The Pride Of Ephraim

Scripture The Ephraimite archers turned back on the day of battle.  They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wondrous works he had shown them. ~ Psalms 78:9-11 (CSB) Quote “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” ~George Santayana The tribe of Ephraim…

Shrewd As Serpents

Scripture “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. ~ Matthew 10:16 (CSB) Quote “The most difficult thing to achieve in the CHRISTIAN LIFE is balance.” ~Calvin C. Inman I doubt if the disciples were comforted when Jesus said, I’m sending you out like…

The Pride of Tyre

Scripture “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, “I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.”  ~Ezekiel 28:2, CSB Quote Pride is the spiritual cancer that devours family, destroys relationships, and divides…

No One Else But Jesus

Scripture When evening came, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick, so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: He himself took our weaknesses and carried our diseases. ~ Matthew 8:16-17 (CSB) Quote No one ever cared for…

Friendship With The World

Scripture You adulterous people. Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. ~James 4:4, CSB Quote The world is wrong side up; it needs to be turned upside down in order to be right side up.…

The Sadducees

Scripture For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. ~Acts 23:8, NASB Quote The lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion. ~Tacitus The Sadducees were the upper crust of Jewish society. They were religious to a point…

The Gospel

Scripture Then Job replied to the LORD: I know that you can do anything and no plan of Yours can be thwarted. ~Job 42:1 (CSB) Quote God can use whomever He pleases, whenever He pleases, however He pleases to do whatever He pleases. ~Ya’kov God is Sovereign, He has the power to enact His will.…

The Perfect Storm

Scripture The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his god. They threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel and had stretched out and fallen into a deep sleep. ~ Jonah 1:5 (CSB) Quote “Prayer does not fit…

Celebrate Jesus

Scripture But the righteous are glad; they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy. ~Psalm 68:3, CSB Quote Without authentic worship, we go about miserable. ~A.W. Tozer I first noticed the word ‘Celebrate’ when I read the Contemporary English version some 15-20 years ago. Every time I read a new translation, I come across things I have not noticed previously.…