Never give up!

This phrase has been immortalized by Winston Churchill. But there is a lesson for us to learn!

I am always amazed at the persistence of the Syro-Phoenician woman. We read about her in Mark 7:24-30 and Matthew 15:21-28. This gentile woman had a great need. Her daughter was severely demon possessed. She must have known that Jesus had healed Gentiles before (Matthew 4:24-25; 8:5-13). This Gentile woman also understood who Jesus was. Many of Jesus' own countrymen did not know who Jesus was, but this woman of Canaan knew Jesus as ‘Son of David' and addressed Him as ‘Lord.' So, when she heard that Jesus was in the region of Tyre and Sidon, she decided to seek His help.

The meeting itself was very extraordinary. Though the mother interceded for her...

El Roi, The God Who Sees!

Epiphany refers to the revelation of God; of Jesus coming to us so that we can see Him and surrender ourselves to Him! But God sees us at all times for the Bible says in 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."

When Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away with just a little bread and a skin of water, she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. There she sat down at a distance from Ishmael not wanting to see the boy die. Sitting alone in that wilderness she lifted her voice and wept. And the Bible says that God saw her (Gen 21:17). Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and told her not to fear, for God h...

Give me also Springs of Water!

The story of Achsah, daughter of Caleb, is nestled in the first chapter of the book of Judges. It was the period after the time of Joshua, and all military conquests had not been completed. The Lord commanded the tribe of Judah to start the conquest of the Canaanite tribes. Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of the tribe of Judah, said, "Whoever attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife (Judges 1:12)." Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it and so Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as his wife. Caleb had given his daughter Achsah land in the South. Achsah wanted to ask her father for a field. So, she came to her father said to him, "Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in...