Focus Verse: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, ESV) Have you ever heard someone describe their weariness or fatigue as “worn to the bone”? Maybe you’ve been there yourself. You are weary, running on empty, worn out, and…
Recent Devotions
“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1, NKJV) When I began a search to purchase my first home, it was a new but exciting venture for me. I had several items that I desired on a mental check list. As I walked through each possibility, I checked the basic layout, the room sizes, and if the kitchen was up to date. There were other features I thought would be nice but those were not necessarily a deal breaker. IDENTIFYING THE ESSENTIALS Looking back…
“The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister.” (Numbers 26:59, ESV) If you were asked to name as many women of the Bible as possible, how many could…
“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.” (Proverbs 20:7, NKJV). Home repairs are one of my least favorite tasks. I am seriously lacking in handyman skills. If the repair is even slightly complex, it means calling a repairman, setting an appointment, and then paying an unexpected bill. A…
Readers Loved
When you hear someone talk about the book of Exodus, what story do you think of immediately? Perhaps the story of the burning bush, or the deliverance out of Egypt, or the crossing over the Red Sea. Those are all wonderful accounts of God’s power and authority, but I would like to focus on a person who is not always on the highlight-reel; Moses’ mother, Jochebed. When we read Exodus chapters 1 and 2, we learn that Jochebed had jurisdiction over the evil decree was given by Pharaoh. Exodus 2:2 says, “And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and…
Deep in the heart of China, a small bent-shouldered elderly man slowly walked between ribbons of train tracks. As I watched from a distance, a train approached at great speed behind him. It drew ever closer to the lone traveler, and its piercing whistle began to sound a warning. Yet the elderly gentleman continued walking between the set of tracks, seemingly unaware of the terrible danger he was in and the death that would befall him if he didn’t move away from the tracks. I looked on in consternation and bewilderment, thinking, Why doesn’t he move off the tracks? Doesn’t…
“While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel—men, women, and children—gathered and wept bitterly with him.” (Ezra 10:1, NLT) After years of exile in Babylon, Artaxerxes, king of Persia, decreed that any of the people of Israel who desired were free to return their homeland. Ezra, a priest and scribe, led a group of fellow Jews back to Jerusalem. Their journey took four months, but they were finally in the land God had given them long ago. What…
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:24-25 Because of who you are, I give you glory. Because of who you are, I give you praise. Because of who you are, I will lift my voice and say, Lord, I worship you because of who you are. We began this week by asking ourselves if we loved the Lord…
