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The air crackled with shekinah glory. The faint scent of frankincense spun through the whirlwind. A fiery chariot rumbled behind a pair of flaming steeds, burning an image in Elisha’s brain he would never forget as he watched Elijah depart. Depart, because, like Enoch, Elijah didn’t die. One minute, Elijah walked beside his successor. The…

“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16 NIV God made this promise to David. But did you know God made a very similar promise to Jeroboam? David’s son, Solomon, followed other gods as his wives turned his heart from Yahweh (1 Kings 11:27-39). Jeroboam served…

Makeup, manicures, and merchandise. We spend a lot of time and money to look our best. Praise is becoming to the upright. Psalm 33:1 NIV The word “becoming” carries several connotations. Attractive: Causing someone to look attractive, having a flattering effect. Praise, gratitude, and contentment attract the same temper. Really, who needs more frown lines?…

Blows hammered shields. Clouds hurled hailstones. God’s voice thundered. Eyes watered from the haze of smoke as fire fed on everything in sight. Sweat, blood, and rain wet the lips of warriors as cherubim soared overhead. Powerful imagery pours forth from Psalm 18 as David recounts the LORD’s rescue, His battle training, and David’s ultimate…

“Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.” 1 Kings 4:34 NIV Wisdom. When we hear the word, we think of Solomon, even today. As ruler of Israel, he’d earned a voice in world affairs. God’s gift of wisdom…

“ ‘Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,’ declares the LORD God.” (Ezekiel 16:14 NASB) I believe God calls. Specifically. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God…

Can you trust God with your worst-case scenario? Job experienced worst-case scenario and then some. The book of Job recorded Job’s cry for God. Though the reader understands the whys and sees Satan behind the tragedy, Job lived in the dark. He wanted answers. He wanted to be heard. He wanted some sense behind his…

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1 NIV Thanksgiving will be here soon and our family will toe the line at the neighborhood Turkey…

The people at Chewy must hate me. I keep changing the shipping date for the dog food. Our puppy is growing. Rapidly. He eats more than double what our aging Lab does and has caught up to him in weight. He’s six months old. Growth requires fuel, even spiritual growth. Valor gets his fuel from…

What happens when the tie that binds comes untied? While God knit David and Jonathan together in 1 Samuel 18, in that same chapter, Saul unraveled. Perfect stitches pulled by an unseen hand. In 1 Samuel 15, God removed His Spirit due to Saul’s repeated disobedience. If the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,…