As I was out for a run the other day in my favorite running shorts, the sad realization hit me: these shorts had seen their glory days. It was time to retire them. I’m actually somewhat surprised they lasted as long as they did—several years, and miles and miles of trail and track. But as I was dodging mud puddles and tree roots, accompanied by the realization that these shorts were on their last run…
“…and his soul entered into the iron … until the word of the Lord tried and tested him.” These words are from Psalm 105:18-19. In this chapter, the psalmist is recounting God’s faithfulness and, specifically, His faithfulness to His word. Verse 8 reads, “He is [earnestly] mindful of His covenant and forever it is imprinted on His heart, the word which He commanded and established to a thousand generations.” And again near the close of…
An interesting phrase caught my eye the other day as I was reading Psalm 81. Verse 7 reads, “You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah.” “The secret place of thunder”. I’d never noticed this phrase before. What is the “secret place of thunder?” While I can’t claim fully to understand it yet, here is what I found in studying. …
My song repeat of choice recently has been a new release by Paul Wilber – “Your Love Is Far Better Than Life”. One line reads, “I will seek You as long as it takes ‘till I behold You face to face.” This reminds me of Jeremiah 29:13: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (We see this same promise in Deuteronomy 4:29.) The word translated “seek” in…
I’ve been thinking about the idea of “worship” and what it means in our daily lives. In Luke 4:8, Jesus says, “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” The “it is written” refers to several Old Testament passages that set God apart as the only one worthy of worship and service (see, for example, Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 6:13-14, and Deuteronomy 10:20). The word translated “worship” in Luke 4:8 is…
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) We run to Scripture for many things–encouragement, comfort, hope, assurance. But rarely do we open the Word in hopes being pierced. Yet, that’s exactly what the Word does. Here is how…
“The true deep crisis of abandonment, or total surrender, is reached internally, not externally. The giving up of only external things may actually be an indication of your being in total bondage. Have you deliberately committed your will to Jesus Christ?” – Oswald Chamber, My Utmost for His Highest It’s easy to say we believe in Jesus, but following HIm–becoming a disciple of Christ–has a great cost. It demands sacrifice. Jesus says in Luke 9:23,”If…
“But Daniel purposed in his heart” If you want to find a story common to just about every children’s Sunday School class, just look up the account of Daniel in the lions’ den. As Scripture tells us, Darius the Mede, king of Babylon, had issued a decree that no one in his kingdom could pray to any god or man, save Darius, for 30 days. The penalty for disobeying? Become finger-food for a den of…