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Two Responses: Our Choice
When you’re faced with a decision, what guides your response? Do you act based on emotion in the moment, or do you pause, pray, and thoughtfully consider your options? And when you sin—what’s your first reaction? Do you blame, ignore, make excuses, or repent? In 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, we read about two kings, David and his son Solomon, each with different responses to sin. After his impulsive and grievous sins of adultery and murder in 2 Samuel, David was confronted by the prophet Nathan. Instead of hiding or excusing his actions, he humbly confessed. In 2 Samuel 12:13, David said, “I have sinned against the LORD.” His repentance…
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God’s Enduring Desire: To Dwell Among Us
From the dawn of creation, God has expressed an unwavering desire to be with His people, longing to walk with us, guide us, and draw us into worship. This profound yearning for connection is a consistent thread woven throughout Scripture. Recently my F260 reading plan landed on 1 Kings 6. The plan’s commentary led me to think about how God has desired to dwell with His people from the beginning. We continue to see this desire throughout Scripture. A Journey Through God’s Dwelling Places (This list is from my reading plan but the comments are mine.): Photo by Igor Rodrigues on Unsplash Photo by Anton Mislawsky on Unsplash This incredible…
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Our Response to Truth
Perhaps you’ve read Psalm 119 and noticed, in this longest chapter in the longest book of the Bible, that it focuses on God’s truth, precepts, commands, word, instruction, statutes, decrees, judgments, and ordinances. We get the point at least 179 times! We must know His Word! But, what do we do with that truth? This time in reading Psalm 119, I focused on what the psalmist says his, and our, response should be to God’s Word. Here’s what I found: Why does the writer do this? I believe we see the reason in Psalm 119:160. The entirety of your word is truth, each of your righteous judgments endures forever. Psalm 119:160 Do…
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Repair Our Broken World
We often wonder what our purpose is in today’s world—and why Jesus doesn’t just return now to make all things new. As I finished Kristi McLelland’s Luke in the Land Bible study, she guided us into the book of Acts on the final day. Luke, who authored both the Gospel of Luke and Acts, originally wrote them as one continuous narrative. In Acts, we don’t simply see Jesus as resurrected and ascended—we see Him as having left instructions for His followers as they waited for His return. His resurrection wasn’t the conclusion of the story but the beginning—the launching point of the apostles’ mission, and the beginning of our mission,…
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He Throws My Sin Behind
In a world constantly shifting beneath our feet, where even the most steadfast people, institutions, and laws can prove fallible, what can we truly depend on? While few things are 100% reliable, the Word of God offers an unwavering anchor. Consider salvation. We often question if we’ve “done enough” to secure it. My own certainty was tested during Hurricane Sally. Amidst a night of terror, a powerful truth emerged: if we died, we’d instantly be with Jesus. That undeniable realization solidified an assurance no earthly storm could shake. There are promises you can cling to when the enemy inevitably tries to sow seeds of doubt about your eternal destination. Look…
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What’s Over the Bridge?
What’s over the hill or around the bend? Does it scare you when you cannot see ahead? These two great-grand boys were excited to get over the bridge to get to the ocean. A trip to the beach is a big adventure! What about us? Often, we think we know where life is taking us. Yet, how many of us actually land where we expected? What would we have done differently if we’d known what really lay ahead? Most of my “aheads” turned out vastly different from my careful plans. The simple truth is, I don’t know what tomorrow brings, or even the rest of today. But fear doesn’t prevail,…
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How Easily We Forget God’s Faithfulness
It’s easy to praise God when life is going well—when the sun shines, relationships thrive, finances are stable, and health is strong. We readily acknowledge His goodness in these seasons of abundance. However, when freezing rain descends, betrayals sting, bills pile up, and frightening diagnoses emerge, how quickly does our praise dissipate? It’s a humbling admission, but in these challenging times, our recognition of His unwavering faithfulness often falters. Consider the prophet Elijah. After a spectacular victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, a threat from Jezebel sent him fleeing in fear to the wilderness. Even after witnessing God’s undeniable power, Elijah temporarily lost sight of God’s consistent…
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Leaping Ahead: When Impatience Leads Us Astray
Have you ever felt that urge to rush forward, to take control before the opportune moment arrives? It’s a familiar human experience, this desire to act rather than wait. Yet, Scripture offers a strong reminder of the pitfalls of impatience, as seen in the story of King Saul in 1 Samuel 13. Faced with a looming battle and the delayed arrival of Samuel, Saul took matters into his own hands and offered a sacrifice, a duty reserved only for the priesthood. His intentions might have seemed noble – to rally his troops – but his impatience and disregard for God’s established order ultimately cost him his kingship. Early in our…
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Finding Your “Davar in the Midbar”: God’s Voice in Dry Times
Kristi McLelland’s “snapshot” from her Luke in the Land study today offered both insight and encouragement, particularly resonating with my ongoing exploration of biblical lament. For nearly a year, this has been a persistent area of study, where each apparent conclusion seems to usher in new resources and scriptural connections. McLelland’s session, titled “Davar in the Midbar” (Word in the wilderness), has become another valuable addition to my notes. Drawing from Luke 4, she highlighted Jesus’ Spirit-led journey into the wilderness for his temptation, a practice familiar to the Israelites as a time of seeking God’s voice in solitude. McLelland reminded us of pivotal “wilderness encounters” throughout Scripture: Moses at…
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Two Responses: Our Choice
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Our Gifts, God’s Purpose, and the Echoes of Samson
What are your talents? Your spiritual gifts? Your unique abilities? How are you using them—and how often do you reflect on whether you’re using them to serve the Lord to the best of your ability? I’ve been asking myself the same question. While reading the story of Samson in Judges 13–16 this week, I was reminded of how God entrusts each of us with gifts for a purpose. Samson was given extraordinary strength and a calling to use that gift for God’s glory. Yet, he misused it. He revealed the secret of his strength to someone who betrayed him, and in that moment, the gift was lost. Like Samson, we…
