Words Spoken, Then & Now
We can be so quick to wonder where God is during difficult times. Yet there are times, we bring those difficulties upon ourselves through our own willful disobedience. This is where we found the people as we began the week in Ezra 5:11-17. "But because our ancestors...
He Blesses the Persecuted
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.†(Matthew 5:10, NLT) Persecution has been defined as acts or actions taken against a group of people to exterminate or cause harm to the group based on their religious,...
Break the Flask
"Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’†(John 7:38, NLT) "Our Lord's teaching was always anti-self-realization. His purpose is to make a person exactly like Himself, and the...
Red
Fridays are usually dedicated to the Five Minute Friday linkup. This week there was no linkup and so I thought it might be a good time to share one from several years ago. The word was ... Red. There are days we all wish we had them. You know the days - when the kids...
Fascinating Bible Studies on Every Parable
We often speak of the power of a good story. They draw the listener in, move the heart, and can change a course of action. Jesus often spoke in stories, known as parables, to challenge people then, and for all time, to think and act differently than the world around...
Purity – Worship – Completion
We started the week with reading Ezra 4:1-10. The exiles were now in the process of rebuilding the Temple and their enemies are perturbed about it. Their enemies come with deceptive motives to try to join them in their work but the leaders of Israel are onto them and...