The devil has two favourite haunts, two places he likes to pay us a visit: gardens, and deserts.
Gardens are places of beauty and ease. There is abundant food, shade, birdsong. A garden is a taste of paradise. We are in a garden when our lives are pitch-perfect: great job, great marriage, close to God.
Read More devil, testingJesus comes to the Jordan River where two events occur that mark the beginning of his public ministry. First, Jesus is baptized. Given John’s vocal teaching of repentance and baptism, why did Jesus submit to a baptism of repentance? He was sinless. Secondly, why did the Holy Spirit come down to him like a dove during his baptism only to then whisk him “right away,” as Mark puts it, into the desert where Satan tested him for 40 days?
Read More anointing, testing, SatanThe devil has two favourite haunts, two places he likes to pay us a visit: gardens and deserts.
Gardens are places of beauty and ease. There is abundant food, shade, birdsong. A garden is a taste of paradise. We are in a garden when our lives are pitch-perfect: great job, great marriage, close to God.
Read More devil, testing
Whenever I read this story, I feel sorry for Saul.
He is in the early stages of leadership, is getting the army established when his son Jonathan wins a skirmish with their old enemies the Philistines that leads to a declaration of war.
Israel was vastly outnumbered militarily and the people “had so much confidence in their army” that many went into hiding, some even fled to the east of Jordan!
Read More testing, leadership
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by life circumstances and wondered, “Why is this happening to me?” Recent events have shocked you. Chronic conditions are not resolved. Stress and tension have pressed in on you. The circumstances of life afford us unparalleled opportunities to trust God.
Read More wisdom, testing, trial, temptation
A major automobile company reached the pinnacle of success, more cars being sold worldwide than any other manufacturer, and then suddenly a catastrophe. What happened? They cheated. Smart, but not wise, people in the company figured out a way for the car to register compliance with government exhaust emission standards when in fact the car was not in compliance.
Read More testing, integrity, loyalty