“You have been tagged in 39 new photos….” Facebook notified me of new pictures displayed online, apparently with my face participating somewhere in the frame. My amazing friends and students of our college ministry were spending their Spring Break serving inner city Dallas, Texas. My husband was leading this missions trip, while I stayed home…
Finding 5 Minutes with God…And Loving It! (the Leviticus study continued with chapter 24)
I woke up today pretty groggy and exhausted. My little boy has a lingering cough that wakes him up at all hours of the night. His cough is loud and sharp, frightening his twin sister in the crib next to him, causing screaming fits at all hours of the night. So what do I do,…
Leviticus 23: There Ain’t no Party like a God-ordained Party
Studying Leviticus gave me a new perspective on observing of Passover, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter this spring. Though the big holiday season ended barely a week ago, I am still musing over the significance of each holiday and what they represent in my life today. Leviticus 23 begins with instructions for the sacred assemblies: on a…
The Prince Who Chose Drizella
I was a bit skeptical about the 2015 interpretation of Cinderella. This has got to be my favorite fairy tale, so I like to see it filmed exceptionally well. I believe the story of Cinderella is written on the hearts of every human being on the planet, which is why we relate so well to…
I am Made Alive
Dreary winter clinging to the month of March. Sickness hovers over my family like the low stratus clouds overhead. Unending desire to wear sandals, yet feet confined by well-meaning but still-restrictive socks and shoes. Motionless shadows, missing the sunbeam’s instinct to change things up with every passing second. Hibernation is lazy living, but requires such mental work to…
Leviticus 21-22: Expectations for the Priests
Chapters 21-22 spell out God’s expectations for the priests, descendants of Aaron, and their duties. While I don’t normally read 2 chapters in a row, today it was appropriate since both chapters create a special section in the “Holiness code” portion of Leviticus. What does this tell me about God: God held the priests to a…
Leviticus 20: Placing greater value on Relationships
One of the main reasons I am blogging my way through my study in Leviticus is so you, dear reader, can see that IT CAN BE DONE. Reading hard books of the Bible is not only do-able, but it also beneficial! However, it can still be intimidating. Here’s a peek at how I tackled this…
Leviticus 19: Following Rules or Fellowship with God?
I recently had the privilege of praying along side a young woman as she accepted Christ as her Savior. It was exhilarating to see her find peace and freedom as she realized at last that she could come to God through Jesus, just the way she is. In the weeks leading up to this moment,…
Navigating a Sex-Crazed Culture (With an Old Testament Chapter as Your Guide: Leviticus 18)
This is the big one! Many people have targeted Leviticus 18 as the chapter to debate in the conversation about God and homosexuality. I encountered this conversation twice in the week leading up to reading this chapter. I find it helpful to read the chapter in its entirety (and the whole book of Leviticus, for…
Leviticus 17: Worship Matters to Community
From our readings so far, we see that chapters 1-16 in Leviticus focus on how to have relationship with a Holy God. God provided the sacrifices and expectations for set-apart living so the people would have access to Him in an appropriate way. With chapter 17, we are entering new territory in the Leviticus outline….