Could there be a more universal principle, both literally and figuratively? When you plant an apple seed, an apple tree will grow. And when you plant seeds of sin, sin will grow. You can plant seeds in your children—of self-discipline, forgiveness, and reverence, or of laziness, selfishness, and rebellion. You can also plant seeds inContinue reading “YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. Jeremiah 2:19.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
JESUS HEALS ADDICTION. Jeremiah 3:22
God used Jeremiah to confront Israel about its idolatry and unfaithfulness. The book prophecies destruction and judgment for 52 chapters. At one point, God reminds Israel of its own addictions, that the people are not faithful to God, but continue to be seduced by every new stranger or idol that comes along. God argues thatContinue reading “JESUS HEALS ADDICTION. Jeremiah 3:22”
THAT TIME WHEN TWO UNBORN CHILDREN GREETED EACH OTHER. Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15,44.
We love to think we control our lives. And God gives us free will. But God has plans. Plans that began before YOU began. Consider what God says about people BEFORE THEY WERE BORN: Pregnant Rebekah suffered as her baby kicked non-stop. God said they were twins, and HE ALREADY KNEW THE BOYS and hadContinue reading “THAT TIME WHEN TWO UNBORN CHILDREN GREETED EACH OTHER. Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15,44.”
Hydrate. Jeremiah 2:13.
There are fashions with words as with clothing. Buzzwords are in style today, but will sound old-fashioned tomorrow. There are so many buzzwords surrounding nutrition and exercise, including the pseudo-scientific verb, “hydrate.” “I need to hydrate.” –What an odd thing to say. Of course, you must drink or you will die. You may be ableContinue reading “Hydrate. Jeremiah 2:13.”
LIVING WATER. John 7:37-39.
Mom drug a sleeve across her forehead. Sweat dripped as she cooked. Everyone loved the Feast of Tabernacles—seven days of camping in shelters made of poles and branches. But this year it was so hot. Fall began last month, but summer ruled the dusty valley. The dry season was longer this year. Six months they’dContinue reading “LIVING WATER. John 7:37-39.”
JOEL: HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO ADVERSITY? Joel 2:12-13.
What do you do when trouble comes? Joel writes of desperate times: grapes, figs, pomegranates, dates, and apples are dried up, “indeed, human joy has dried up” 1:12. Then a Ninja-style army invades: “They scale walls, each goes on his own path. They dodge arrows, never stopping. They storm the city, run on the wall,Continue reading “JOEL: HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO ADVERSITY? Joel 2:12-13.”
Pass the Baton. Joel 1:3
Tell your children about the Lord, and let your children tell their children, and their children the next generation. Joel 1:3. This is your duty: to bring them up in the faith. Do you know how? Are you prepared? Are you studying? Do you know the Word? Can you defend the faith and answer theContinue reading “Pass the Baton. Joel 1:3”
REND YOUR HEARTS AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS. Joel 2:12-13.
I remember fighting with my brother as a small child. Mama stopped us from squabbling and insisted that we apologize to each other. We grumbled something. “Now say it again, and this time, say it like you mean it.” So we would apologize a second time, much more sweetly. We were learning a valuable lesson—oneContinue reading “REND YOUR HEARTS AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS. Joel 2:12-13.”
Do You Remember the Scarlet Thread? Habakkuk 2:4.
There is a scarlet thread running through the pages of scripture. The gospel, the story of the scarlet Blood of Christ, can be found in all sixty-six books of the Bible. I used to enjoy reading a book of my mother’s called WHAT THE BIBLE IS ALL ABOUT by Henrietta Mears. Today it remains theContinue reading “Do You Remember the Scarlet Thread? Habakkuk 2:4.”
YOUR ENEMY IS NOTHING. Habakkuk 1:8.
Throughout the Bible God uses the bad guys to correct the good guys. God uses Egypt to grow Israel. Babylonian captivity reproves Israel. The Philistines, Arameans, and Persians teach His people to obey. Habakkuk describes the terrifying Chaldeans: “Their horses are swifter than leopards and more fierce than wolves of the night. Their horsemen chargeContinue reading “YOUR ENEMY IS NOTHING. Habakkuk 1:8.”