Scripture: "By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David—an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David’s number-one advocate and friend. Saul received David into his own household that day, no...
Celebrating the 200th Edition! Scripture: "Ezra opened the book. Every eye was on him (he was standing on the raised platform) and as he opened the book everyone stood. Then Ezra praised God, the great God, and all the people responded, 'Oh Yes! Yes!' with hands raised high. And then they...
Scripture: "Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: 'Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.' Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. 'The Father...
Scripture: "Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about...
Scripture: "The serpent told the Woman, 'You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.' When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good...
Scripture: "Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah. They presented their case: 'Look, you’re an old man, and your sons aren’t following in your footsteps. Here’s what we want you to do: Appoint a king to rule us, just like everybody else.' When...
Scripture: "Elisha said, 'Listen! God’s word! The famine’s over. This time tomorrow food will be plentiful—a handful of meal for a shekel; two handfuls of grain for a shekel. The market at the city gate will be buzzing.' The attendant on whom the king leaned for support said to the Holy...
"The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one which makes you think." -Harper Lee One of the things that I prioritize every year is reading books. For some, reading is laborious, but for me, reading is a retreat. It allows me to think...
Scripture:"God-of-the-Angel-Armies will step in and take care of his flock, the people of Judah. He’ll revive their spirits, make them proud to be on God’s side. God will use them in his work of rebuilding, use them as foundations and pillars, use them as tools and instruments, use them to oversee his work. They’ll be a workforce...
Reflections on 2013: It has been a year for the books. Remember when you were young and you had growing pains? Your body was trying to adapt to changes. This year has felt like a year with growing pains. Over the past 12 months, I faced great challenges and victories. In...
Scripture: "One day the angel of God came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of God appeared to him and said, 'God is with you, O mighty warrior!' Gideon replied,...
Scripture: "About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to...