He is Risen!

He,
Who is our Rock,
could not be kept in place by a large stone.
… read more.

Devotions for Women - A Pile of Rocks

At God’s Word, they disembark. Imagine the emotions that must have emerged as the group left the ark—relief that the waiting was over … read more.

Devotions for Women - Life-Altaring

Where is your favorite “alone with the Lord” location? Wish-list answers might be “an empty ocean beach”, “perched on a warm rock by a mountain stream”, or “snuggled into a window seat”. Maybe your reality is “a kitchen table at 4 a.m.”, or “I’m a mom—what’s ‘alone’ again?”

… read more.

E & S?

Poor Euodia and Syntyche--that infamous pair. Imagine their embarrassment had they known that they would be sermon fodder for years after their bickering bones were buried. … read more.

Genesis 3 - Don’t Touch

No Names, Please

Genesis 7:1 - Mommy, can we go outside today?

Genesis 6-7 - What if Noah had been a procrastinator?

What if Noah had been a procrastinator? “Just another 50 yrs., Lord...100, tops, and I’ll have this thing ship-shape. It’s just that there’s this game on, and...” Would the Lord have held back the flood, or would Noah have been in deep water?

Romans 8:28 - What Was That Again?

Romans 8:28- And we know that all things work together to get what I want, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to my purpose.

Leviticus 22:10, 11 - Slaving Away

What’s your favorite book of the Bible? I know, I know….everyone always says Leviticus. I must confess that I usually read it only for devotions (Reading Through the Bible) or if a pastor is preaching from it (please don’t tell anyone). But I picked up a thought the last time I was there. Leviticus 22:10 & 11 talk about the priest’s role in sacrificing, and the fact that no one outside of the priest’s family could eat the sacred offering. Here’s the good part: “But if a priest buys a slave with money, or if a slave is born in his household, that slave may eat his food.” That’s us! If we are saved, then Christ is our High Priest, and we are born into God’s family as we are bought out of the slave market of sin.

Genesis 1 - Act Your Age?

What if you don’t even know it? How old was Eve when she was created? Same age as Adam, or did he marry an older woman?

Revelation 21:18 - Now Where Did I Put My Sunglasses?

“And the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.” Rev. 21:18

Genesis 5:4 - Who Gets Up With The Baby?

1 Timothy 4:12-16 - Battitudes

“Ewwww-- it’s infected!” Most of us have either said or heard those words, and then had the privilege of dealing with something in that category (ingrown toenail or...O.K., I’ll stop there). It ranks right down there with “cleaning the oven” and “packing to move”.

Genesis 43 - Simeon’s Diary

-Brothers left Egypt today to go get Benjamin. Why am I the lucky one that was picked to be tied up? I wasn’t even making eye-contact. Well, I’m sure I won’t be here long—we’re a close bunch.

Exodus 9:23 - Hail and What?

At the risk of sounding ignorant and unspiritual, I will admit that the word “fire” (Ex. 9:23) has not popped out at me as it did the other day. Fire and hail—probably not something you’d see every day. I’m sure the hail itself was enough to get everyone’s attention (especially if you were an Egyptian out in the field). Can you picture it? Sometimes … read more.

Genesis 1 - In the Beginning…

Do you like to cook, landscape, build, sew, paint, write, or even just make mess? Here’s a truth that should that should grab our face, moosh it right up to the Bible and say, “Look at this!”: “In the beginning, God created…”

Exodus 31:3, 6 - Wise Guys

Know anyone by the name of Bezaleel? How about Aholiab? … read more.

Exodus 32:20 - May I Have Your Attention, Please…

Exodus 32:20…what a visual aid that must have been. What were the people doing during this time? Were they standing around in little groups, shamed and uncomfortable? Were there some standing in their scowls as they “how dared” Moses in their minds? Did they stare, mouths gaping, as Moses ruined their idol? Was it silent, except for the cackling fire, the grinding of the gold, and Moses angry outbursts? Or was he, too, to angry to speak?

2 Kings 6:8-23 - OK…You May Open Your Eyes Now…

Attention, visual learners—OK, everybody-- imagine the scene in 2 Kings 6:8-23:

Matthew 28:6 - Lord, Did You Say Something?

The Disciples, Mary, Nicodemas, Joseph….the Lord told all of these that He would rise from the dead on the 3^rd day. Why were they so surprised when they arrived at the tomb or heard the news? Was no one listening to Jesus? These were intelligent people; they could think for themselves—so what happened? Why did no one remember? It’s too bad that they didn’t have Bibles like we do, who can simply read the story ourselves. Thankfully, we never have to be told twice. We remember perfectly, and believe every time.

2 Samuel 17:17 - Job Description

2 Samuel 17:17 “Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told King David.”

1 Samuel 30:20-25 - Are You Staying by the Stuff?

Have you ever had to stay behind, or heard these phrases, “you’re too young”, “there’s not enough room”, or “someone has to stay home with the kids” (maybe now you’re “too old” to go…). Perhaps you’re choosing to stay at home, or are confined there for health, family, or other reasons.

2 Chronicles 28 - Oded Who?

You have to read this—2 Chronicles 28. What a story! Some prophet named Oded was minding the Lord’s business, and the Lord used him to lead 200,000 captive Israelites from the northern kingdom back to their homes in the southern kingdom.

2 Chronicles 25:7-10 - No Money Back

Amaziah, king of Judah, thought he had a good thing going when he hired 100,000 Israelite mercenaries for 120 ounces of silver (don’t think I’d pay that much for a bunch of sweaty soldiers, even if they were on sale!). Talk about a super-army—he already had 300,000 men to begin with.

2 Samuel 7:18 - You Want to do What, Lord?

King David, conscious of his own “palatial” home, wanted to build a permanent house for God. God said no. In His “no” was the promise that He would build a house for David (hence, the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7). Did David get his robe in a knot when Nathan told him he would not have the honor of building the temple? Read on (my favorite part) in v.18: “Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God?” (At that point, I’d probably be pacing before the Lord, instead!). David spends the rest of the chapter humbly sitting and giving honor to the Lord. What an example of how to respond to the His will.

Nehemiah 3 - Who is Your Co-worker?

Nehemiah 3 outlines the incredible task of rebuilding the walls. Think about the organization itself! (Not something I’d like to volunteer for…)

Mark 16:8 - Sh-h-h-h

Silence is like a hole that we must constantly fill with shovels-full of words. It takes great effort for some of us to experience it. I think we often feed on the sound of our voice, feeling that, if we stop talking, people will stop listening (though many may have stopped listening paragraphs ago).

Psalm 84:5-7 - Thisappointments

Are you having a bad day (month, year)? Were you just informed that a co-worker quit, and you have to assume their job as well? Have you discovered a $200 mistake in your checkbook—in the bank’s favor? Are out-of-town guests due in tonight and you just discovered that your basement would make a great wading pool? And all this before you’ve even brushed your teeth? (Insert own broken plan here).

Psalm 91 - Nest in Him?

This word “nest” popped out at me in the familiar Psalm 91, and I was surprised I had not noticed it before. Look it up—do you see it? I looked again—oh…it was “rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. (Did I get you to look?) Even with my Wal-Mart reading glasses, my aged eyes play tricks on me, and sometimes read words that aren’t there.

Psalm 88 - You’re Useless!

You needed to hear that today, right? O.K., before you click me into cyberspace, listen to what Heman the Ezrahite has to say in Psalm 88. Who-man? So he doesn’t immediately come to mind as one of the Most Talked About People in the Old Testament. A wise man, he was chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord when David brought the Ark to Jerusalem, and to minister in music with family members in the house of God. He also wrote probably the saddest psalm in the Psalter, and he felt… useless.

Genesis 7 - A New World…After the Flood

Mathew 22:46 - Note to Self

-Do not ask this Jesus any more questions

2 Corinthians. 4:6,7 - But I Don’t Want to Be a Clay Jar!

We are made of a most common, everyday, unremarkable, breakable substance-- clay. And yet, what an amazing thought that Christ chose us to carry His Gospel, the Gospel of the glory of Christ--this "light of the knowledge of the glory of God", and that we can show the world that this power is from God Himself.

Matthew 2:14 - So, He Got Up

Did you ever wonder if Joseph began to dread going to sleep at night? With my Bible open, spanning Matthew 1:17 to 2:23, I can see the phrase, "a dream" mentioned 5 times-- four of those pertaining to Joseph. Did he ever ponder, as he closed his eyes, if this would be a night of disturbed sleep?

Jude 24, 25 - Now and Forever

Imagine yourself in a crowd (with no claustrophobia). Looking around, you half expect to see banners and streamers, or at least hear a band playing off to the side. … read more.

Isaiah 26:1-4 - Attention Believers: Perfect Peace Available Now

Complete, genuine well-being available to those who trust. … read more.

John 1:35-37 - “Hey, come back here—you’re MY disciples!”

This week, I noticed John 1:35-37 in a different light. … read more.

John 21 - What If…

Fishing expedition gone wrong:
"...and that night they caught nothing."

Jesus' plan:
… read more.