Kings and Priests and Psalm 2 (+ Blog News)

July 7 My read-through-the-Bible plan strings Scriptures together in eye-opening ways. On the morning I finished 2 Kings, I read about Paul's troubles with the Jerusalem Sanhedrin (Acts 23). In one testament kings rebelled, battled, and laid siege to the next nation. A millennium later, Paul wrestled Jerusalem's priests in a dispute over his message. … Continue reading Kings and Priests and Psalm 2 (+ Blog News)

God My Rock

June 23 The Psalmist paints with powerful metaphors. He calls God a Rock. But until two weeks ago, that comparison did little to move me. Then we crossed the border and watched Colorado peaks rise from the plains. The mountains traveled with us, ridged with veins of snow. They encompassed us and astounded us and … Continue reading God My Rock

Strange Similes and Church Unity

March 24 I was convicted last week to pray more for my church body. I forget how critical and beautiful it is “when brothers dwell in unity” (Ps. 133:1). Psalm 133 goes on to depict this unity with two similes: Anointing oil dripping down Aaron’s beard, and sweet dew on the mountains of Zion. At … Continue reading Strange Similes and Church Unity

The Best Spoiler Ever

March 17 Reading through the Israelites’ battles has been like reading a novel and knowing how it ends. I’m travelling through Numbers and realizing how often God spoils the outcome for his people. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. But the LORD … Continue reading The Best Spoiler Ever

Dominion Doesn’t Have to be Bad

February 24 When the word dominion appears in Scripture (or anywhere), I immediately think of dictatorship. Dominion rings the familiar bell of domination. And that sounds tyrannical. But when God lifted Adam from dust and took Eve from his side, the dominion he handed them was beautiful. It was a pure and perfectly just dominion … Continue reading Dominion Doesn’t Have to be Bad

How Are You Using Your Talents?

February 17 Instead of piling their gold together for a calf to worship, the Israelites willingly gave rings, brooches, earrings, and armlets toward the Lord’s Tabernacle in Exodus 35. It was a group effort. Men of artistry crafted the gold into instruments. Women of skill spun blue, purple, and scarlet yarns into curtains. Every contributor … Continue reading How Are You Using Your Talents?

Gardening in God’s Kingdom

February 3 I’ve had spring fever since November. I do love snow and Christmas and skating on my grandpa’s pond. But I also can’t wait for spring sunshine and planting garden seeds. A passage in 1 Corinthians reminded me last week that Christians are called to tend a garden year-round. A spiritual garden. Like the … Continue reading Gardening in God’s Kingdom

4 Things I Learned from Reading the Prophets

It was tempting not to speedread Malachi chapter four. After hundreds of pages and thousands of words, I’d finally crossed the finish line of the Old Testament prophets. Folding my Bible closed, I started to churn the thick mass of information left in my brain. There were treasures here. In fact, four specific truths about … Continue reading 4 Things I Learned from Reading the Prophets

From Dreadful to Dazzling: How Christ Changes Our View of a Holy God

Huddled around a table in Mr. and Mrs. Beaver’s stick-weaved home, the four Pevensie children first learned of a fearsomely wonderful beast named Aslan, King of Narnia. “I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion,” Susan Pevensie admitted. “That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear … Continue reading From Dreadful to Dazzling: How Christ Changes Our View of a Holy God