Having camped in the safety of the New Testament for so long, I tend to think of God only as my refuge, my savior, and my friend (awwww!). While these attributes are VERY true and important, they are only part of God's vast persona. Reintroducing myself to the Old Testament reminds me to revere God with a healthy dose of awe. After all, he is also my authority, and my judge.

Reacquainting oneself with the Old Testament after many years of neglecting the Word can be surprising. It turns out, the characters we read about were not more spiritually equipped than we are today, nor were they more moral. However, there are common traits and themes we can see and learn from in those who were closest to God, and it all comes down to matters of the heart. 

Revisiting a passage in Matthew after many years of neglecting the Word brought a new, fresh insight: the importance of discernment. 

Revelations Chapter 18 provides an unexpected opportunity to evaluate who influences our decisions and actions the most.

Often, it's the simple sentences that stick with me most. In Hebrews 10 I found this: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

In 1 Peter, Chapter 3, we are told not only to seek peace, but to also pursue it. It's interesting to consider this subtle, but forceful distinction, and to reflect on how pursing peace might change our lives. 

The words "fear and trembling" get tossed around a lot in religious conversation. It's interesting, though, to go back to the source; to read the verses where this phrase stemmed from, and glean even more than expected! 

I'll be the first to admit it:  Sometimes I'm not in the mood to rejoice. Just recently, though, I read 2 Corinthians 13, which gave me a bit of an epiphany on the subject of being joyful.

Where Romans 12:8, financial gazelles, and the concept of paying rent intersect. 

Mark 4:35-6:6 covers the story of a young women who was dead, but came back to life again.