Dave Dishman

Guidance from Overlooked Men and Women of the Bible

Category: Bible (Page 390 of 420)

Genesis is no Parenting Manual

January 21, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Jacob affirmed his favorite child with an extravagant coat, and poured gasoline on the fires of jealousy in the other sons.

Rebekah colluded with one son, Jacob, to fool Issac and steal the father’s blessing from her other son, Esau.

Abraham jump-started a family by taking a slave girl as a surrogate, then later sent mother and son out into the desert to live on their own or die trying.

Loads of parenting principles violated. Don’t buy anyone’s workbook on “Parenting Practices from Genesis.” All this craziness from men and woman God engaged and blessed. Were they the only ones available?

God moved despite their mistakes and missteps. As a terribly imperfect parent myself, I take heart. Lift your heads, my fellow imperfect parents, and my fellow imperfect children. God uses imperfect people.

We’re the only ones available.

Week three of reading the Bible cover to cover.

Words of Poets & Presidents

January 20, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Today in the U.S. is Inauguration Day, our new president and vice-president taking office. Powerful and beautiful words were spoken and sung today. I was particularly moved by the reading from Amanda Gorman, America’s National Youth Poet Laureate. A portion of today’s words will be remembered for years to come, the rest melting quickly under the glaring heat lamp of politics.

However, a few words from today’s ceremony may yet enter the hallowed archives of great American speeches. Time, and history, will tell.

So fascinating then to read about words of the Lord this morning, and realize that of all the words spoken by all the leaders, in all the ceremonies in all of history, few prove flawless.

The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.

Psalm 12:6

Gracious & Compassionate

January 19, 2021 / / 0 Comments

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

psalm 145:8&9

Today’s psalm reading pulls us back from the abyss of God’s anger that I commented on yesterday, and places us on the solid ground of his compassion.

Slow to anger – rich in love – trustworthy – faithful – near to all who call on him and watches over all who love him.

Words to keep close to heart.

Those God Hates…

January 18, 2021 / / 3 Comments

You won’t read the phrase “God hates…” often in scripture, despite popular misconceptions.

But I came across one of those passages this morning in my daily reading, a warning from ancient days: the wicked, those who love violence, God hates with a passion (Psalm 11:5).

Amazingly, credit for this psalm goes to David, a leader who swam in violence, living in a world of almost constant warfare. David understood the difference between those who dealt with violence, and those who loved it, who lived for it, who exalted in its cruelty and power.

I doubt if any readers of this blog are lovers of violence, or seek to propagate such behavior. I do know such people exist in our world today. And, with reflection, I realize that such tendencies exist in the recesses of my heart. So, I heed the warning.

Week three of reading the Bible cover to cover.

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