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Perfect Timing
We’ve finished the Names of God 2024 study, and I’m sad to see it end. The discipline of studying His names, investigating the way He reveals His character through His names, has changed me. I’ll be doing something similar in 2025 – looking at His attributes. I won’t be following an organized list like I did in 2024, but I will be using a book to help me stay on track – Ann Voskamp’s Gifts and Gratitudes. It’s a gratitude journal that will force me to be specific and granular. By the end of the year, I’ll have recorded more than 1,000 things for which I’m grateful. The title of…
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The Tower of the Flock, Part 8 – The Flight to Egypt
The flight to Egypt Matthew 2:13-14 “Mary, love, wake up.” Joseph’s urgent whisper roused me from deep slumber. The kiss he brushed on my temple was both gentle and urgent. Opening my eyes, I was startled by the darkness. The star that stood over our home for two nights had gone dim. But Joseph’s apologetic smile reflected the moonlight streaming onto the roof. “You looked so peaceful. I’m sorry to wake you, but we must flee. I had a dream.” He stood and started putting his sandals on. “An angel told me to get up. He was adamant. Herod is searching for Jesus. To kill him.” I flew off our…
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The Tower of the Flock, Part 7 – Feroze’s Story
Feroze’s story Matthew 2:9-12 Shaking my head in disbelief, I stared at this ragtag cluster of lean-tos, huts, and shanties that comprised this little town of Bethlehem. Was it truly home to the King of the Jews? But as we hesitated, the light of the star grew in intensity, and it pulsed as if impatient for us to get moving. One look at my companions told me we were of one mind. We didn’t understand, but we were in the right place. No doubt about it. Ihsan had fallen to his knees in worship. “Ihsan,” I said. “Let’s go. You can worship at the feet of the King of Kings.”…
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I and the Father are One.
“Before Abraham was born, I AM” – John 8:58ff Jesus’ declaration is a challenge. It’s a WWE smackdown. He’s in a contentious dispute with the Pharisees–again. This particular argument concerns who their respective fathers are. Read John 8 for context. It always puts a smile on my face. They claim Abraham as their father and accuse Jesus of being illegitimate. In John 8:44, He tells them their father is the devil. That’s a scene I’d like the replay of when we get to heaven. Jesus is telling the Pharisees He is the I AM of the burning bush. That claim is utterly outrageous. It’s either blasphemy, or it’s true.…
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The Tower of the Flock, Part 6 – Ihsan’s story
Ihsan’s story Matthew 2:1-8 I can’t tell you what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. I, Ihsan, was one of the magi, renowned for our knowledge and wisdom. We’d been confident we would find the King of the Jews at the palace in Jerusalem. Isn’t that where the king should be? The Prophet Daniel established our caste hundreds of years ago to fulfill a sacred purpose. We’d seen the sign. “I see him, but not now. I look at him, but not near. A star shall appear from Jacob; a scepter shall rise from Israel.” When the star appeared, we gathered our ancestor Daniel’s own treasure and set out…
