Backwards Beatitudes

In Luke 6 Jesus preaches a very similar sermon. It may be the Sermon on the mount from a different man’s point of view, or Jesus preached this content more than once. In any case, there is something very interesting about Luke’s account. As with much of Luke’s gospel, there is an edge to Jesus’ [...]

Silver and Gold, Silver and Gold – #SoSSaturday

Silver and Gold, Silver and Gold - #SoSSaturday We will make for you ornaments of gold with beads of silver. - Song of Songs 1:11  The two most precious materials of ancient times–Gold and Silver. Thus the Shepherd King intends to deck out His maiden fair. Can you imagine how our girl feels when she [...]

You Can Take it With You!

Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12 As I come to the end of this beginning (the Beatitudes) I can’t help but notice once again the upside-down nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus tells us that the proper [...]

Psalm 91 – A Declaration

I’ve been going through the Psalms of late, and taking the truth contained in them and declaring it out loud (and in my journal) over myself and my loved ones. Today I came to Psalm 91, and as it always does, it blew me away. It became one long declaration for me this morning. I [...]

Cheeky! #SoSSaturday

“Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of beads.” - Song of Songs 1:10 As we look at the Shepherd King’s words toward our maiden fair we are going to see Him use dozens of word pictures. Last week we looked at an example of an image from nature, this week we see [...]

Getting Personal

Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Matthew 5:11 When I read this I think, didn’t we just talk about persecution, why is Jesus repeating Himself? Since Jesus is doing it again, I am drawn to the [...]

…Ready to Forgive…

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. - Psalm 86:5 Many see God in their mind's eye with a lightning bolt in His hand ready to strike down any who He finds in sin. We joke about it, don’t we? Someone says something [...]

A Promise for the Evangelist

Messiah Sighting I’ve long seen Psalm 85:10 as a reference to Jesus, and I love the picture it paints of our Lord. Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. - Psalm 85:10 John gives us this in His opening monolog, And the Word became flesh, … full of grace [...]

Really? A Horse? #SoSSaturday

I have compared you, my love, To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots. (Song of Songs 1:9 NKJV) This always reminds me of the scene in the movie A Knights Tale. William Thatcher is trying to woo the maiden Jocelyn and well sticks his hoof in his mouth. She asks him to speak beautiful words to [...]

But Christ Was Faithful!

but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. - Hebrews 3:6 I’ve been looking at Jesus standing before Pilate this morning. They engage in this astounding interchange. Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he [...]