Jim Gallagher

Matthew 1:1
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham”

I did not grow up going to church. At the age of 15 years old, I had never seen a Bible. A close friend of mine went on a family trip to visit his grandmother, who apparently was a believer, although I had no idea what that meant. Upon his return, he told me he thought we needed to be “better”. He told me he was going to begin reading the Bible. I decided I would join him in this venture, and when I arrived home that day, I asked my mom to get me a Bible. A few days later, I found a little green book on my dresser. On the front cover it read, “New Testament.” I took the book to my mom, and told her I wanted a Bible, not some modern book. She explained that the New Testament was the second half of the Bible. I returned to my room and began to read. Three times I started, and three times my mind wandered away from the pages, not understanding a single word. I tossed the book back on my dresser and said to myself, “I guess this Bible stuff is not for me.”

If this is your first time reading through the Bible, you may have encountered the same difficulty I did. You have found the first 17 verses of Matthew to be a list of names, belonging to people of whom you have never heard, and have a difficult time pronouncing. Allow me to encourage you, it is OK to skip the names. Pick up in verse 18, and begin the most fascinating story, about the most exceptional person, who has ever walked the face of the planet.

A few years later, after becoming a believer myself, I was given some instruction that got me past the first few verses, into an adventure of getting to know God personally, through His word. I want to invite you to join me on that adventure, as we read the Word of God together, and get to know the God of the Word.

Pastor Jim

Genesis 1- In The Beginning
Genesis 2- God Rested

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Malachi 3-4 & Proverbs 31
Old Testament: Malachi 3- Solid Gold

Malachi 3:3
“He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.”

Since ancient times, precious metals have been purified using intense heat. The… Read More

Malachi 4- Sound Of Silence

Malachi 4:4
“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.”

The book of Malachi brings the Old Testament to a close. For a period of 1,100 years God at various times and in diverse manners… Read More

Proverbs 31- True Beauty

Proverbs 31:1
“The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him . . .”

Proverbs 31 is a section of Scripture most often taught at women’s conferences or retreats, because it goes to great length describing a virtuous woman. A more… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Malachi 1-2  & Proverbs 30
Old Testament: Malachi 1- The Lord’s Cow

Malachi 1:8
“And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he accept you favorably?
Says the Lord of… Read More

Malachi 2- Happy Marriage

Malachi 2:15
“But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? and why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.”

Malachi has a lot to say about marriage. He warns the people of the danger of marrying badly, by choosing an ungodly spouse. He refers to marriage as both, “The Lord’s holy institution which He loves,” and as a “Covenant.” He exhorts husbands to think of their wife… Read More

 

Proverbs 30- Lessons From Nature

Proverbs 30:24-28
“There are four things which are little on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
The ants are a people not strong,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;
The rock badgers are a feeble folk,
Yet they make their homes in the crags;
The locusts have no… Read More

 

 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Zechariah 13-14 & Proverbs 29
Old Testament: Zechariah 13- Stain Removal

Zechariah 13:1
“In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.”

It seems like salespeople will make the most preposterous claims, just to make a sale. We hear of miracle products that have the ability to get stains out of anything. The problem… Read More

Zechariah 14- Ready?

Zechariah 14:1
“Behold, the day of the Lord is coming…”

Paul Revere is famous for warning the the colonial militia of the coming of the British army, before the battles of Lexington and Concord. He actually helped establish an intelligence and alarm system designed to prepare the colonies for the movements of the British troops. A good warning system will help us… Read More

Proverbs 29- Parenting

Proverbs 29:15
“The rod and rebuke give wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.”

Proverbs 29:17
“Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Zechariah 11-12 & Proverbs 28
Old Testament: Zechariah 11- It’s Not Worth It

Zechariah 11:12
“Then I said to them,  ‘If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.’ So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.”

As the time of His death drew near, Jesus asked His disciple… Read Moe

Zechariah 12- Pierced

Zechariah 12:10
“They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

Zechariah wrote over 400 years… Read More

Proverbs 28- Shaky Ground

Proverbs 28:26
“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.”

When faced with decisions, it is not uncommon to be counseled to follow your heart. Solomon suggests that doing so is a very… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Zechariah 9-10 & Proverbs 27
Old Testament: Zechariah 9- Coronation

Zechariah 9:9
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.”

A few years ago, during… Read More

Zechariah 10- Cornerstone

Zechariah 10:4
“From him comes the cornerstone,
From him the tent peg,
From him the battle bow,
From him every ruler together”

Zechariah referred to the coming Messiah as the cornerstone. A cornerstone is the… Read More

Proverbs 27- Can’t Eat Just One

Proverbs 27:20
“Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.”

A few years ago, the Frito-Lay Corporation ran an ad for their potato chips with the slogan, “Bet you can’t eat just one.” The concept was simple, their chips were so good, so addicting, that once you tasted one, you would keep eating until the bag was empty. In this verse, Solomon points out, sin is… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Zechariah 7-8 & Proverbs 26
Old Testament: Zechariah 7- Do The Right Thing 

Zechariah 7:3
“Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?”

The people in Zechariah’s day were beginning to realize their lifestyle was unacceptable to God. They concluded, the solution to unrighteous living was to fast on certain days. Prior to implementing their new religious program, they approached the prophet for guidance. He declared what they really needed to do was obey the Word of The Lord.

Zechariah 7:7
“Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through… Read More

Proverbs 26- Answers

Proverbs 26:4-5 “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest  he be wise in his own eyes.”

Sometimes, determining what God wants us to do can be quite difficult. We can have opposing principles, which can be found in the pages of the Word, applied to the same situation. That is the case with the advice Solomon… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Zechariah 5-6 & Proverbs 25
Old Testament: Zechariah 5- Curses

Zechariah 5:2-3
“And he said to me, ‘What do you see?’ So I answered, ‘I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.’ Then he said to me, ‘This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth…’”

Over the years, Hollywood has gone to elaborate ends to depict the… Read More

Zechariah 6- Merry Christmas

Zechariah 6:12-13
“Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out… And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”

The Bible speaks of the riches of the grace of God. Grace is a word that refers to God’s giving nature. James 1:17 puts it this way, “Every good and perfect gift comes from the father of lights in whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” Certainly, life is filled with gifts given from heaven to earth. When we gaze into the face of nature, or a new born… Read More

Proverbs 25- Truth Bearer

Proverbs 25:9
“Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not disclose the secret to another;”

The Bible clearly teaches that we are not to lie. Truthfulness is a very important trait, and is the foundation for healthy relationships. We cannot have a relationship with someone we cannot trust and we cannot trust someone who does not tell us the truth. That being said, it is also important to remember, we are not required to divulge all the information to every… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Zechariah 3-4 & Proverbs 24
Old Testament: Zechariah 3- Filthy Garments

Zechariah 3:4
“Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’”

We cannot be certain of the… Read More
Zechariah 4- Source Of Strength

Zechariah 4:6
“So he answered and said to me: ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” Says the Lord of hosts.’”

Zerubbabel, the governor of Judea, was responsible for a task far too great for himself. He had led a small group of untrained refugees from… Read More

Proverbs 24- Using Your Influence

Proverbs 24:11
“Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.”

Salvation is a free gift given to man from God. Jesus Christ became a man and offered Himself as a willing sacrifice on the altar of Calvary, in order to pay mankind’s debt and wash away all sin. This salvation, while freely given, must be received. John wrote… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Zechariah 1-2 & Proverbs 23
Old Testament: Zechariah 1- Return

Zechariah 1:3
“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,”’ says the Lord of hosts.”

After seventy years of captivity Israel was allowed to return to the land and begin to rebuild their broken down Temple. Millions had been taken captive and… Read More

Zechariah 2- Problems and Solutions

Zechariah 2:10
“ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord.

Things looked bleak for Israel. After their defeat in battle, Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jewish people were taken… Read More

Proverbs 23- Fly Away

Proverbs 23:4-5 “Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”

Riches are not evil in… Read More