The story of Israel is then an archetypal story. All families of the earth share similar stories about their emergence as a people, the land or space that they inhabit, and the challenges and obstacles that they have overcome.
Crossroads: God’s Sheep
May 9, 2022 by
Last week I got to see some sheep up close and personal, and I learned a few things. Sheep will “baa” at you when they think you’ve got something to eat. It doesn’t matter if they have just eaten; they will still complain.
Formations 08.22.2021: God’s Perspective
August 15, 2021 by
If you’re like me, some days streak by, and before you know it, a week, a month, even a year has passed. Other days, though, are slow and plodding as you struggle to fill the boring minutes with something productive.
Connections 06.13.2021: God’s Unexpected Kingdom
June 6, 2021 by
I grew up in church, which means I heard loads of Scripture-based catchphrases over the years: “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” “Jesus died to save us from our sins.” Maybe you can think of some.
Connections 06.06.2012: Doing God’s Will
May 28, 2021 by
We have probably heard people say, after they have decided upon a particular course of action, that they are going to do what they have decided to do because they believe it is God’s will.
Formations 03.28.2021: God’s Son Is Revealed
March 21, 2021 by
This isn’t the way it was supposed to be. Have you ever experienced devastating disappointment—a letdown so overwhelming that your sadness felt insurmountable?
Formations 01.10.2021: We Are God’s Workmanship
January 3, 2021 by
I grew up on Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Formations 01.03.2021: The Works of God’s Hands
December 27, 2020 by
On December 21, stargazers got a rare treat. For the first time since March 4, 1226, Jupiter and Saturn came close enough to each other at night that they appeared as one giant star.
Formations 07.19.2020: God’s Indictment
July 12, 2020 by
As I read the words of God’s indictment in our lesson text, I wondered how many times people have read them over the centuries and thought, “The prophet is talking about our world today.
God’s Work in Darkness
April 14, 2020 by
In movies and media today, savvy viewers know to look for “Easter eggs.” Reminiscent of the egg hunts we experienced as children, movie directors and software creators offer these Easter eggs as inside jokes.
Formations 04.05.2020: Zeal for God’s House
March 29, 2020 by
I’m writing this article in a time of trauma all around the world. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has reached every continent except Antarctica. People are sick, scared, isolated, and anxious for what lies ahead.
Formations 03.15.2020: God’s Law vs. God’s Love
March 8, 2020 by
Many memories of my life as a church member—at various churches over the years—are beautiful, positive, and sustaining. But some are difficult, burdensome, and troubling.
Formations 09.29.2019: Living in God’s Son
September 22, 2019 by
I began attending church as a baby, so I was encouraged from a very young age to invite Jesus into my heart. Well-meaning Sunday school teachers and preachers told me that if I did this, Jesus would become my Savior, living inside of me.
Connections 09.01.2019: God’s Astonishment
August 25, 2019 by
As an independent editing contractor, I have a more flexible schedule than my husband and children. While they are (mostly) willing to help when time allows, household management falls largely on my shoulders.
Formations 10.14.2018: Seeing God’s Favor
October 7, 2018 by
I’ve not seen it, but I’ve heard the stories. On some days in the summer, rising tides and east-facing winds push poorly oxygenated water toward the eastern edge of Mobile Bay. With it come the crab and flounder, and the shallow waters are overrun with all manner of food.
David, a Warrior after God’s Own Heart: Community
June 12, 2018 by
We see many of the needs of our returning service members and their families by also looking at Psalm 69 and the life of David, a warrior himself. This week, for our final devotion in this series, I want to focus on verses 12-13.
David, a Warrior after God’s Own Heart: Guilt
June 6, 2018 by
We’ve been focusing on some of the struggles that veterans face after coming home from war and how we might help them. But we’re looking at those needs through a unique perspective: the eyes of biblical hero King David, who was also a warrior for most of his life.
David, a Warrior after God’s Own Heart: Enemies and Family
May 30, 2018 by
Pretty much all of us here have enemies, but I doubt any of us have the kind of enemies that David had. David had been facing enemies since he fought Goliath as a young man. His own mentor Saul repeatedly tried to kill him. The Philistines tried to kill him. In fact, while king, all the surrounding nations were trying to kill him and destroy Israel.
David, a Warrior after God’s Own Heart: Depressed?
May 23, 2018 by
David is in a bad place. He has been sinking in the miry depths, the floodwaters are rising over his head, and he can no longer get a foothold. He’s in trouble so he is calling out to God for help. In fact he has already been calling out to God. He says he’s been calling for God’s help so much that his throat is parched.
David, a Warrior after God’s Own Heart: Drowning
May 16, 2018 by
I’m excited to begin with you a five-part series looking at the life of David through the lens of Psalm 69. We will discuss this psalm from the perspective of David, not just as a king but as a warrior.
Connections 10.01.2017: Your Bootstraps, God’s Boots
September 24, 2017 by
I teach a couple of classes at a state college near my home. The courses are designed to help freshmen successfully transition from high school to college. One of the recurring themes of the courses is the necessity of accepting responsibility. “You are responsible for your life,” I find myself saying repeatedly.
Connections 08.07.2016: Safe in God’s Love
July 31, 2016 by
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor recessions, nor politics, nor presidential elections, nor terrorism, nor racism, nor sexism, nor homophobia, nor the internet, nor arrogance, nor ignorance…