READ: JOSHUA 1:1-9; EPHESIANS 2:8-10 Joshua was given a monumental task. He was told to lead his people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River to their new home, the Promised Land. This happened directly after the death of Moses, the one who had led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the desert for forty [...]

In reading the narrative of David and Goliath, I noticed a small detail, and it got me thinking. The first seven verses of 1 Samuel 17 detail Goliath's very impressive appearance. Verse 5 mentions his bronze scale armor, which weighed more than one hundred pounds. Notice the word scale? That caught my attention. It reminded [...]

One of the most enduring tales of all time is the story of a wish granted. Whether it's the three wishes of a genie's lamp in "Aladdin," the ironic twists of "The Monkey's Paw," or just a discussion among friends, we love the possibility of getting something we want, a chance to make life better. [...]

The story of the Israelites' journey through the desert to the land God promised them is striking in many ways. One of my favorite parts is in Numbers 9:17, “Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people [...]

Some Bible stories are easy for me to relate to. When Simon Peter and his friends go fishing for a long period of time and catch nothing, I feel their pain. They most likely expected to catch a lot of fish but came up completely empty. Keep in mind these are professional fishermen who stayed [...]

Matthew 27 describes one of the most heart-wrenching episodes ever recorded. After hours of physical beating, the Son of God, the promised Messiah, is now on trial before Pilate. He is there because Judas, one of His disciples, has betrayed Him. The other disciples, some of whom declared their allegiance to Him only hours before, [...]

I have three observations about the people (and there are lots of them!) who we can read about in the Bible. In a span of over two thousand years, there are hundreds of people mentioned. Observation #1: There is someone like you somewhere in the pages of Scripture. There are young and old and in [...]

The Bible is filled with stories of individuals and groups who were displaced, either because they chose or were forced to live somewhere other than their original home. It began with Adam and Eve leaving the Garden of Eden, but it doesn't stop there. Abraham went to live in Canaan, a land where he knew [...]

My kindergarten teacher was fantastic, everything I could want as a nervous five-year-old. I can still picture the room and recall the moment I let go of my mom's hand and watched her walk away. Mrs. Lizama ushered me to a table and introduced me to a few other kids. The rest of the day [...]

If you search “famous last words,” you'll read the final thoughts of a variety of people throughout history—thoughts that range from sad to crass to funny to hopeful. Jesus has seven recorded statements from the cross, but His final statement summarizes His saving work: with His final breath, Jesus announces, “It is finished” (John 19:30). [...]