Samuel grieves. He fears. He makes assumptions. Samuel is profoundly human. Yes, even Samuel, what a relief. I want to sit with Samuel for a moment because it’s easy to forget that the great heroes of Scripture were not immune to disappointment. Samuel was a prophet unlike any other. Scripture tells us that not one […]
God’s initial call often aligns with a person’s natural abilities or desires (what they can and want to do). Over time he tests not their ability but their heart. The test reveals the heart by demanding surrender in the very area where self-will is strongest. This test works to deepen relationship and intimacy with God. […]
I read the Lord is not restrained by pain that I may hold By blood or death or truth or means, by things that i’ve been told He is not restrained by weakness, not restrained by might, He is not restrained by what may come Or things that don’t seem right, The Lord is not […]
I battled low self-esteem and body-image issues throughout my teens and early twenties. Feet, oddly enough, were a thing for me. I wanted beautiful feet so badly. I remember once flipping through a Lands’ End catalog looking at bathing suits when I noticed a swimsuit model—beautiful, thin, everything I thought I wanted to be—and she […]
What Saul teaches us in this portion of Scripture is that poor leadership, focused inward rather than outward toward the people, will often lead people into sin. For these kinds of leaders, being obeyed becomes more important than guiding others to obey God. Their authority serves to bolster their own confidence and preserve their image. […]
My Faith Place 