The word “foil” or literary foil is usually associated with a character in a story that brings out or challenges the protagonist’s character. This is what happened in 2 Samuel when Uriah continues to challenge David’s character, exposing his weaknesses. In the midst of any challenges, God continues to transform us to be more like Christ for our good and his glory.

Walls can either be a symbol of peace and protection or they can be an image of division. With all the confusion that is happening in our world today, Ephesians 2 shows us that Jesus came to our chaotic world to restore us, even if it means tearing down walls.

Control, authority, influence desire to possess this kind of power, has set many in the course of human history on a road to destruction. Jesus makes a way for each of us and frees us from the struggle of striving to make our own way. Through him we are free indeed!

Have you ever noticed how waiters in fine restaurants observe their customers with detail to make sure they have the best experience? A lot of us don’t observe other people like it unless it’s a part of our job. David reminds us in Psalms that our loving Father cares about the details of our everyday lives. If we take the time to pay attention we see that he is working in and around us for our good!

We are constantly inundated with notifications and messaging from the world around us.. From our phones to LED billboards, from our smart TVs to our social media platforms, we are constantly distracted. Comparable to what happened in Mark 5, we see that Jesus stops to notice and care for the sick woman amidst the chaotic crowd. Let us follow Jesus’ example and take time to notice those who are lost and sick and love the ones who are hurting.

Do you ever wonder if the Almighty God is present in your daily life? Like the disciples, have you been through a storm and doubted Jesus’ presence? Michelle shares her story about how she experienced God when literal waves were crashing around her. You may go through furious storms and harsh waves but rest in the assurance of God’s peaceful embrace that appeases all chaos.

Gardening takes a lot of time, dedication, and patience. Like the care that it takes for a gardener to replant and grow a mighty cedar tree, Ezekiel reminds us that God himself nurtures us and prunes us for our own good. He walks with us through our journey in life and includes us to participate in the advancement of his kingdom.

We sometimes find ourselves out of words when we are overwhelmed with emotions. This is similar with our relationship with God. We often find it difficult to talk to him or even fail to express the entirety of our emotions. God tells us in Romans 8 that he knows our deepest thoughts and even our worst heartaches. Let us be assured that when we feel like all is lost, God is always there to listen to us and ready to embrace us with arms wide open.

Like the stories of Jesus in the Bible, the courtroom drama that we see on TV is based on eyewitness testimony. Our human biases can cause us to misremember or unconsciously give false testimony. The Bible may have been written by man but every word is inspired by God himself. John reminds us that God never lies and his testimony is that he gave us a new life through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life!

Instead of grasping for power, Jesus conquered the world through love. He came and flipped the world upside down to usher in his kingdom.