devotional

  • Noah: Mercy Triumphs over Judgement

    God promised Noah he wouldn’t flood the earth again, not because future generations would be any better than the past ones (He actually said human hearts are still evil from youth (Gen. 6:5, 8:21), but because God chose mercy for… Continue reading

    Noah: Mercy Triumphs over Judgement
  • Sukkot (Tabernacles/Booths) 2nd Day

    As I mentioned in my last entry, a tabernacle, booth, or tent is used Biblically as an image of the physical body, which is a temporary dwelling place for the soul. Similarly, the Tabernacle of God was a temporary dwelling… Continue reading

    Sukkot (Tabernacles/Booths) 2nd Day
  • Vayelekh: He Went Ahead of You, For You

    Moses gave Israel the Torah, but Joshua led them into the promised land. They miraculously crossed the river that dried up at their crossing point and piled up upstream. The walls of their enemies in Jericho fell down for them.… Continue reading

    Vayelekh: He Went Ahead of You, For You
  • Rosh Hashanah: Isaac, Ishmael, and the Well

    Today, Muslims of Mid Eastern descent claim their lineage to Abraham through Ishmael. Jews claim theirs through Isaac. God tells Abraham, “through Isaac shall your offspring be named” (vs. 12), though God would “make a nation of the son of the… Continue reading

    Rosh Hashanah: Isaac, Ishmael, and the Well
  • Nitzavim: The Tree that Made Wormwood Sweet

    The root bearing poisonous fruit in Deuteronomy chapter 29 is associated according to Hebrew tradition with hemlock, an herb deadly to humans. Socrates was executed by drinking hemlock. This phrase in Deut. 29 literally is translated “a root bearing a… Continue reading

    Nitzavim: The Tree that Made Wormwood Sweet
  • Preparing to be Called Out

    I think believers can find great relevance in this history. Passover is when Jesus, our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), was sacrificed for us. As we enter the spring, a season for new life, we must prepare ourselves to meet… Continue reading

    Preparing to be Called Out
  • The Appointment of Christmas

    Sometimes Christmas presentsAre last-minute things—We rush to just buy something—Hope for joy it brings. Sometimes gifts are well thought outAnd studied with care,But executed hurriedlyWe hope the idea’s fair. Sometimes our grand designsAre thwarted in some way:The store’s sold out,… Continue reading

    The Appointment of Christmas
  • The First Present of Christmas

    The first present of ChristmasWas not wrapped with bright paper,Shiny ribbons, sparkling bows,Or ties with ends that taper.The first present of ChristmasWas not large in any way,No impressive size,And not containing much to weigh.The first present of ChristmasDid not rattle,… Continue reading

    The First Present of Christmas
  • The First Adam and the Last Adam

    When You breathed life into Adam and thenWhen You removed his rib to make his Eve,When You closed up his side with flesh again,Did you a scar on his perfect flesh leave?In Your unblemished world he did receiveBlemish to make… Continue reading

    The First Adam and the Last Adam
  • Because of Your Support You Gave to This! (Part 3)

    Thanks to your support of my book, Learning to Love: A Collection of Poetry and 40 Daily Devotions, you also helped feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and support families during financial crisis through Inside-Out Ministries. Continue reading

    Because of Your Support You Gave to This! (Part 3)