This Psalm contains many repetitive themes, to the point I made a table to outline them. My prayer is that others may learn from and enjoy this Psalm of David as much as I do. 1 I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. 2 I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. 3 Come, let us … [Read more...]
A Silent Call for Help: Lessons from the book of Esther
Sometimes, the “One Word” Challenge fits so serendipitously with my week or thoughts. I will get back to that. Last week, I listened to several books of the Bible on our way across Texas, in efforts to catch up on our Family Daily Bible Reading Calendar. One of the books I read in this manner was Esther. Esther is the only book in the Bible that … [Read more...]
Walls in My Heart: Lessons from Nehemiah
Nehemiah and Ezra worked on the Temple and city wall together. Their stories overlap yet present different some different information and points of view (like the four gospel accounts). In the past, I paid little attention to the return of the captives, skimming over the story in a rush to read through the entire Bible. In November 2013, we went to … [Read more...]
Lessons from the Book of Ezra
The book of Ezra opens with Cyrus releasing a portion of the remnant to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of God. He returns the items taken by King Nebuchadnezzar and offers the Israelites everything needed for the task. Soon, his edict is forgotten. Lesson 1: People forget and recorded information gets misplaced. Listen to instructions, … [Read more...]
New Lenses, Better Vision
I wear contacts. Without them, my vision is blurry. I am nearsighted with astigmatism. Due to the move, Peter’s job change, and waiting on insurance, my last pair of lenses were getting a rather thick film on them. One or both may have had other imperfections as well, like small chips or a hole. I went to the eye doctor this week. For several … [Read more...]
The trouble with Christian fiction
I’ve been reading more during this time of transition. I enjoy reading and can read a novel in a day or two. Truthfully, I like to see how the story ends, so I can’t stop. I got hooked into a good Christian fiction series. I’ve also enjoyed the historical fiction genre before. Sometimes, even a combination of the two types – a Christian story set … [Read more...]
What I Learned When I Taught the Truth in Love
Most people would likely consider themselves as "good". Many of those claim to believe in God and the Bible. Some of them even claim to be Christians. While "62% of people (in the U.S.) say that they are deeply spiritual" "only 14% make their decisions based on what God's Word says." However, how many in that last category respond positively when … [Read more...]