Tagged: family

Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring,     whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him;     they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady,     his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,     because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father’s God, who helps you,     because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above,     blessings of the deep springs below,     blessings of the breast and womb. Genesis 49:22-25 An old, wisened Jacob gathers his sons near. He still limps, and the memory of the night in his youth spent wrestling with God has informed his faith ever since. Today, it infuses his… Read More

But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. -Joshua 7:1, NIV Sometimes opening the Bible, beholding it, is like staring into a burning book. The words lick with flames like a ravenous fire, determined to burn away the perishable in my heart and soul. Right now is like that. I am revising and editing my manuscript, and the chapter lying next to my focal text is searing, its flames rising ever higher, burning my gaze and drawing me in. Joshua 7 is the passage today. The story of Achan’s sin. Achan acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things. He took… Read More