Not My Fault

If your first response to someone wanting to discuss a problem or mistake is to declare that the issue was not your fault, I suggest that is a fault. Most things that go wrong in the real world are not the result of intentional destruction or deciding to do something stupid instead of something smart. Most mistakes are caused by […]

You and Hagar

Unmarried motherNo vehicleNo incomeForeignerAlone with her son in the desertCursed by the only people who knew her Hagar was forced to bear her owner a son. Then she was thrown out of the camp by her owner, into the desert to die. Yahweh loved her, though. He also loved her son. She had previously run out of the camp to […]

Walking in the Fear of the Lord

Fear of the Lord can also be the result of effective ministry – I’m praying that it begins to follow us. After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and […]

The Saints’ Inheritance

Every religion spends time teaching its adherents how to manipulate its god to grant them help or favor or security. Islam, Voo-doo, Hinduism, Buddhism, Rasta, Roman mythology, both ancient and currently through the Vatican, Socialism, Mormonism, much of the church. “Here’s how to get your god to do what you want:…” The opposite is what we should be learning by […]

Fear of the Lord is Wisdom

“The fear of the Lord” is a phrase that is used over 30 times in the Old Testament, and once in Acts of the Apostles. The Hebrew word for “fear” in the phrase is translated a few ways – from “frightening” to “reverential awe.” As a reminder, “awful,” “full of awe,” and “awesome” are directly related. We need to learn […]

Carrying Mysteries

What must have passed through Eve’s mind during her first pregnancy? How many different and crazy ideas did she have as guesses? How often are our guesses about what our God is up to just as misdirected? Spend less time guessing and more time asking. He wants to reveal some of the mysteries to us that He has been covering […]

You Can’t Take it With You

Culture dies when we die. Our human values and rituals and fears and prides and clothing styles and economic statuses and properties all get snatched out of our hands when we take our last breaths. If we are watching someone die slowly, we may have the misperception that their hands’ grip is loosening slowly, but at any point at which […]

Fear of the Lord is Hatred of Evil

“The fear of the Lord” is a phrase that is used over 30 times in the Old Testament, and once in Acts of the Apostles. The Hebrew word for “fear” in the phrase is translated a few ways – from “frightening” to “reverential awe.” As a reminder, “awful,” “full of awe,” and “awesome” are directly related. We need to learn […]

You Are Changing

Every day, you are changing. Some of the change is improvement, some is not. Some weaknesses are increasing. Some strengths are increasing. Your environment is changing all the time, and some of its changes are influencing you. Some of your intentional habits and some of your new habits are strengthening you. How much is changing in each category? The more […]

Fear of the Lord is Zion’s Treasure

“The fear of the Lord” is a phrase that is used over 30 times in the Old Testament, and once in Acts of the Apostles. The Hebrew word for “fear” in the phrase is translated a few ways – from “frightening” to “reverential awe.” As a reminder, “awful,” “full of awe,” and “awesome” are directly related. We need to learn […]