One year, my church encouraged us to read the entire Bible as a congregation. I’m pleased to report that not only did I complete that goal, but I also finished early. I celebrate my accomplishment and all that I learned about God in the process, but I’m also glad to put the task behind me. […]
After God kills Er for his extreme wickedness, Er’s father, Judah, passes the dead man’s widow, Tamar (1), to his second child, Onan. The intent is that Onan will produce children for his deceased brother to carry on his family line through Tamar. Judah tells Onan it’s his responsibility as Tamar’s brother-in-law to do this. […]
Mary Treasured These Things and Pondered Them in Her Heart Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19) Mary’s delivery had been a private experience. Now a bunch of strangers show up. They’re nearby shepherds who have left their sheep unattended to make a surprise visit. […]
Remember to Celebrate Jesus’s Birthday As You Give and Receive Presents From my family to yours, we wish you a safe and happy Christmas as you celebrate Jesus’s birthday. As you spend this season with family and friends, may your celebrations be joyous and your time together be uplifting. May you receive the gifts given […]
In the Old Testament of the Bible we read the command to “fear God.” In the New Testament we read “God is Love.” How can we fear someone who is loving? Is it even possible to do? Is there a difference between fearing God in the Old Testament and a God of love in the […]
Silence from the Seventh Seal Today’s passage: Revelation 8:1–5 Focus verse: When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (Revelation 8:1) Finally, Jesus breaks the seventh and final seal of Father God’s scroll. At the opening of each of the first six seals, something immediately happened in John’s […]
Significant Recurring Numbers in the Bible As we read Scripture, we come across some reoccurring numbers. They are three, seven, twelve, and forty. Let’s consider the number three in the Bible. As we look at the number three in the Bible, we can see it as a sign of wholeness and perfection. Here are some […]
Breathe a Fresh Perspective into a Familiar Story The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a heartwarming movie that beautifully captures the true spirit of the Christmas season. It’s based on the beloved book of the same name by Barbara Robinson. This film follows the story of the unruly Herdman children who unexpectedly take over the […]
Jacob’s son Judah leaves his family and travels to Adullam. There he marries a Canaanite woman, a descendant of Canaan, which as a group Noah cursed. They have three sons. The oldest is Er, followed by Onan, and then Shelah. Judah finds a wife for his firstborn son, Er. Her name is Tamar (1). All […]
Joseph and Pregnant Mary Travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem Luke 2:1–5 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David. (Luke 2:4) As our journey toward Jesus’s birth unfolds, another complication arises. Caesar Augustus decrees that a census will take place for the entire Roman […]