Month: February 2025

When Nahum wrote that the Lord was good, it meant much more than just showing us kindness. It stood for God’s benevolence for our wellbeing and His desire for the ultimate plan & purpose of our life to be played out in our lifetime. That’s because, “God knows the way of the righteous.” (Psalm 1:6) So whether we take His way or the other, all is determined by our relationship with Him and where our trust can be found.

Voluntary servanthood was common during Biblical times as a way to erase a debt that couldn’t be repaid. But on the seventh year, (The Year of Jubilee) freedom must be offered. But for some slaves, they voluntarily committed to willingly stay & serve their master for life. This public indication of an inward decision was done by the master with a sharp instrument used for piercing, called an awl. Sure, there’s an obvious correlation of this passage and our walk with the Lord, in that our required attachment and loyalty, commitment and dedication has to be to Him and Him alone. But this allegiance also applies to personal relationships such as to a spouse or parents. You might call it honoring well… for it’s a lifelong bond of love and gratitude for a debt that can never be repaid.

You can read a Biography of a famous person and know about them…but if you never actually meet and spend quality time with them…you will never truly know who they are. The same goes for being somewhat familiar with God, vs encountering Him as your Lord and Savior through His Holy Word. If you have the time, I encourage you to read Psalm 119 in its entirety and discover the many facets of God’s Word. Throughout this Psalm we read about mediating on His Word & hiding it in our heart, for by doing so we gain Divine insight and guidance as we seek to obey God’s revealed Word in our everyday life. For God’s Word is living and active. (Hebrews 4:12) That’s because, unlike any other written word, His Word is powerful enough to enter the deepest recesses of our being, and potent enough to accomplish its purpose.

If today you need encouragement to continue on, know that God will never leave you, no matter what. If you’re feeling discouraged & sad, understand that He is always in control, and that He is a merciful & loving God who wants only the very best for you. Therefore, be strengthened and determined by His Name & His Words…for His Name is Immanuel, “God with us” and His promises are true, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Housebound, shut-in, homebound…all three terms are used to describe a person confined to their home because of a disability, limited mobility, or chronic illness. They rarely leave their home and then require the assistance of another person and/or medical device such as a wheelchair or walker. For many, this causes isolation, depression, and the feeling of being a prisoner in their own home…because, in a way, they are. Not surprisingly, this condition can also affect the caregiver who cannot safely leave their loved one alone. But just because a person is homebound, it doesn’t mean their heart & soul can’t be free. The prophet Isaiah foretold of the Messiah in Isaiah 61:1… that Jesus would proclaim freedom for the captives…setting them free from bondage so they might experience liberty & freedom in Christ.

The Apostle Paul, or Saul as he had been named, was born into a proud and strict Pharisee family. He was highly educated…studying in Jerusalem under the great Rabbi Gamaliel and rigorously observing the requirements of the Law. As the early Church of Believers increased, Paul immediately recognized the threat they posed in Jerusalem. And he quickly became the most ardent persecutor of this new sect. But on the road to Damascus, he was radically changed…changing not only himself, but the entire course of Christianity. So, when God called him to go to “those who are far off”, even though it was counter intuitive to everything Paul knew & had been taught, he obeyed…to the point that Paul considered himself the Apostle to the Gentiles… spreading the Gospel Message that his own people would reject. God’s Will for our life can take many strange twists & turns if we only look at it from our very limited knowledge…but know that God’s Will is always perfect, always on time, and exactly what He desires to happen…for our good and His glory.

It’s the wonderful gift of God’s grace that gives us peace…or as II Thessalonians 3:16 tells us, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace.” And then there’s I Peter 3:11 that reminds us to,” Seek peace and pursue it.” So why do we spend so much of our time in a constant state of frustration because of the actions of others? Or aggravated in ourselves for not being able to physically do what we once did so easily? Colossians 3:15 tells us to let the peace of Christ rule in our life…. not exasperation. That’s because the peace of God is not a peace that stems from the absence of difficulties, but rather, it’s a peace that guards our hearts and minds in the midst of great trials. (Isaiah 26:3) So when frustration & disappointment overwhelms, seek out the quiet serenity & tranquility of God’s peace.