In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.~ Judges 21:25 How interesting it is that this is the verse that concludes the Book of Judges. It aptly summarizes the history of Israel in this period as the nation, without clear leadership and convictions, tumults from strength into weakness, and...
Read more →In this season of drought and dearth in my life, today’s reading in Genesis (chapters 22-24) brought home a point that I reckon I need to hear: God asks us to obey Him, and God provides. In His time, according to His will, He provides. In chapter 22, after giving Abraham and Sarah a...
Read more →Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” ~ Genesis 4:6-7 After...
Read more →“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15 My friend Wendy said she...
Read more →“Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not.” Acts 7:25 Yesterday, while reading in Acts 7 about Stephen speaking to the Sanhedrin, I was impressed with Stephen’s summary about Moses’ life, and specifically with the reminder that if we truly live seeking...
Read more →“Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:11 Last week I wrote about a foray I took into the literature on my bookshelves related to shame. The topic remains at the...
Read more →“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.” ~ I Cor. 16:13-14 Inevitably, I begin most mornings by waking up, and some care or concern floods my mind. I don’t have an overly complicated life, so my concerns are usually basic- they are...
Read more →“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” ~John 4:29 When Jesus meets the woman at the well in Sychar, he shares with her about the water he has to give which springs eternal. She is perplexed by this foreigner. A Jew, he shouldn’t be friendly...
Read more →In reply, Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Yes, the term “born again” is popularly used to describe evangelicals who emerged out of the 60’s and 70’s as those who pressed for the necessity of a rebirth experience as part...
Read more →“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” John 2:19 When Jesus visits the Temple courts and sees men selling items and animals for use in sacrifices and offerings, he is incensed and drives everyone out of the courts. When the town constables come and ask him by what authority...
Read more →16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. In this competitive and comparative world, it is easy to lose a right perspective about who we are and how valuable we really are in God’s economy. With every website seemingly built around the cult of celebrity, screaming about...
Read more →This morning I started reading in John again, starting in chapter 1. we read that in the beginning was “the “Word”, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through Him all things were made. And this Word came into the world so that human beings might from Him, He who...
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