This week’s piece of armor is the helmet of salvation. Head injuries can be fatal, so when soldiers go into battle, a helmet protects their head and their brain, which is the powerhouse of the whole body. Once the devil gets a hold on our minds, our thoughts, and manipulates
“And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.” – Nehemiah 12:43 In Christ, not only are we grafted in as daughters of the King, but
Recently I found myself reading Matthew 26. If you’re familiar with that passage you know that before Jesus went to the cross, He went to a garden. And in that garden, He got on His knees and begged God to let the cup of suffering pass before Him. He begged
Imagine for a minute what it would have been like to have leprosy. You were an outcast of society. You had to live away from anyone who didn’t have the disease, so either alone or in a colony with others who had leprosy. You had to yell out “unclean”
Several years ago, I spent a 40-minute drive to my parents’ house instructing my American fiancé how to properly greet his Cuban soon-to-be father-in-law. I explained that my family kissed on the cheek, rather than just shaking hands. We forgo all the formality and fully embrace one another. Thankfully, Bruce
For almost two decades, I taught high school English and spent most of my day reading stories with teenagers. I created a handout for my students to learn the key elements of a great story. Together, we would analyze the plot, identify the key moments, and discuss what made the
The story of Ruth and Naomi is a treasure. I sometimes do not realize how hard it must have been for both of these women. Naomi lost her two sons and husband, and Ruth lost her husband. For women in that day, this meant that their family name and property
This passage of Scripture might be a familiar passage, recording when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. But maybe it’s new to you. Either way, there’s something about reading the Word of God with fresh eyes to see what God is saying through the Word. Just before this event, Jesus gave
Then you turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and covered me with joy. So now my heart will sing to you and not be silent; O Lord my God, I will always give thanks to you. – Psalm 30:11-12 Only God can turn wailing into dancing. Only
Every few years, I’ll start a Bible reading plan that takes me through the whole grand narrative of Scripture in a year. And I must confess, when I would reach passages where genealogies span over multiple verses, I used to be a bit disappointed in the day’s readings. “Oh it’s