Forty years had passed, A second census was ordered by the LORD (26:2), only this time it was for a new generation to enter the Promised Land (plus Caleb and Joshua, 26:65). The gravity of unbelief had been enormous.
Lifequakes
The giant and grasshopper mentality of the Israelites brought Moses to his knees once again, pleading. God’s reputation was at stake: “If you put these people to death all at one time, the nations who have heard this report about you (that you are with these people, v.14) will say, ‘The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath; so he slaughtered them in the desert’” (14:14-16)
A Handbook for Pilgrims
The impossible had become possible. The Israelites escaped the tyranny of Egypt, crossed the Red Sea on dry land, feasted on manna and quail, were refreshed by water from a rock, and received the Ten Commandments along with instructions on how to live in God’s favor. And all this in thirteen months. They were at the brink of the Promised Land, ready to roll.
Everything Has a Purpose
I have seriously questioned the purpose of some things on earth.
Like termites. No one wants them. They will eat your house right down.
A Multiplication Lesson
Yesterday, a sweet friend presented me with a lovely figurine of a little hummingbird drinking from the throat of a tiny orange trumpet flower. I was transported back to a time several years before.
Time-Lapse
Have you ever watched a video that was filmed with time-lapse photography? My favorites to watch are those of blossoming flowers.
Are You A Vine-Ripened Christian or Hothouse Grown?
I like a good tomato.
As a child, I grew up on home-grown tomatoes (also known as vine-ripened) from Granny’s garden. Nothing compares.
Feed Faith, Starve Fear
Every spring a battle rages between grass and weeds. As a child I watched my dad care for our yard. The grass was still brown and dormant from the winter, but speckled with bright green patches of weeds.
Adopted!
Bishop Wahome of Kenya’s African Inland Church smiled while describing his newly adopted son. He learned of fostering and adoption through his time visiting in Texas. His joy and love for his newly adopted son reflects the joy God experienced when He adopted me as an eight-year-old little girl.
When God Reshapes my Heart
A biblical passage in the Old Testament triggers a somber memory: The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants…. (Deuteronomy 30:6a). I wince as I recall holding my newborn sons during their circumcisions. Those mental images confirm that circumcision of my heart will involve pain as God removes anything that prevents Him from claiming first place.
God is Able
Bits of my tattered prayer journal’s cover stick to my hands after holding it. The yellowed pages identify needs of those dearest to me. It also contains various prayers I turn to when my own words fail to express my heart.
Seeing God through His Creation
As I sorted boxes of my children’s artwork, I admired how their childhood imaginations defied rules of perspective and laws of nature. Time has since redirected their imaginations from free-form artwork to the demanding issues of adult problem-solving. However, a quote by Oswald Chamber recently challenged me to rekindle my own child-like imagination:
In Christ?
I occasionally wear my father’s WWII ID bracelet. He wore it as a pilot and, tragically, as a prisoner of war. When reading Paul’s words of Christians being “in” Christ, I glanced at the I.D. bracelet and reflected on Dad’s time “in” a guarded compound—a very different experience from being “in Christ.”
You Mad, Bro?
As “little Christs,” we are called to love others, but love does not mean allowing toxic influences to shape our lives. Proverbs 22:24-25 warns us about the dangers of close association with people who are ruled by anger. Their temper can become a snare, pulling us into patterns of frustration, bitterness, or even sin. That is why setting healthy boundaries is not just wise—it’s biblical.
Yoked
In rural Africa, farmers often guide yoked steers to market, their strength combined to pull heavy loads over long distances. These animals must be well-matched in size and strength, moving in unity under the farmer’s direction. If one steer pulls too fast or the other lags behind, the journey becomes difficult, and the load wobbles. But when they work together, guided by their master, they accomplish their purpose with far greater ease.
March Madness
Paul’s words in Philippians 4:9 remind us that faith is much the same. It’s not just about
knowing Scripture or listening to sermons; it’s about putting what we’ve learned into
action. Just as a basketball player must apply their training in real-game situations, we
are called to live out our faith in daily life—showing kindness, practicing patience, and
standing firm in truth.
Banana Bread
No one enjoys the sight of a brown, overripe banana. In addition to appearing wasteful,
the texture changes, and the smell and flavor become overwhelming. However, with
some more ingredients and a little creativity, that seemingly useless banana can
become something that brings joy and nourishment—banana bread.