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Through It All…

Today’s readings are Esther 1-2, Psalm 139, and Revelation 1.

Have you ever read the book of Esther or even if you have, has it been a while?

I would encourage you to read it or read it again. With many stories from the Bible being made into movies in recent years, I’m surprised this has not been done yet with the book of Esther. When you hear people say the Bible is boring, it is clear they have not read much of because books like Esther could be a best seller in and of itself or made into a hit movie.

I don’t want to give away the entire book of Esther as a part of my post, but you can read today where we learn of some of the key events already..

  • King Ahasuerus of Persia/ Babylon removes Queen Vasthi from her role for lack of respect
  • Both of Esther’s parents pass away
  • Mordecai, a Jewish captive in Babylon, agrees to raise and look out for Esther who was his uncle’s daughter
  • Esther rises to become Queen while keeping hidden her Jewish lineage
  • Mordecai overhears of a plot to kill King Ahasuerus and because Esther had risen to Queen, he is able to tell her to save King Ahasuerus’ life

Some of these bullet points are easy to breeze by here, and even while reading it in your Bible, but take a few moments to think about the following…

  • The pain Esther must have felt losing her parents at a young age wondering what the future would bring and possibly for while who would care for her
  • Being in Mordecai’s shoes and all the sudden you have the responsibility of taking care of girl who is not yours which you probably never planned on
  • The drama of Esther keeping hidden her Jewish lineage while rising to Queen and wondering if discovery would lead to her not attaining or losing her role as Queen, but also if it could also mean death
  • Mordecai wondering the validity and seriousness of what he had heard and if it should be told which could also put his life at risk from those who were already willing to kill the king…especially if it wasn’t believed or not able to be proven to be true
  • No recognition or “atta boy’s” for Mordecai saving the King’s life by foiling the plot to kill him

This is just the beginning in Esther.

As you read these chapters in Esther and the entire book, reflect on God’s continued protection for His Jewish people through these events which lead to the birth our Savior Jesus and how He still is protecting them today thousands of years later so what we read in Revelation will occur.

Finally, overlay the events of my above highlights and the rest of the book of Esther with your life and also Psalm 139.  How can you relate with what you have experienced? Could God have things planned after and through a challenging and even terrible situation which you have no idea about? (Ephesians 3:20)

He is there through it all. He always has been and always will be.

Continue reading Through It All…

The Middle East

Today’s Readings: Zechariah 9-11; 1 John 5

Zechariah 9–11 contains prophecies that address themes of judgment, deliverance, and the role of leadership. These chapters speak of God’s sovereignty over nations, His protection of His people, and the consequences of rejecting His divine leadership. These themes resonate deeply with the turmoil in the Middle East today.

In Zechariah 9, God declares judgment on oppressive nations and promises deliverance for His people. Verses 9-10 foretell the coming of a King who will bring peace, a prophecy foretelling the coming of Jesus. Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, this points to the need for a true, lasting peace—one that transcends political negotiations and stems from spiritual reconciliation.

Zechariah 10 emphasizes God’s restoration of His people. It highlights the failure of human leaders (“shepherds”) and God’s intervention to regather and strengthen His people. In today’s context, the instability and leadership crises across the region echo the need for divine intervention. It reminds believers to pray for God’s guidance and restoration for all who are affected.

Zechariah 11 warns of rejecting the true shepherd. It speaks of betrayal and the consequences of rejecting God’s chosen leader. This resonates with the ongoing rejection of Christ by many and the broader struggles for spiritual truth in a region marked by religious conflict.

These chapters remind us that human solutions to the Middle East’s strife will fall short without God’s peace. They call for prayer, a return to God’s sovereignty, and the hope of restoration through Christ, the ultimate Shepherd and King.

Written with the assistance of ChatGPT

Love is a verb.

This summer, my father-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Keever, and I discussed faith. Although this can be a touchy subject with family members, Chuck has known me for nearly 25 years. He’s heard me preach God’s word and pray over many meals, and most importantly, he has a close view of how I live. In turn, I have insights into how he lives and I knew it to be true when he said “I try to do what The Good Book says”.

Chuck is a giver. He loves to give to his family and friends as well as bless those who are less fortunate. He’s a gifted dentist (now retired) and one of my favorite chefs. The beauty of the combination of dentist-chef is that he utilizes science and art to curate amazing foods such as briskets, breads, dips, and meats. If it once moved slowly, he’ll grill it or smoke it and it will always be good – and you’ll always have enough, even if you’re a random guest in his home.

In short, Chuck shows his love for others by giving to them.

What then does the “Good Book” (The Bible) say to Chuck and the rest of us?

Today’s assigned reading includes 1 John 4. Within this chapter, there is a section titled “God Is Love” (verses 7-21) where we find the word love twenty-seven times (twenty-nine if you count “beloved”). Here are some of the things these verses teach us about love:

  1. To love one another, that love is from God, and that those who love have been born of God and they know God. (v7)
  2. That if we do not love, we do not know God. (v8)
  3. That God is love. (v8)
  4. That God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world to give us life. (v9)
  5. God loved us first (even if we don’t love him, he still loves us). (v10)
  6. Since God loves us, we should love each other. (v11)
  7. As we love others, God in turn lives in us, and his love is expressed in us. (v12)
  8. God’s perfect love eliminates fear. Fear relates to punishment yet we need not fear when we are abiding in God’s perfect love through Jesus Christ. (v17-18)
  9. If we say we love God, we must love others (if we hate others, we then show we do not love God). (v20-21)

These verses help us understand why we exist on this planet. To know God and have a relationship with Him, to experience His love through Jesus, to love Him back, and to share His love with others, so that we can spend eternity with Him.

Dear readers, upon the publishing of today’s post, Chuck will be undergoing major surgery so this is a call to prayer in this serious situation. Will you please pray with me?

Father God, thank you for loving us, for showing your love through your servant Charles as we lift him up to you in this moment. Guide the hands of the medical staff, and grant them wisdom and courage. Strengthen Chuck’s body so that it can undergo the necessary procedures. Please comfort and give peace to his family and friends as they surround Chuck from near and far. We ask for miraculous results and full healing, beyond our own understanding, for your glory. We pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Zech 2-5, Psalm 93, 1 John 3

How do you define accountability?  As I child, I defined it as a yard-stick.   A swift, thwack agains the back of my legs got my attention quickly.  I never liked it, but I always needed it.  I still need it now, as an adult.  It was true in Bible times too.  Throughout 1 John, the apostle John is exercising his responsibility to hold Christians accountable.  When you examine it you will see three distinct components.  A reminder of who Jesus is, how we react to that understanding and finally, why it matters.

I John starts with a reminder of who Jesus is.  If you haven’t noticed, its easy to get mixed up about Jesus.  That is as true today as it was 2,000 years ago when John wrote this book.  People everywhere were questioning Jesus’ divinity.  After all, how is it possible to be human and God?  Our faith is easily sidetracked with such questions.  Many of us already have. For example, it is far easier to believe that Jesus was just a “good guy” than it is to believe he is God.  In 1 John, John rebutts these falsehoods with a strong message of truth.  He reminds us that Jesus was, in fact, “from the beginning,” meaning that he was with God before all of creation.  He also points to evidence of his humanity, recalling that they saw him personally and were able to touch him physically (John 20:27).  These reminders of truth hole us accountable to the core truth’s of Jesus. 

As we recall his perfect nature, John begins to encourage us to act accordingly.  The behavioral change John is talking about starts with our heart which is justified through Jesus’ sacrifice. This starts by remembering our need for forgiveness and salvation,  behavioral change will follow. 

God fills our renewed hearts with His love and goodness.  Out of this river, flows righteousness and good deeds.

In conclusion, John encourages us to be confident.  Not just for eternal life, but for true life.  Right here on earth.  God cares about our struggles.  He wants to intercede.  He will intercede.  Sometimes, we just need a reminded.

Don’t Give Up On Joy

Today’s Reading: Ezra 3-4, Psalm 92, 1 John 1

Oh, to have abundant joy. As I reflected on my current state of joy I came across three points shared by David Jeremiah about joy written through John. John writes to us today in 1 John 1 about our joy. I can tell you there have been times when this joy has been lost. This loss of joy is my fault. When I forfeit this joy, John will say it’s based on a few things.

  1. Deny the power of sin (1:5-7). We often claim one thing with our words, yet our actions show something else. Thankfully, walking with God continually cleanses us from our sins.  When we are cleansed from the guilt of this sin, we can once again have this fullness of joy in Him.
  2. Deny the presence of sin. (1:8-9) The cure for sin is not denying our sin but relying on the faithfulness of God to forgive us based on Christ’s death on the cross. To confess our sins and remain in fellowship with God is the way to maintain the joy of salvation.
  3. Deny the practice of sin. (1:10-2:2) The person that denies they have sin is probably sinning. This can cost us our joy and cause us to lose that restoration with our Heavenly Father.

If you are losing your joy in your Christian life, examine these 3 points. Maybe it’s time to reconnect with the source of all joy, and your spirit can be restored.

Take some time right now to find that joy.

Peace & Joy!

 

Come Together

Today’s Reading: Ezra 1-2: John 21

Advent is here! I am so excited to start the season of advent. At the beginning of last week I was a little bit sad and down, but with the change into December and the change in the temperature I’m getting excited about Advent and Christmas.  

I’ve got lights hung up outside. The front yard and the backyard are illuminated for the early evenings. I got the tree up with lights and the house is warm with the smell of coziness.  Jillian has set up the house with the beautiful decorations. We have started setting up the calendar for the world wind of weeks that we will have coming up soon. But we are excited about the coming together of family and friends and Christ.

In these two passages, we are gathering people. In Ezra chapter 1 and 2, King Cyrus is actually bringing the entire nation of Judah and Israel together to rebuild the nation and the Temple. This is the Exodus from Babylon. This is a celebration that was foretold several centuries before . In some of the previous blogs we have mentioned about the protection and provision that God has for us in Babylon. After we come out of Babylon, God has something amazing for us.

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—this fulfilled the Message of God preached by Jeremiah—God prodded Cyrus king of Persia to make an official announcement throughout his kingdom. He wrote it out as follows: From Cyrus king of Persia, a Proclamation: God, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has also assigned me to build him a Temple of worship in Jerusalem, Judah. Who among you belongs to his people? God be with you! Go to Jerusalem which is in Judah and build The Temple of God, the God of Israel, Jerusalem’s God. Those who stay behind, wherever they happen to live, will support them with silver, gold, tools, and pack animals, along with Freewill-Offerings for The Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭MSG‬‬

In the 21st chapter of John, Christ is meeting the disciples for the last time. Christ is making breakfast. Can’t you imagine that you have just finished up a long shift at work and you are tired.  You come home and when you walk in,  your special person is making your favorite breakfast.  Jesus is bringing the disciples together for a final meal.  This is the last breakfast.  In Advent, Jesus is bringing us together to celebrate each other.  Isn’t that what Advent for?  Bringing people together and restarting relationships.  

“Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.”

‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭12‬ ‭MSG‬‬

King Cyrus brought together 42,360 people together. Jesus brought together 7 people together for breakfast.  How many people will you bring together this season?  You can call someone or a group to share coffee or stories.  You can bring a drink or treat to your friend.  You can pay ahead for the person behind you in line.  Just start the process of opening up the season of togetherness.  

Be blessed 

Statement of Faith

Daniel 10-12, John 20

What you believe matters.  In fact, your beliefs shape your actions.  If, for example, you believe that airplanes crash, you probably wont fly on one. If, on the other hand, you believe that its safter to fly than ride in a car, you’ll choose too fly.  From this example, it’s easy to see that not everything we believe is true.  Thankfully, we can change our beliefs.

Statements of affirmation are one way to shape our beliefs, but we have to be careful.  Scripture is the guide that puts our beliefs and affirmations to the test.  In fact, the entire book of John was written for that purpose.  John says so himself, “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

I believe that He died for my sins and rose on the 3rd day.

I believe that I am forgiven and redeemed through his sacrifice

I believe that I have true life, because of him.

What do you believe?

Thankful – Today and Every Day…

Today’s readings are Daniel 7-9, Psalm 91, and John 19.

Earlier this week our 7-year-old son began asking me questions about questions about Thanksgiving. He was somewhat confused because he realized it wasn’t necessarily a holiday in the Bible or celebrated by only Christians. He was asking who people are really thanking. I explained to him that as Christians we believe all that we have is given to us by God, so we are thanking God for His blessings. For this reason I’ve always loved Thanksgiving and rank it right up there with Christmas and Easter even though it isn’t officially a Christian holiday. As for non-Christians, I was having a hard time explaining it to him because it’s hard for me to even comprehend…I told him I guess they are just thankful. But as believers James 1:17 says it best..

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

And there is no gift we should be more thankful to God for than for Him giving His Son Jesus up on the cross as we read about in John 19. He turned the worst event and biggest injustice in the history of mankind, the only truly innocent man ever who never sinned suffering and dying a horrible death on the cross, into the greatest event in the history of mankind by using it for the forgiveness of each and everyone of our sins. It is truly hard to fathom how thankful we should be on this day and every day for this gift of mercy He gave us.

Jesus said in John 19:30, “It is finished.”

Titus 3:5 says, “he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy…”

Regardless of whatever challenges and hardships we are facing, this is something all Christ followers can reflect on and be thankful for today and every day. Our eternal salvation and life in Heaven is secure not through our doing, but only through His incredible grace on the cross.

 

God’s Covenant with Israel

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 46-48; John 16

Ezekiel 48 provides a compelling theological basis for Israel’s right to the West Bank, a region historically and biblically central to the Jewish people. This chapter outlines the division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel, reaffirming God’s covenantal promise of specific geographic territories to His chosen people. Ezekiel 48’s prophecy directly supports Israel’s right to the land, including the West Bank.

The West Bank, referred to in the Bible as Judea and Samaria, is at the heart of Israel’s biblical heritage. Ezekiel 48’s detailed land allocations connect these areas to tribes such as Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim, demonstrating that the West Bank is not only part of Israel’s prophetic inheritance but also a vital part of its historical and spiritual identity. The chapter’s vision ties Israel’s future restoration to the re-establishment of these territories under Jewish sovereignty.

Ezekiel’s prophecy also underscores the permanency of God’s covenant. The land was promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a promise repeated throughout Scripture and reaffirmed in Ezekiel’s vision of restoration. This divine guarantee transcends political disputes, emphasizing that the land, including the West Bank, is integral to Israel’s God-ordained destiny.

Moreover, Ezekiel 48 envisions a time of unity and peace when the tribes are restored to their rightful inheritance. The Jewish return to the West Bank, which began with their re-establishment in 1948, reflects the unfolding of this prophecy, signaling a return to God’s original design for the land.

In conclusion, Ezekiel 48 supports Israel’s claim to the West Bank by affirming its status as part of the divinely allocated land. The chapter underscores the spiritual and historical legitimacy of Israel’s presence in this contested region, framing it not as a matter of politics, but as the fulfillment of God’s eternal promise.

Written with the assistance of ChatGPT

Thriving Under Good Leadership: Lessons from the Vine

Have you recently experienced poor customer service where the employee didn’t know how to perform their job successfully? Or maybe where you work, are there employees who “just don’t get it”? This is referring more toward lack of skill as opposed to lack of will.

Early in my career, I was a lot more judgmental about poor-performing employees, such as “They are no good, so they should be fired.” My mindset has since shifted to seek the deeper cause of poor performance, and usually, the root cause is more about bad leadership. People tend to thrive under good leadership and wither away under bad leadership. More deeply, we tend to become more like the leaders we follow.

Jesus said it best:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (John 15:4)

This is about following and submitting to his leadership. His commands. His will. It is about true life, not a moment here and there, not just Sunday mornings where we are all so spiritual, but every waking moment, drawing nearer to him.

I love this thought by John Mark Comer from “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry”, referring to abiding in Jesus:

It’s a way to organize all of your life around the practice of the presence of God, to work and rest and play and eat and drink and hang out with your friends and run errands and catch up on the news, all about of a place of deep, loving enjoyment of the Father’s company.

What will we choose today and for the rest of our days? Will it be to follow our own instincts, the ways of the world, or the latest popular thought around success and happiness? Or will it be to live a fruitful and transformative life marked by obedience to Jesus and a love for others?

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:10-11)