Dave Dishman

Guidance from Overlooked Men and Women of the Bible

Author: Dave Dishman (Page 380 of 475)

My Lack of Hospitality

March 5, 2021 / / 0 Comments

The gift of hospitality fails to appear in my bag of talents. My wife and my in-laws are wonderfully hospitable people. By hospitality I don’t mean the ability to set a table with matching china and damask table linens (whatever damask is), but the talent of making people feel welcome and comfortable in your presence.

Hebrews 13 reminds us to show hospitality to strangers, because some of those strangers might actually be angels.

I wonder about these angels. I assume the writer refers to heavenly beings. But I also believe that my lack of hospitality leads me to miss some wonderful people I don’t yet know – strangers – who may become friends.

Apparently, the Lord knows I need more angels around me because I meet an assortment of strangers everywhere I go. It’s up to me to show hospitality and discover who might be an angel not yet known.

Week nine of reading the Bible cover to cover

A Blessing for All the Ages

March 4, 2021 / / 0 Comments

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

numbers 6:24-26

Aaron’s blessing for the children of Israel, and my blessing for you today.

Week nine of reading the Bible cover to cover

Who’s In Your Great Cloud of Witnesses?

March 3, 2021 / / 1 Comment

The writer of Hebrews speaks to us about heroes of the faith, men and women of whom the world was not worthy.

The writer mentions Moses and David, among others, and adds people who suffered destitution, mocking, flogging, and sawed-off extremities, all while looking to a promised future.

Then, this remarkable statement: Since you are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Somewhere closer than we realize, unseen but very, very real, a crowd of encouragers surrounds us.

I wonder – who’s in my crowd? What people of faith, now passed into glory, cheer me in my daily race? I think of my father, gone 30 years now. I remember people from my church as a boy, those who taught Sunday School, hoping and praying for faith to take root in a room of unruly kids.

Recently my cousin sent me an obituary for our great-great grandmother, Charlotte Angeline Bilyeu, who died on January 21, 1931. Orphaned by the Civil War, Charlotte married at age 15 and raised 10 children. Here’s what’s written regarding her faith:

She joined the Missionary Baptist Church 43 years ago, and remained faithful until God in his wisdom saw fit to remove her from this world to the world beyond, where there will be no heartaches or sighing. Her last admonitions to her children were to make their preparations while in this life that they might be reunited in the world to come.

the crane chronicle (crane missouri) Jan 29, 1931

I believe great-great-grandma Charlotte stands among my cloud of witnesses.

Who stands in yours?

Hebrews 11 & 12 in week nine of reading the Bible cover to cover

Complaining to God

March 2, 2021 / / 0 Comments

I don’t usually feel comfortable sending up prayers of complaint, but David felt no such hesitations. Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint, introduces his prayer in Psalm 64. Sounds like the start of a long HR meeting.

Do we really have the right to complain to God? After all, God granted us life, and all we have comes from his hands. David, a man after God’s own heart, voiced his frustrations with frankness and specificity.

Apparently, God can handle our complaints, and welcomes honesty in our prayer life. It’s deeply encouraging to me to know that I can talk to the Lord about my gripes, as well as my desires and needs and hopes and wonders.

Week nine of reading the Bible cover to cover

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