Planning Ahead


Prov 13:22a Inheritances A good person leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren, so says the Proverbs writer. In Prov 17:6, the Proverbs writer says that grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly. A crown is something that adorns the head as a symbol of honor and respect. Grandchildren are our crown that we wear proudly to show the […]

Preparation


Ps. 111- As you read each day, ask God to reveal Himself to you. Ask Him to open your eyes, ears, and heart. Then do as the Psalmist: give thanks to the Lord with your whole heart. [Ps 111:1 paraphrase] Praise Him for His work is majestic and glorious, and his faithfulness endures forever. [Ps […]

You Can’t Go Back, But You Can Move Forward


2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chron 20 The Apostle John wrote much about the price of sin and the cost Jesus paid for our forgiveness. While John writes to help us, the accuser of the brethren, Satan, waits for us to sin, and then he begins his dastardly work. First, he watches, and then he enters […]

Responding with grace


2Sam 10, 1Chron 19, Ps 20 Some people are “hard headed.” When someone does something that is gracious, they don’t respond with peace but with an arrogance that is unbecoming. That is the picture of Hanun. King David sent a delegation to comfort Hanun in the loss of his parent, but his gift was not […]

Trust God first and always


1Sam 21-24 The downward spiral of King Saul is revealed, and his jealousy overtakes his ability to make wise decisions. In sharp contrast, David uses the circumstance in a cave to teach his followers what it means to lead and how followers should follow. Christ did the same in the NT when He told the […]

Off with the Old, On with the New


Numbers 6 Last night a precious friend shed his earthly garments for the garments of the righteous in heaven. He now stands clothed in the garments that had been prepared for him in eternity past because “no one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from […]

The Price of Forgiveness


Lev 14-15 When we sin, intentionally or unintentionally, everyone suffers! The price for forgiveness or cleansing is very steep. In the case of the Israelites, it was the cost of an unblemished lamb or turtledoves. No matter what was given, it was costly to the sinner. We don’t have to wonder why because the life is […]

Do You Need a Mouth Washing?


Lev 5-6 I can well remember my mother washing my mouth out with soap. The taste was horrible and remained even after the incident, in hopes, perhaps, that this lingering taste would cause me to forgo lying when the next temptation arose. However, I must be a slow learner because I remember my parent doing […]

Working for God


Exo 38-39, 1Cor 3:13 The people gave willingly, and anointed workers gathered and prepared all materials needed for worship. Moses led, the people (finally) followed, and God was pleased. Imagine being there at the unveiling to see the finished “project,” a.k.a. Tabernacle. Each person could stand and think; I was a part of this. The […]