How many products do you purchase and consume to combat the effects of aging? We use lotions to soften our skin and disguise wrinkles. We workout rigorously to keep our bodies in shape to hold off the eventual problems of life. We supplement, boost and build up our bodies with herbs, minerals, vitamins and medicines to ease the effects of aging. Is there anything within our power that we can do to turn back the clock and renew our youthful vigor or stop death? We are completely helpless and there is nothing that we can do to empower ourselves. If the story of our lives were left in this state of helplessness would there be motivation to press on in life. Continue Reading…
Tag Archive - Forgiveness
Press on to the next tomorrow because God is God: Psalm 103
In life will you seek forgiveness and humility: 2 Samuel 3 and 4
How often do you feel yourself becoming filled with anger, fear, pride, hate, or discontent? What is the motivation behind your actions when you are like this? Do you label your feelings as righteous to justify your actions? Can we label any action by man as righteous? During the time of conflict between Israel and Judah in 2 Samuel 3 and 4 men make accusations, decisions, and assumptions that illustrate the need for true forgiveness and humility.
Abner is accused by Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul and king of Israel, of sleeping with a concubine of Saul’s in 2 Samuel 3. Did Abner truly sleep with the concubine? Was Ish-bosheth afraid of losing his authority as king making him not trust Abner? Was it so easy for Ish-bosheth to forget that it was Abner who established him as king over Israel after Saul’s death? Why did Abner seek to establish Ish-bosheth as king? What motivated thes men? Why do people so quickly turn upon the ones who truly care for them when their personal security feels threatened? After these accusations were made Abner chooses to no longer support the lineage of Saul as king and he seeks out David to make a covenant to serve him and help establish his rule as king. What motivated Abner to make peace with David? Was it spite of Ish-bosheth or a desire for renown that prompted Abner t? Continue Reading…
The painful reality of sin and God’s provision: Leviticus 19 and 20
>I think every other time I have read Leviticus it was my version of the blitzkrieg: fast and swift with little accuracy. It’s the kind of thinking that says if I blitz through this ‘boring’ book of the Bible enough I will eventually glean something useful from it. I was really wrong because I have been reading through Leviticus since May 19th and even though it has been a long slow walk through this difficult book full of sacrifices and laws but I am finding great enjoyment and passion because I am seeing a picture of Jesus Christ .
Grace to indebted, oppressed, and strangers: Exodus 21 and 22
In Exodus 18:17-27 Jethro gives advice to Moses about how to rule the people of Israel. In Exodus 12:37 you can easily say that there were at least 2 million men, women, and children. It seems that Exodus 21 and following are laying out how to govern the people of Israel. With such a concentration of people there are bound to be disputes and crimes. The ordinances laid down by God will help the men appointed to judge make correct and fair decisions. Continue Reading…
