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The Fantastic Tale Of Jonah
The story of Jonah is one of the most fantastic tales in the Bible. But could such a bizarre story really be true? Today on Discover the Word, the team will discuss whether Jonah was a historical person and whether his encounter with a great fish really took place. Was Jonah a real dude? Join the group […]
Right There with Us
She was completely focused on the top shelf, where the glass jars of spaghetti sauce sat. I’d been standing beside her in the grocery aisle for a minute or two eyeing that same shelf, trying to decide. But she seemed oblivious to my presence, lost in her own predicament. Now I have no problem with top shelves because I’m a fairly tall man. She, on the other hand, was not tall, not at all. I spoke up and offered to help. Startled, she said, “Goodness, I didn’t even see you standing there. Yes, please help me.”
The disciples had quite the…
The Spirit of Fika
The coffeehouse in the town near my house is named Fika. It’s a Swedish word meaning to take a break with coffee and a pastry, always with family, co-workers, or friends. I’m not Swedish, yet the spirit of fika describes one thing I love most about Jesus—His practice of taking a break to eat and relax with others.
Scholars say Jesus’s meals weren’t random. Theologian Mark Glanville calls them “the delightful ‘second course’” of Israel’s feasts and celebrations in the Old Testament. At the table, Jesus lived what God had intended Israel to be: “a center of joy, celebration and justice for…
He Holds Our Hand
The little girl who navigated the stairway one Sunday at church was cute, spunky, and independent. One by one the child—who appeared to be not much older than two years old—took the steps down to the lower level. Descending the stairs was her mission and she accomplished it. I smiled to myself as I pondered the daring independence of this courageous toddler. The child wasn’t afraid because she knew her caring mother’s watchful eye was always on her and her loving hand was extended to help her. This aptly pictures the Lord’s readiness to help His children as they make…
Seen by God
My first pair of eyeglasses opened my eyes to a bold world. I’m nearsighted, meaning objects close up are sharp and defined. Without my glasses, however, items across a room or in the distance are a blur. At age twelve, with my first pair of eyeglasses, I was shocked to see clearer words on blackboards, tiny leaves on trees and, perhaps most important, big smiles on faces.
As friends smiled back when I greeted them, I learned that to be seen was as great a gift as the blessing of seeing.
The slave Hagar realized that as she fled from her mistress…
All I Can See
Krista stood in the freezing cold on a winter day, looking at the beautiful snow-encased lighthouse along the lake. As she pulled out her phone to take pictures, her glasses fogged over. She couldn’t see a thing so she decided to point her camera toward the lighthouse and snapped three pictures at different angles. Looking at them later, she realized the camera had been set to take “selfies.” She laughed as she said, “My focus was me, me, and me. All I saw was me.” Krista’s photos got me thinking of a similar mistake: We can become so self-focused we…
Worshiping with Questions
It’s not uncommon during a long (or short!) trip for someone in a group of travelers to ask, “Are we there yet?” or “How much longer?” Who hasn’t heard these universal queries coming from the lips of children and adults eager to arrive at their destination? But people of all ages are also prone to ask similar questions when wearied because of life challenges that never seem to cease.
Such was the case with David in Psalm 13. Four times in two verses, David—who felt forgotten, forsaken, and defeated—lamented “How long?” “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long…
What Can’t You Give Up?
“What’s one thing you can’t give up?” the radio host asked. Listeners called in with some interesting answers. Some mentioned their families, including a husband who shared memories of a deceased wife. Others shared they can’t give up on their dreams, such as making a living in music or becoming a mother. All of us have something we treasure dearly—a person, a passion, a possession—something we can’t give up.
In the book of Hosea, God tells us that He won’t give up on His chosen people Israel, His treasured possession. As Israel’s loving husband, God provided her with everything she needed:…
Infinite Dimensions
I lay still on the vinyl-covered mat and held my breath on command as the machine whirred and clicked. I knew lots of folks had endured MRI’s, but for claustrophobic me, the experience required focused concentration on something—Someone—much bigger than myself.
In my mind, a phrase from Scripture (“how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,” Ephesians 3:18) moved in rhythm with the machine’s hum. In Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church, he described four dimensions to God’s love in order to stress the unending parameters of God’s love and presence.
My position while lying down for…
Difficult Choices And Following God
When you’re faced with a difficult choice it can be tough to be confident in choosing the way to go. Factor in wanting to be sure you’re following God and that can add another level of complexity. Today on Discover the Word we will conclude the series titled, “Standing at the Crossroads.” Join the group for a thought-provoking discussion […]
Actions Always Speak Louder Than Words
A picture may be worth a thousand words but actions will speak even louder! Today on Discover the Word, we will turn again to the book of Jeremiah to see how it’s not enough to simply choose a path when we’re “Standing at the Crossroads,” we actually have to start walking. Get challenged, today on Discover the Word!
Humbly Asking For Help And Trusting God
Have you ever been reluctant to ask for help? Maybe you thought you’d be a burden, so you held back. But can a refusal to seek assistance sometimes actually be rooted in a self-centered pride? Today on Discover the Word, the team looks to the prophet Jeremiah to see how humbly asking for help can be a way […]
Stepping Back To Look At The Big Picture
When you’re trying to make a tough decision, stepping back and looking at the big picture can often offer a fresh perspective! Today on Discover the Word, we continue our study based on the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah and discover an instance when Jeremiah was able to move forward by looking back. Join us today on Discover the […]
Making Godly Decisions While Standing At The Crossroads
We all have to make decisions. But when you find yourself “Standing at the Crossroads,” how do you determine which way to go? Today on Discover the Word, the group will kick off a new series about the prophet Jeremiah. They’re dissecting the ancient wisdom that helped him make godly decisions. Listen today on Discover the Word!
Yesterday
Security from Yesterday. “. . . God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.
