Moving Forward
Nehemiah was a Biblical figure, cup-bearer at one time to the King of Persia and governor of Jerusalem. He led a team of Jews in the enormous task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem that had been destroyed 70 years prior. Many people have never heard of Nehemiah but ever since I read Nehemiah in […]
Stationed at the Lowest Point
Therefore, I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. Nehemiah 4:13 As the enemy spread unsettling rumors, I imagine that Nehemiah consulted with the Lord many times. He did not allow fear or the concern […]
Count It All Joy
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2 James writes to the twelve scattered tribes who were being persecuted for […]
Commander in Chief of Our Lives
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. I Samuel 17:45 One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the one where David, […]
Transformation Through Worship
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. Psalm 95:6 The people of Israel turned from their Creator, choosing to worship other gods. Isaiah 44 describes the idols that the people made: They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, […]
Ministers of Reconciliation
All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 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 5:18-19 In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, […]
Consequences and Restoration
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I Peter 5:10 Sin causes us to suffer. You may be in denial that you are suffering because of a sin […]
Pondering God’s Word
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about the child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said them. But Mary treasured up all these […]
Jesus in the Chaos
Yesterday was loud and chaotic. I sat in an hour of morning rush hour traffic. I made meals, and snacks, and shuttled kids to and from school. Two kids were wrestling while another kid had a homework meltdown. The baby is teething. I had just enough time to sneak a workout in this afternoon and […]
Strategies for Evangelizing
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 Although Paul realized that circumcision was not necessary for salvation, he knew that in order for Timothy […]