Posts from 2022 (Page 9)

Embrace The Darkness Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. Exodus 20:20-21 Times of darkness come to all of us. We may experience tragic, inexplicable loss; confusion; failure; rejection; or for some of us spiritual emptiness. Our response in these moments often…

Can You Love The Unlovely? [Jesus said,] “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Matthew 5:44 It makes perfect sense to love people who love us and hate those who hate us. That’s just the way the world works! But that’s not the way the Kingdom works. Jesus acknowledged the law of human nature, but he calls us to be different,…

There’s Nothing Like A Big Brother The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 In the closing pages of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, young Jem Flinch escorts his sister, Scout, home from the Halloween party. As they walk through the woods in the darkness, a deranged man attacks the little girl. Jem throws himself at…

Complete Inspiration All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy:3:16-17 Every word of Scripture is inspired, which means “God breathed.” God worked through the writers personalities and backgrounds to communicate His message to us. We may not understand exactly how this happened, but we can be certain that the message they…

Jesus Loves Them Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. “ Matthew 19:14 In ancient Palestine, men ruled over society. Women were second class citizens, and children followed in a distant third place, just above the despised Samaritans. As we read the accounts of Jesus’ life, we find that He turned things upside down. Instead of fearing the powerful religious leaders, He argued with them,…

Starting Over But the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled by the potter’s hand; so he made it over, reworking it and making it into another pot that seemed good to him.Then I went down to the potter’s house, and saw that he was working at the wheel. Jeremiah 18:3-4 The Bible and the history of people of faith give us a rich record of God’s not giving up on us when we fail. Abraham was a…

All Things New and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow anguish, or crying, or pain; for the former order of things has passed away.”And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true [they are accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy].” Revelation 21:4,5 Almost three millennia ago, Solomon observed that…

The Great Thing About Great Things ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know understand cannot distinguish.’ Jeremiah 33:3 God’s promise to answer the prayers of His people was given at a time of desperate need. The children of Israel were in deep trouble- in slavery under the brutal, vicious Babylonian regime. Survival was uppermost on their…

Lead By Example Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 God has given all of us skills and talents, but He is more interested in the character of the man or woman who uses these abilities. Certainly we can be good examples to others who watch us,Odell the skills we…