After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10 NIV) I wonder what Job’s reaction was when God told him to pray for his friends, who we know were no friends at all. All the Bible tells us isContinue reading "Praying for Those Who Hurt Us"
The Power of Our Choices
Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah in Joram’s fifth year as king of Israel, while Jehoshaphat was still king of Judah. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled eight years from Jerusalem. Jehoram disobeyed the Lord by doing wrong. He married Ahab’s daughter and was as sinful asContinue reading "The Power of Our Choices"
Give Thanks
by Marlene Tavares Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 106:1 NIV) Autumn and Thanksgiving are now both upon us once again and I just love this time of year. There is something comforting about the Fall season and about Thanksgiving in particular. I loveContinue reading "Give Thanks"
Discerning the Truth
But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?” The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is MicaiahContinue reading "Discerning the Truth"
Are You Listening?
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10 NIV) We like to do most of the talking. That’s why many of us struggle to hear from God. When Samuel learned to pray, “Speak, for your servant isContinue reading "Are You Listening?"
Consult God First
So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the LORD. (Joshua 9:14 NLT) Out of fear that they’d be wiped out like the other inhabitants of the land, the Gibeonites used deception to make a peace treaty with Israel. The narrative is clear that when the men of Israel were trying toContinue reading "Consult God First"
The Best Portion
And the Lord said to Aaron, “You priests will receive no allotment of land or share of property among the people of Israel. I am your share and your allotment.” (Numbers 18:20 NLT) Even though the priests from the Levi tribe didn’t receive a share in the land like the other tribes, the Lord repeatedlyContinue reading "The Best Portion"
Always True to His Word
They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large”... Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should goContinue reading "Always True to His Word"
Retirement
The Lord said to Moses, “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. They may assist their brothers in performing their dutiesContinue reading "Retirement"
New-found Praise
The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel...The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail. (Numbers 3:30, 35 NIV) In what seemed like a tedious list of names, I found myself praising God in a new kind of way. I was reading NumbersContinue reading "New-found Praise"
Rising with the Son 