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Steve Durkac

Hospice Chaplain

 
 
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Category Archives: Chaplain Reflections

Posts that share devotional thoughts on selected Bible verses with team meetings in mind and an emphasis on practical application.

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Seeking God

Steve Durkac Posted on June 1, 2025 by Steve DurkacJune 1, 2025

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NIV Don’t wonder where God is when adversity strikes, if all along you’ve been pushing Him away. God doesn’t hide from us and He doesn’t make it difficult to be found by us. God is there when we need Him but He does … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, God, Jeremiah 29:13, Reflection, relationship, searching

Be Kind

Steve Durkac Posted on May 31, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 31, 2025

“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” — Job 6:14 NIV I am convinced that when we get to Heaven we are going to meet people we never knew who are going to thank us for showing them kindness at some point during their earthly lives. I imagine the kindness shown may be simply … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged Job 6:14, kind, kindness, loneliness, lonely, people

Hurtful Words

Steve Durkac Posted on May 31, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 31, 2025

“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” — James 3:8 NIV Many years ago I was a chaplain in the emergency department when the ambulance brought in a man who was still receiving CPR. The doctor called the time of death shortly after. When the family arrived I got the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, James 3:8, Reflection, tongue, words

Thinking Right

Steve Durkac Posted on May 31, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 31, 2025

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” — Philippians 4:8 NIV It can be argued that the only thing about our lives that we have control over is our thoughts. Our physical traits are inherited from our … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged Attitude, devotional, mind, Philippians 4:8, Reflection, thinking

Spiritual Investment

Steve Durkac Posted on May 31, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 31, 2025

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” — 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV The verse is contrasting putting our energy into a temporal earthly purpose vs putting our energy into an eternal spiritual purpose. There is value to doing things for temporal … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged 1 Timothy 4:8, devotional, peace, Reflection, spiritual mindfulness, spiritual wellness

God’s Plan

Steve Durkac Posted on May 31, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 31, 2025

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11 NIV Please don’t think that you are a walking example of Murphy’s Law. Don’t even entertain the thought that you are given to bad luck, that the stars … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, Jeremiah 29:11, plan, Reflection

Overwhelming Love

Steve Durkac Posted on May 28, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 31, 2025

“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” — Psalm 63:3 NIV I’m not one who is easily convinced by the stories of people who claim to have died and gone to Heaven, before coming back to life. My hang-up is that none of them remained dead and they all returned to life. To me their … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, Heaven, Love, Psalm 63:3, Reflection

Just Revenge

Steve Durkac Posted on May 19, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 19, 2025

“say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”  — Isaiah 35:4 NIV In this world we sometimes are left to wonder if evil-doers will ever face justice or if wicked people will ever face the vengeance they deserve for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, Isaiah 35:4, justice, Psalms 5:3, Reflection, return of Christ, Return of Jesus, revenge, second coming

Listening vs Talking

Steve Durkac Posted on May 17, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 17, 2025

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”  — James 1:19-20 NIV It’s likely that we all have heard an old saying that goes, “God gave us two ears and one mouth so we … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, James 1:19, James 1:19-20, listen, listening, Reflection

Judging the Heart

Steve Durkac Posted on May 12, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 13, 2025

“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV It has been said that when we get to Heaven, there will be two things that will surprise us: those who aren’t there and those that are there. The reason for this is because the Lord judges man by his/her heart. We tend … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged 1 Samuel 16:7, devotional, Heart, Heaven, Motives, Reflection

Grumbling

Steve Durkac Posted on May 9, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 9, 2025

“And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” — 1 Corinthians 10:10 NIV While the larger context of this verse is the disobedience of the Israelites traveling through the wilderness out of Egypt, there is a truth here for us to take heed to and that is to not grumble. Grumbling is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged 1 Corinthians 10:10, devotional, good-finder, Reflection

Contentment

Steve Durkac Posted on May 3, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 6, 2025

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV I once asked a hospice patient, How is your spirit? She immediately said, Content. I have a peace and contentment in … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged 1Timothy 6:6-8, contentment, devotional, peace, Phillippians 4:11, Reflection

Quiet Lives

Steve Durkac Posted on April 27, 2025 by Steve DurkacMay 5, 2025

“and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you” — 1 Thessalonians 4:11 NIV Many young people look toward their future with dreams of fame as a sports star, a Hollywood celebrity, or a popular singer in front of stadium crowds. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 4:11, ambition, devotional, life, quiet, Reflection

Healing Laughter

Steve Durkac Posted on April 11, 2025 by Steve DurkacApril 14, 2025

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” — Proverbs 17:22 NIV While serving as a hospital chaplain in Mobile, Alabama when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, I was struck by something I noticed among the patients in its aftermath. The days that followed were very somber among hospital staff and patient’s family. … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, laughter, Proverbs 17:22, Reflection, stress, therapeutic laughter

True Religion

Steve Durkac Posted on March 26, 2025 by Steve DurkacMarch 26, 2025

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” — James 1:27 NIV When we consider the topic of religion, our minds likely reflect on the outward expressions of rituals, sacred writings, or holy artifacts. However, the type … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged authentic religion, devotional, James 1:27, pure religion, Reflection, true religion

Grief to Joy

Steve Durkac Posted on March 20, 2025 by Steve DurkacMarch 20, 2025

“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” — John 16:20 NIV The things that excite this world are not the same as what inspires a follower of Jesus Christ. The world may celebrate immorality, knowingly promote a lie, and applaud when truth is … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, grief, grieving, John 16:20, Reflection, Return of Jesus, second coming

Worry Wisely

Steve Durkac Posted on January 31, 2025 by Steve DurkacJanuary 31, 2025

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” — Matthew 6:34 NIV Years ago I sat at a Japanese Hibachi restaurant when a guest at our table tried to engage the cook in a conversation regarding a recent societal event. The cook simply retorted back, Not my problem. … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, Matthew 6:34, problems, Reflection, social media, worry

A World of Trouble

Steve Durkac Posted on January 8, 2025 by Steve DurkacJanuary 8, 2025

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 NIV It’s rare, but once in a while I’ll meet a patient who has lived sheltered from hardship and suddenly finding themselves dealing with illness and suffering is … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, John 16:33, Reflection, trials, trouble

Purpose of Life

Steve Durkac Posted on January 4, 2025 by Steve DurkacJanuary 4, 2025

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” — Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV The writer of Ecclesiastes, who is believed to be Solomon, explores the meaning of living from the perspective of his life being largely behind him. In kind of a life … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged Commandments, devotional, Ecclesiastes 1:14, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Law, Law of God, life, life review, purpose, Reflection

Letting Anxiety Go

Steve Durkac Posted on January 2, 2025 by Steve DurkacJanuary 2, 2025

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NIV When I first met this certain patient, I was taken back by the overwhelming loss they were experiencing. The patient just found out they only had weeks to live, their cancer had metastasized throughout their body, their congestive heart failure was already making it difficult … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged 1 Peter 5:7, anxiety, burdens, devotional, Reflection, suffering

Trust the Lord

Steve Durkac Posted on December 24, 2024 by Steve DurkacDecember 30, 2024

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” — Nahum 1:7 NIV Some have rejected the Lord, mostly because they have been taught to by their upbringing, so they don’t trust in Him in their daily lives. When troubles come and no one cares they blame the very God they … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, Nahum 1:7, Reflection, refuge

The Name

Steve Durkac Posted on December 21, 2024 by Steve DurkacDecember 30, 2024

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” — Matthew 1:21 (NIV) After the birth of my first child I was peering into the hospital nursery window. Just then a young mother walked up with a friend who asked her, What did you … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged character, Christmas, devotional, God, Jesus, Jesus' Name, Matthew 1:21, name, Reflection, Son of God

Breaking Family Cycles

Steve Durkac Posted on November 21, 2024 by Steve DurkacDecember 9, 2024

“Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made.” — 1 Kings 15:11-12 NIV Adulthood often presents us with choices to maintain the traditions of our families or to break away and start a new course. Ending the unhealthy cycles of behavior that we’ve born into is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged 1 Kings 15:11-12, Asa, choice, devotional, Family, Reflection

Miracles Take Initiative

Steve Durkac Posted on November 12, 2024 by Steve DurkacMarch 24, 2025

“Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” — John 5:8-9 NIV When I worked as a trauma chaplain, I often heard families claim miracles for their loved ones who declared they would soon get up off their gurney’s and walk out of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplain Reflections | Tagged devotional, faith, healing, John 5:8-9, miracles, Reflection

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