“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” Daniel 6:10 NLT The king during this season of Daniel’s life was King Darius. To be sure that his government was being run properly, King Darius put three other officials in charge of the governors. Daniel becomes one of these men, along with two others. He was a hard worker and eventually was promoted. You probably…
“For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Psalms 91:3-4 Have you ever felt vulnerable? I am the type of person who hates to be seen as weak, struggling, or vulnerable. But at the end of the day, I am still human. Being a Christian doesn’t elevate me beyond my human flaws, I will still make mistakes, and I will always need a Savior. I will be faced with whatever life throws my way, just the same as every person I pass by today. I am so thankful that I know who Jesus is, and that I have access to His word. These scriptures written above are a beautiful reminder that even in those weak, vulnerable moments – He will rescue us, protect us, cover us, and shelter us. Isn’t that an incredible reassurance? We are rescued from every trap the enemy tries to lay for us, he has no power over us. He protects us from anything that may try to destroy our souls and ultimately kill us. He then covers…
“Noah built an altar to God. He selected clean animals and birds from every species and offered them as burnt offerings on the altar. God smelled the sweet fragrance and thought to himself, “I’ll never again curse the ground because of people. I know they have this bent toward evil from an early age, but I’ll never again kill off everything living as I’ve just done.” Genesis 8:20-21 MSG In studying the story of Noah and the ark, I was struck by these verses. Now, I’ve read this story numerous times as have you most likely. What stood out most to me though was the fact that when Noah offered his sacrifice, it changed the course of all humanity. His offering led to a promise that would last forever. As the smell from Noah’s offering made its way to the heavens, God promised to never again kill off everything as He had just done. What would have happened if Noah didn’t take the time to prepare and offer a sacrifice? I honestly don’t know, but he changed the course of history with a single act of gratitude, humility, and surrender. To those who are reading this, know today that you can…
From a Nobody to a Somebody “And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.” Ruth 4:16-17 We have come to the end of our study of the Book of Ruth. I hope that you have been blessed as much as I have. Let us take one more look at the main characters in the story: Naomi – a woman who…
“So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.” Ruth 4:13 I love to read, and I like books that have a happy ending. Romance stories usually begin with two people meeting, getting to know one another, facing some difficulties along the way, and ending with them living happily ever after. The Book of Ruth does not fail us in this respect. The lonely stranger who followed the reapers to provide food for her and her mother-in-law now need no longer do so. She is now married to the owner, and all the fields are now hers. What a picture of redemption. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we become one with Him. Our redemption is complete. All of His riches are at our disposal. Romans 7:4 “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” What a beautiful picture is portrayed in Ruth 4:16-17 “And Naomi took the child, and…
Walking into the old building was refreshing despite it being an old farmhouse converted into a church, which could use a serious facelift. The space was small and humble but held something of great importance. The saints gathered here, and most importantly, the presence of God resided here. On this day, I was alone in the building, just the Lord and me. I felt peace when I arrived on the property, and upon entering the sanctuary, I felt a strong, sweet, inviting presence. I took a deep breath of relief: a subconscious habit, an effort to draw the richness of His Spirit within. It wasn’t logical nor even scripturally supported, but ever so satisfying. I walked around for a moment enjoying His company and hoping He would reveal the reason for His beckoning. Perhaps it was only to come and spend time with Him. Unsure what I was supposed to pray about, I knelt. Instantly I felt the weight, the burden of His Spirit. I prayed for whatever came to mind; images, names, faces, and situations sped through my thoughts. Tears and burdens came and went; at times, things would rapidly halt, and an issue or image would tarry until…