“But Moses said, ‘The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, “I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month!” Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, and be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together […]
“Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out.” Numbers 9:22 This verse is reminiscent of Moses’ words to the Lord that if His […]
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” Ephesians 6:10 So often, strength in our world is associated with defiance, stubbornness, harshness, a refusal to bow. A determined state that will not bend to another. It can appear entirely contrary to the characteristics to which followers of Christ are called: […]
“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall […]
“And he said to them, ‘Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 Life isn’t about stuff. This is an easy statement to make, and perhaps an easy concept to grasp and verbally agree to, but how often do […]
“As [Jesus] said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” Luke 11:27-28 There is intentionality here, in following […]
“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20 When God begins moving in our lives, working through us and calling us to things greater than our own strength and abilities, we can find our focus shifting to those things. […]
“When the days drew near for [Jesus] to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And […]
“The LORD is your keeper” Psalm 121:5a The Lord God, the Most High, is my keeper. And He is a faithful one. Ever-watchful. Constantly aware and active. His goodness and mercy pursue me all the days of my life – days written in His book before even one of them came to be (Psalm 23:6; […]
“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.” Psalm 120:1 So often when I read verses like the one above, I frame it in a mindset of distress caused by outside circumstances. Whether brought on or worsened by our own bad choices or through no fault of our own. But this […]
In Pleasant Places 