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When the Work is Finished

for J and A So at last Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Exodus 40:33-35 finish: to complete; to reach the end of a race, typically in a particular position. (Synonyms) bring to a close, bring to fruition, crown,… Read More

No We Will Not Stay

You must not say, ‘No, we will not stay. Instead we will go and live in the land of Egypt where we will not face war, or hear the enemy’s trumpet calls, or starve for lack of food.’ Jeremiah 42:14 John Mark Comer reminds us that the Bible does not tell an ideal story of humans. It tells the real story. Humans as they are, broken, sinful, wanting to escape the consequences of their actions.… Read More

Clean

And a leper approached and bowed low before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him saying, “I am willing. Be clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:2-4 The entire theology of honor is encapsulated in these three brief verses. Editors constantly urge writers to reduce their words; show, don’t tell. Be succinct, yet powerful. I rarely succeed. But Matthew did. Today… Read More

Immigrant

A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. Genesis 14:13 Abram the Hebrew.  The word Hebrew itself means “the immigrant.” The people God set apart for Himself were immigrants. An immigrant is defined as a person who leaves one country to settle permanently in another.… Read More

South by Stages

Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev. Genesis 12:9 The film Out of Africa is based on the autobiography of Karen Blixen, a tenacious Danish woman who lived at the turn of the twentieth century in Kenya. While her husband commanded troops on the front during the First World War, local British authorities urged Blixen to abandon her coffee farm and flee to safety with all other women and children in the… Read More

God is My Helper

For the K family, with love. His second son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my ancestors was my helper.” Exodus 18:3 God is my helper, and yours. He helps us in everything we do. About this time, Abimelech came…to visit Abraham. “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,” Abimelech said. Genesis 21:22 We can count on God to help us in the places of oppression and… Read More

Eyes Fixed on Jesus

-for my son …keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith.  Hebrews 12:2 I realized something was different by the time he was eighteen months old. Look in my eyes, sweetie. My little one would look anywhere but into my eyes. Day after day, I implored him, gently taking his sweet face in my hands and turning it to mine. Look at Mommy. Listen to my words. Something was interfering… Read More

Speak Truth in Your Heart

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart…  Psalm 15:1-2 I was hiding behind the chair the cat liked to sleep in. My grandmother’s cat was mean, and I dared not get too close. She would rather scratch your eyes out than look at you, my grandmother loved to say. And it was… Read More

Being a Faithful Friend to My Teen

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:6 Parenting teens is both inspiring and intimidating. Some say that parents cannot be friends with their teenage children. I would argue that as parents, we have the potential to be the closest friends our teens have. A true friend is willing to wound, although kissing would be so much easier. As a parent, there come times in my… Read More

Countenance

The Lord bless you and protect you; the Lord make his face (pāneh) to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance (pāneh) upon you and give you peace.  Numbers 6:24-26 The Hebrew word pāneh is the word for face and countenance. Its meaning includes appearance, presence, to be shown honor, to be under direction, to be under blessing, to be under supervision, watched, favored, to be given audience.  One small… Read More