January 13, 2016. Reading: Deuteronomy 29-31. Background: Deuteronomy 26-28. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 29 The covenant renewed: Continuing to prepare the children of Israel to enter the promised land, Moses gathers them together here to remember and renew the covenant that their God had made with their fathers. He relays to them the great provision…
Tag: promise
Freedom… to become slaves.
July 4, 2015. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) Independence day is one of my favorite holidays of the year. It is a great time to be with family, without the stress that usually comes with the holiday season, eat together and celebrate the…
Galatians 4-6: Heirs of the promise.
May 24, 2015. Daily Reading: Galatians 4-6. Background: Galatians 1-3. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 4 1. Heirs of the promise: Continuing on with his analogy from the previous chapter seeing the Law as a guardian until the time has come for the heir to take hold of the fortune that has been given to him, Paul…
Genesis 28-31: Jacob and his wives.
February 23, 2015. Daily Reading: Genesis 28-31. Background: Genesis 24-27. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 28 1. Reaffirming the promise: Twice in this chapter is the promise that was given to Abraham and subsequently to Isaac reaffirmed through Jacob, once by his father and once in a dream from the Almighty. We can see the distinct lineage…
Genesis 24-27: The life of Isaac.
February 16, 2014. Daily Reading: Genesis 24-27. Background: Genesis 20-23. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 24 1. Choosing the right person to marry: As we come to this chapter in Genesis, we read a detailed story about how Rebekah is chosen as a wife for Isaac, the son of promise in Abraham’s old age. Abraham had been…
Genesis 15-19: Impatience, stubbornness and unrighteousness.
February 2, 2015. Daily Reading: Genesis 15-19. Background: Genesis 9-14. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 15 Re-telling the promise, established via covenant: At the beginning of this chapter, Abram has just returned form rescuing Lot from Chedorlaomer king of Elam and the kings that accompanied him in battle against Sodom and Gomorrah. After returning successfully, the word of…
Genesis 9-14: New beginnings.
January 26, 2015. Daily Reading: Genesis 9-14. Background: Genesis 6-8. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 9 1. A new beginning and a new covenant: After Noah and his family were brought safely through the flood via the ark, it was time for a new beginning and a new covenant between God and man. There were a few…
Hymnnotes: Wayfaring Stranger.
December 10, 2014. Today I would like to talk about a hymn that is so moving that it almost gives me chills when I hear or sing it. I grew up singing this hymn and it has always held a special place in my heart. More recently, it seems that this song comes to mind…
A bow in the cloud.
October 30, 2014. “Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for…
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…
How can we know?
June 11, 2014. “Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my…