Life Here and There

There’s an old hymn I love called Little Is Much. The words are very simple…

Little is much when God is in it
Labor not for wealth or fame
There’s a crown and you can win it
if you’ll go in Jesus’ name.

(more…)

Gideon is one of my favorite Bible heroes. In my wife’s Bible class curriculum, he’s known as “G. I. Deon!” I especially love the way he’s introduced…

The way Gideon sees himself:

Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
~Judges 6:11

His further questioning of God’s choice of him shows us a heart of humility and self-abasement. There was a lack of courage throughout all the land, and Gideon demonstrated this widespread fear. Everybody lived the part of the oppressed. But look at the way God sees Gideon (and announces accordingly):

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!
~ Judges 6:12

I wrote in the margin of my Bible next to this verse, “God calls ‘em like HE sees ‘em!” We see God doing this throughout Scripture – God assigning names and titles to people who really don’t seem to fit the part because He sees what they can and will become. While the rest of the world labels us according to external factors, God labels us according to the heart.

(more…)

I’m preaching through the entire Bible on Sundays at Bethel and we’ve entered the book of Judges. It’s a roller coaster as we watch the Jewish people’s cycle of rebellion > discipline > repentance > revival > deliverance, then rebellion again. Sound familiar? I think it’s a lot like the average life of many believers.

(more…)