Click Here for Today's Reading: Gen 28–30 | Prov 4:20–27 | Luke 10 Scripture: “Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth… and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” — Genesis 28:14 I was recently reading a book that listed several Old English words that have shifted in meaning over time. One of those old words appears in the King James Bible. I had read it countless times, but when I learned its true meaning, something clicked. What I had always assum

Click Here for today's reading: Gen 25–27 | Prov 4:10–19 | Luke 9 Scripture:   “When the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, ‘She is my sister.’ For he was afraid to say, ‘my wife,’ thinking, ‘The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, for she is a beautiful woman.’… So Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, ‘She is really your wife! Why did you say, “She is my sister”?’”  — Genesis 26:7–10, CSB Just as Abraham had twice claimed that Sarah was his sist

Click Here for Today's Reading: Gen 22–24 | Prov 4:1–9 | Luke 8 Scripture: “'This is from the Lord; we have no choice in the matter..’” — Genesis 24:50  (CSB) In Genesis 24, Abraham’s servant is given a sacred task—to find the wife God had chosen for Isaac. His journey leads him straight to Rebekah, and every detail unfolds exactly as he prayed. When the servant explains the purpose of his mission and ask for their blessing, Rebekah’s family responds with the wisest words an

Click here for today's reading: Gen 19–21 | Prov 3:11–20 | Luke 7 Scripture:  “But Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.” — Genesis 19:26 (CSB) When God rescued Lot’s family from Sodom, He gave them one clear command—don’t look back. But Lot’s wife, unable to release what was behind her, turned to look—and in that moment, her life ended. Her backward glance revealed a heart still tied to the past. While coaching my sons’ 8U baseball team, we constantly practice

Click Here for Today's Reading: Gen 16–18 | Prov 3:1–10 | Luke 6 Scripture: Is anything impossible for the Lord? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.”  - Genesis 18:14 (CSB) I’m reminded of a woman I worked with years ago who tried for years to match-make for her daughter, pushing her toward men she thought would be good husbands. None of them worked out. But when she finally stopped forcing it and waited, God brought the r

Click Here for Today's Reading: Gen 13–15 | Prov 2:9–22 | Luke 5 Scripture: “ 12  Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities on the plain and set up his tent near Sodom.” — Genesis 13:10–13 (CSB) When Abram looked, he saw with eyes of faith. When Lot looked, he saw with eyes of materialism. Lot saw the glitter of material wealth but failed to see the sin that came with it. Sin often promises wealth, comfort, and a “good time,” but none of it lasts. It bli

Click Here for Today's Reading: Gen 10–12 | Prov 2:1–8 | Luke 4 “From Noah’s three sons, He dispersed them abroad on the earth.” — Genesis 10 “…Shem… became the ancestor of Abram.” — Genesis 11:10 “Go… and I will bless you… and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” — Genesis 12:1–3 Last week I went and played golf with a friend. When we got to hole three, I sliced the ball so badly it flew into another fairway. I was way off.  So I did what golfers often d

Click Here for Today's Reading: Genesis 7–9 | Proverbs 1:17–33 | Luke 3 Genesis 7:1 (CSB) — “Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Enter the ark, you and all your household,’ for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.” Before the first drop of rain ever fell, God spoke the most comforting word Noah could have heard: “Enter the ark.” In the original language, the word means to "come". God did not say “Go into the ark.”  He invited him in.This means God

Today's Reading: Gen 4–6 | Prov 1:9–16 | Luke 2 Genesis matters because beginnings matter. When we misunderstand the foundation, everything built on top of it begins to lean. I still remember the first time I put on a long-sleeve button-down shirt by myself—white with light blue stripes and six buttons down the front. I proudly finished buttoning it, only to realize something was very wrong: one side hung lower than the other, and there was an empty buttonhole staring back at

Today's Reading: Gen 1–3 | Prov 1:1–8 | Luke 1 In Genesis 3:1–13 we see two scenes unfold: the fall of humanity  and the flight of humanity . 1. The Fall (vv. 1–7) In the first seven verses, Adam and Eve partake of the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—the very tree God commanded them not to touch. God had established clear boundaries for their good. Yet the tempter approached with a subtle but powerful appeal, offering them exactly what God had

"Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and he did not tell them anything without a parable," - Matthew 10:34 (CSB) PARABLE  — a short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or moral lesson; a figure of speech in which truth is illustrated by a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences. Parables are excellent tools that Jesus used during much of His teaching in order to teach His followers. My youth pastor taught

Let the whole earth shout to the Lord; be jubilant, shout for joy, and sing. - Psalm 98:4 (CSB) One day, every voice will join heaven and nature in singing that great hymn of Christmas, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” While often sung at Christmas, this hymn is based on Psalm 98. It is a triumphant song of victory, celebrating not only God’s past deliverance but also His future reign. This psalm points beyond the manger to the throne, reminding us that because of Christ

Scripture: “Look! I am about to send you grain, new wine, and fresh oil. You will be satiated with them…” — Joel 2:19 (CSB) In Joel 2:19, God doesn’t merely promise that His people will be satisfied—He promises they will be satiated. “Satisfied” means having enough, but “satiated” means being completely filled—full to the point of overflowing, with no lingering emptiness. It speaks of abundance, restoration, and a fullness only God can give. Think of Thanksgiving Day. We don

Scripture:  “Arise therefore, and build…” — 1 Chronicles 22:19 An elderly carpenter, eager to retire, agreed to build one final house at his employer’s request. But his heart wasn’t in it—he used poor materials and cut corners. When he finished, his employer handed him the keys. “This is your house,” he said. The carpenter was shocked! Had he known he was building his own home, he would have built it with better care. David understood the importance of building with purpose.

Scripture:   “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”  — Matthew 7:5 NASB If you’ve ever watched timber salvaging from the water you know the work can be intense. One of the most intense tasks is when the crews dive deep into murky water searching for massive logs sunken beneath the surface. They can’t see clearly, the water is dark, and everything gets distorted. But they still plunge beneath the sur

Scripture:   “I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers… I appeal to you for my son Onesimus.”  — Philemon 4, 10 Conflict is never pleasant, but in Christ it becomes purposeful. Paul’s letter to Philemon shows us that tension doesn’t have to end in division—it can become a doorway for grace. Instead of running from conflict or trying to overpower it, believers can see it as an opportunity to glorify God, serve others, and grow in Christlikeness. When handled with

Scripture: “How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?” — Romans 10:14 CSB Devotion: A small island community faced a devastating wildfire. That town had 80 warning signals installed—sirens intended to alert the people of danger. But when the fire approached, not a single alarm sounded. Someone knew the danger was coming, but the people didn’t. And because those who k

Revelation 14:6–7 — “Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim…” Katie and I were once sitting in the DFW airport, waiting at our gate well before our flight. Another plane was boarding beside us, and we listened as the attendant began calling the groups—first class, military, handicapped, then the rows one by one. Finally, she announced: “This is the final boarding call.”No one moved. The gate closed. Moments later, a family sprint

Theme:   Paul’s Final Greeting Observation As you study verses 23-25 make detailed observations in the following areas: Significant words Verb tenses Repetition Figures of speech Theological themes Context Progression of thought Historical and cultural references After completing your observations, summarize your findings in a devotional format. Include any insights or questions you may have for class discussion. Using your Bible dictionary , look up each individual mentioned

Theme:   Paul’s Confidence in Philemon's Decision Observation As you study verses 21-22 make detailed observations in the following areas: Significant words Verb tenses Repetition Figures of speech Theological themes Context Progression of thought Historical and cultural references After completing your observations, summarize your findings in a devotional format. Include any insights or questions you may have for class discussion. Paul gives Philemon a heads up that he inten