Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” C. H. Spurgeon comments on this passage (Morning and Evening): “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12 The word “hitherto” seems like a hand pointing in the direction of … More Looking back and ahead…He is our Helper!
Have you ever sung Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing and wondered about the second verse of the song which begins with these words: “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” Here I raise my Ebenezer;Here by Thy great help I’ve come;And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,Safely to arrive at home. So what comes to your mind when … More Ebenezer…. who? what?
So look for statements about God’s promises as we read these verses [2 Cor 1:17-22] Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has … More God’s Promises
Coty Pinckney on Mark 10:13-16, “Childlike Faith, Childlike Giving” Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all.” “Like a child.” What does He mean? Does He mean: (1) Children are perfect? If you believe that, I … More Receiving the Kingdom Like a Child
We read today about God’s sovereignty over Dagon, the Philistines’ god,(1 Samuel 5) and how it kept “falling in submission” to the One, True God Almighty. And we also read in Psalm 96: For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of … More The God of the Psalms lays claim on the allegiance of every people.
I find in 1 Samuel 5 an example of God’s humor. The people of Israel were using the Ark of the Covenant like a good-luck charm, taking it to battle with them. Their enemies,the Philistines, ended up slaughtering them and capturing the Ark. They place it in their temple before their god, Dagon. … More A funny story, but no laughing matter
Pastor Coty Pinckney asks: Does prayer really do anything? Does prayer get results? If you ask me to pray for you – and I don’t do it – are you worse off? Many people have one of two unbiblical views of prayer: First, the Star Wars view: Prayer is a force to be channeled. … More Does prayer really do anything?
Pastor Kim Riddlebarger, at the Riddleblog: Mark 9:35-37 And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my … More Status or service?
And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. 2 “There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. As we begin our readings of 1 & 2 Samuel this month, … More Seeing God in our pain
April 10, 2009 Blog by: John Piper CHRISTIAN: Hello, Death, my old enemy. My old slave-master. Have you come to talk to me again? To frighten me? I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened. Let me ask you … More A Conversation with Death on Good Friday
