Growing Deeper Into the Soil of God's Word to Bear Fruit For His Kingdom
“But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.” (Luke 1:13a) Advent is a season of longing. As we anticipate Christmas and the celebration of the coming of Christ, we are invited to long with Israel for the Messiah. Zechariah and Elizabeth had lived with longing. This... Continue Reading →
“Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.” (3 John 5) Growing up, a portion of my family worked in the hospitality industry. Gorgeous bed-and-breakfasts. Wonderful hotels. And hosting. We were always hosting something or someone. In a family of hosts, you learn... Continue Reading →
The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them." (Genesis 11:6) Nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them? Nothing? Really? We live in a world where we want to have power and control.... Continue Reading →
When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said, ‘Cursed be Canaan, the lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers!’ (Genesis 9:24-25) The story of Noah ends awkwardly and with pain. We have known Noah as a righteous man, a man of faith.... Continue Reading →
“And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And for each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has... Continue Reading →
The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. (Genesis 8:21) The opening two chapters of the flood story... Continue Reading →
When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will... Continue Reading →
When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel. And after he became the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died. (Genesis 5:12-14) There are few more daunting parts of the Bible to read than a genealogy.... Continue Reading →
Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Genesis 4:15-16) Names are significant in the biblical world. Whether it is naming a child Moses (‘drawn out’) or... Continue Reading →
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” (2:16-17) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and... Continue Reading →
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