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“An Understanding Heart”

Feb 23, 2025

This morning, I was reading 1 Kings chapters 3 and 4. Verse 3 in chapter 3 says, “And Solomon loved the Lord,” … (NKJV) He went to make a sacrifice to God, and the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night (v5). God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” Solomon responds to the Lord in verses 6-9…. V.7 .. “You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in….” v9… “Therefore, give Your servant an...

“IF” — “Both/And”

Feb 2, 2025

Blog #46 - “If” … “Both / And” John 14:16-17: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.” In studying this passage, I asked the Lord, “why can’t the world see Him (the Spirit of Truth) or know Him? Why are they blind to Him?” The image that emerged inside of me was from my junior year in high...

Advent

Dec 22, 2024

Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you...

What Pleases Him?

Nov 24, 2024

2 Corinthians 5:9-10:“Therefore, we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” The word for “judgment seat” in verse 10 is Strong’s #968, “the space covered by a step of the foot.” It comes from the root #939 “basis” (transliteration), which means “foot.” What I saw in this verse is that...

Wheat and Tares

Oct 20, 2024

Jesus taught this parable - along with a number of other parables - by the Sea of Galilee, during his (approximately) eighteen month Galilean ministry. The Wheat and the Tares lesson describes the separation of the sons of the enemy from the sons of the Kingdom in the end-times. Traditionally, this parable has been described as “the great harvest” at the end of the age suggesting a great addition of new births into the Kingdom, just prior to Jesus’ return. However, upon closer...

The Passover Lamb

Sep 21, 2024

In Exodus chapter 12, God spoke to Moses and Aaron with detailed instructions for selecting a lamb to institute the Passover meal. He described how to select the lamb, when to sacrifice it, what to do with the blood, and how to prepare the animal for the meal. In reading this passage, the words in verse 8 caught my attention . . . “they shall eat the flesh on that night ….” Then, in verse 46 God instructs them, “nor shall you break one of its bones.” Curious, I searched in the concordance. In...

The Bread of Life

Aug 18, 2024

The authorship of John's gospel is attributed to the one "leaning on Jesus' bosom … whom Jesus loved." (John 13.23) John, the son of Zebedee, belonged to the "inner circle" of Jesus' disciples and followers (Matthew 17:1, Mark 13:3). He accompanied Jesus upon the mount of transfiguration and walked with Jesus further into the garden of Gesthemene. Jesus loved him and trusted him; He sought John for support when he was deeply troubled. In the latter part of the first century during the Jewish...

The “Gentle Giant”

Jul 21, 2024

The alarm gently sings “nature sounds.” . . . It is 4:15 a.m. Yet, I am already awake. The planning, the training, the preparation, the scouting, the praying. . . . Summit Day has arrived. Dressed and backpacks loaded in the car, we share pancakes “to go” while making the forty-five minute drive to the South Elbert trailhead. Crisp 48 degree mountain air greets us as we lace up our boots, don our packs, pray and embark upon the ascent. It is 6:20 a.m. In all my years of outdoor adventures,...

Summit

Jun 16, 2024

In early July, I (along with a few friends) will attempt to summit Mt. Elbert, in central Colorado. To “summit” a mountain means to reach its highest point. According to Wikipedia - A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. I’ve chosen the southern route, which is 5.8 miles (one way). “The South Mt. Elbert Trail forks off the Colorado Trail, which continues to Halfmoon Creek. It is the "easiest" route to Mt. Elbert, but remember,...

Inheritance

May 11, 2024

From before the foundation of the world God the Father always wanted children (heirs) with whom to share Himself. Our Father in Heaven - rich in love, slow to anger, abounding in kindness - longed to share His heart. So He made an agreement with His only Son to provide a way to pass all that He possesses to His heirs (that's us). In due season, God the Son - our Father's only Begotten - came to earth. As the Son of God His Father anointed Him King of kings, forevermore. Jesus' response to His...

A Blog of Context

“An Understanding Heart”

“IF” — “Both/And”

Advent

What Pleases Him?

Wheat and Tares

The Passover Lamb

The Bread of Life

The “Gentle Giant”

Summit

Inheritance

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

JOHN 16:33