Tag: blessings

  • Star Light Star Bright

    Star Light Star Bright

    Changing the general tenor [of the conversations] isn’t our job, nor is it our responsibility. It is our tenor that is our responsibility.

  • Cursing Blessings

    Cursing Blessings

    Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22; Ephesians 2:1–10; John 3:14–21 One of the biggest dangers of constant blessings is that we often disdain them. We become so accustomed to them that we become blind to them. Even worse, we then grow to despise them. The Israelites were in the middle of the desert. They were being…

  • Feeling Real

    Feeling Real

    Psalm 84; 1 Kings 6:1–4, 21–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–23 Based upon the description of the First Temple, it was impressive. The structure perched on a hill made it even more so. Culturally, physically, and religiously, it was the center of the Israelite city.  We are often amazed and awed by impressive architecture. If you’ve ever…

  • You Stink!

    You Stink!

    Do you smell like life or death? It depends.

  • Good Bad Stuff

    Good Bad Stuff

    Jeremiah’s complaint is that he was faithful and a good steward, and yet nothing good is returned.

  • I Hate You

    I Hate You

    Luke 14:25–35; 1 John 3:14–18 So, who do YOU hate? Your mom, dad, husband, wife, significant other, son, daughter, brother, sister, cousin, aunt, uncle…Really, who do you hate? Trump, Clinton, Bin Laden, and many others have been (or are) hated. It could be because of politics. It could be because they murdered people. It might…

  • Clothed in Rags

    Clothed in Rags

    Psalm 94; Luke 6:27–36; 1 Corinthians 4:9–13 Bless your enemies. Except “bless” means something more than just be nice or even help them. “Bless” means to ask for God’s divine favor to come on them. We all want blessings, but we are being called to ask for God’s blessings for those who make our lives…

  • Cause and Effect

    Cause and Effect

    1 Kings 16:29–33; 1 Kings 17:1–5; 1 Kings 18:10–18 Ahab blamed Elijah for the ongoing drought in Israel. Or, at least he could blame Elijah for the drought. Ahab knew that Elijah had declared that no rain would fall on Israel. Sounds like a pretty good reason to blame Elijah. Except, the real reason was…