Hagar is not the only other wife we find in scripture. Sex, infertility, a struggle for power, and the selling of nightly visits are not uncommon in the pages of Genesis. When multiple wives are center stage drama is bound to ensue.
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Category Archives: Bible Study
Bible Journaling - a “new” type of Bible Study
a review and giveaway
Family Christian sent me an ESV Journaling Bible in exchange for an honest review. They have also provided a copy to giveaway.
The ESV (English Standard Version) is one of my favorite translations. Most of my study is done with the NASB (New American Study Bible), NET (New English Translation), and ESV. I enjoy using multiple translations in my studies and my writing. While I have taken classes in Koine Greek I do not pretend to be an expert in translation. The NASB is my preferred for word study, ESV for every day, and NET for digging into the notes left by the translators of the text. Picking up the Egalitarian, Message, and other translations gives me another perspective as well. Each translation holds value.
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Mercy and Grace - Characteristics of God
part 2
Here’s another way I remember the difference, a visual from my personal life. In seminary I stayed in the Charis House. It was the one female dorm at Dallas Theological and there were 7 of us. It was a three story Tudor Style house on the edge of campus.
That year was so much fun and grace was the perfect description as 7 deteremined women from 4 different countries tackled grad school, jobs, and trying to maintain a house together that was falling apart. We had gratitude for the privlige of housing and offered kindness to one another in our struggles and time constraints. I know it’s a silly analogy but the grace I needed to survive my first year of seminary made that dormitory perfectly named. We didn’t deserve punishment, mercy was not needed. Grace was sufficient to see us through.
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Mercy and Grace - Characteristics of God
We deserve nothing from God. Plain and simple. He created us, gave us life, gave us the air we breath. Growing up I remember hearing mothers say to misbehaving children I brought you into this world and I can take you out. We giggle uncomfortably, hoping it’s a joke. The natural conclusion of believing in a God who spoke the world into creation is that he can speak it into extinction. Every day is a gift.
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The Heart of the Matter: Is it the sacrifice, obedience, or intent that’s important?
Part 2: Psalm 15
Last week we dived into Mark 7 where Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for placing man’s tradition before God. He told them it wasn’t what went into the body but what came out of the heart that really mattered. God has the advantage of knowing our hearts. Of knowing our intentions, even at times when we do not.
The Heart of the Matter: Is it the sacrifice, obedience, or intent that’s important?
Part 1: Mark 7
Last weekend my husband and I went on an Army sponsored Marriage Retreat. During the weekend the topic came up of things our significant others do to annoy us. From leaving the toilet seat up to playing video games to being a slob and never having dinner on the table in time, couples were throwing each other’s flaws out there for all to see. Thankfully my husband and I have been together long enough to know our marriage would be better to just keep our mouths shut. So he didn’t out me on never refilling the toilet paper roll or leaving my books piled around the house even though I know it drives him crazy. We were all given just enough rope to hang ourselves before the Chaplain made his point.
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