My Prayer at This Time of the Year

This morning, someone close to me reached out to share what has been weighing them down. They’re living in a space of tension and have come to realize they can’t keep carrying it the same way. At its core, they’re in a phase of life focused on paying the bills and surviving day-to-day, yet feeling disconnected from the things that bring joy and a sense of purpose.

The struggle is about staying true to oneself; answering a God-given calling to create and to contribute something meaningful to the world, while also grappling with the realities of consistency and financial security. There’s an understanding of what money provides, but also an ongoing wrestling with what it costs.

This isn’t a unique struggle, though it is deeply personal.

There’s value in wrestling with these questions. It can lead to greater self-awareness: understanding who you are, how God has wired you, and what truly matters to you. At the same time, knowing

A Lesson In Discernment

What makes something good for one person and bad for another? How do we know which path to take when we're at a fork in the road? I think these are the nuanced situations where we find ourselves relying on spiritual discernment to figure out our next move.

Discernment is knowing who to listen to. The word discern, and its derivatives are translations of the Greek word anakrino in the New Testament. It means "to distinguish, to separate out by diligent

A Prayer for Gripping Times

Dear Lord;
Lord, right now, it seems as if we are living in gripping times. We are bombarded on every side by news cycles providing information couched in dire circumstances - a virus running rampant, living longer than anyone anticipated, and a mounting death toll. I think sometimes we don't know what to do with all of this information, and we are overwhelmed.

But your Word reminds us that when we are overwhelmed, as we call out to You, You will lead us to the Rock that is higher than us (Psalm 62:1). A rock that is sturdy and secure in these changing times. A Rock that is You.

Deeper Intimacy

What do you think of when you think of intimacy? When you feel an intimate connection with someone, you experience:

Connection
Knowing
Good feelings
Comfort
Safety

Usually, we feel this kind of intimacy with a significant other – our partner, our parents, close friends, and sometimes our children (when they are grown). But, is it possible to have these feelings with a sovereign divine God? I would say yes.

Ezra Bible Study - Used: The Power of God

At the end of  Ezra 6, it was a time of joyful celebration. We see the first wave of exiles celebrating with joy all that God had done through them.

More than 50 years elapsed between the end of chapter 6 and the beginning of Ezra 7. During this timeframe, the events in Esther take place. The events in the book of Esther occurred from 483 BC to 473 BC, during the first half of the reign of King Xerxes, who chose Esther as his Queen. During this time, the first remnant of Jews who had returned to Judah struggled to reestablish temple worship according to the Law of Moses. But Esther and Mordecai, along with many other Jews, had chosen not to make the trek back to Judah. They seemed content to stay in Susa, the capital city of Persia, in which the story is set (Source: insight.org).  The sovereignty and faithfulness of God permeated each scene in the book of Esther; this pattern continues in the book of Ezra.