Articles
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Grandpa Lamech
“After Noah was born, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Lamech lived 777 years, and then he died. After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.” Genesis 5:30-32 Lamech had other sons and daughters, but at the youthful age of 182, he had Noah. We cannot assume that Noah was one of the eldest sons (and probably shouldn’t), even though Noah himself didn’t have his three boys until after he was 500 years old. Noah was certainly not an only child, and likely had a plethora of siblings, not to mention an army of nieces, nephews with their children…
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This is My Worship
Worship isn’t for me. I don’t mean that I don’t like to worship, I mean that worship is not for my benefit. Somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten this. In my earlier years as a Christian, when my relationship with God was so brand new, all I wanted to do was to worship and offer my praise and thanksgiving to him. In fact, that’s all I did. It seems that everything I did and everywhere I went was about worshiping God. I was so full of joy and gratitude for my salvation that there was literally nothing else to do but worship God. It’s all I thought about. My relationship…
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Giving Us Space
In reading some comments recently in Rick Warren’s re-tooled book, A Purpose Driven Life, I was pointed to a time in the prophet Hezekiah’s life when God withdrew from his presence so that Hezekiah was forced to contend with it on his own, to test his character and his faith. “He succeeded in everything he undertook. But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.” Chronicles 32:30-31 And once again, God highlights my own relationship with him, and shows me how it’s okay…
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Greater Evidence
The world has always been too small for the likes of mankind. We have always been seekers of the truth, always looking for that which we cannot see. We want to know everything, to be like God. In the beginning, this was precisely why the first man and woman succumbed to Satan’s tempting. “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 As a result of this continually wanting to know more, we are never satisfied with what we can perceive. We…
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Seed of Faith
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive [the demon] out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:19-20 Faith IS small. We shouldn’t compare ours against His. The several times Jesus uses a mustard seed as a comparison for faith, he demonstrates that faith always starts small. But it will grow if you nurture it. And more importantly, no matter how small our faith may be, it…
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The Grudge
In a Rush song called “Wish Them Well,” the lyricist Neil Peart speaks of letting go of grudges, and basically forgiving all who have wronged you, and shaking off any ill will at any time. This comes from one who’s been through so much. Within 18 months, Neil lost his only daughter in a car accident, and his wife—his best friend—to cancer. Apart from God, it’s amazing that this man managed to survive it all. Even more amazing is that despite his desperate search for understanding, researching various religions and cults, he has still failed to know God. And one who lost so much still believes in Hope and Love. …
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A Hardened Heart
“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 Children are born with the knowledge of heaven on their hearts. We are born yearning for God. No matter where on earth a child is born, no matter the circumstances, children already know about God. This is innate, and it’s why children are considered “innocent”, and why they are so eager to learn about God and stories about him in the Bible?
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Children of Abraham
“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.” Genesis 22:17 Yet, Israel became and remains one of the smallest nations in the world. Surely the Children of Abraham are not limited to the Israelites. Even at the original time that God introduced the covenant of circumcision, Abraham’s entire household was circumcised, including his servants and all other males not born to him. So clearly, the covenant was not being made just for his descendants, but for all who declared the same faith that Abraham declared.
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Dragons and Dinosaurs
The Behemoth Here’s something to consider, and I find this fabulous! Job knew what God was talking about when he said, “Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength he has in his loins, what power in the muscles of his belly! His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are close-knit. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like rods of iron. He ranks first among the works of God, yet his Maker can approach him with his sword. “The hills bring him their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby. Under…
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Lord’s Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, holy is your name. May your kingdom and righteousness come here into my life and into the lives of all who trust in you. And may your will be done through me as I pursue your righteousness and walk alongside you. Thank you for today and everyday, as I know you have and always will provide just what I need, and for the needs of my family, however great or small they may be. Because I understand the forgiveness you’ve given me and the mercy I continue to receive through the blood of Jesus Christ, it is easy for me to be forgiving to others, regardless…
