Two Women Who Seized the Day

How I love the book of Judges, chock-full as it is of stories of God's heroes and heroines! My class of young Sunday church students stays spellbound when we study the lives of Ehud, Gideon, Samson, Deborah, and Jael. No-nonsense Deborah was a prophetess and judge who generally spent her time settled under a palm…

The Man Who Walked the Line

Daniel in the lions' den is perhaps one of the most beloved Bible stories of all time, especially by children. I've taught it a number of times through the years, and Daniel's great courage and the miracle of the lions' closed mouths never fails to thrill. But another aspect of Daniel's life came to mind…

Memorize & Meditate (& Celebrate!): Psalm 60:12

It's my daughter's fourteenth birthday today. Happy birthday to Shae! I delight in the godly young woman she has become... ...from the little princess she once was. She still gets as excited about any sort of food now as she did then! In honor of this special occasion, I'd like to share Shae's favorite verse.…

Lives That Inspire: Shiphrah and Puah, Hebrew Midwives

Exodus begins with the story of two God-fearing women whose actions change the course of Israelite history: the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah. In Exodus 1, the Writer sets the scene for their story. From the time of Joseph, the Israelites had lived comfortably among the Egyptians for generations. But a new Pharaoh observes that…

Comfort Zones Can Be Crippling

Every 4-H-er is required to give a one-minute speech at a club meeting that must relate, however distantly, to some 4-H project. It's my youngest son's first year in 4-H, and, following in his brother's footsteps, he thought he would try woodworking and give his speech about his project. The project itself? Not a problem.…

Lives That Inspire: The Bleeding Woman

In Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8 is the story of an unnamed woman who bled for twelve years. Considering this fact alone, this woman's story is tragic. According to Levitical law, because of her issue of blood, she was considered ceremonially unclean, and her activities were extremely restricted. Among other things, she could…