Here in Joshua 11 there are three things I wanted to focus on for just a moment. The first is that we see in the first few verses that Israel’s enemies banded together to defeat them. It didn’t matter what their differences were, they knew that Israel had defeated every enemy they faced, so if they…
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In our chapters from Psalms today, I’m reminded of how forgetful we are. Nowadays, one of my favorite apps is Evernote, when I remember to use it. Here’s an example of how it’s helped me. Sometime last year one of the headlights on my car burned out, so I went to my local auto parts…
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I’m sure you remember how much the Jews in Jerusalem hated Paul. How the wanted him killed and how they lied about him. Did you notice something surprising in today’s reading about the leaders here in Malta? In verse 21 we read, “The leaders replied, ‘“No one from Judea has written us a letter about…
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Today’s three chapters sort of run the gamut from praising God in times of joy and pouring out one’s heart in times of trial. As I record this episode on January 8, 2015 at about 8 o’clock in the evening, I just found out a few minutes ago that the wonderfully talented Gospel songwriter and…
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When we last left Paul, he was on trial before Festus and Agrippa, when he appealed to Caesar. So now, he is being shipped off to Rome, the capital of the empire, where Caesar was located. What I want to look at in today’s chapter is how Paul encouraged the men onboard the ship when…
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How many times have I made the same mistake as the leaders of Israel made in this chapter? I have a decision to make, and I rely on my own “wisdom and intelligence” to gather what I think is the appropriate information to make the right call, and everything blows up in my face because…
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The last time we read from Psalms, I told you that I really enjoyed reading Psalms of praise. It brings me great joy to read and participate in praising and worshipping God. And that’s a good thing, because if Scripture is any indication, and I think it is, we’re going to be spending a lot…
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In his opening statement, Paul establishes his credentials to Agrippa, and everyone else listening. Agrippa was a convert to Judaism, and who therefor knew better than most other Roman authorities the Jewish laws and customs. Paul explains that not only is he a Jew, but that he is a highly educated Jew from a sect…
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As we begin a brand new year, I think it appropriate that we focus today on the first part of the opening sentence of Joshua 8. It says, “Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged.’” Do you remember what happened in the last chapter? Unbeknownst to Joshua, there was sin…
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I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but get excited when I read chapters like these. Psalm 93 declares that God is king, then proceeds to illustrate in great, majestic language how this is true. Psalm 94 opens by referring to Him as the God of vengeance. This is an interesting word. I…
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