You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex 19:4-6). The descendants of Abraham had grown into a numerous people. By the hand of God, they would become the nation Israel . . . after He rescued them from bonda

The desert was an absolute mob scene. God had delivered a people from slavery just one month earlier, accompanied by many powerful and miraculous signs and wonder. But there was much grumbling going on nonetheless. This is what you get from a mob of hungry people: The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole comm

We are walking our way through God’s Grand Story, recalling those things He has prepared. And we’re still in Genesis. But such blessings are found there! Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided” (Gen 22:13-14). This has long bee

To the people of Israel “is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised. Amen.” (Rm 9:4-5) God called His servant Abraham out of Ur and promised him a son. Through His covenant, God would bring forth a nation from the familial line of Abraham. Through the seed of this one

There is a confidence that comes from knowing God is for you. Really and truly FOR you. That confidence helps you feel prepared for anything! One way to gain that confidence is taking in God’s divine promises. Hope was birthed in the promises of God and can be mined from the pages of His Word. The grace-filled promises held out for you there shed light on His love-brimming heart. God made a promise to the world’s first couple, and several others who followed. The blessed birt

I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you (Gen 17:7). From that first sin in Eden’s Garden, it spread like a raging wildfire. But God extended promise to man and further bound Himself by a series of subsequent covenants. Each covenant God made (beginning with Adam, then Noah, Abraham, Moses at Sinai, and King David) built upon e

In these opening advent days, we observed our cultural holiday preparations. Now we’ll turn to the biblical narrative to consider what God has prepared. Because to see the provisions of God—His goodness, glory, and grace—will add a robust Hallalujah! to our celebration of His Son. We’ll begin at the beginning, in Genesis. We’ll tour the magnificent doings of God down through history, of those things He prepared for the first advent-coming of His Messiah. And the Lord God plan

It was a year marked by significant changes . . . and an uncertain future. Normal was a foreign concept. But I was overly determined to keep things normal—to a fault. Especially when it came to Christmas. I tackled the monstrous job of decorating the home on my own (in a less-than admirable attitude). I bullishly wrestled bulging boxes. And launched the ladder to deck the roofline with lights (in absolute fear and stubborn pride). I wore myself out, concerned with outward app

In our advent journey so far, we’ve toured the inward components that need tending, to be prepared for Christmas this year. We looked at the importance of preparing our hearts and minds through prayer and the Word, so that we may worship and rest in Jesus. Now we’ll turn the conversation to outward matters. And there is no better place to begin than with our families. Now, I’m not talking about polishing up the outside. Or adorning the gang in new outfits for the perfect holi

From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah (Ps 3:8) Typically, December calendars are demanding. Ruthless, even. December has a tendency to bark merciless marching orders, at a grueling pace. But 2020 strikes again—seriously altering our calendars. Many traditional holiday activities and events have been cancelled this year. While that may have freed up some time, it has created other issues in its place. Issues that weigh us down and vie

Ponder, it’s a good word. It’s one that lingers long in my thoughts, before it crosses the threshold of my lips. It means to consider something deeply and thoroughly; to weigh carefully in the mind. A few of its synonyms are contemplate, meditate, deliberate, ruminate, evaluate, reflect, muse, mull. The verb form in the Greek, symballousa, is used only once in the New Testament. Luke 2:19 reads: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. It does ou

Ahhhh, the delicious smells of Christmas! I love them all. Homes are infused with a symphony of holiday aromas—evergreen and scented candles, pastries baking, or an ambient fire. But I especially love the warm, wafting aromas of giving and love. Paul instructed the Ephesians to walk in the way of love and pointed to Jesus as the example. His sacrifice was a fragrant offering to God. You have a fragrance to dispense, too. One prepared by God to share with the world. What is th

Some things need to be prepared from the inside, out. Like us, for Christmas. Before we prepare the first thing on the outside of ourselves, we would do well to first start on the inside. And the absolute, best way to do that is in prayer before God. We can commit ourselves wholeheartedly to Him and ask that He prepare us wholly—heart, mind, body, soul, and strength. Prayer will prepare our hearts, so we aren’t preoccupied, prevented from enjoying Him. Throughout the Christma