To remember the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea today, we read a brief historical devotion from Historical Introductions to the Lutheran Confessions.

As we celebrate the Holy Trinity today, we read a devotion adapted from Theological Commonplaces: On the Nature of God and on the Trinity.

Pentecost is one of my favorite seasons within the Church Year. Acts 2 gets my mind going and my blood pumping with its imagery and promise.

My professional association, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, has as its theme for 2017 “Whole Health Begins with Mental Health . . . Let It Begin with You!” I like this theme because it lifts up the wholeness in which we are created: body, mind, and spirit. It also reminds me that spiritual and emotional health is the foundation for a person’s whole health. Unless we tend to our spiritual and emotional needs, it is not possible to live in a state of health. The body, mind, and spirit are inextricably bound together. The last part of the phrase, “Let it begin with you,” is a good place to start as we seek to serve as advocates for those who suffer with mental illness among us.

I would like to lift up three attitudes and actions that begin with oneself:

Today, our devotion continues with the celebration of Pentecost, and we read about Acts 8 in an excerpt from The Big Book of New Testament Questions and Answers.

As we continue to celebrate God’s giving of the Holy Spirit to His Church, we read about the Spirit in an excerpt from Lutheran Bible Companion, Volume 2.

Today's devotion for the Day of Pentecost comes from A Longer Look at the Lessons: Year A—Pentecost I.

As we prepare to celebrate Pentecost tomorrow, we read a portion of Romans 8 and take our devotion from Concordia Commentary: Romans 1–8.

On today’s Feast of the Visitation, we remember when Mary visited Elizabeth. Our devotion focuses on Mary’s song, the Magnificat, and comes from Luther’s Works, Volume 21 (The Sermon on the Mount and the Magnificat).

This Sunday, we focus on the reading from Acts and take our devotion from To the Ends of the Earth: A Journey through Acts.