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The Outpouring
Mary held the bottle with trembling hands. She’d planned this for weeks. Martha saw her, smiled, and nodded. Deep voices bantered over sweet figs and salty cheese. Mary slipped into the room and knelt behind Jesus. The men reclining at the table gave her little more than a nod. Until she broke the flask. The…
Read More Covered By The Lamb
Flocks of lambs frolic, bleat, and bleed their way through Scripture. Old Testament fathers paint the doorframes with the blood of the first Passover lambs. Priests butcher lambs, following Moses’ instructions to the letter for sacrificial atonement. Fast forward to the New Testament. A roughly clad figure in need of a haircut points a grubby…
Read More A Preview of Coming Attractions: Thorns
I love movie trailers, and as a writer, I know good ones use foreshadowing. God mastered the art of foreshadowing long ago. Let’s look at the preview of thorns He gave us in Genesis: “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will…
Read More Failure: “. . . and Peter”
Told you so. Words Peter never heard. Jesus had warned him. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31 NIV) Talk about failure. Peter had blown it. Big time.…
Read More Worthy is the Lamb
“ ‘What do you think?’ ‘He is worthy of death,’ they answered.” Matthew 26:66 NIV Worthy. We define it as good. Deserving of respect, praise, or attention. Having value. Estimable. Meritorious. Somehow, I don’t think that’s what the Sanhedrin meant, like Inigo Montoya to Vizzini in The Princess Bride, “You keep using that word. I do…
Read More Strong Willed: The Garden of Gethsemane
It’s my fault. When we had children, I prayed for strong wills. My thinking was, once they were properly trained, our kids would not waver in their allegiance to God. But, oh, the training. Isaiah 14 hosts the “I will” passage, the one where Satan declares the desires of his heart: “I will ascend to…
Read More Baby Jesus: Worship Worthy
Workout for the Week: Worship Worthy Memory Verse: Matthew 2:10-11b Meditation Passage: Choose one from below. Key Thought: Jesus was worthy of worship at the first Christmas, and He is worthy still. Our Christmas carols ring with worship. Can you identify these carols? “O come let us adore Him.” “Born is the king of Israel.”…
Read More Are We There Yet?: Christmas Story Travel
Workout for the Week: Are We There Yet? Memory Verse: Luke 2:15 Meditation Passage: Luke 2:8-20 Key Thought: If God said, “Get up and go,” would you? Are we there yet? Family travel tests our patience. Snacks, videos, and “I Spy” help, but travel takes a toll. Imagine travel in Mary and Joseph’s day. Let’s…
Read More Track Your Christmas Package
Workout for the Week: Track Your Christmas Package Memory Verse: 2 Peter 1:21 (NIV) “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Meditation Passage: Matthew 2:1-11 Key Thought: Track God’s prophecy to fulfillment. The big brown truck rumbles…
Read More Outside the Christmas Box
Workout for the Week: Outside the Christmas Box Memory Verse: Tailor to the Christmas Bible character of your choice Meditation Passage: Tailor to the Christmas Bible character of your choice Key Thought: The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. –Marcel Proust This week, I want you…
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