Many years ago, I heard a preacher say, Jewish Rabbis actually claim Keturah is Hagar. The romantic in me absolutely loves this idea. Hagar was forced out, but after Sarah dies, Abraham goes looking for her and brings her back into his life. While this notion would make a great Hallmark movie, does it have a Biblical truth? Let’s explore…First, the verse where we are introduced to Keturah is Genes...  Read More

From Monday’s reading this week, we read the beginning of the story of Sarai, Abram, and Hagar. You don’t need a soap opera for love triangles - just read the OT!It all begins because Sarai is childless. She believes God’s promise about Abram having countless descendants, but she doesn’t trust God to bring about the promise. As a result, Sarai intervenes:Genesis 16:2 KJVAnd Sarai said unto Abram, ...  Read More

Life has 7 characteristics:1. Cellular organization2. Growth and development3. Energy use4. Homeostasis5. Response to environment6. Ability to adapt7. Ability to reproduceThe last ability is one God has given us strict instruction on:Genesis 1:28 KJV[28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish ...  Read More

While listening to “Isaiah Song” during a run, the line “you who are empty I AM the well” rang in my ears. Our Pastors study of faith began running through my spirit, and then I thought that we are given a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 - For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, acco...  Read More

John 11:44 KJVAnd he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.If we get ourselves bound up with the things of this world, it only takes the voice of Jesus to make us free. He can command we are loosed and let go, but that’s not the end of the story.Once we’re free, it’s our choice w...  Read More

1 Samuel 8:1,3 KJV[1] And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. [3] And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.No child of God is perfect. Samuel placed his sons in his office when they were not fit for ministry. David served the Philistines, committed adultery, and ordered the killing of a fa...  Read More

Judges 7:6 KJVAnd the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.In the book of Judges, God takes Gideon’s army from 22,000 to 10,000 to 300. Now to the logical mind this makes no sense. You would always want more fighting men not less when you go to war, but with God, less is more...  Read More

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJVTherefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.Taking something old and making it like new again is a process. It requires time, effort, money, and a lot of sweat. As humans, we restore things: cars, furniture, houses, etc. But only God can restore humanity.When we accept Jesus as our savior he begins a w...  Read More

The Lord gives a parable in Matthew 25 about wise and foolish virgins. Some were ready for their husband to come and take them away and had all the necessary supplies. Others were not prepared and when they bridegroom came, they missed out.We must always be prepared for the Lord’s coming and live our lives with the excitement that this could be the day! This parable draws the line between those ea...  Read More

Nehemiah 8:14And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:Imagine you’re learning to play a new game. Would you want to know the rules before starting or would you leave the rules in the box and only reference them when there’s a dispute?The word of God is our rule book for life. Sadly,...  Read More

The Goodness of God1 Chronicles 17:26 KJVAnd now, Lord, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:God is good. God is faithful. He came to bring good tidings, bind the broken-hearted, preach liberty to the captives, break the chains of those that are bound, comfort the sorrowful (Isa. 61:1-2).He is faithful in every situation we face. We must always trust Him, and when we do, ...  Read More

Power in that NameActs 4:10 KJVBe it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.Peter and John healed a crippled man by speaking the name of Jesus. The power in His name cannot be overstated. When the name of Jesus is uttered:⁃ The devils t...  Read More