Can I be transparent this morning? Sometimes I grow weary of waiting, believing, hoping, for the breakthrough. I know God has promised us if we ARE persistent, consistent, faithful in the little, He will reward us with much. But sometimes when I am quiet, when the TV is off, the busyness cease, I grow weary. Can anyone else relate? Abraham grew tired of the wait and birthed Ishmael Joseph grew...
Trust In Tragedy
David was running from Saul. He sought temporary shelter with the priests. Because of the evilness in Saul’s heart, he condoned the slaughtering 75 priest and their families. David mourned. He felt responsible for the blood shed. He condemned this act in Psalm 52. He resolved to allow God to avenge. Yet, he did not allow his mourning to become inward guilt. He knew this happened not because of him...
Bullies – You are on Notice
I hate bullies. Cancer is a bully. Mental Illness is a bully. Chronic health issues – bully. Systematic poverty – bully. Racism – bully. They are bullies because they have ravaged and destroyed so many lives that we begin to think there is nothing that can be done about it. We become intimidated when we hear their name. King Hezekiah faced a bully. The King of Assyria had destroyed many...
Test Taking Skills
Have you ever asked these questions when going through a difficult season? ““Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”” Psalm 77:7-9 NIV In the struggle, sometimes it’s hard to remember God’s faithfulness but remember we must. As a teacher,...
Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Who Provides
Once again Abraham is asked to do the impossible – sacrifice his Son, his child of promise. He willingly obeyed. Paul would later tell us it’s because Abraham believed God was able to resurrect Isaac from the dead. Abraham was willing to give it all away because of the simple belief, “The Lord will Provide.” We all have experienced that nudge from God to do this or that but yet...
Have a Little Talk with Jesus
Habakkuk lived during a tumultuous time. There was evil, chaos, a lack of justice surrounding the nation of Judah. Habakkuk’s heart broke as he saw how his nation had fallen from its former glory. Habakkuk asked God the questions many of us are asking God today in the midst of violence, corruption, and apostasy. 1. How long God will I cry out to you for help? 2. What do evil...
Jehovah Shalom
Seven years in captivity. Seven years hiding in caves and dens. Seven years of being plundered and abused. Seven years of fear and hopelessness. But then, an angel of the Lord appeared to an unlikely hero. He appeared to a man with little self-esteem, who was fearful, hiding in cave and gave him a promise: “The LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.”...
Jehovah Nissi
They complained. We have no food. Have you brought us out here to die? Would it not have been better to die captive in Egypt? God gave them Manna. It sustained them for forty years. Everyday God gave them enough for the day. They complained. We have no water and we are thirsty. Did you bring us out here to die. Would it not have been better to die in...
Hold On! I’m Coming!
Abraham was given a promise. Three times God spoke to him and reiterated the promise. Abraham had left his family, separated from his nephew, was living in a foreign land, waiting. Days turned to months; months turned to years. Abraham is aging. Sarah is aging and nothing seems to be happening. Doubt began to rise. Did I hear Him correctly? Did I leave my family and friends for nothing? Fear...
Respond Well
The Lord has been speaking to me about my attitude lately. How do I respond to setbacks, inconveniences, disappointments. I can easily revert to behaving like a two year old throwing a temper tantrum when I don’t get my way. (At least I’m learning to keep them private. Progress) But I am humbled when I read Paul’s writings, considering the injustice he received for the sake of Christ. Beaten. Falsely...