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"...But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." Genesis 32:26b My brothers and I are the youngest of our cousins. When we were still elementary school aged, the cousins were teenagers, and depending on their moods and the level of parental supervision we were either doted on or picked on at family gatherings. A favorite activity was wrestling, or "wras...
Keep ReadingThen he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." (Genesis 32:28). How is it possible that an old man was able to hold his own in a wrestling match against God himself? Is God acting like a father who plays down to the level of a young child? Or is there something about Jacob and his stub...
Keep ReadingGenesis 32:22-32 Welcome into a new season (summer!), and to the start of a new series, Signature Moments! A "signature moment" is one in which a person reveals something of their true nature and character. During this series, we will look at the ways God encounters people throughout Scripture and "writes his name" on that person or set of circumstances. We begin with o...
Keep ReadingWhat gain has the worker from his toil? (Ecclesiastes 3:9) A popular question that has found itself linked to success and achievement is, "How much of a planner are you?" The prevailing sentiment is that sticking to a solid plan will lead to a successful outcome. Yet there can be great variation in how we approach planning. Are you someone who needs to know what to expec...
Keep ReadingI know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothingtaken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him (Ecclesiastes 3:14). A few years ago, a man named Juan and his wife had a thriving small business in Chicago. It was highly rated on social media and all was going great - they were "living the dream." Then sudde...
Keep ReadingI know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do goodwhile they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfactionin all their toilthis is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 3:12,13). The kids and I run down the daily schedule in the van every day on the way to school. "Dad will pick you up after practice, I'll get you from the car rider ...
Keep ReadingThere is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavensa time to plant and a time to uproota time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracinga time to be silent and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). Have you ever been at a crossroads but weren't sure which direction to go? The Bible says that there is an appointed time for everything, but...
Keep ReadingThere is a time for everything, and a season for every purpose under heaven:a time to be born and a time to die (Ecclesiastes 3:1-14). This week we'll finish up our Way of Wisdom series and lay some groundwork for the next series (but no spoiler alerts from us!). Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 (for those of a certain age, cue The Byrds' "Turn, Turn, Turn") will be our focus text th...
Keep ReadingThe rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and itfell with a great crash (Matthew 7:27). College was understandably a time of academic intensity. I felt like what I was doing wastoo demanding and worthwhile to not give it all I had. I didn't get straight A's, but I was proud of my efforts. I felt like I really knew how to be a so...
Keep Reading"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on ...
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