The Blog

Read Numbers 27:1 through 30:16; Mark 5:14 through 6:13 Anxiety is common to everyone. What will the doctor’s report say? Will the plane land safely in this storm? Where is my child? He is not home, and it is getting late. How will the bills be paid? The people of the New Testament experienced anxiety too. A former demoniac was …

Read Acts 27:1 through 28:31 The apostles were all normal human beings. It’s worth recalling this to understand that the great healings, miracles, and outpourings of the Spirit are woven within the stories of people. They were great people of God, but they were not perfect. Paul persecuted followers of Christ before his conversion. Peter denied Christ and struggled with …

Read Deuteronomy 28:1–68 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth (Deuteronomy 28:1). Across the nation, gardens help people to get some fresh air, to get some exercise, and to grow something fresh. The variety of …

Read Deuteronomy 12:1 through 14:29 The Israelites were given instructions on how to live for God. To follow those instructions was to obtain a promise. Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you (Deuteronomy 12:28). God wasn’t giving a list to make things hard. He knew the people …

Read Numbers 32:1 through 36:13 Michael was busily destroying zombies in his favorite video game when his cell phone flashed a text message: “Did you finish the book yet? Remember our report is due tomorrow.” His fingers swiftly replied, “Nah, I’m good. I grabbed the CliffsNotes.” He ignored the disapproving emoticon that popped up. He figured he could stay up …

Read Numbers 11:1 through 15:41 A certain motivational speaker has painted a word picture of a bucket of black crabs gathered by a morning beach walker. One of the crabs dreams about climbing out of the bucket and escaping to a new life. He stretches, pushes up, and manages to get one claw over the edge. But just as the …

Read Numbers 3:1 through 4:49 God made work assignments through Moses. There were no complaints of, “I’d rather carry the curtains than the poles.” Each person accepted his assignment. At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the Lord commanded Moses (Numbers 4:49). No job is perfect, …

Read Leviticus 14:1 through 15:33 The word “sentient” means being capable of feeling. The biblical community is sentient. Beyond living in similar environments, holding common values, or having similar culture, biblical community is a living reality. Early in their relationship God revealed concern for the community of Israel. That concern was expressed in consideration for others by protecting them from …

Read Acts 1:1 through 3:26 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers (Acts 1:14). Jesus told His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit’s power, they could never follow Jesus’ command to reach the world with the gospel message. While they …

Read Exodus 35:1 through 40:38 Sharon didn’t think she could make a difference in her culture. She hoped to obey God and influence others to believe in His love. But she had no desire to preach, nor the talent to do so. Sharon, thinking that was what those “called by God” had to do, assumed she couldn’t make much of …