Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. Isaiah 54:1   REFERENCE Isaiah 54:1-10 It takes real faith and sacrifice to sing when things are not adding up and you are not seeing the fruit of your labor. It seems almost unfair to tell someone who is experiencing a drought to rejoice, because the person doesn’t have any reason to be joyful. You may have strove for so much but gotten very little in return or nothing at all. It may look...

And Nathaniel said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ John 1:46 REFERENCE John 1:43-48 Nathaniel of Galilee’s question, describes just how many of us perceive life. He is so taken by his hometown, Galilee, that he thinks ‘the world’ of it. Interestingly, Galilee means, ‘Circle or Circuit, or Ring.’ Therefore, it is Nathaniel’s globe; the world that encircles him and it defines his outlook on life. What he doesn’t know is that Galilee has become a wall around him; it has bound him in, and kept him from seeing good...

Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt? Numbers 14:3 REFERENCE Numbers 14:1-12 As believers in Christ, we sometimes are equally guilty of this thoughtless statement that the Israelites made in today’s main text. We say things like, “Life was better when I was in the world.” “I had more money/friends/businesses when I was an unbeliever.” We make it look like God ‘interrupted’ our otherwise good life and so, we yearn and cry out for...

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures… - Psalm 23:1-2   REFERENCE Psalm 23:1-6. Just as green grasses provide food and nourishment for animals, the Word of God provides food and nourishment for us as believers. The Word of God is ever green, ever nourishing, ever fresh, never dry, and ever relevant. More so, in it, the weary is rejuvenated, the discouraged finds hope, the weak is made strong, the confused finds direction, and the distressed finds solace. However, if we are not careful, the issues of life can...

Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,' when you have it with you. - Proverbs 3:28   REFERENCE Proverbs 3:27-28 If we leave our flesh to do what it wants, it would often procrastinate the good it knows to do; putting off till tomorrow what ought to be done today. However, there are certain things in life that require urgency; that cannot be put off to another day – for example, salvation, forgiveness and the need to mend our relationships with our spouse, family or friends. More importantly, are the ‘good’...

But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” - Exodus 4:13   REFERENCE Exodus 4:1-16 God often will not do anything on earth without man’s cooperation. He takes one man and does amazing things through him; ordinary men of whom the world thinks nothing, and from whom one would not have expected anything spectacular – Esther, Noah and David are examples. Isaiah heard God’s voice saying, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” There are great purposes God wants fulfilled on the earth – dealing with poverty, educating...

Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.  Joshua 6:1 REFERENCE Joshua 6:1-20 When God brought out the Israelites from Egypt, He gave them the Promise Land which included Jericho and told them to go and possess the land flowing with milk and honey. Although God granted them access to take the land, yet, they had to contend with the enemy – who completely shut them out from possessing what was theirs and wouldn’t let them in. These enemies securely lock downed Jericho so that it was made safe from...

"...But the just shall live by his faith."~ Habakkuk 2:4   REFERENCE Habakkuk 2:1-4  These are times when the journey of life seems uncertain and finishing seems unachievable. Your mind may be dominated by questions and you are wondering why things are the way they are, why things are not letting up or turning out as they should. You may have even gotten to the point of throwing in the towel, but today’s text admonishes you, the just man/woman, to live by your faith (not by your circumstances). In other words, by faith you shall possess, handle the affairs...

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. - Psalm 1:1   REFERENCE Psalm 1:1. From our text, one can see the retrogressive influence of sin on an unwary man: ‘Walks in the counsel:’ Firstly, the downward spiral of sin begins with the desire to seek and then to follow the advice or suggestions of sinful men; being desirous of their ways until it becomes appealing to you to ‘do things’ their way. Secondly, ‘Stand in the path of sinners:’...

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. Matthew 7:6 REFERENCE Matthew 7:6 Philistinism is a derogatory term that describes the ‘manners, habits, and character’ of a person who undervalues and despises art and beauty. Thus, a ‘philistine’ is someone who does not care about or understand good art, music, or literature, and do not think that they are important. So, if you are an art dealer, it will be a miscalculation on your part to make ‘philistines’ your...