“He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’” Genesis 22:5 NIV When Abraham decided to follow God, he was a relative newcomer to faith. He did not come from a godly heritage. He…
Category: Obedience
Faithfully Facing Uncertainty, Part III
“There is no one holy like the Lord, there is no one beside you, there is no rock like our God.” I Samuel 2:2 (NIV) She felt deeply ashamed for something that wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, she’d done most everything right. But, her righteousness wasn’t witnessed or rewarded. Yet….
Faithfully Facing Uncertainty, Part II
“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ she said, ‘I have seen the One who sees me.’” Genesis 16:13 NIV Pregnant. Abused. Alone. Out of fear, she fled to the desert. She carried a barren soul to a barren landscape. As a servant,…
Faithfully Facing Uncertainty, Part I
“He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11 NIV, emphasis mine. Read Daniel 1 and 6. He was the guy who did everything right. You know, that guy. The one hated by seemingly everyone else for being so perfect. The one everyone else was jealous of but…
No “Justs”
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NIV Outside my door, a cacophony of voices arose from the first floor of the hotel atrium. Seven hundred women excitedly conversed, practiced speeches, pitched…
Setting It Straight, Part II
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV, emphasis mine) Maybe he had just risen for the day. Maybe he was enjoying a little quiet time with the Lord. Maybe he…
Lessons From Tipper, Part VI
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the…
Simple Joy
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 It was a simple, single word: “Hi!” But it was so symbolic. My neighbor, an Asian who spoke no English,…
Advice For the Wisest Man, Part III
“’I’m about to go the way of all the earth,’ he said, ‘So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires of you.’” I Kings 2:2 NIV We have spent the last two weeks contemplating the advice King David, a man after God’s own heart, imparted to his…
Lessons From Tipper, Part III
“And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe He exists and that He rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV Tipper, heel. Tipper, sit. Tipper, drop. Good dog! Tipper, no! Our thirty-pound puppy will lie on the floor, eyes rolling up to watch our…