Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (Psalm 51:12 NLT) Only someone who has known the joy of being God’s friend can understand David’s plea in Psalm 51:12. After his sin with Bathsheba, David’s soul was troubled and saddened. He confessed his sin and asked God toContinue reading “Getting Our Joy Back”
Category Archives: Old Testament
Hope for the Hopeless
The LORD showed me all around, and everywhere I looked I saw bones that were dried out. He said, “Ezekiel, son of man, can these bones come back to life?” I replied, “LORD God, only you can answer that.” He then told me to say: Dry bones, listen to what the LORD is saying toContinue reading “Hope for the Hopeless”
Finding Favor With Men
“Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.(Nehemiah 1:11 NIV) Nehemiah served as a cupbearer toContinue reading “Finding Favor With Men”
Rise Up!
A story is told of two women who were in desperate need of prayer while sick in the hospital. One said that her pastor never showed up, but he let her know he was praying for her; while the other said her pastor came, anointed her with oil, said a quick prayer and was goneContinue reading “Rise Up!”
Abraham, the Father of Faith?
At this time of year, my Bible reading plan takes me back to the beginning. I have revisited the story of Abraham, or Abram as he was first known. The great thing about starting at the beginning is that God gives you fresh insights, and the story of Abraham is no exception. In Genesis, chapterContinue reading “Abraham, the Father of Faith?”
God Has the Last Say
“Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord.Continue reading “God Has the Last Say”
A Year to Rise Above
Last year, God led me to write a book where I encourage believers in Christ to rise above life’s unprecedented storms with faith and courage. I wrote the book from having personally experienced storms in my own life and watching God faithfully come through for me time and time again. When the book was publishedContinue reading “A Year to Rise Above”
Rise Above with Gratitude
I’ve been feeling under the weather lately (tis the season, after all). Last weekend, I was too tired and weak to even want to get out of bed. But as I lay there, looking at my phone, a recent photo of Lucas which my brother had shared that week came up. When you’ve seen himContinue reading “Rise Above with Gratitude”
Where is the Glory?
She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”’ (1 Samuel 4:21-22 NIV) The ark of God was symbolicContinue reading “Where is the Glory?”
Moving Forward with God
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14 NIV) Having experienced God’s mighty presence throughout the whole exodus journey, Moses couldn’t imagine going into the Promised Land without it. Even though God told Moses that an angel would lead the way, Moses still pleaded with God,Continue reading “Moving Forward with God”
Rising with the Son 