus does answer our prayers! Today in prayer, bring before Him your needs, worries and cares and be confident that He will answer them.

“The whole canon of Bible teaching is to illustrate the great truth that God hears and answers prayer.” – E.M. Bounds

God’s Word: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” – Matthew 6:25

Author Ryan Bundrick writes: “One day, a house-dog, standing at the window, was barking his head off at a passing mailman. The dog's owner, irritated, asks the dog, "Why do you always bark at that poor mailman?" The dog says, "So that he won't break into our house and steal all of our food and toys." The owner frowns, confused. "Why on earth do you think he would do such a thing? He's never tried that before!" Rolling his eyes, the dog replies, "Well, of course he hasn’t! You're welcome!"

Often, we can be like that dog. We worry and scream and do everything possible to fight off all the terrible things that will get us. But sometimes, a mailman is just a mailman.”

Nothing surprises the Lord. Everything is working together for His glory. Today in prayer, put all your worry in Jesus hands and trust in Him. 

“Stop thinking about your difficulties, whatever they are, and start thinking about God instead.” – Emmett Fox

God’s Word: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks tells a true story in one of his books about peacemaking in what is arguably one of the world's most difficult places to achieve it: the Middle East. One evening in the early 1980s, British diplomat Victor Mishcon was attempting to negotiate a peace deal between Jordan and Israel. Following the time-honored diplomatic tradition, he began by inviting the countries' representatives—King Hussein of Jordan and Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres—to his home for dinner.

The evening proceeded pleasantly enough, but as the meal concluded, both Peres and Hussein began preparing to leave. This was when Mishcon's brilliant strategy truly began. He informed both men that their departure would have to wait—the three of them were going to wash the dishes together. King Hussein took his place at the sink while Peres handled the drying, working side by side. This had been Mishcon's intention all along: to place these two men, who seemed so different, right next to each other, allowing them to experience each other's shared humanity.

Are you estranged from anyone? Today in prayer, take the first steps of reconciliation. Confess any sin to the Lord, forgive any wrongs that others have done to you, and seek to have restored relationships that are centered on Jesus Christ.

“The number one problem in our world is alienation, rich versus poor, black versus white, labor versus management, conservative versus liberal, East versus West . . . But Christ came to bring about reconciliation and peace.” – Billy Graham

God’s Word: “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:19

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” – Matthew 4:1

In her book “Invitation to Retreat”, author Ruth Haley Barton writes: “While I am not one to see a demon behind every bush or spiritual warfare in every difficulty, the fact is that we are regularly engaged in the struggle against good and evil—whether we know it or not. 

And as we mature in our faith, the battles become more subtle and hard to detect: the good is often the enemy of the best and it is hard to know the difference. Of necessity, the weapons of our warfare must become more precise as well. 

A point may come on the spiritual journey when persons who deeply love God must be aware of, understand, and reject certain attractions to good and holy things that, if undertaken, would distract them from the different good and holy things to which God is genuinely calling them. . . . 

They will need to discern between spiritual consolation that is authentically of the good spirit and deceptive spiritual consolation that is not of the good spirit, and that will lead, if followed, to spiritual harm.”

We each face temptations, but through Jesus can we overcome any temptation. Today in prayer, pray that Jesus would lead you away from all temptation so that you may walk with Him.

“If you're losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you're stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention-failure-guilt, you will not get better on your own. You need the help of other people. Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable.” - Rick Warren

God’s Word: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” – Matthew 6:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW   †

“Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.” – Matthew 1:17

In his book “52 Weeks with Jesus” author James Merritt wrote: “The actress Brooke Shields has quite an impressive family mosaic. Hanging from her family tree are the likes of Charlemagne, El Cid, William the Conqueror, the royal houses of virtually every European country, and five popes—prior to the twelfth-century imposition of celibacy!

She’s not unique, though.

Experts say that even without a documented connection to some notable ancestor, the odds are virtually 100 percent that every person on earth is descended from one royal person or another. It works the other way as well. Anyone who had children more than a few hundred years ago is likely to have millions of descendants today, quite a few of them famous.

You may be a royal blueblood right now and not even know it. You may have the blood of some king or queen flowing through your veins. In the genealogy of Jesus, God demonstrates that anyone can become a part of the greatest royal family of all—the family of not just a king, but the King of kings.”

Though some people have an interesting family tree, only Jesus is the son of Abraham and the son of David. Jesus Christ is the Promised Son. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He became a man, just as our Heavenly Father promised.

“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God.” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli … the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” – Luke 3:23, 38

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN MATTHEW †