Day 51 (end of the journey)
Gen 13:18 — Abram moved his tent, and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre. which are at Hebron.
Author: footstepsofabram_lskpe5
Day 51 (end of the journey)
Gen 13:18 — Abram moved his tent, and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre. which are at Hebron.
Day 46
Abram had come a long way and his journey was almost over. You, too, have traveled far and are almost at the end of this unpredictable journey/semester. I pray you finish well, and, as did Abram, “call on the name of the Lord” (verse 4).
Day 39 (guest blogger)
The author of Hebrews wrote these words before entering into a section about those who died in faith that God would hold to His promises. Beginning with creation and ending with the Exodus, the author uses the Old Testament to illustrate how we are to hold in faith to the sure promises that we have received from God. In spite of suffering, loss, and the promises seeming impossible, the Lord’s people have always held in faith that the Lord will do what he has promised in His word.
There is perhaps no greater example of this than Abraham. Abraham received great promises, but these were not promises that could be seen. He was renamed as the father of many nations when he was childless. He was told that this promise would come through his son Isaac, but then he was told to sacrifice this same son. He was called righteous, not because he lived a righteous life (he certainly didn’t!), but because he held to these promises that he had received from the righteous God. Abraham believed that the Lord would keep his promises. Though he did not live to see them fulfilled and all things in his life appeared otherwise, Abraham believed that the Lord would keep His word.
We have also received great promises:
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4) -Our sins have been drowned in the waters of baptism. They are sealed in His grave and we are raised up with Him as new creations.
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
-Christ has united the whole church as one body through the gift of His very own body and blood.
“Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)
Christ has given us His promises. His words remain true, now and always. In spite of all appearances to the contrary, the kingdom of God has reigned on earth since the day that Christ first announced it. We hold in faith to sure promises that we are unable to see. We eagerly await the day when our faith is made sight, but until that day I leave you with words from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”
-Kyle Bliss
Day 38
I thought of this small piece of text because today is sometimes called “Thomas Sunday.” It is the second Sunday of Easter on which many churches read the story of “Doubting” Thomas. He was someone who wanted to see for himself.
Day 35
Today, an example of that came my way via the other Dr.Schuler’s involvement in Jubilate, The director, Prof. Speer, shared a video for our time using the music of the “Hallelujah Chorus” by Friedrich Handel. Those of you in Jubilate have probably seen it. But I commend it to all of you.
Day 32 (guest blogger)
As I’m writing this, it’s about 2:30 in the morning. The sky out my bedroom window is dark. Looking out, it’s an empty, dark expanse.
Maybe reflecting what many of us are feeling.
Lonely, unable to see those we care for. Uncertain, not knowing how long this is going to last. Helpless, unable to do anything as we hear of others hurting. Maybe even hopeless, overwhelmed. The list goes on.
The world feels quite dark right now, leading to a sense of emptiness in ourselves.
And yet I remember growing up in rural Iowa. Away from street lamps and city lights. Coming home from evening events or long car rides from visiting family. And looking up to see the stars. I don’t think seeing them ever got old- the beauty of these lights filling the night sky.
In the dark, empty expanse of space, God placed innumerable stars to bring light and warmth. How much more, then, can He place light, warmth, and beauty in our lives?
There is so much joy in store for us. Even in the little things.
For example, as I was struggling to stay awake during a lecture this morning, hearing my younger sister’s laughter from upstairs brought a smile to my face.
Yet is it wrong to not be happy? Is God with us only in the moments of joy?
“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” ~Genesis 1:2
The darkest and emptiest the Earth has ever been. God was there. Not just in power, and certainly not in apathy, but in love. The Spirit stayed close to the Earth. Perhaps similar to a parent hovering over a sleeping infant.
At our darkest, at our emptiest, God is with us. He is not “out there” merely hearing the prayers we may or may not be able to bring ourselves to speak, but listening to our cries and distress. Just as God was close to the Earth at the beginning of Creation, so He is with us now, caring and comforting.
“Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Genesis 1:3
Glorious day, breaking out through the darkness. At a word, the light poured through, and a beautiful day began. Imagine what that first sunrise may have looked like.
So God has the power to pour beauty and hope and joy into our lives, no matter how dark or empty or hopeless they may seem.
There is light. The sun will rise, and in the meantime we have the stars God places into the dark and empty. Know that no matter what, you are loved. You are not alone, and you never will be.
~Isaac
Day 31
Hebrews 11:8-16–
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
Day 29
[Personal lesson: trying to do too much means not everything gets done.]
The middle of Holy Week is relatively quiet. But on the night of the Passover meal — the purpose of the journey to Jerusalem — matters spiraled quickly … betrayal ,.. religious trial … political trial … crucifixion. Suddenly, on a Friday, the journey ends at a tomb hastily provided before sundown.
https://jehovahlutheran.online
Day 25 (side trip)
Our side trip during Holy Week follows in the footsteps of Jesus. The most famous part of his trip was yesterday . . the entry into Jerusalem (no social distancing then, or at any time during the Passover, as Jerusalem swelled from 40,000 to about 250,000). Do we even remember what being in a crowd is like?
Days 22-24
Yes, he took a side trip! After the long journey from Haran to Canaan, due to a natural calamity (a famine not a pandemic), Abram went to Egypt. Side trips from a journey often happen, sometimes from curiosity and sometimes from necessity.