Reading: Judges 1 "Who Will Lead Us to War?" "Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD, saying, "Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them? The LORD said, "Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand." Judges 1:1-2 When Moses died, he passed the baton to Joshua who valian...

Reading: Exodus 12 "It's All Mixed Up!" "A mixed multitude also went up with them," Exodus 12:38 Every church in America has a mixed multitude in its meeting places. And so it was with the multitudes in the exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land. The distinctions between them were not always clear. It was more than just being Hebrew or Egyptian.The book of Numbers tells...

Reading: Hebrews 11:24-27 'Choosing Ill-treatment' " By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith h...

Reading: Psalms 19 "The Power of Meditation" Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Ps 19:14 Thoughts continually fill our mind. 'What are we going to do?', 'What are we going to say?', and 'What are we going to eat?', and on and on. But what is it that we spend time meditating about? What d...

Reading: Proverbs 4 "A Father's Instruction" "When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live..." (Proverbs 4:3-4)Of all the things I experienced and learned growing up in a home of an alcoholic father, one has left its indelible mark. The...

Reading: 1 Kings 6 'The Building of God' "The house, while it was being built, was built of stone prepared at the quarry, and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool heard in the house while it was being built." I Kings 6:7 The house where God dwells can never be made with our hands, our efforts, or human strength. Steven got stoned speaking this truth, "Howe...

Reading: Genesis 13:1-13 'Stop the Strife' "So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me,Nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers." (Gen 13:8) The magnanimity of Abram was clearly evident when strife became apparent among family members. The moment of decision took place near Bethel where he had built an altar and first c...

Reading: 2 Kings 6:1-7 'School's in Session' "But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; And he cried out and said, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed." Living in tight quarters has its challenges. To some extent I can imagine how the prophets might have felt. I was raised in a two bedroom house with nine people, always full of activity, family...

Reading: Genesis 37 'The Ugly Face of Jealousy' "When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer!"Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, 'A wild beast devoured him.' Then let us see what will become of his d...

Reading: Haggai 1 'When is the Right Time?' "Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, "Consider your ways!Hag 1:2-8 When is it the right time to begin to build things that have eternal implication? Once I have a seminary degree, or have attended 'X' number of Bible Studies? Or when I get married and as a couple we can share the responsibilities? How about, when my ki...