Exodus 37-38 ; Proverbs 6:1-11 ; Mark 8 "Old Waffle Iron" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Watercolor on Paper In Exodus 37-38, we come to the construction of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the tabernacle courtyard, etc. Each of these different components are important for the Israelites and for their worship of the Lord. Every item has spiritual significance and relevance to Israel’s future worship when the people a

Exodus 35-36 ; Psalm 25:16-22 ; Mark 7:24–37 "Einladung zum Offenen Abend" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Pen & Ink on Paper Today’s Scripture readings focus on what God is able to do with people who are willing to serve Him wholeheartedly. Within God’s creation, we observe that He determined a pattern for growth and development; He even gave the command, “be fruitful and multiply” (cf., Genesis 1:22). Growth and development are His universal order for created things

Exodus 33-34 ; Psalm 25:8-15 ; Mark 7:1–23 "One of My Students, I" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Pencil Sketch on Paper We come to Exodus 33-34 today, and from each of our readings, I glean that what God desires most of us is intimacy . He is especially pleased when we commit ourselves to walk closely with Him. Yesterday, in chapter 32, we saw the anger of Moses, who, when he came down from the mountain, “threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them in pieces” (c

Exodus 31-32 ; Psalm 25:1-7 ; Mark 6:30-56 "Nadja in Vienna" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Pencil Sketch on Paper Today in our readings we come to Exodus 31-32. In chapter 31, the LORD informs Moses that He has “chosen Bezalel son of Uri … to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship” (verses 2-5). God chose Oholiab “to help him” (verse 6). Here we see that our God,

Exodus 29-30 ; Proverbs 5:15-23 ; Mark 6:6-29 "Nathan at 12, I" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Pencil Sketch on Paper God never forgets anything … except the forgiven sins of His children (Hebrews 8:12). Properly, we should say that He remembers everything, but He “forgets” by forgiving us of our sins and then “remembering” them no more” (cf., Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12). How can He remember so much? Our minds work differently than God’s way of working, and with all ou

Exodus 27-28 ; Psalm 24 ; Mark 5:21–6:6 "Nadja Working on Her Term-Paper" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Pencil Sketch on Paper All of today’s readings focus on our comprehensive need for personal and spiritual purity as a prerequisite to enter into and stand in God’s presence. Truly and properly, we cannot comprehend the holiness of God, nor do we understand how unholy (i.e., impure and sinful) we actually are. God dwells in inapproachable light which hides Him from u

Exodus 25-26 ; Psalm 23 ; Mark 4:30–5:20 "23rd Psalm" © by Eric C. Stricker - Original Ink & Watercolor Illumination on Parchment Today’s readings contain several important biblical principles that we need to apply to our hearts and lives. In Exodus 25-26, we see God instructing Moses in a variety of worship issues that will become a special part of the Israelites’ lives from this point forward. The Israelites are to bring offerings to God as their “hearts prompt them to