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January 2, 2020 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ~Luke 19:1 What does that statement say to you? I looked at several translations of scripture. I looked at the meaning of the Greek words. And the only interpretation I can find is that Jesus was passing through Jericho. On His way from point A to point B, He had to pass through. No intention of tarrying or spending time there. Just passing through. It may be interesting to note that "point B" was Jerusalem. Jesus was ultimately on His way to the cross. So this was an important journey He was taking through Jericho - for it would lead to our salvation. Thus, one would expect that this "passing through" also came with some level of hastiness. How surprising, then, to get to verse 5 and hear Jesus say to a short tax collector who had climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." Wait. What??? Jesus, I thought You were just passing t...

July 25, 2019 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! ~Psalm 66:20 OK, here it is. The reason I am so enamored with this verse, and the psalm, and ultimately the GOD behind it all. Because He could have! God could have rejected the prayer of the psalmist, and He could have withheld His love. God was in no way obligated to turn toward the psalmist in mercy. Nor is He indebted to us. God did not have to forgive the sin spoken of in v.18. He wasn't forced to give ear to the psalmist's cries, or to pay attention to his praise. God could have turned aside His holy head and completely ignored him. He could have. But HE didn't. The perfect love of God compels HIM to show kindness to everyone who surrenders to Him. And it is that lovingkindness upon which I want to focus in our study today. The word love in Psalm 66:20 comes from the Hebrew word checed and, as used in this verse, it refers specifically to "lovingk...

February 15, 2019 OK, this study of Ezekiel has been filling me. Sometimes with urges to warn. And concern for the state of the nation's heart. Sometimes with solemn recognition of my own propensity to fall. And now? Now it fills me with a beautiful glimmer of HOPE. That is, I just finished studying chapter 20. And although it begins with a bit of a harsh tone as the LORD denies the request of an inquiry by Israel's elders - and as He goes on to detail their history of rebellion, and His wrath and judgement - it finishes with a marvelous hope. Through Ezekiel, God relays the account of Israel's rebellion. HE recounts His own display of wrath, poured out for His Name's sake - that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations. Then HE speaks to those who have come to inquire of Him and tells them that HE will be king over them. God tells them about His plan to bring the people back from the lands where they are scatterd, into the wilderness where He will enter i...

January 22, 2019 14 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. ~Psalm 31:14-15 OK, I haven't done any background checking, so I do not know what was going on in David's life when he wrote Psalm 31. But one read through it and you'll know - things were not good for David at this point in time. Honestly, would you use words like anguish, sorrow, grief, distress, groaning, affliction, and contempt to describe your circumstances - if all was well with them? Happily, in that regard I cannot say I relate to this psalm. However, God's Truth goes far beyond identical circumstances into the minute details of each of our lives. And because of His all-encompassing Truth, I can say I relate to this psalm. Specifically, the verse quoted above. What I mean is, I was coming into this week rather harried. I've so much to do, and I didn't see how I was g...

June 13, 2018 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ~James 1:2-4 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. ~Romans 5:3-4 I've been thinking a lot about these verses and their implications this week - since Sunday's sermon and Sunday evening's small group discussion. Care to join me in my thoughts? The thing is, as Paul and James were writing those words, they were thinking about the wonderful good God works in the lives of His children as they endure suffering. Paul and James were considering how beautiful a child of God becomes when that child has gone through God's refining fire. These guys had their eyes on the end result of the trial, ...

Febraury 1, 2017 The other day I was getting supplies together to go paint in a house we're getting ready to put on the market. Among those supplies was a plastic grocery bag. And as soon as I grabbed the bag and closed the cabinet door, I regretted my action. Because Mindy came trotting over to me with a look of hopeful expectation. And I wasn't going to grant her wish. (She thought I was preparing to take her out - as getting a plastic bag to, uh, be a responsible pet owner is one of the steps she knows comes before a walk.) Never mind it was too cold for a walk anyway . I had a job to do, so I apologized to my faithful companion for getting her hopes up - and I stepped outside. Without her. Yet I carried with me the very sad look in her eyes which cried out, But, Mom! I want to go with you. I want to go on a walk! Can't we spend time together? And with the memory of her disappointed puppy-dog eyes, I found myself wondering if I've ever left God feeling the same way...

November 13, 2013 She had nothing to say about it. No choice in the matter. She simply had to do as she was told. Pushed into a man's arms and bed, she wound up pregnant and mistreated. And she ran. She ran into the dessert where she could be alone. No matter. No one would notice, anyway, would they? She was an insignificant slave girl. Unloved and unseen. Who would care if she left her miserable existence? Do you recognize this story? It is the circumstance in which Hagar found herself in Genesis 16. But the story doesn't end with the same despair with which it began. On the contrary, Hagar had an encounter with the angel of the LORD and found a hope she'd never before imagined. The angel told her to go back to her mistress and promised he would increase her descendants. Then he told Hagar that she was pregnant (Although she already knew...) and gave her details about her son's life. Imagine with me what that must have been like for Hagar. This girl who had bee...

September 4, 2013 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" ~Numbers 11:4-6 We never see anything but this manna! Does that statement cause anyone else to do a double-take? Or am I the only one? Back in Exodus 16, manna came on the scene for the very first time. The Israelites had been grumbling because they were hungry. They accused Moses of bringing them out of Egypt and into the desert to starve them to death. But God told Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you." (Ex. 16:4) And that is just what He did. In the morning when the dew was gone, "thin flakes like frost" covered the ground. And they tasted like wafers made with honey. (Read Exodus 16 for all the details.) And that wa...

March 13, 2013 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. ~Exodus 13:17-18 Have you ever felt certain that God was leading you the long way around on a journey? I hope it will encourage you to know He’s been going the long way for thousands of years. When He led the Israelites out of Egypt, freeing them from years of slavery, He took them the long way around, too. God knew if He took them the shorter way there was a chance they might turn back. They might stop following Him and would miss out on His plan for them. God knew something they did not know, so He led them the long way around. Surely, it was not for lack of compassion that God made the Israelites walk longer. He knew they were weary from their years of servitude. He knew they wo...

January 23, 2013 I sat with seven of my favorite Edgewood residents yesterday and had a great Bible study. We were talking about prayer. Specifically, about praying and not giving up. 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. Howev...

November 21, 2012 Have you ever been concerned about something? Worried, even? About something really BIG? The other day I read about a few women who had such a concern. Here's their story: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" ~Mark 16:1-3 It was customary for the living to care for the dead by anointing their body with spices. And because Jesus meant so much to these women, they were especially eager to take care of Him. But what about the stone? Who would move it? I've read that the stone in front of Jesus' tomb was likely between 5 and 6 feet tall, and up to a foot thick. Certainly too big for three women to move! What ever would they do??? My suggestion would be to ...

May 23, 2012 I have come to love those words. Jesus stopped. You'll find them in the story of Blind Bartimaeus. Specifically, Mark 10:49. You see, Jesus was with a large crowd of people leaving the city of Jericho when a man by the name of Bartimaeus started calling out to Him, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Bartimaeus was a blind beggar and many people told him to be quiet. Think about it, Jesus was a busy Man. Just read the previous verses in Mark 10 if you don't believe me. EVERYONE wanted a piece of Him! I imagine that's why Bartimaeus was being shushed. People must have thought Jesus was too busy, too important to take time for a blind beggar like Bart. But Bartimaeus called even more, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And that's when He did it. In the midst of His busy-ness and the crowds who pushed in on Him, Jesus stopped. He called Bartimaeus to Himself, asked what he wanted, and gave him back his sight. Have you ever felt...

January 31, 2012 After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream. ~Genesis 41:1 Do you know the story from which this line comes? Joseph, after being betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, was wrongfully imprisoned. While in prison, Joseph met a couple guys and interpreted dreams for them. He asked the one who was going to be released from prison (Lucky guy, had a good dream!) to remember Joseph to Pharaoh. Joseph was asking for help to get out of prison. But once Lucky was out, that guy forgot Joseph. For two full years. It wasn't until Pharaoh had a dream that Joseph's former cell mate remembered him. Two full years. Can you imagine what that must have been like for Joseph? He had done nothing wrong, but Joseph's brothers were jealous of him and got rid of him. Next as a servant in Potiphar's house, he was an upright man but was still thrown into prison after being framed. Then in prison he befriended two guys and had hopes of being released when one of ...

April 10, 2009 We saw Jesus encounter Mary. Just hearing Him say her name let Mary know her Savior lived. We saw Jesus encounter Thomas. Jesus answered Thomas' need to believe by letting him see and touch His wounds. We saw Jesus encounter two of His other followers on the road to Emmaus. He gently revealed Himself to them through the breaking of bread. And today I want to talk about Jesus' encounter with Shirley. Who's Shirley, you ask? Yeah, I know. It's a little confusing. My Bible has her name spelled wrong. My Bible spells it s-u-r-e-l-y. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20 But once I got past the spelling error, I understood. Shirley is me. (That's why I sometimes replace Shirley's name with mine when I read that passage, And, Karen , I am with you always, to the very end of the age. ) And Shirley is you. Go ahead and substitute her name with yours. Say it aloud. It's wonderful to hear! And ___________ ...

April 9, 2009 This journey with Jesus during Holy Week has been a tremendous blessing to me, and I pray it has been for you, too. Today I want to look at another one of the encounters Jesus had with a couple of His followers after His resurrection. According to Luke, (Lk. 24:13-35) two of Jesus' followers were leaving Jerusalem and walking to Emmaus. And as they walked they were talking about everything which had just transpired over the past three days. They were confused about Jesus. They thought He was supposed to be the Messiah, but then why did He die? And what of these reports from the women and even some of the Disciples that Jesus had risen? They just didn't understand. They didn't believe. But then came Jesus. He approached the men and asked what they were discussing. (Of course, He knew!) The men looked at Jesus, talked with Him, and walked with Him, but they didn't know it WAS Him. They shared their confusion and questions with Jesus, and He opened the Scrip...

April 8, 2009 I hope you are having a good week, and that you are drawing near to Jesus - preparing to celebrate His resurrection this weekend. Yesterday we looked at Jesus' encounter with Mary, and I hope you were encouraged as you considered the fact that He knows your name. He knows YOU. Today I want to look at Jesus' encounter with another of His followers. As you read, pay careful attention to Thomas' "objections" and how Jesus answers them a week later. Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" ...

April 7, 2009 At this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" ~John 20:14-16 OK, go back and read that again. Slowly. Does anything in particular stand out to you? When I read this passage, I was struck by what happened when Jesus spoke Mary's name. At first she didn't recognize Him. She was distraught, thinking Jesus' body had been stolen. And though she saw Him, she thought He was only a gardener. Then Jesus said, "Mary." That's all. Not, "Don't be afraid. I'm right here!" Not, "I haven't carried Him away. I am Him!" Just, "Mary...

April 12, 2008 If you've been reading here for awhile, you are probably aware I am in the midst of a read-thru-the-Bible-in-one-year program. (And loving it!!!) So, the other day I didn't do my daily reading, which meant I had to double up the next day. Usually that wouldn't be so bad, but at this point in time it meant I was reading six chapters which were detailing how the promised land was being split up among the tribes of Israel. And I do mean detailing . As in: the names of the tribes and clans; the northern, eastern, southern, and western borders; the names of all the cities within those borders; and the numbers of towns (and their pasture lands!) given to each clan. As I read, I couldn't help but wonder why it was necessary for all this detail to be recorded in the Word of God. Maybe it would be interesting to a geography buff, but I wondered, What does this have to do with me, Lord? I trust You have a good reason for everything contained in this Book, but I am...