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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
December 9 It’s hard to find time to read in December. My Christmas to-do lists are long and sitting down to open a book isn’t a priority. But in between online shopping and music rehearsals, I’m enjoying a few rich books this month. Here are three: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. … Continue reading 3 Books I’m Reading This December
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