Deuteronomy 8 – The Lord’s humbling of us is something none want to go through. Deuteronomy 8 warns against pride that could come to the Israelites if they were…
The Renovation Blog
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Deuteronomy 7 – We must never doubt the Lord’s strength. We must never question His ability to intervene in our lives and bring victory. This is particularly true when…
Deuteronomy 6 – Growing up, the dinner table was a time when all things ceased for the day. No matter what our personal schedule may have been, it was…
Deuteronomy 5 – Moses spent quite a bit of time reviewing Israel’s history for them. Now he reminded them of the Laws God had established for them in order…
Deuteronomy 4 – The future for Israel was based on what they did and how they would follow. Not only their physical future but their spiritual one as well. …
Deuteronomy 3 – There are many instances on this journey where what looms in the future seems impossible to overcome. This is seen in the practicals of life as…
Deuteronomy 2 – Even in the desert, the place Israel’s rebellion had led them, God still looked out for His people. This is quite a statement. It’s actually astounding…
Deuteronomy 1 – It should have taken 11 days. Instead, it took 40 years. What had stalled the Israelites in the desert was not an issue of might but…
Ecclesiastes 12 – Choices – all of life is made up of things we must choose between. Choices have consequences. Unfortunately, sometimes we live with these the rest of…
Ecclesiastes 11 – Risk and opportunity – these things face us daily with so many decisions we make. Opportunities come before us on every level of this life. They…
Ecclesiastes 10 – The ancient stories of the Israelites speak toward people who took God out of the equation again and again. Much of this fell upon the leaders….
Ecclesiastes 9 – Life is unfair. Yes, it’s true. What should happen to those who are honorable often find themselves sidelined? To those who are corrupt or dishonest, sometimes…
Ecclesiastes 8 – The world’s wisest man admitted in actuality he knew nothing. Solomon’s confesses toward looking at the grandeur of God, the endurance of the righteous even though…
Ecclesiastes 7 – “The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.” They say there are two things we can all depend upon…
Ecclesiastes 6 – In 1938 a screaming hilarious film was released called “You Can’t Take It With You.” It’s the story of a young beauty named Alice who falls…
Ecclesiastes 5 – “Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins.” – McLaren The worship of our God begins from deep within. Simply going to church and participating through…
Ecclesiastes 4 – The difficulty of the oppressed is something which has surrounded for centuries. There was not an answer then and there is not one now. There will…
Ecclesiastes 3 – God has a plan for His people. It’s always been there and stands even to the end of this life we live. Through Solomon’s words, we…
Ecclesiastes 2 – His resume was astounding. He would have been a Fortune 500 contender for sure. He’d built houses, a temple, a kingdom, a large family…
Ecclesiastes 1 – Written over 3000 years ago, much of the message of Ecclesiastes still resonates. Pursuing things, people, objects, power and pleasure bring nothing more than emptiness…
Numbers 36 – The book of Numbers began with the people of God wandering in the wilderness. It has captured story after story…
Numbers 35 – Cities of Refuge – it was a wonderful provision God gave to the Israelite’s in case there was an accidental killing. For instance if 2 men…
Numbers 34 – When analyzing this chapter, F.B. Meyer wrote, “God’s ideal for His people far exceeded their realization of it.” What a true statement that is on so…
Numbers 33 – Moses wrote an account of the journey of Israel thus far. Beginning in Egypt and leaving their slavery, they marched out with boldness and not just…
Numbers 32 – Numbers 32 – Perhaps he jumped to conclusions. I mean we all do this don’t we? We hear a bit of information without the full story and make an…
Numbers 31 – Vengeance – punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong. In Deuteronomy as well as in Romans the quote, “’Vengeance is mine. I will…
Numbers 30 – Numbers 30 – “My word is my bond.” A statement that says what I have said I will do, I will. Often given to another over some situation, it’s…
Numbers 29 – The many holidays and feasts God gave to Israel were not for their enjoyment. For instance, one commentator wrote of how The Day of Atonement was…
Numbers 28 – How many times do any of us hurry into our Sunday morning service without preparation? Many times any distraction that is possible seems to hijack our…
Numbers 27 – It’s known as one of the most beautiful and comforting hymns of all time. Written by Joseph Scriven in 1855 he was inundated with tragedy. As…
Numbers 26 – By the numbers – thus the book title! As always there is more to the story than what is seen even through a census. For the…
Numbers 25 – Sometimes our greatest challenges are not the enormous tasks God calls us to, the things that seem so impossible to do, but the sneaky aspects of…
Numbers 24 – The wayward heart knows no boundaries when it comes to self-determination to do what we want. Time and again, when we have set our desires on…
Numbers 23 – Evidently, in Philippi, there were those who rejoiced that Paul was in prison. These were Believers. Yes, you read that right. These felt it gave a…
Numbers 22 – He’s one of those obscure characters of the Bible who suddenly whisks across the pages for a few moments then is gone. But his name would…
Numbers 21 – The time had come for Israel to enter the Promised Land. The old generation had passed and for this new group of people this would be…
Numbers 20 – We all should be working ourselves out of a job. Genuine and true mentorship is taking someone alongside through all the ins and outs of what…
Numbers 19 – On the last night of His life, Jesus went around to His disciples and washed their feet. It was an outrageous moment of their Master taking…
Numbers 18 – In what has become one of the most seemingly taboo topics today within the church, many a congregant and pastor steer clear of it. It doesn’t…
Numbers 17 – “Murmurers are rarely satisfied by evidence or the resolution of one issue. Complainers are not issue-motivated, though they claim to be and appear to be; they…
Numbers 16 – His name and story within the unfolding of Israel’s struggles is one of the most dramatic. Part of the Levite tribe, Korah was not satisfied with…
Numbers 15 – They were at their lowest point ever. The people had turned on God in belief He could actually follow through with what He promised. Their discipline…
Numbers 14 – The loss of perspective brings despair. When we begin to focus on the tangible rather than the ability of God, we will slowly and dramatically fall…
Numbers 13 – “It’s awesome, but…” In essence this was the report back from the spies. God had faithfully called the people to go forward. Moses brilliantly put together…
Numbers 12 – The cousin to complaining is murmuring. They go hand in hand. It’s hard to tell which comes first. Does the complaining foster the murmur or vice…
Numbers 11 – Complaining. I’m telling you what, I am sick and tired of it. This is the grumbling that takes place when something doesn’t go according to what…
Numbers 10 – I cannot imagine the task Moses had in leading. Here he was with 100’s of 1000’s and way upward and beyond in numbers, leading all of…
Numbers 9 – I have a friend who prays about everything, even in the middle of conversations. He told me of several instances where literally in the middle of…
Numbers 8 – Entering into any darkened place, a lamp is required to see properly. We can certainly fumble around in the dark or shadows but truly we cannot…
Numbers 7 – Commentators agree this chapter is more than likely out of chronological order. This chapter of the special offerings may have happened instead during the first chapter…
Numbers 6 – It was not something to take lightly. The vow of a Nazarite was considered a great decision for a person to enter for work and dedication…
Numbers 5 – It seems like a strange command. God instructs the people of Israel that those who were a leper, someone who had a discharge or any other…
Numbers 4 – Volunteers. I can’t think of an organization that functions properly without them. We need those who are willing to become that ‘army’ of men and women…
Numbers 3 – God, being that of order and organization, began to give assignments to the people. First on deck were the Levites. This makes sense as the tabernacle was…
Numbers 2 – God was up to some organization. The people had been on their journey now for a year. God was putting things in order. Where they went…
Numbers 1 – Complaining – it gets you nowhere. In fact, if we’re honest it will get you stuck. This is exactly what the book of Numbers records. The…
Luke 24 – “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen” – Luke 24:5-6 “But we were hoping that…
Luke 23 – There was no doubt He was innocent. 3 different times he declared this and 3 different times the Jewish people rose up screaming for His death….
Luke 22 – The Passover was a commemoration of Israel’s escape from Egypt after being held in bondage for 400 years. Through specific instructions, the Jewish people were told…
Luke 21 – It began with an observation of the rich putting their money into the treasury in comparison to a poor widow putting only 2 copper coins in…
Luke 20 – Jesus had more than ruffled feathers. He had gone for the jugular. He turned things completely upside down, calling out the corruptness of the religious leaders,…
Luke 19 – Turncoat – “The phrase comes from the ancient practice of wearing a badge or pin on one’s coat signifying the party or leader you supported. By…
Luke 18 – Jesus teaches on prayer, humility and the true following of Him through discipleship. Opening up his thoughts through a parable He reveals how we should always…
Luke 17 – Directly on the heels of Jesus speaking of the rich man in hell and the poor beggar in heaven chapter 17 continues his conversation to the…
Luke 16 – Money. It’s been a snare for countless centuries that still catches people. The topic of cash was spoken of by Jesus more than any other. When…
Luke 15 – Jesus tells three absolutely beautiful parables back to back revealing how much God the Father loves and seeks those who are lost. A shepherd has 100…
Luke 14 – There are prophecies in the Old Testament of a feast that will come at the end of the age – the Messiah’s Banquet. I have always…
Luke 13 – Wow! “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to…
Luke 12 – If you stepped back and assessed your prayers, what do you find you pray about the most? Where is the focus of your prayers at these…
Luke 11 – The man was desperate. An unexpected friend had stopped on his journey for a place to sleep. In ancient times hospitality was a given. Being after…
Luke 10 – “At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things…
Luke 9 – It’s called the comfort zone. We all have one and if we’re honest live within its confines as much as possible. It’s the place where we…
Luke 8 – The ministry of Jesus continues to grow and expand. It’s noteworthy that as he went from one town and village to another the 12 were right…
Luke 7 – How many tears do you have to shed to wash someone’s feet? Luke 7 records several stories of Jesus from a remarkable Roman Centurion demonstrating faith…
Luke 6 – I stood there with my mouth open, blinking as his words hovered in the air. This was by far one of the strangest conversations I had…
Luke 5 – Here begins a turning point in Luke as we read of his many miracles, the calling of who would be his disciples and his ministry to…
Luke 4 – “We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”– Hebrews…
Luke 3 – 400 years of silence had smothered the Israelites. For 400 years God had not spoken one word to His people. When the time came for His…
Luke 2 – “The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people.” –…
Luke 1 – He’s the only author of the Gospels who was a Gentile. Luke was a physician and companion of Paul who traveled alongside on many of his…
Song of Solomon 8 – The Song of Solomon closes much the same way it opened – intense passionate love of Solomon and his wife. In so many ways,…
Song of Solomon 7 – It’s a chapter that would cause one to blush. In intimate detail, Solomon describes his wife. This is the third time he has done…
Song of Solomon 6 – We are bombarded with imagery of what makes a marriage fulfilling. Often inundated with concepts of romantic love through book and film, what is…
Song of Solomon 5 – There’s a saying, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” We’ve heard this statement many a time and indeed it does. But the flip side…
Song of Solomon 4 – The wedding procession and ceremony of the two lovers has taken place, now we look into the intimacy between them on their wedding night. …
Song of Solomon 3 – The maiden longs for her lover. Still yet to be married, the next few chapters will unroll the engagement, marriage and consummation of the…
Song of Solomon 2 – Love. People have fallen in and out of it seemingly on a whim. Some have said when all is said and done they aren’t…
Song of Solomon 1 – David’s son Solomon took the throne after his father. Asking for wisdom and discernment to lead the people, God granted him these things and…
Ezekiel 48 – The book of Ezekiel comes to a close. It opened with magnificent descriptions of the holiness of God. A holiness that the people of…
Ezekiel 47 – It’s such a fascinating picture. Ezekiel saw a river running from the temple. Going from ankle deep to eventually deep enough to…
Ezekiel 45 – Greed, extortion, and usury were part of the culture. The darkness of man’s heart hasn’t changed much. There are various times in Scripture where God has…
Ezekiel 46 – Worship services can be tremendous times of engaging with God and giving of ourselves to Him. They are expected to be part of our praise to…
Ezekiel 44 – People wonder what will be theirs. Families fight over it. Men and women strain toward receiving the most they possibly can. An inheritance is something passed…
Ezekiel 43 – We are a people who live in exile. Longing for a better place, a place where our residence of eternity awaits. This earth is not our…
Ezekiel 42 – It was a direct instruction to the priests that spoke of not only their role but that ministering before God was not to be done flippantly….
Ezekiel 41 – Ezekiel’s vision continues with focus upon the Temple. When the tabernacle was planned out by God and given to Moses in Exodus 26, although so much…
Ezekiel 40 – Sometimes the way and path of life leave us struggling. We are in the middle of disappointment, hardship and see nothing changing. Sometimes we’ve been brought…
Ezekiel 39 – The battle continues where the overthrow of the enemy will be complete. It will be divine intervention that brings this about. God is victorious in the…
Ezekiel 38 – Speculation on End Times abound. People look toward the scriptures of Daniel, Jesus’ words, some of Paul’s writings, the book of Revelation and here in Ezekiel…
Ezekiel 37 – No matter where we are on our journey, God has the ability to breathe new life into us. Many times we find our feet have led…