Isaiah 15

It took me less than two minutes to read this chapter; a chapter of woes. This time the woes are not directed at Judah but at Moab. Everyone in Moab will be affected, everyone will see the hand of God.
Stuart

Jeremiah 16-18

It took me about 11 minutes to read this passage.  In 18:18-23 Jeremiah learns of a plot to attack him and tear him down, maybe even kill him.  These plotters are tired of hearing the truth.  They only want to hear “good” news, not reality.  Where does Jeremiah turn?  He turns to God with his case.  He asked the Judge of all judges to consider all that is being said, and rule rightly.  He calls on God to deliver him from the danger that he is facing.  Jeremiah pleads with God to take his place of judgment.  His words remind me of the words of David as he ran from Saul.  Both David and Jeremiah knew that the best response to any threat is to take the threat to God and allow God to mete out his judgment on the guilty.

Stuart

Isaiah 14

It took me about 3 minutes to read this chapter.
Stuart

Jeremiah 13-15

It took me 20 minutes to read this passage.  We often limit God’s to the Gospel; Good News.  But when we do that we neglect the fact that God has always had a response when his people rejected his commands; the bad news of judgment.  That is the message that Jeremiah is delivering AGAIN in this passage.  Such a picture of God is wholly consistent with his nature as revealed in scripture.  In 15:4 God explains that this punishment is to come on Judah because of the sins of Manasseh, even though Jeremiah’s words didn’t begin until 13 years after Manasseh’s death.  The effects of Manasseh’s sins persisted in Judah in spite of Josiah’s attempts to reform the wayward country.  So Jeremiah’s message was delivered.  A message that was totally opposite of the message offered by other “prophets”; prophets whom God said he did not send (14:14).  So Jeremiah spoke, knowing that his message would not be welcomed or received he spoke; in total obedience to God.  Jeremiah was a living picture of what Judah needed to be.

Stuart

Jeremiah 7-9

It took me about 20 minutes in two intervals to read this passage. Most of what Jeremiah writes is a call to Judah to turn from their wicked ways before they face the consequences demanded by God's justice. Yet chapter 9 begins with words of sorrow and tenderness toward the people of God's covenant. Through these word we catch a picture of Jeremiah's heart. We also see into the heart of Jeremiah's God. Both hearts are broken because of the sinfulness of the people and the shallowness of their worship. They both long for the people to see the love that God seeks to give them, yet the people are too self absorbed to see. We Christians today should have the same heart ache for those who have not surrendered to Jesus' love.
Stuart

Jeremiah 10-12

It took me about 11 minutes to read this passage. What is the value of hand made gods? We know the answer just by thinking about the question; there is no value in gods that we create. Whether they are physical idols, as the people of Judah were guilty of creating, or gods of the 21st century; posessions, wealth, political positions, ideal jobs, families, or a myrid number of other things around which we are tempted to shape our lives. As God told Jeremiah in 10:11 "Those gods that made nothing are nothing. They will come to nothing." If we place our first trust in anything or anyone other than our God and his Christ we likewise our putting our trust in nothing at all. And that is the saddest truth of life.
Stuart

Isaiah 13

It took me about 7 minutes to read this chapter. God gives Isaiah a message about Babylon's judgement to come. He gave it to Israel so that they might understand the ruthless attack they will receive as God's punishment for rejecting him. It would be a message easy to miss. But those who have a heart sensitive to God's heart should hear it.
Stuart

Isaiah 12

This short chapter took me a minute to read. What a wonderful picture Isaiah gives us in verse 3 regarding the access to salvation God has granted his people. Israel understood the value of a well that didn't run dry. Even after pulling bucket after bucket the water was still there. I believe this analogy is still true for Christians today. We have brought to the well of salvation through Jesus' blood and its water is there for our taking whenever we desire, in whatever amount we want. And also with whatever attitude we choose to display. With impatience we can drop the bucket in the well and immediately pull it up. But we will only  draw up a cup or two; ending up with an attitude of dejected service. Or we can drop our bucket down in that well and wait, a long time, until we are sure that it is full. Then with the joy of anticipation we can put all of our weight into heaving that bucket, ladened with salvation's water, up to the brim of the well, drink deep, share it with others and let it back down for more. The well is God's, the way we draw the water is left up to each of us.
Stuart

Jeremiah 4-6

It took me about 25 minutes in three sittings to read this passage. The terror God had promised Israel after they came out of Egypt is to be visited on the children of those wandering slaves. All because they rejected God's Law, emptied their sacrifices of meaning, and changed God's name from a source of power to a stentence of meaningless words. After generations of rejection God gives up on the people, but not his promises. He will turn away from the generation that has forgotten him and wait for their children to come back to them. Then he will move forward with his plan.
Stuart

Isaiah 11

It took me about 4 minutes to read this passage. Verse 11 really caught my attention. I have been privledged to have spent the past 10 days with Christians from 14 different countries on four continents. In this trip I have witnessed first hand the fulfilment of Isaiah 11:11; "The nations will all come to [Jesse's Root].". Christianity stands out as unique among all other religous movements throughout the world, for it allows the peoples of all nations to enter the ranks of the church. The Spirit himself reshapes the hearts of the people who have come; making them new from the inside out. Christians are becoming what God wants us to be and God is being glorified by our obedience to him.
Stuart

Isaiah 10

It took me about 5 minutes to reasd this passage. God explained to Isaiah that he has selected Assyria as his "weapon of my anger" against Israel. But what God had intended and what Assyria accomplished were not the same. Assyria overstepped its deviegn directive and took credit for all that Gods had accomplished through them. Because they rejected God's hand in their victories God was going to bring on them the same fate that he planned for Israel; destruction. This should be a warning to us as well. When God brings about victories in our lives we need to continually bring the glory back to him, and recognize his actions. We can not save ourselves, and equally we cannot win any victory unless God enables us.
Stuart

Jeremiah 1-3

It took me about 20 minutes in two settings to finish the begining of this book. God called Jeremiah to go to a people who claimed to be his followers but for the most part only wanted his name; they didn't want him. In chapter 2 at the end of verse 32 their actions are described this way in The Message; "Day after day after day they never give me a thought." I wonder how many times that descriptipon applies to my life as well. I know that God wants more than to be my Father, my Daddy, in title. He wants we to live that way every moment of every day that he gives me life. Through my constant attention to his presence and staying in touch with his love I can come to better understand who he is and what he desires for me.
Stuart

Isaiah 9

It took me about 5 minutes to read this passage. Most people are familar with all or part of the first 7 verses of chapter 9. It is a message of hope that God gave to encourage his people that even as current events look bleak God's plan will move forward to the end he has ordained. But the rest of the chapter is a clear message of doom for the arrogant leaders of Israel. It was a message fulfilled by God's providence through the nations he led against Israel then Judah. Such punishment will be meeted out on all nations that set themselves up as gods.
Stuart

Titus

It only took me 7 minutes to read the entire letter that Paul wrote to this evangelist whom he left on the island of Crete. Paul spent this letter reminding him, and us, of the mission of those early church planters. A good leadership is important, personal holiness is crucial to verifying the message, and many trivial theological arguments are pointless.  In chapter 3 verse 8 Paul encourages Titus to take a stand, not against the attacks of the enemy but on these points of doctrine. There are some things that evangelist need not waste time dealing with repeatedly. We need to practice this same lesson today.
Stuart

Isaiah 8

It took me about 3 minutes to read this passage. In verse 12 God gives a warning to his prophet; don't have fear like those around you. The fear of Judah was not the God of Heaven, but rather the armies of the nations around them. We cab find ourselves caught in the fear of Wall Street, fear of loosing our employment, of even fear of our children. God had directed Israel whom to fear, but they rejected their savior. Jesus gave Chrisatians the same directive. We can be confident that God will give us exactly what we need to bring him the greatest glory. It is him that we should fear, and love.
Stuart

Job 40-42

It took me about 12 minutes to read this passage. To me, the last part of the book of Job conveys one of the great picture of grace in the Hebrew scriptures. It is one of the few times in all of scripture, prior to Jesus' ministry, where God and man directly converse. We may look at Job's earlier statements with concern regardsing his faith, but now at the end we read the humility in his heart. In 40:5 Job admits to his foolishness. Like the apostle Paul centuries later he understands that his actions were based on ignorance. Yet as soon as he receives more revelation about God he accepts the truth revealed, and adjusts his life accordingly. God ends his revelation with a short talk with Job's friends. Again he refers to Job as a friend of God, just as he did a few weeks earlier.
Stuart

Isaiah 6-7

It took me about 10 minutes to read these two chapters that provide three new revelations through Isaiah the prophet. The end of chapter 6 speaks of the destruction of the kingdom of Judah. When I think of descruction what comes to mind is Mount St. Helen's. And that maybe exactly the picture that God was seeking to convey. From a bird's eye view the aftermath of the eruption of Mount St. Helen's in 1980 wiped out every living thing in the area. But just a few weeks after the eruption there was life springing out of the devestation. And that is the message that God intended with the destruction of Judah. God does not forget to leave a remnant that will carry out his plans for his Kingdom. Even in the process of destroying Judah God had made a plan to work out his redemption through the coming Messiah.
Stuart

Job 38-39

It took me a little less than 10 minutes to read this passage. I would love to have seen the look on Job's face when God began to speak from the cloud. His prayer to have a direct audience with God had been answered. Yet it was probably nothing that he had expected. He had been speaking from a wounded and hurting heart, but God does not address any of Job's questions; God speaks to teach Job about his soverignty and authority. I would have also liked to have seen the look on the faces of Job's friends. Surely they knew they were in trouble as God spoke to Job. The must have determined that something was amiss when God DIDN'T comend their defence against Job. I wonder if they were hoping that the storm would quickly pass so that they could go back to their comfort zones as well?
Stuart

Job 34-37

It took me about 12 minutes to read the rest of Elihu's monolouge. Though he challenges Job with many truthes, from my perspective it doesn't look like he made any headway on persuading Job of anything. No matter how many acqusations are thrown upon Job, none of them are true about the man. Elihu is very well intentioned but he, like his older friends, failed to understand the nature of Gods almighty. They got half of the story right, but missed out on the part that God does not abandon us when we face suffering. Instead he stays right beside of us, encouraging us to follow Job's example of integrity. Job wanted to understand why God brought this suffering upon him. He KNEW it wasn't because of personal sin, or God acting unjustly. Yet it seemed so contrary to God's nature as he understood it. I know that I am often like Job; wanting to better understand God. And we find that the God who was faithful before we suffer, is present as we suffer, and will allow us closer to him when the suffering has passed.
Stuart

Isaiah 5

It took me about 8 minutes to read this chapter. In 5:7 God speaks about the harvest that he expected from Israel but didn't receive. Then he details what he expected in this harvest; justice and righteousness. I believe that this is the same harvest he hopes to reap from our lives. The focus of the harvest is not the end of our lives but rather the regular produce of his vine. With regard to justice God is looking for right actions as he people deal with one another. As far as righteousness God is looking for the comittment in the lives of his people to hold fast to his word, to remain true to his standards, to pick up the cross of Jesus and follow his way of suffering regardless of the personal cost.
Stuart

Job 31-33

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. The last words that Job speak points to his understanding of righteousness. All of chapter 31 focuses on the sin in which Job could have immersed himself; and he is very specific. But he brings to God the facts that in no way has he been guilty of sinning. If he were guilty, Job argues, let the punishment fall upon him. I know that I need to beware and fall to the temptation in which Elihu and his companions fell; to assume the worse in Job's charactor based up their perspective of Job's outward appeaeance.
Stuart

Isaiah 4

It only took a minute to read this short chapter. In the first verse Isaiah explains the hopes of women who have forsaken God; the capability to reproduce. What a shame to have life limited to a person's God-given design to repoduce. How selfish. But that is the attitude Isaiah foresaw, and maybe witnessed, in the lives of women around him. He speaks of the emptiness that accomplishese the rejection of God. Since we were created for the purpose of knowing and loving God it onlly makes sense that we will be most satisfied as we pursue our love for God, and grow in our understanding of him.
Stuart

Job 28-30

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. In 30:24 Job asked this question as he faced his suffering; "what did I do to deserve this?" I'm sure that I have asked that question as I've faced some difficulty that I had not expected. We all expect to receive immediately a harvest that matches what we've recently sown. We justify such thinking with Biblical passages. Yet God does not say the harvest will be immediately. In Paul's Roman letter, chapter 8, he wrote that our prsent suffering is not worth comparing with the joy that we WILL receive. The great reward will come at the final harvest; the resurrection og the dead. To expect anything sooner should not be our desire.
Stuart

Isaiah 3

It took me about 4 minutes to read this chapter full of warnings and woe. I believe that verse 12 is a verse that the Christians in America need to heed. Too often we think that since the "right" party is in power we can trust them to do the "right" things; creating the "right" laws and policies. That is what the people of Judah and Jerusalem thought of their leaders in Isaiah's days. But the prophet warned the people about their leaders saying, "They're sending you off on a wild goose chase."
We too must listen to God's call over the words of the political talking heads. Only God's word gives us the whole truth and guide for life.
Stuart

Isaiah 3

It took me about 4 minutes to read this chapter full of warnings and woe. I believe that verse 12 is a verse that the Christians in America need to heed. Too often we think that since the "right" party is in power we can trust them to do the "right" things; creating the "right" laws and policies. That is what the people of Judah and Jerusalem thought of their leaders in Isaiah's days. But the prophet warned the people about their leaders saying, "They're sending you off on a wild goose chase."
We too must listen to God's call over the words of the political talking heads. Only God's word gives us the whole truth and guide for life.
Stuart

Job 25-27

It took me just 6 minutes to read this passage. I was struck by the greatness that Job ascribes to God in 26:14. I remeber Elijah's encounter with the whispering God on mount Horeb. The display of physical power that preceeded those words were literally earth-shattering. Job's question is equally compelling to consider; what if God were to raise his voice? When God spoke creation into existence was that amazing display of power from a shout or a whisper? We know what happened when God shouted from the cross; the earth trembled, holy people were resurrected, and the veil of the temple tore. All that from the voice of God in human form. Maybe when God shouts time will cease to be.
Stuart

Isaiah 2

It took me almost three minutes to read this chapter from Isaiah's writtings. If verses 1-5 aren't speaking about the Gospel and the church I would be surprised. That day that Isaiah foresaw was fulfilled on Pentacost in Jerusalem when Peter stood up amoung 120 to proclaim Jesus as savior and Lord. While working at Haus Edelweiss I have seen former enemies coming together in the name of Jesus to break up the ground of distrust and ignorance. Any former conflicts were forgotten and figurative swords were converted into figurative plows to address the real needs of the people; access to the bread of life. Oh what a joy God must have each time he sees a group af believers gathered together from many tribes to honor his name.
Stuart

Job 22-24

It took me about 11 minutes to read this passage. If I didn't know the end of Job's story I'd agree with all of Eliphaz's words. He sounds like a man solidly grounded in God's word. But later God says the Eliphaz did not protay God accurately.(42:7) in the same manner if I didn't know the first of this story, that God has declared Job as righteous, I would have considered Job's words in this passage as arrogant and proud. But neither is a true reflection of Job's character. He is humble and completely dependant upon God for all his strength. He has much to teach me.
Stuart

Isaiah 1

It took me about 6 minutes to read this passage. Verses 13-17 are a good place for me to examine my life in Christ. Though I am often tempted to compare my life with other Christians, who may be gifted completely differently than me, Isaiah's words wake me up to examine my worship. Programs and meetings weren't the defining attributes of a Jew and they are the goal of being a Christian. In the last few verses of this section God shows us a few examples of the measure of people of faith; reaching out to people with God's message of love and mercy. Generations of Jews missed this under the Law. That is what Jesus encountered in the first century. My task is to allow God's Spirit to examine my life and open my eyes to when I fail to reach out to others with God's message of love and mercy.
I know that is part of the lesson he wants me to learn at TCM's work these next two weeks.
Stuart

Job 19-21

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. In 21:4 Job clarifies to whom he is addressing his complaints - God. His friends are only present to witness his appeal to God. His days of silence must have been an expression of his humility before God, and now he is ready to lay it on the line before his creator. I know that I have wondered the same thing from time to time: why is God silent? But I have the advantage of seeing God's loving reaction to Job's misery. Through Job's suffering I can anticipate the hand of God moving in my life as I face difficulties.
Stuart

Psalm 122

It only took me about one minute to read this psalm of David. Verses 3-5 give the defining characteristic for those who are Israel - to give thanks to God. I often think of circumcision and the Law as the things that define Israel, but here David give a different perspective on the concept. A thankful heart requires a lot of ingredients; all of which develop from a deep and comitted relationship with God. Humility, availability, faith, and wisdom are just some of the traits we need to develop in order to grow a heart that is thankful to God.
Stuart

Job 16-18

It took about 10 minutes for me to read this exchange; Job's response to Eliphaz and Bildad's second round. In 16:18-22 Job states that his hope continues to rest in God; that he knows all and will judge accordingly. Even after feeling the full force of terror released on his, and attributing it to God, Job still refers to God as his champion and friend. Job has not given up his hope in God. He is questioning how his life can have hope, but he persists in his hope that God will provide all that he needs in every situation. I have witness times in the lives of many the need to hold on to hope in God inspite of our situation. If God gives me life for many years I am convinced that I will need to express my life in these areas as well.
Stuart

Job 13-15

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage; mainly because I am really tired after a transatlantic flight. I noticed that in 15:7-8 Eliphaz asks some of the same questions of Job that God later asks Job. So why was Eliphaz rebuked by God? I think that maybe the reason was that Eliphaz's attitude was not one of love, but an unneccessary attack on Job and his character. It is good to speak God's word to someone who needs to hear it. But we need to speak his word in the same manner that God would speak; a manner of love and concern for the person first. We also need to make sure that we allow the Spirit room to work within the confines of the words we've spoken.
Stuart

Psalm 121

It took me about 1 minute to read this reminder of the source of my strength. All the fortresses and shelters of this world can provide us a limited amount of protection. Only God can provide 24X7X365 protection. That is the focus of this psalm. If we place our focus anywhere other than with God our hope is riding on paper thin assurances. Military strength will wane. Storehouses of provisions will rot or become infested with vermin. Wealth will loose its value. Possessions will be broken or stolen. Only God is stable all the time. Only God can strengthen us in every situation. When I look to that thing in this world where my greatest confidences lie I need the reminder of this psalm to look only to God.
Stuart

Job 10-12

It took me about 10 minutes to read this passage. Job makes a keen observation in 12:12 responsing to Zophar's rebuke. Do the old have a corner on wisdom. This is a lesson that I need to grasp. There are many people much younger than me who have a better grasp of God and the way in which he works than I do. Though older people have the edge because of experience we can let that go to our heads. We can learn something about God from a child, or a simplton, or even an atheist. God can work through anyone to bring him glory, but he prefers to display his power most clearly in those who are comitted to him.
Stuart

Job 7-9

It took me a little more than 8 minutes to read this passage. Job's next friend, Bildad, speaks up offering his justification for God's actions. He too is overwhelmed with righteous indignation to the point that he forgets all he knows about Job's life of faithfulness. I'm sure that would be my first response as well. I've prayed since my youth that God is good. What happened to Job is bad; therefore he must have seen something in Job's life, and the lives of his children as Bildad points out, the led God to enact his judgement right now. But Bildad misunderstood the words of Job. Job was not accusing God of wrongdoing, but desiring to understand the fruit of such suffering. I know that I need to be slow in evaluating a situation as Bildad, or else I may fall into the same trap.
Stuart

Psalm 120

It only took 1 minute to read this psalm through, but I read it about three times. I was still perplexed at the central meaning of the psalm. So I pulled out my Zondervan encyclopedia and looked up Meshech and Keder. The encyclopedia entries says that these kingdoms "represent 'the evil society' is which the psalmist lives." This concept brings a depth to the struggle of the psalmist, living among a people who are always opposed to what God has guided. That helps me understand the opening line with its pleas to God. When we dwell among those who are always oppressing us we must depend on God to bring us through the difficulties. These same thoughts are echoed by David, Paul, and even Jesus.
Stuart

Job 4-6

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. Eliphaz speaks to Job, but his attempt to offer comfort turns into a "teaching" opportunity. Job doesn't need that kind of comfort. He needs to know that his friends are standing with him while Job waits for God to "come back" to him. I'm not sure if Job really throught God was far away, but there is no question those were the feeling with which he was struggling. Job's life tells us that we can be confident in God's purpose in the events that we face. Though he may seem distant, he is always close to us, helping us in our pain and rejoicing with us in our celebrations.
Stuart

Psalm 119:161-176

It took me about 2 minutes to read the last two stanzas of this psalm. I've never taken the time to count the number of Biblical references that refer to sheep and shepherds. I believe it is a frequent metaphore. It makes sense that the Hebrew scriptures would be full of those types of references; at least Moses and David where well aquainted with shepherding before God moved them to be writers. This psalmist knew something of sheep as well; that they wander and recognize familar voices. Those were the focus of the words that end this psalm, words of a sheep seeking to stay close to its master.
Stuart

Job 1-3

It took me about 10 minutes to read the first part of Job. Without the first two chapters in this book Job's suffering would make not sense. Yet if we limit our understanding of suffering to just the first two chapters we might miss out on the way that God works in every stage of our lives.  God has, as Satan points out, prospered everything that Job had done. When Job planted a little, much was harvested. But God knew something of Job that Satan couldn't see and Job may have forgotten; Job was defined by his relationship with God NOT by the blessings that God had given him. This truth became obvious to the spiritual world after Job's second test. Satan never again acused God about Job again. However, back on earth it took a little more time for Job and his friends to see how all of this horror would eventuallu glorify God.
Stuart

Psalm 119:145-160

I read for about 2 minutes in order to complete this passage. The psalmist began this stanza recalling his cried to God.  Loud shouts, asking for God to answer. The question is; what do you do when God doesn't respond like you desire? There is no indication that the psalmist received any word from God other than the Law of Moses. We know the God's revelation to Moses was only the begining of his revelation. Yet there is so much depth about God and his remptive work through Jesus. It is by his word that we can not only find hope, but also the real purpose for our lives; to worship and serve God.
Stuart

2 Timothy

It took me 13 minutes to read this passage.  I wonder what reunion Paul was referencing in chapter 1 verse 4?  Paul was hoping that Timothy would see him before his expected execution, but was he looking forward to an earthly reunion?  And how joyous would that gathering in prison actually be?  I struggle with Paul’s stance, not because I disagree with it, but in understanding how God led him to that point in life.  I believe that for every Christian who will stand firm, even in the face of death, God will enable them to walk boldly into the valley of that shadow.  He will surround them with a light of hope that will penetrate the darkness of death and allow them to act with a confidence in eternity.  I believe that because I see it in Paul’s writings and in the words and actions of Christians throughout the centuries.  Prisons cannot restrict the love of Christ.  Threats cannot change the truth of God’s mercy.  Sickness cannot dim the hope of life eternal.  Loss cannot destroy the treasures of true worth offered to all people in Christ’s sacrifice.

Stuart

Psalm 119:129-144

It took just 2 minutes to read this passage. I was intrigued by the sorrow of the psalmist over the lawless rebellion of those around him. Tears flowed as he looked around. There was only sorrow in God's sight. The people whom he had chosen paid lip service to his name, but rejcted mercy and obedience. But the psalmist, as true of all people of faith, did not pattern himself after those around him. His hunger, his standard, his inspiration was found, and built upon, the word of God. The sorrow he had for those around him was bouyed by the faithfulness of God's word in his life. Joy comes from God, the God of Israel, who instructs his people. He does not sit idlely by waiting for us to do right. He is fighting with us against the pressures of the flesh to choose right over wrong, sacrifice instead of selfishness, honor not greed, righteousness before ease and comfort. I believe the tears of the psalmist were not for himself, but for the loss he understood of those who were not living close to God.
Stuart

Esther 9-10

It took just 6 minutes for me to read the last two chapters of Esther’s story.  God took a threat that was laid upon his people and he turned it into an attack by his people and a reason to celebrate.  I’m sure that many of the Jews were saddened that they no longer lived in the land of promise, but they held on to the heritage that God had passed to them through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  They may have faltered in their obedience to the Law of Moses, but they did not give up on their identity as people in God’s covenant.  We today will also stumble in our obedience to God in Christ, but we need to hold on to the assurance that we are God’s people, called to follow him through the grace of Jesus.

Stuart

Psalm 119:113-128

I spent about 2 minutes reading this part of psalm 119. In verse 114 the psalmist says that he comes to God for his quiet retreat. That is an interesting view of the all-powerful whose booming voice brought all of creation into existence. Though Elijah responded when he heard the quiet voice of God (1 Kings 19:13-14) I don't know if God was his quiet retreat. But this verse does explain the purpose of a retreat: to renew. From that perspective the quiet that renews does not demand a physical quiet as much as it occurs in the quiet attitude of a relieved heart. Renewal is like a full glass of cool water on a hot and dry afternoon. Renewal is like a big welcoming hug at the end of a long are arduios journey. The Bible is an ever-present spring of wisdom, strength, instruction, and in the end renewal.
Stuart

Esther 5-8

It took me about 10 minutes to read this passage.  Chapters 5 and 6 cover roughly a 24 hour period, that details numerous activities in the lives of the King, Queen, Haman, and Mordecai.  I wonder what kind of day the King was having before Queen Esther showed up.  Was he stressed out over some affair of state or a case requiring his judgment.  Being the leader of a great empire was surely not an easy task.  Whatever the events of that day were they seemed to melt away when Esther, his queen, made her appearance.  He was pleased to see her.  She asked him to dinner, but the King had dealt with another queen.  He suspected that there was something else than a meal that she had in mind; why else would she risk her life to enter his presence un-invited?  Though he was pleased to see his Queen and spend time with her God used the events of the day to bother the King.  He was so disturbed that he couldn’t sleep.  After tossing and turning for a while he sought the best method to lull him to sleep; hearing the King’s chronicle’s read.  I would have awoken the most mono-tone reader in the palace if I had been king.  No rest came to his eyes, but God did bring to his attention the good deed of Mordecai; a deed that the King had never rewarded.  All of these events make a fantastic story, but they are more than a story; they are a picture of the hand of God at work in peoples’ lives to bring glory to his name and fulfill his will on earth.  I believe that he is working in the same way in our lives today.

Stuart

Psalm 119:97-112

It took about 2 minutes to read this passage in this long psalm. Veres 111 has very special meaning to me. From the early days of my life in Christ the Bible has drawn me to it. I have read it over and over again. I can't recall the number of times that I have read it through entirely, but the more I read it the more I want to read it. It's better than chocolate! It's more satisfying than pizza, which is one of my favorite foods. Yet after reading my "fill" I find that I want more. Yes, there are times when I'm too tired to read. There have been days, like this past weekend, when I spent almost no time reading the sacred writings. But thanks be to God that he has given me a hunger for his word. "What a gift!" That's how The Message describes the Bible. And I couldn't agree more. Reading through the Bible in a year is not an easy task, but it is a reward worth the effort.
Stuart

Esther 1-4

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.  This is the third time today that the topic of fasting has been brought up.  That probably means there is a lesson for my life that God is working on teaching me.  I hope that I learn it well.  Esther was planning to undertake a life and death journey into the king’s presence.  Her life was in jeopardy; whether she went to the king or waited her physical life was under a death sentence.  Mordecai had raised her, and apparently he had taught her that when we faced situations that looked insurmountable the only response we have is to approach God’s throne with prayer and fasting.  I think that fasting knocks us off of our own “high horse”, and puts us right where we really  belong; at the foot of God’s throne.  God doesn’t lead us to fast to punish us, or frighten us.  I don’t believe he wants us to fast out of fear.  It is my conviction that God desires our hearts and knows that when we give up something as essential as food in his name, our hearts will move toward him.  We will voluntarily place ourselves in submission to him for our everything.  It is in fasting that I better understand the words of Deuteronomy 8:3 – “. .  man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD”

Stuart