Ruth 3 – The blending of lives is a beautiful thing. We probably don’t think about that much with the relationships we hold. But all…
humility
122 posts
Isaiah 65 – The book of Judges sums up a people who did what they wanted, threw caution to the wind and reaped those benefits for generations. Story after…
Isaiah 64 – Waiting. We hate it. We hate to wait in traffic. We loathe waiting for an appointment. At the checkout line, if we find ourselves standing too…
Isaiah 58 – Superficial people. We’ve all endured them. If we’re honest, we’ve probably been one at some point in our lives. Superficial people seem frivolous, self-absorbed, and shallow…
Isaiah 33 – The sting of betrayal burns deep. We’ve all experienced this on some level. Betrayal shatters trust. It brings extreme caution…
Isaiah 31 – Where’s your trust? No, I’m serious. Stop and look at your life at the moment. The areas that have spun completely out of control. The relationships…
Isaiah 25 – Following a chapter on the destruction and judgment of God, we read a deeply personal appeal to His faithfulness. It almost…
Isaiah 19 – It’s strange how sometimes we get the mindset that some people are unreachable. Let’s be honest, many times we have those thoughts. We believe they are…
Isaiah 3 – On many fronts, Isaiah 3 is a parade of sin. The people proud of their choices and personal behavior, they were no longer ashamed but put…
Ephesians 4 – There is a deep calling on each of our lives. We who are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ have a mission. This mission does not…
Galatians 6 – As Paul winds down his letter he makes tremendous statements that could be dissected and applied very easily. He is incredibly practical and encouraging while writes…
Exodus 22 – Upon reading these laws set by God it would seem or appear they’re pretty stringent or picky. That is simply not the case as…
Exodus 18 – Jethro was not an Israelite. Making a sudden reappearance in the story, the timing was everything. As he was not of the Jewish race,…
Exodus 3 – “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” – Psalm 139:7 40 years of Moses’ life he was…
Judges 20 – All of Israel gathered together in order to figure out how to handle the vile situation concerning the men of Gibeah. Ultimately, civil war would breakout…
Judges 12 – We all have them in our lives. They are the most challenging people. Chronic complainers never see anything good; always go for the worst scenario; they…
Job 42 – We live in a fallen world.Believers andunbelievers are both inundated with the consequences of sin. Our God is not indifferent;Hes not uncaring…
Job 41 – Job 40 spoke of a Behemoth. A large unusual animal that does not exist today. The discussion on this animal is wide ranging as to what…
Job 40 – Weve probably all done it. Things didnt go well. We didnt get our way. We lost the promotion. The sickness led to death. Finances turned downward….
Job 35 – Paul and Silas sat in the heart of the dark damp prison. They had arrived at Philippi and immediately gone to the river to meet with…
Job 33 – Elihu jumps in with full steam. Hes less formal than the others, even callingJob by name. We see coming through his words moments of sheer pride…
Job 22 – The third and final round begins between Job and his friends. The first cycle his friends spoke in generalities, without making their doctrine specifically to Job…
Job 20 – I havent seen the movie in years, but what I recall from Ray Bradburys novel turned film, “Something Wicked This Way Comes” involves a traveling carnival,…
Ezra 10 – The book of Ezra opens with the people of Israel in captivity, the temple in ruins. As the story unfolds, Ezra recounts the return. There were…
Ezra 9 – After a 4 month, dangerous journey from Babylon to Jerusalem, Ezra arrived to find things not as he had thought. A culture of compromise within his own…
Ezra 2 – Genealogies were very important to the Jewish people. For them, if they could prove they had descended from Abraham, they were considered true Jews and could…
Joshua 22 – We all have those times when we jump to conclusions. We hear something not very favorable about people and we make up our mind based on…
Joshua 20 – God had preplanned many things and instructed Moses as to how the government of this new nation of Israel should function. One of these was the…
Joshua 19 – The final division of the land is done. All tribes have been given land to make their home. On some levels, the reading of the division…
Matthew 23 – The word hypocrisy in Greek was a term used for an actor onstage who played a specific role. Jesus took this word and turned…
Matthew 10 – In the choosing of the disciples, it is obvious he didn’t decide who ‘qualified’ for the job based on pedigree or social standing. They…
Matthew 8 – Life’s storms can take on different meanings and venues for each of us. They can come on unexpectedly, bring a devastation to our person…
Matthew 5 – The United States has the Declaration of Independence. The Communist regime operated under Karl Marx’s thoughts of the Communist Manifesto.
Proverbs 31 – The readings of Proverbs come to a close. These have spoken of most practical and inspirational advice to walk uprightly before God. They have shown the…
Proverbs 29 – Stiff-necked – Inflexibly obstinate, haughty, stubborn. – Merriam Webster Within the Old and New Testaments, this word was used for those who were stubborn and unable…
Proverbs 28 – Leadership is no easy thing. It’s ironic how many desire such a role but the responsibility of being a leader holds many tough decisions and acts…
Proverbs 21 – We make excuses all the time. We excuse decisions we made because we wanted something. We justify speaking our mind even though we may be wrong…
Proverbs 16 – It’s the silent growing cancer. Usually unrecognizable within, pride destroys relationships, trust, marriages, churches and families. It is the whisper that says, “I am right. I…
Proverbs 12 – Correction is never easy. Discipline is harder. Both go hand in hand when a person acts stupid. Wow, a bold statement right? But ironically the Bible…
Proverbs 10 – For the next 14 chapters of Proverbs we read short snappy statements with depth of wisdom written. These couplets are what we…
Proverbs 9 – 2 tables have been set. 2 invitations given. The choice is ours as to where we will pull our feet up under and feast upon what…
2 Peter 1 – A few times a month (maybe it’s more) at noon the air is pierced with sirens. They reverberate throughout the town almost sinking…
1 Peter 5 – Leadership. It’s always been interesting to me how there are some who long for leadership within the church but are not willing to…
2 Samuel 23 – When we think of a Last Will and Testament being read it is usually after the passing of someone. Family members gather to…
2 Samuel 20 – Loyalty – it’s showing faithfulness to our commitments, vows or an allegiance to someone or a cause. The political scene is difficult..
2 Samuel 9 – He lived in fear. Hidden from the public, he attempted to be a forgotten prince. A remaining son of Jonathan, his life would…
1 Samuel 31 – In a grisly end, Saul’s death comes as predicted within 24 hours. In the heat of the battle, the Philistines overtake Saul, killing…
1 Samuel 18 – Relationships hold highs and lows for us. There are those that are such a gem and we treasure greatly. There are others which…
1 Samuel 11 – We see the making of Saul as a leader within this chapter as when taking the role of king, crisis hits. Isn’t that…
1 Samuel 5 – Dagon was the chief god of many in the ancient world of whom the Philistines worshiped. He was responsible for the rain and the harvest or so they believed…
Romans 2 – We could rattle off a list. It’s the things we find so offensive or off with people. We categorize these as sin. We place degrees on…
2 Kings 1 – As the retelling of the kings and their rule continue, we open to a strange story. Ahab was dead. Moab rebelled against the…
1 Kings 22 – Spiritual wisdom and discernment are needed on all decisions we make and carry through with. This story in 1 Kings 22 could…
1 Kings 21 – Her name is synonymous with the most evil woman in all of Scripture. In fact, her name is mentioned in Revelation as an…
1 Kings 15 – The next two chapters tell of the legacies of several kings who rose and led both Israel and Judah. For the most part…
Genesis 41 – From pit to the palace, it took 13 years for the strategic plan of God to happen. To many looking upon Joseph in that…
Genesis 11 – The Tower of Babel came about in man’s thinking as a rebellion to the one and true God. It was part of Nimrod’s Kingdom…
Genesis 4 – Confrontation is never easy especially when we’re on the receiving end. Usually, it’s due to an area we’ve overreacted or acted…
James 4 – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain…
James 3 – “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” What a load of bunk. Since when has this ever been true?…
John 18 – Here stood 2 kingdoms in conflict. Pilate’s Kingdom was based upon his physical presence and ruling jurisdiction of Judea…
Nehemiah 10 – Repair. Rebuild. Reinforce. Physically things had come together and were complete with the walls of Jerusalem. God was not…
Nehemiah 9 – “But You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; and You did not…
Nehemiah 1 – Brokenness surrounds us. Many times it is overwhelming. Marriages are in disarray. Addictions drive the addict to things they…
Hebrews 5 – A high priest according to the Law of Moses specific role was to bring the gifts and sacrifices before God for an individual’s and…
Zechariah 7 – But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. They made their…
Zephaniah 2 – “Before the decree takes effect…”Zephaniah 2:2 The announcement of God’s judgment echoed in the first chapter of Zephaniah…
Nahum 3 – The proud Nineveh is ripe for judgment here as the final chapter of Nahum speaks toward the demise and sins of this…
Haggai 2 – It was a dramatic moment; A dramatic change for God’s people. The sin from the people’s past had hindered them but now…
Micah 6 – Standing in a courtroom are the people of Israel. God the Judge stands behind the desk. “Plead your case…” he opens up…
Hosea 8 – “Israel has rejected the good; how long will they be incapable of innocence? For they sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind. Israel has forgotten…
Hosea 5 – Sometimes there’s nothing more to say when we pray for someone so lost in their ways. Sometimes they need to be completely turned over to God…
Daniel 5 – A new king is in town. Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar, has taken the throne. Historical documents differ on if he reigned 17 years or 3 but the…
Daniel 4 – Written by Nebuchadnezzar himself, this chapter is the retelling of his testimony. Daniel included the penmanship of the king in his writings because it shows the…
2 Corinthians 13 – I’m a terrible test taker. Growing up I would study for a class topic and when the exam was handed out, the timer…
2 Corinthians 11 – Paul charges his attack against the false teachers who were swaying minds left and right within the church. Through smooth talk and engaging…
2 Corinthians 10 – The tone of Paul changes as he begins to wind down his letter. If he hasn’t been bold before, he holds nothing back…
2 Corinthians 7 – 2 words. 2 words that mean nothing unless they are followed by action. “I’m sorry” all too often slips from our lips when…
2 Corinthians 4 – It’s easy to say, “Pick yourself up,” “Stop focusing on the negative,” “This too will pass”. These statements flow so easily from our…
1 Corinthians 4 – “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” – 1 Corinthians 4:1…
Psalm 131 – Pride – a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated or from…
Psalm 111 – Redemption: An act of redeeming or atoning for a fault or mistake; the state of being redeemed; deliverance, rescue; Within theology – deliverance from sin; salvation. …
Psalm 108 – Do you pray for rescue or victory? Right?!?! Just think a moment on this question. It’s quite telling as to where our mindset is when it…
Psalm 95 – Crusty bread. Nothing can restore a piece or loaf of bread back to its freshness. It seems the longer it’s exposed to the elements, the harder…
Psalm 83 – It was a time of national crisis. Enemies had come upon Israel and were set on their destruction. If God remained silent or did not hold…
Psalm 79 – Sin holds consequences. Willful choices and deliberately shutting out God’s words of instruction, doing what we want instead eventually catches up. Sometimes it’s a question of…
Psalm 53 – What does the rejection of God look like? Some would point toward the atheist who has concluded there is not a God of the universe who…
Psalm 49 – I remember the story well. A pastor I used to serve under told of an incident at his previous church where a member was a beyond…
Psalm 45 – Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and…
Psalm 44 – War-Weary – utterly exhausted and dejected by war especially after a prolonged conflict. (Dictionary.com) There’s a tension that hits all of us at times. It’s that…
Psalm 39 – There are many times when our emotions run high in a situation. Driven by disappointment or anger we can easily lash out at others through our…
Psalm 34 – Heartache is a part of life. Disappointment racks our mind and even demeanor when things go completely south as to what they should or could have…
Psalm 26 – The testing of our faith comes in many forms all of which is allowed by God. Times of testing are never easy and in fact, really…
Psalm 20 – O Lord, Answer us when we call! It’s a prayer, almost like a spontaneous one on David’s part offered before a battle. It’s a prayer preparing…
Psalm 18 – It’s one of the most beautiful songs of thanksgiving. An almost identical poem is found in 2 Samuel 22 as David was coming to the end…
Psalm 7 – There is nothing hidden from our God. All the things we do, all things we think of doing – He knows. I have often wondered if…
Mark 14 – He had walked with Jesus for 3 years. He had witnessed countless miracles and seen what real love was firsthand. He had heard truth spoken…
Mark 13 – After the exile, the temple was rebuilt by Ezra and Zerubbabel. King Herod would expand it around 19 BC. It had been the center of Jewish…
Deuteronomy 34 – Moses was a man used by God in the most powerful way. It has been said that God used 80 years of training to ready him…
Deuteronomy 33 – Moses knew his days are fast approaching the end. In the most beautiful way, he wants to bless these people, the very tribes God established, whom…