Learning From Judah (pt 3 of 4)

After a long time, Judah’s wife died and after a period of mourning, he went up to Timnah, where they were shearing his sheep. Tamar was told that her that Judah was going there, so Tamar came up with a scheme to “fix his goose.”

Learning From Judah (pt 4 of 4)

I want to spend one more message on Judah and this story of Tamar. I may have misled you, and I apologize for that. I told you yesterday that this is one of those statements in the Bible that while factually true and accurate (that is what he said and believed), however, the statement itself is just plain wrong. Tamar was not righteous in what she did, any more than Judah was righteous in what he eventually did. The Lord simply used them despite their sin and rebellion, to achieve His divine purposes.

Learning From Judah (pt 2 of 4)

Yesterday we began to talk about Judah’s attitudes and actions and how he had knowingly violated the Lord’s instructions about marrying Canaanite women. I should have pointed out that it was quite common for these foreign women to be brought into Israel and they assimilated and were eventually considered Israelites. Just as a side note, this principle of being adopted, or grafted, into Israel, was one of the earliest principles set down by the Lord. You and I are (probably) not a Hebrew by ancestry, but we have been grafted in through our faith in our Messiah.

Learning From Judah (pt 1 of 4)

At the beginning of the year, I began sending out a daily email with a link to take folks through the Bible in one year. We are currently going through Genesis and when we read chapter 38, we read something that confused some folks. So, I thought I would try to explain a little what was happening.

The chapter begins this way:

The Holy Spirit

In both the Old and New Testaments, you will find the Holy Spirit displaying his presence in the most unusual ways! He shook buildings. People began to praise him—in new tongues. At Pentecost he came with a mighty, rushing wind! Fire flamed out from the heads of the believers! When the Holy Spirit comes, things get shaken up (see Acts 2:4 and 4:11).
John the Baptist preached, “I’m baptizing you here in the water. The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out” (Luke 3:16).

When You Pray pt 2 (or A Life of Prayer pt 8 )

Yesterday I described our prayers as being a two-way conversation. I like that. Let’s say you have a parent or a close friend who you really respect, and you go to them with a concern or a problem of some sort, you don’t have any hesitation talking to them, do you? You don’t consider making a phone call to them pointless, do you?

Who’s Your Daddy? pt 2 of 2 (or A Life of Prayer pt 6 )

Yesterday I was talking about recognizing Yehoveh as your Father and I began to think about that time with Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. He looks at them and says, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask, so pray something like this: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, may your name be honored . . .” (Matthew 6:8-9) [Other translations render that, "Hallowed be your name . . ."] Then He went on to give them what we call the “Lord’s Prayer.”

Who’s Your Daddy? pt 1 of 2 (or A Life of Prayer pt 5)

Years ago I used to hear ministers and teachers try to compare the relationship between your Heavenly Father and your “earthly” father, saying that if you had a poor relationship with your dad, you would have difficulties relating to your Heavenly Father.

Adversity (pt 6 of 6)

Yesterday I reminded you that each of us will face a “wilderness” period of some type or another. There is no way for me to give you a specific description of what it will be, but as our Lord draws us closer . . . he will purify our life—usually with fire. Much like what is needed to purify gold.

Adversity (pt 5 of 6 )

In the last message we learned that the Lord had led the people he had rescued to humble them and to prepare them for the work he had planned for them. (Ooh, a light just went on. Thank you Father. Sorry, it was a personal message to me).