Tag Archives: Encouragement

We have rounded the last turn and are in the home stretch of this online meditation series, moving through the Old Testament to look at the individuals and important supporting players found in the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, from Matthew, chapter one.  The final person from the genealogy to be mentioned in the Old TestamentContinue reading “Big Plans for a Small House – Haggai 2“

By the time he reached his elder years, the prophet Daniel had seen a lot.  First, he and his friends had been carried off into exile in Babylon, as teenagers, but the Lord did not forget them there.  Because of his faithfulness and God’s favor, Daniel ended up in positions of authority in the royalContinue reading “In the Lion’s Den – Daniel 6“

Do you experience times when a part of you wants to do the things we know are important to God, but another part of you would rather just skip it and do something else?  I think most of us have days like that.  But if we get too focused on our own wants and needsContinue reading “Stirring Up Our Spirits – Haggai 1“

What do believers do when someone or something comes against us unjustly, and we feel helpless to stop them? This happened to the people who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon after their seventy years of exile.  Even though they were simply obeying God, following His will to begin rebuilding the temple, local residents began toContinue reading “Facing Opposition God’s Way – Ezra 4”

Led by their governor, Zerubbabel, a large group of exiles returned to Jerusalem under the decree of Cyrus the Great and began the work of rebuilding the temple.  Governor Zerubbabel was a grandson of the last of the kings in the line of Judah, and is named in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, in MatthewContinue reading “Putting God First – Ezra 3”

Fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah in which the Lord called Cyrus by name 150 years before his rule, King Cyrus now reigned over the entirety of Babylon.  He incorporated his new conquest into an expanding Medo-Persian empire, which was represented by the chest and arms of silver in the human figure of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, foundContinue reading “The Decree of Cyrus – Ezra 1”

Over one hundred and fifty years before Babylon fell to Darius’ armies under King Cyrus, God had spoken of this moment of freedom for His exiled people through the prophet Isaiah.  The transfer of power from Babylon to Medo-Persia brought about an almost immediate royal decree to send a group of the exiles back toContinue reading “The Lord Calls Cyrus – Isaiah 44”

Humility is a quality of the highest value to both God and people, yet humiliation is something to avoid like the plague. So what is humility, and how is it different? I have heard many good definitions for the word. Humility is NOT humiliation, which is a forced and usually painful lowering of one’s standingContinue reading ” Humility vs Humiliation – Daniel 5″

Around twenty years after King Nebuchadnezzar had been restored to his throne in Babylon, the king died, and new leadership was put in his place.  Nebuchadnezzar’s “son” (actually grandson) Belshazzar was now reigning as co-regent, and he presided over the governance of the nation from the palace.  He enjoyed lavish drinking parties, and no expenseContinue reading “The Writing on the Wall – Daniel 5”

After seven years of living among wild animals, temporarily banished from the world’s most powerful throne because of his prideful ways, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon finally came to his senses. The God who had placed him over such a vast and prosperous empire was, at long last, seen by the king for who He trulyContinue reading “Coming to Our Senses – Daniel 4”