“With here many persuasions she entices him; with her flattering lips she seduces him. Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to slaughter, or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, until an arrow pierces through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, so he does not know that it will cost him his life. Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth. Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths. for many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are all her slain. Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.” Proverbs 7:21-27 Sin brings about death. There is no way for us to escape the peril of our sinful condition through any action of our own. We are drawn into the snare of sin that captures our heart, mind, soul and strength. We must run away from the death but as we run we find ourselves completely trapped. Continue Reading…
Wisdom came to save mankind from the curse of sin: Proverbs 7 and 8
So long old friend you will be missed: Tribute to Otis
Today my heart is broken. I lost a friend today that was consistently faithful to me until the very end. Our family dog Otis, a Bichon Frise, has been slowly dying this over this last week. He finally got to a point this morning that his quality of life was gone and we had him put to sleep. He was such a wonderful dog full of life and personality. I will miss his unyielding love that he expressed every time I came home and bark in anticipation of me walking through the gate. Continue Reading…
Mighty men and their mighty leader David: 2 Samuel 23 and 24
When your epitaph is written how do you want people to remember you? I love how David is described in 2 Samuel 23:1, “David the son of Jesse, declares, the man who was raised on high declares, the anointed of the God of Jacob declares, and the sweet psalmist of Israel.” After your life is spent will you live with regret over the life that you lived? I want to be remembered as David was for his relationship with God because nothing else that can be said would mean anything apart from my faith in God. When the end of life comes your strength and physical prowess will mean absolutely nothing. All the knowledge you have accumulated throughout your life will be foolishness when it cannot bring you help. In the end when life meets death the only factor that will bring hope and assurance will be your faith and foundation in Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. Continue Reading…
Depravity, sin, death: inherent without Jesus Christ: 2 Samuel 13 and 14
” ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife’ Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, an he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’ ” 2 Samuel 12: 10-12 The words God spoke to David through Nathan tell of the direst to come within the house of David. Did David’s actions lead to his family thinking that they were above reproach in all of their deeds? How was David as a father? Was David like many men today who give all their effort and skill at work only to reserve nothing for their family where the greatest effort and energy is needed? Continue Reading…
At the end of your life who is your advocate: 1 Samuel 27 and 28
Is it true that the enemy of your enemy is a friend? When David seeks out refuge and shelter from Saul in the land of the Philistines why did Achish, the king of Gath, trust David? In 1 Samuel chapter 27 and 28 David, his men, and all their families take refuge in the land of the Philistines. David was the one who killed Goliath the champion of the Philistines so why are they now are willing to let him dwell in their land? Why do the Philistines allow David safe harbor? What was the catlyst of this unusual alliance of enemies? Continue Reading…
Faithfulness in the midst of uncertainty: Ruth Summary
God has always been working and He will continue to be at work in the joyful moments of life, through the death of loved ones, and when you face a moments of uncertainty. The tale of Ruth happens during the turbulent time when judges ruled over Israel for two hundred years. In the midst of all the disobedience and unfaithfulness that was seen in Judges we have the story of Naomi and Ruth, a mother and a dauther-in-law, who lost everything they had in a foreign land only to find peace, hope, and redemption upon returning to Bethlehem. Continue Reading…
Hope in a High Priest of a new order: Numbers 19 and 20
In Numbers 19 gives greater detail about how a person who is unclean becomes clean. I am amazed at how much death, sacrifice, and blood are apart of cleansing. Eleazar, a priest and Aaron’s son, was to watch the killing and burned of an unblemished red heifer outside the camp. Cedar wood was added to the burning heifer and the ash was collected in a clean spot outside. This ash was mixed with water and an unclean person would wash themselves with the water to become clean. It sounds a little savage to wash yourself with water containing ash from a burnt heifer. It makes sense to me because in Hebrews 9:22 states, “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and with out the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Continue Reading…
final moments
I have been thinking a lot about moments in my life where I had an experience that change my life to the core for the rest of my life. These moments may be joyful or painful but they are moments that shape us.
Spring 1997 – I was a freshman in college and I was stuck in a rut that I didn’t know how to get out of. I had started listening to music that was full of foul lyrics and also smoking cigars because my ‘friends’ in college were doing that. I remember crying myself to sleep one evening when I had hit a wall where I knew I was created for a life where I didn’t need these things in my life but I didn’t know how to get out of the rut I was in. Continue Reading…
Hopes desire grounded at Calvary
What is in a life? Why was my life chosen? How could it be worth dying? How could desire compel someone so much? Did it really happen to me? Does love fall upon me? How do I not deserve death? Could I give up everything? Can this lusting flesh prevail? How can I repay? A gift? A death? A Savior?
Life will hope again because of what Christ has done on the cross. No sin that you commit will ever be too great for Christ to cover fully. God loves you so much that he gave His son to die on that cross.
Thank you for loving me Lord!
