Bucket Full of Grace

Would You Rather Self-Help or Take Courage? Take Courage by Kristene DiMarco is not about self-help.  We live in a culture of "self-help" with all sorts of mantras like "pull yourself up by your bootstraps," "you need to have grit" and "success is falling down 7 times and getting up 8."  There is some truth to these things and hard work is important but it's not everything.  If your confidence comes from your drive and perseverance to overcome then you will eventually be exhausted and disappointed.  There is rest in the Lord.  But, it's not what rest looks like to this world.  It looks like taking courage that you didn't have.   Take Courage in the New Testament In the New Testament there are many places where Jesus tells people to "take courage" which is an interesting phrase.  It means there is a well of courage available to you for overcoming life and it is available.  All you have to do is take it.  If you think you can...

Joke: Do you know what you call a person who speaks 3 languages? Trilingual. Do you know what you call a person who speaks 2 languages? Bilingual. Do you know what you call a person who speaks 1 language? American! Americans, are pretty isolated linguistically, many of us flat out intimidated by languages other than our own. But even if you can’t tell a Hebrew aleph from a Greek alpha (those are letters of the alphabet), YOU CAN do basic word studies on the Bible. Here’s how. 1. In your passage of choice, pick out 3-4 words to study . 2. Get at the various ways the word could be used when the author wrote the book you are studying. How many uses for the English word “hand” can you think of right off the top of your head? I bet you could think of at least 8-10 with a little effort. “Hand me a brick.” “Give him a hand with that box.” “Give him a hand for that performance.” “The hand on the clock is bent.” “That horse must be 15 hands high.” “He’s a hired ha...

Devotional Study Psalms 34 Psalms 34 A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away. I will praise the L ORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the L ORD ; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the L ORD ’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the L ORD , and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the L ORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the L ORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the L ORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the L ORD , you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the...

Heraclitus was a Greek philosopher in the 6th century B.C.  He was the first man to use the term Logos.  In his writing, he used it to show that there is a divine reason or plan that coordinates a changing universe.  [http://www.iep.utm.edu/heraclit/] In the New Testament book of John, this word "logos" is translated into "word" however, there is a connotation that we lose in the english rendition where logos means " the reason behind the universe ."  So, I'd like to share with you my rendition of John 1:1-18 in this Christmas season, where I'm replaced each instance of logos and references to Him and He [the personal pronouns referring to the Logos] with "" the reason behind the universe. "  I hope it helps you contemplate the true reason for the season. John 1:1-18 1   In the  beginning  was  the  reason behind the universe , and the  reason behind the universe  was  with  God , and  the  reason behi...