SHADOWS IN JERICHO

Spiritual Nuggets  (Light in the Darkness) Daily Devotional   Saturday, August 31, 2024 "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."   —John 1:5 (NASB)   Hymn by Gerhard Tersteegen: "Midst the Darkness, Storm, and Sorrow" Midst the darkness, storm, and sorrow,   One bright gleam I see;   Well I know the blessed morrow,   Christ will come for me.   'Midst the night of doubt and sadness,   When the truth shone near,   When the sun of joy and gladness   Broke forth clear and fair. Oftentimes the sky was darkened,   Ne'er the bright day broke;   All the world to me seemed darkened,   Faith seemed but a cloak.   But the gleam of light grew stronger,   Brighter day by day;   And the waiting seemed not longer   In the morning ray. Yes, I know the blessed morrow   Christ will come again;...

The Immensity of God (Pt 2) A Journey Into the Father’s Heart A.W. Tozer ( Volume 1 - Pg 23-24 PT 2) Scripture teaches the immensity of God. It says in Isaiah: "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,   And marked off the heavens by the span,   And comprehended the dust of the Earth in a measure,   Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?"   —Isaiah 40:12 Imagine going out millions of light years into space and finding a body so vast that you could throw our entire solar system into it like throwing a shovel full of coal into a furnace. It would simply swallow up our solar system and go on. After you’ve thought of all that, remember that God contains all of that. Remember that God is outside of all things, inside of all things, and around all things. Remember that our God made it all. That is the immensity of God. The Holy Ghost is bigger than all the universe. This little hazelnut that Julian of Norwich saw: "Beh...

The Measure of God's Majesty Daily Devotional  (Friday, August 30, 2024) Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,   And marked off the heavens by the span,   And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure,   And weighed the mountains in a balance,   And the hills in a pair of scales?   —Isaiah 40:12 (NASB) (About This Devotional)   This daily reflection seeks to draw us into awe and wonder at the incomparable majesty of God. We will explore the imagery and symbolism in Isaiah 40:12, revealing the profound truth of God’s sovereignty and power over all creation. (Scripture: Isaiah 40:12, NASB)   "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by the span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in a pair of scales?" (Exegesis and Reflection)   In this verse, the prophet Isaiah uses vivid...

God's Immensity (Pt 1) A.W. Tozer   A Journey into the Father's Heart (Vol 1 Pg 17-20) "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"   —Matthew 16:25-26 "And your life is hid with Christ in God."   —Colossians 3:3 "Doubtless, I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."   —Philippians 3:8 Father, we aren’t worthy to think these thoughts, and our friends are unworthy to hear them expressed. But we will try to hear worthily and speak worthily. We know that we have looked upon evil sights, heard with our ears evil words, and walked in evil ways, but now we trust that is behind us, and our eyes are upon You. Show Thyself to us, O God. Shepherd, sweet Wonder, Jesus, ...

(Module 1) Typological Linking—How Jesus' Parables, Nature, and Scripture Reveal Infinite Spiritual Truths _"God's Word is His living fingerprint on His creation. It marks it, defines it, and forms it into the shape He desires. It is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, and omni-temporal."_   — Randall Nelsen (Introduction) Jesus often used parables to convey deep spiritual truths by setting them alongside everyday objects or concepts familiar to His audience. The Greek word (παραβολή) (parabolē, Strong's G3850), meaning "a setting beside," captures this method perfectly. Jesus’ parables serve as a bridge between the natural and the spiritual, illustrating how physical realities can reveal divine truths. This approach is closely related to (typology), a biblical interpretive method where events, objects, or people in the Old Testament are seen as prefiguring or foreshadowing events, objects, or people in the New Testament. The word (τύπος) (typos, Strong...

Barring No Place Profane Evangelism By Mark Van Houten  (Pages 84-88) Many Christians view bars as the antithesis of the church. What they don't realize is that by deciding not to set foot in a bar, they make it easier for unbelievers to reach a similar resolve—not to set foot in a church. What these Christians don't realize is that bars are excellent places for them to exhibit God's presence in every aspect of life. I have seen more people come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ in bars than anywhere else. I emphasize that these barroom conversations were not drunken commitments; the conversions of which I speak were all sober commitments made only after serious and relatively long-term shepherding into discipleship. It seems that bars fill a serious human need in our fragmented, mobile, anonymous society that thirsts for fellowship, and so a bar is very able to quench more than one kind of thirst. I firmly believe that the church is the only other neighborhood organization...

God's Infinitude (Pt 2) A Journey into the Father's Heart Pages 6-7 by A.W. Tozer What About Power? What about power? If God had all the power there is except a little bit, and if somebody else had a little bit of power hoarded that God couldn't get to, then we couldn't worship God. We couldn't say that this God is of infinite power because He wouldn't be of infinite power. He’d just be close to it. While He would be more powerful than any other being and perhaps even more powerful than all the things in the universe lumped together, He still would have a defect, and therefore, He couldn't be God. Our God is perfect—perfect in knowledge and power. If God had goodness but there was one spot in God that wasn't good, then He wouldn't be our God and Father. If God had love but didn't have all the love—just 99 and 9/10% of the love, or even a higher percentage—God still wouldn't be God. God, to be God, must be infinite in all that He is. He must h...

Volume 1: A Journey into the Father's Heart, (Pages 4-6 by A.W. Tozer)   Infinity Cannot Be Measured "Infinity cannot be measured. We've got to eliminate all careless speech here. You and I talk about unlimited wealth, but there's no such thing—you can count it. We talk about boundless energy, which I don't feel I have at the moment, but there's no such thing—you can measure a man's energy. We say an artist takes infinite pains with his picture, but he doesn't take infinite pains; he just does the best he can and then throws up his hands and says, 'It isn't right yet, but I'll have to let it go.' That's what we call infinite pains, but that is a misuse of the word.

     Spiritual Nuggets (Daily Devotional)  Tuesday, August 20, 2024   B.U.S.Y.   Busy = Bound Under Satan's Yoke In the clamor of life, we hustle and strain,   Our souls weighed down by burdens and pain.   But in the quiet, a whisper is near,   "Come, sit at My feet; find peace from your fear."   The world’s heavy yoke presses down tight,   Yet in My embrace, your burdens are light. “For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30, NASB)     (About This Devotional) This daily reflection seeks to provide insight and encouragement, drawing from the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42. We will explore how being overly busy can bind us under a yoke of distraction and anxiety, pulling us away from the most important aspect of our lives—our relationship with Jesus.

Profane Evangelism Taking the Gospel into the Unholy Places   by Mark Van Houten, Pages 109-110   (God of Love, Denise) Of the hundreds of names of God identified in the Bible, the most endearing and enduring is the last in my list: God is love. All the names and meanings of God can be naturally subsumed under this name—Love. Countless volumes have been written on God's love, and even on God as love. Yet, God as love warrants our attention because of a basic and pervasive misunderstanding among Christians.

Daily Devotional - August 18, 2024  Forged in the Fire:  The Path from Suffering to Hope   (About This Devotional) This daily reflection is meant to encourage and uplift you on your spiritual journey. Rooted in Romans 5:3-4, today’s nugget offers insights into how the trials we face can shape us into stronger, more hopeful individuals.   (Scripture: Romans 5:3-4) "But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Forged in fire, tempered by grace,   Each strike a lesson, from the trials we face.   From raw to refined, by the Master’s hand,   We emerge as warriors, as a sword in His hands.

🌲📚 Embark on an epic journey where faith and adventure collide. (Click the link below to visit my Linktree) My Linktree Dive into the world of Shadows in Jericho, a historical and spiritual adventure that takes you through the aftermath of the Jacobite Wars, where betrayal, redemption, and divine intervention shape the lives of Captain Thomas Montgomery and his crew. Follow my Linktree (Above!) to connect with my Facebook page, blog, and TikTok account, where you’ll find all the latest updates on the book's journey. Whether you want to follow along, offer ideas, speculate, or simply immerse yourself in the creative process, your input is welcome!

Anchor of My Soul  Patrick O'Finnegan's  Hymn and Speech After the Shipwreck   (August 1, 1745)  After surviving the harrowing shipwreck on Ascension Island, Patrick O'Finnegan, the ship's first mate and spiritual guide, leads the crew in a hymn that speaks to the heart of their faith. His words offer comfort, strength, and guidance as they continue their journey.

 Adapting to Reach the World Without Becoming Like the World Message - Spiritual Chameleons  (June 11, 2011) (Updated Version: August 10, 2024) Adapting to Reach the World While Staying True to Christ In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NASB), the Apostle Paul writes: "For though I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may gain more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; to those who are without the Law, I became as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some."

June 15, 1748 | Rochefort, France In the summer of 1748, the renowned maritime painter Claude Joseph Vernet captured the essence of the magnificent (Spirit of the Highlands) through his masterful painting. This grand vessel, acquired by Captain Thomas Montgomery and refurbished at the renowned Arsenal de Rochefort, represents a perfect blend of innovation, strength, and beauty. This painting embodies the rich history and advanced shipbuilding techniques of the time, showcasing the (Spirit of the Highlands) as a beacon of maritime excellence. With a copper-sheathed hull, advanced rigging, and reinforced structure, this ship stands as a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the era.

🛠️ Before the Spirit of the Highlands set sail into legend, it was a meticulously crafted blueprint in Henri's workshop at Rochefort. Every detail was designed with precision, combining technical expertise with artistic vision: - Length: 100 feet - Beam: 30 feet - Draft: 12 feet - Tonnage: 300 tons - Speed: 12 knots - Armament: 20 cannons, reinforced hull for superior durability - Crew Complement: 60-65 men - Modifications:   - Copper Sheathing: To enhance speed and reduce biofouling, ensuring the ship's longevity in treacherous waters.   - Advanced Rigging: Designed for optimal maneuverability, allowing the ship to respond swiftly to changing wind conditions.   - Precision Navigation Instruments: Equipped with the latest tools to guide the ship through uncharted territories with unmatched accuracy.   - Custom Highland Warrior Figurehead: A masterfully carved figurehead symbolizing strength and heritage, designed to strike fear and awe into onlookers.

Excerpt from "Profane Evangelism: Taking the Gospel into the Unholy Places" by Mark Van Houten (Pages 88-89) Besides bars, game rooms are also good places for Christians to exhibit God's power. People still believe that God is an ogre who hates to see anyone having fun. Almost daily, young people ask me what business a minister has in a game room. The game room, I tell them, is where I feel particularly close to God. Seriously, there are always a lot of children in the game room. We are all the children of God. When we learn these games, just as when we begin to learn about God, we fight them, and we fight God. But when we understand the game, and when we begin to understand God, we can stop fighting and start enjoying ourselves—start scoring big.

(1 Peter 3:15, NASB)  Introduction to Apologetics  In systematic theology, apologetics is the discipline concerned with the reasoned defense of the Christian faith. The term "apologetics" comes from the Greek word ἀπολογία (apologia), meaning "a reasoned defense" or "a speech in defense." This is also where we get the English word "apology," though in this context, it means offering a reasoned explanation or justification for one's beliefs, not expressing regret. Traditionally, apologetics has been focused on defending the truth and reliability of Scripture, the existence of God, and the core beliefs of Christian doctrine. However, true apologetics goes beyond intellectual arguments. It involves sharing the personal impact of Christ’s transformative work in our lives. When we combine this testimony with the truths of Scripture, it becomes a powerful witness to the Gospel, showing that our personal experience aligns with what the Bible teaches...

The Storm of Surrender   Painting by Joseph Vernet,  1748, Paris, France     Inspiration for the Painting: This maritime painting by Joseph Vernet captures the harrowing moment when Captain Thomas Montgomery and his crew faced a violent storm off Ascension Island. The painting, titled "The Storm of Surrender," depicts the shipwreck, with crew members clinging to debris as they pray for divine intervention. Subtle angelic figures can be seen in the clouds, symbolizing the spiritual awakening that occurred during this trial. Captain Thomas Montgomery's Personal Journal   Saturday, June 12, 1745   Early Morning: