But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you,one whose origins are from the distant past. (Micah 5:2 NLT) Last year, I was blessed to finally visit Israel, the land where Jesus was born, ministered and died. I touredContinueContinue reading “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Category Archives: Old Testament
It’s a Boy!
For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given. (Isaiah 9:6 NIV) When my brother was born (after six girls!), it truly was good news for our family and friends. After all, in the culture I come from, having a son is a big deal (I still think girls are justContinueContinue reading “It’s a Boy!”
The Prince of Peace
He shall be called Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 ESV) We all long for peace – peace with God, others and ourselves. Lest we think we’re the only ones, let’s recap to 2,000 years ago when the Jews living under Roman rule prayed for the promised Deliverer Who would be called the Prince of Peace.ContinueContinue reading “The Prince of Peace”
Unearned Rewards
Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. (Esther 3:1 NLT) Even though the previous chapter ends with Mordecai saving the king’s life and his deed being noted in the king’s records, the next chapter begins withContinueContinue reading “Unearned Rewards”
Traces of God
“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NLT) It has often been noted that the book ofContinueContinue reading “Traces of God”
Don’t Hold It, Share It
Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” (Numbers 11:28-29 NIV) When Moses, who hadContinueContinue reading “Don’t Hold It, Share It”
Making Promises to God
“The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves withContinueContinue reading “Making Promises to God”
Discerning His Voice Through Songs
“So write down the words of this song, and teach it to the people of Israel. Help them learn it, so it may serve as a witness for me against them.”… So that very day Moses wrote down the words of the song and taught it to the Israelites. (Deuteronomy 31:19, 22 NLT) God usedContinueContinue reading “Discerning His Voice Through Songs”
No Pain, No Gain
Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea. No one will be able to stand against you. The LORD your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on theContinueContinue reading “No Pain, No Gain”
Letting Go of What Hurts Us
Further, he shall not acquire many [war] horses for himself, nor make the people return to Egypt in order to acquire horses [to expand his military power], since the Lord said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’” (Deuteronomy 17:16 AMP) The Israelites really had it tough in Egypt. They were enslaved andContinueContinue reading “Letting Go of What Hurts Us”
Rising with the Son 