I finish my year of blogging my devotions tonight with this, my last post for 2012. Thank you so much for those of you who actually read a few of these posts. Your comments were an encouragement to keep on. Thanks especially to Marcy and Lyndon who became friends with me during previous blogging years … Continue reading »
I’m liking Zechariah. He points to the Messiah and His kingdom so often. It’s neat that God had his last prophets – the post-exilic crowd – speak so often about Jesus before that 500 year silence until He came on the scene. I started this blogging commitment to find Jesus – and I find Him … Continue reading »
Only 2 more days – TWO MORE DAYS!! – and I can officially stop blogging my devotions every night (it’s usually at night). Most of the time I have really enjoyed it. Sometimes I’ve been so tired or burnt out, but I slogged through. And it was worth it. I wrestled with God and He won! … Continue reading »
I think it’s so interesting that as I head in my readings toward a wonderful description of the New Jerusalem at the end of Revelation, the OT prophets are talking about the Messiah and the restoration of Jerusalem! I can’t help but think that the Jerusalem Zechariah describes in chapter 8 is the New Jerusalem … Continue reading »
As I read Psalm 148 tonight, it struck me that inanimate objects praise God: Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! (Psalm 148:3-4 ESV) I know this is metaphor, but as I imagine the sun and moon praising God, I sense … Continue reading »
Haggai and Zechariah prophecy the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple under Nehemiah and Ezra – seventy years after Judah is taken out by Babylon. But like most OT prophecies, many parts are fulfilled a second and a third time through the Messiah — and beyond (I believe to the New Jerusalem in the New Earth). … Continue reading »
These last few Psalms comprise a cacophony of praise. If my memory serves right, the pilgrims of Israel sang these Psalms as they made their way to the Temple and up its stairs during the great feasts. Each of the Psalms begins and ends with Praise the Lord. I was going to comment on Psalm 147 yesterday before I … Continue reading »
We just got back from our 11 PM Christmas service. I love this service because we sing all the carols, then welcome Christmas Day with communion, candles and Silent Night. I love singing loudly to God. But God singing loudly over me? That notion always stuns me – like the passage it comes from (which … Continue reading »
I liked Habakkuk’s prayer today. He’s referring to God’s great work of redemption through Moses – and asking God to once more save His people as Judah faces imminent invasion by Babylon: Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember … Continue reading »
Here we are in the Christmas season and it seems like everything I read in my daily passages points to the Good News that started at Christmas (well, long before that…). Like here, in Nahum: Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! (Nahum 1:15a ESV) That’s the passage … Continue reading »
So my DD comes into my home office 3 times today asking if I’ve read the email she sent me. No, I hadn’t, and, by the way, I’m working; I’ll read it later. I finally read said email this evening. It was her Christmas wish list. I think the list included 3 pair of boots, … Continue reading »
It’s Christmastime! And I just happened to read this verse (as quoted in part by Matthew – 2:6) to our girls yesterday: But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of … Continue reading »
I liked this verse today: Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! (Psalm 144:15 ESV) I don’t really relate to all the blessings described in the preceding verses (full granaries, fertile sheep and cattle), but I’ll take blessed children and no crying in the street. … Continue reading »
Tim Keller has mined the depths of Jonah in several Sermon series – and I’ve learned so much from the book because of Tim. I’d recommend listening in on one of the series. But I have one day to reflect on the entire book. I won’t forget from those sermons (back in the 90s) that … Continue reading »
Now this is just a great passage from Revelation! I believe this describes all the Saints – and what a time we’ll have! After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, … Continue reading »
