Counterintuitive Healing
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT In my younger days I worked for the US Soil Conservation Service. One of my tasks was to check on the stands of perennial grasses in recently planted fields that… Counterintuitive Healing
The Dwelling Place
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.” (Psalm 90:1) Moses likely wrote Psalm 90 near the end of his life. As an old man, Moses did what… The Dwelling Place
Only One Ship, Only One Door
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT Big events have big results. Generally, the bigger the event, the wider its consequences. The bombing of Dresden destroyed that city, impacted Germany, and perhaps intimidated the Soviet Union. But… Only One Ship, Only One Door
It’s All About Having the One Thing
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
(Read Psalm 27)
In this psalm King David expresses an awareness of the reality that all believers face in this world: we have enemies who are determined to harm us. They’ll destroy us if they can. Ephesians 6 describes them as principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this age. Our soul is the ultimate target of their attacks.
We can attempt to spare ourselves the distress of this truth by pretending we have no such enemies or by staying very busy in order not to think about it. Neither mitigates the reality of the dangers facing our souls.
On the other hand, always thinking and worrying about it can make us so weary that we feel like giving up. Even the prophet Elijah went through a time when he was ready to just quit and die.It’s All About Having the One Thing
From Red as Blood to White as Snow
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “‘Come, now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They… From Red as Blood to White as Snow
The Pouting King Ahab
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, ‘I will not give you… The Pouting King Ahab
Poison in The Soup
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “Bam! Let’s kick it up a notch!” So Emeril Lagasse would fairly shout, to the hearty roar of the audience on his TV cooking show. And then the famous chef… Poison in The Soup
Your Salvation Is The Lord’s Agenda
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT Perhaps more than any other Old Testament Scripture, the New Testament writers quote Psalm 110. Jesus Himself quotes it in Matthew 22:44, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right… Your Salvation Is The Lord’s Agenda
“Happiness-es”
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT (Read Psalm 1) If you are on the right path, God’s path, happiness will come. It cannot be otherwise. The Hebrew word for “blessed” in Psalm 1 also means happy,… “Happiness-es”