TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 23-24 & Matthew 12
Old Testament: Genesis 23- Foreigner

Genesis 23:4
“I am a foreigner and a visitor among you…”

Abraham was not an emperor or a king, He was not an author, an artist or even a relatively famous man in his day. Yet, he has become one of the most influential… Read More

Genesis 24- Finding A Wife

Genesis 24:4
“You shall go… and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

Relationships are a key part of life. Healthy relationships lead to a good life, and unhealthy relationships will make life very difficult. The most important earthly relationship is marriage, and who you marry is one of the most… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 12- Unforgivable

Matthew 12:31-32
“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 21-22 & Matthew 11
Old Testament: Genesis 21- The Battle Won

Genesis 21:10
“Therefore she said to Abraham, ‘Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.’”… Read More

 

Genesis 22- Instead Of Me

Genesis 22:2
“Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’”

Jesus declared the whole Bible… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 11- The Coming one

Matthew 11:3
“Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

The circumstances of life often cause us to question God. It is hard sometimes to reconcile what we are going through with who God is; compassionate… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 19-20 & Matthew 10
Old Testament: Genesis 19- You’re Kidding

Genesis 19:14
“So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, ‘Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!’ But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking
… Read More

Genesis 20- Turning Around

Genesis 20:2
“Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.’ And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.”

Abraham’s journey had led him to the far south of the promised land, to an area that had begun to be occupied by the Philistines. Because of the… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 10- The Twelve

Matthew 10:2-4
“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 17-18 & Matthew 9
Old Testament: Genesis 17- Change

Genesis 17:5
“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.”

Juliet asked Romeo, “What… Read More

Genesis 18- Impossible

Genesis 18:14
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

This question was not asked on a theology exam, but in a real life situation. A one hundred year old man, and a ninety year old barren woman, were promised a child from whom a great nation would be established. The promises of God were met head on by the circumstances of life, making them seem so far-fetched, both Abraham and Sarah laughed. It was not improbable for a 90 year old woman to have a child, it was impossible. Not… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 9- Be Of Good Cheer

Matthew 9:2
“Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.’”

This chapter introduces us to a man who is facing one of life’s greatest challenges; that of a terrible physical disorder. Being a paralytic would mean he not only missed out on much of the experiences of life that we take for granted, but also, he would be totally dependant upon others. He … Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 15-16 & Matthew 8
Old Testament: Genesis 15- Agents Of Shield

Genesis 15:1
“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’”
… Read More

Genesis 16- God Who Sees

Genesis 16:13
“Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, ‘Have I also here seen Him who sees me?’”

We have four sons and had… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 8- Why Are You Afraid

Matthew 8:26
“Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”

Out on the Sea of Galilee, in the midst of a great tempest, we find the disciples fearing for their lives. When they cry out to Jesus for help, He responds with a question. “Why… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 17-18 & Matthew 9
Old Testament: Genesis 17- Change

Genesis 17:5
“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.”

Juliet asked Romeo, “What… Read More

Genesis 18- Impossible

Genesis 18:14
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

This question was not asked on a theology exam, but in a real life situation. A one hundred year old man, and a ninety year old barren woman, were promised a child from whom a great nation would be established. The promises of God were met head on by the circumstances of life, making them seem so far-fetched, both Abraham and Sarah laughed. It was not improbable for a 90 year old woman to have a child, it was impossible. Not… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 9- Be Of Good Cheer

Matthew 9:2
“Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.’”

This chapter introduces us to a man who is facing one of life’s greatest challenges; that of a terrible physical disorder. Being a paralytic would mean he not only missed out on much of the experiences of life that we take for granted, but also, he would be totally dependant upon others. He … Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 13-14 & Matthew 7
Old Testament: Genesis 13- Moving Forward

Genesis 13:3-4
“And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.”

As we read the story of Abraham, we find erecting altars was a regular part of his walk with God. On five separate occasions, he took time to build an altar and call on the name of the Lord. These altars were … Read More

Genesis 14- Meeting Melchizedek

Genesis 14:18-20
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tithe of all.”… Read More

 

New Testament: Matthew 7- Removing The Speck

Matthew 7:5
“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Often, when we know of a Christian friend who is stumbling in their walk with Jesus, we are not sure what to do. They may have gotten involved in an ungodly activity or into a bad relationship, or simply stopped investing into their relationship with Christ. We want to help, but at the same time we fear that saying something will be construed as “judging them.” Jesus gives us, in this… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 11-12 & Matthew 6
Old Testament: Genesis 11- United

Genesis 11:1
“Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.”

Unity is a hot topic today, in the church and in the world. Many economists see global unity as the best solution for prosperity. Many politicians see unity as the only hope for peace, and within the church, many see unity as the only way… Read More

Genesis 12- Famine In The Land

Genesis 12:10
“Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.”

Life is filled with ups and downs. Sometimes, it seems as if… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 6- Treasures In Heaven

Matthew 6:21
” For Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

The longer I live, the more I have come to realize, so much in life is passing. Things I once coveted and had to have, are bundled up and given to the Salvation Army. That “new car smell” has been replaced with “what’s that smell?” Even relationships that were once so close, have grown distant. The…Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 9-10 & Matthew 5
Old Testament: Genesis 9- Cover It Up

Genesis 9:21
“Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.”

Once the waters had resided and the ark settled, Noah and his family exited the ark to begin a new life. They would have to… Read More

Genesis 10- Babel

Genesis 10:10
“And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel…”

Genesis is the book of beginnings. In it, we are introduced to many things which play a prominent role as the rest of Scripture unfolds. Here, in Chapter 10, we are introduced to the city of Babylon, which becomes a… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 5- Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5:1-2
“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: . . .”

Matthew 5-7 contain one continuous message that Jesus preached to His followers on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Although it is called a sea, it is actually a lake. The Greek word for sea and lake are the same word.

Verse 1 gives us the setting in which… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 7-8 & Matthew 4
Old Testament: Genesis 7- Obedience

Genesis 7:5
“And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him.”

Obedience is critical to any relationship with the Lord. If we are going to grow in Christ, experience the promises of God, and effectively witness to others about relationship with Jesus, we must learn obedience. Samuel told Saul that to obey is better than to sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22), and Jesus declared, if… Read More

 

Genesis 8- Dark Times

Genesis 8:1
“Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.”

The last time Noah heard… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 4- Fight

Matthew 4:1
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

People seem to be fascinated with fighting. I can remember being in Jr. High School and hearing the word “FIGHT” resonate across the playground. All activities… Read More