December 2, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 129-131. Background: Psalm 126-128. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 129 Enduring affliction: Another psalm in the series of the songs of ascents (see psalm 120), this psalm recounts affliction that the people of Israel had endured from the people who oppressed them even from the beginning. As Israel was becoming a nation…
Tag: peace
Psalm 126-128: Blessings.
November 24, 2015. Note I am switching today’s and tomorrow’s reading because of time constraints. Thank you for understanding. _________________________________________________ Daily Reading: Psalm 126-128. Background: Psalm 123-125. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 126 Restoration: Another psalm in the series of the songs of ascents (see psalm 120), this song was likely written after the end of the…
Psalm 123-125: The Lord and His people.
November 17, 2015. Daily Reading: Psalm 123-125. Background: Psalm 120-122. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 123 Looking to the Lord: Another psalm in the series of the songs of ascents (see psalm 120), this song gives focus to the Lord as the psalmist looks to Him in his people’s time of need. The Lord is glorified…
II Chronicles 1-5: Building the house of the Lord.
October 13, 2015. Daily Reading: II Chronicles 1-5. Background: The book of II Chronicles is a continuation of the first book. See the background information for I Chronicles. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 1 Solomon’s prayer and wealth: After the death of David, his son Solomon takes the throne as he had been appointed, and the…
Titus 1-3: Healthy doctrine.
September 20, 2015. Daily Reading: Titus 1-3. Background: Paul’s epistle to Titus is included in the three pastoral letters, letters that Paul wrote to leaders of churches, and is believed to be written around 64 AD. Though we don’t know much about how Paul first met Titus, we do know that he went with Paul…
Luke 11-12: Teachings of Christ.
June 20, 2015. Daily Reading: Luke 11-12. Background: Luke 9-10. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 11 1. Prayer: The opening of this chapter deals with Jesus’ teaching on prayer, as His disciples came and asked Him directly to teach them how to pray, just as John taught His disciples. Here Luke records the Lord’s prayer (see…
Finding peace amid waves of controversy.
December 5, 2014. It seems over the past week I have been involved in or read so many controversial things when it comes to the realm of religion. If I’m honest, I would say that I am quite tired of it, for the time being at least. In a society where drama is what excites…
Content in the Lord.
October 22, 2014. Are you content in Christ? Last Sunday I heard a good sermon on the peace of God that passes understanding and it really tied in to this idea of being content in Christ. We all know the verse. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) But this verse…
Religion and politics.
July 2, 2014. There are two things that people say you shouldn’t discuss at the dinner table, religion and politics. But what about another question: do religion and politics mix? Obviously this is a rather general question that has many different situations in which the answer might be different, but this question came up in…
There ain’t no rest for the wicked; or is there?
May 13, 2014. Have you ever wondered why revenge is a bad thing? Instead of just accepting it as a sin, have you thought about the meaning behind it? I suppose we could do well to do this for many sins, as we might better understand the character of God in this manner. The Almighty…
Our God with us.
May 8, 2014. As I am transitioning into a new chapter of my life, I can’t help to feel a longing to stay with the people that I have built very strong relationships with and love with all my heart. Though it is an exciting time in that I am moving to a new place…
A light in darkness.
May 4, 2014. I have recently read through the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations, and I have to say that there is some pretty heart wrenching things in these them. Maybe they aren’t as bad for us when we read them since we are so far removed from the time and culture, but I think…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 