Are You Thirsty?
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. (Jn 7:37) If That if is almost a rhetorical question. “If” we thirst. Of course we thirst, but do we know we thirst? Do we realize how parched our…
Many Afflictions Good Deliverer
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19 ESV) I’m feeling that urge to hope. That fresh-year sense that things might get better. But then I read this verse. And I remember that my Father doesn’t promise a prosperous new year. He promises the opposite.…
Emmanuel’s Story: Simeon’s Light
It’s been so long, Lord. You made a promise from before the beginning of time, and your people have waited. We need Messiah. We were cast out of the garden. Our fathers failed to obey. We continue to turn away from you. Your law only proved how wicked our hearts truly were. We can’t save…
Emmanuel’s Story: Daniel and the Magi
We’ve come a long way in biblical history, and now because they broke the covenant, both Israel and Judah have been cast out of the Promised Land. Sad. It seemed like the end of Israel, the end of God’s blessing to his people, and the end of the promise. Ah, but even in exile, God…
Emmanuel’s Story: We Approach the Throne
I’ve always loved the story of Cinderella. A poor, orphan girl wins the prince’s love and becomes a princess. It reminds me of my story as a bride of Christ. Before I discovered that the prince chose me, I floundered as an unwanted daughter. Without a father to love and care for me, I was…
Emmanuel’s Story: A Gentle Whisper
Today we turn to the next person in our quick journey through the Old Testament. Remember his story? The Lord sent him to preach against the evil King Ahab and his uber-wicked wife Jezebel. During the ultimate stand-off, Elijah went against Baal’s prophets. Simple test: I’ll make an altar to my God. You make an…
Emmanuel’s Story: Forever Shepherd King
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. Luke 1:8 Have you ever thought about why the angels appeared to shepherds? I mean, why shepherds? There must be a reason. (This is how my mind works.) Imagine those shepherds. Such a dirty job. Lonely. Nothing glorious…
Changed by a Baby 2: A Reason to Smile!
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice. Phil. 4:4 As I stood in the bathroom, the dread of disappointment draped over me. More than a year earlier, I’d lost my second baby to miscarriage. Day after day, infertility ate away at me as I watched friends my age raising kids—their first, second,…
Changed by a Baby: From Bitter to Pleasant
Did you realize there were so many babies in the Old Testament? I never really thought about it until I started doing this study! Now we come to another one—or another lack of one. The book of Ruth opens with the land of Israel languishing in a hot mess they’ve created for themselves. They have no…
Emmanuel’s Story: Holding My Father’s Hand
Okay friends! We’re leaving the first five books and moving on to Joshua. I have to say, even though I rarely hear Joshua preached or taught on, I’ve discovered so many tasty nuggets in this book. Let’s take a look. I love how we first find Joshua. He’s terrified! Well, it doesn’t specifically say he…
Books by Ocieanna
