NEHEMIAH 4:7–18; EPHESIANS 6:17 Nehemiah’s supervision led Israelite workers to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, but news of their enemies plotting an attack demoralised them. Nehemiah prayed, placed guards strategically, and armed his workers. Materials carriers worked with one hand and a weapon in the other, while builders wore their swords at their sides, as described in Nehemiah 4:17–18. Building … [Read more…]
JAMES 1:22–27 Samuel recalls his difficult childhood in sub-Saharan Africa, where his mother gave him chilli peppers before bed and he drank water to cool his mouth and feel full, which he found unsuitable for his diet. Samuel’s father fled due to government upheaval, leaving their mother as the sole provider. His brother had sickle cell anaemia, … [Read more…]
REVELATION 21:1-7 James Oglethorpe, a British general and Parliamentary member, had a vision for a great city. As the settler of Georgia, he designed Savannah, a city with a series of squares with green spaces, designated areas for churches and shops, and housing. Today, Savannah is a beautiful, well-organised city, considered a jewel of the … [Read more…]
1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-12; HEBREWS 3:13 Richard, exhausted and ready to quit, sought encouragement from his friend Kevin during a rock climbing session. Kevin urged him on, stating he had come too far to quit. Richard, dangling in midair, continued trying, and miraculously, he was able to reconnect with the rock and complete the climb thanks to … [Read more…]
RUTH 2:1-11 Ruth, a foreigner, widow, and poor woman, would be considered a nobody in many parts of the world today, with no hope for her future. Ruth found favour from a wealthy relative of her deceased husband, Boaz, who owned the fields where she asked for permission to glean grain. She asked Boaz what she … [Read more…]
ISAIAH 49:13-21 At her mother’s 50th birthday celebration, the firstborn daughter shared her mother’s sacrifices for her, including selling her jewellery and belongings to support her through high school. Despite the hardships, she emphasised that her mother never abandoned her or her siblings. God compared His love for His people to a mother’s love for her … [Read more…]
MARK 4:35–5:1 A plane ride became bumpy when the captain interrupted in-flight beverage service and asked passengers to fasten their seatbelts. The plane began to roll and pitch, and a little girl sat through the turbulence reading her book. After the plane landed, she was asked why she was so calm, and she explained that … [Read more…]
ISAIAH 53:1-6 A man recalled his daily task every time he went to see his maternal grandfather. He took the sheep out to pasture every morning, returning by dusk. That was when he first realised how stubborn sheep can be. For instance, when they saw a farm, they would immediately enter it out of instinct, … [Read more…]
HEBREWS 2:10-18 According to Rodney Brooks of _USA Today_, David Dillard sends young architects on sleepovers to understand the needs of elderly residents. They spend 24 hours in a senior living center, wearing earplugs, tape, and eyeglasses. Dillard says this approach helps them develop a larger heart, better understanding of people’s plights. Jesus lived 33 years … [Read more…]
LAMENTATIONS 5:8–22; EZRA 9:9 Located in Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter is Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue. The synagogue, which was constructed in the 19th century, was dynamited by commandos during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The site was in ruins for years, but in 2014, rebuilding began. City officials used rubble as a cornerstone, quoting Lamentations: “Restore us to yourself, Lord, … [Read more…]
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