Losing a beloved pet can be absolutely devastating. Our furry friends become part of the family, and saying goodbye is incredibly hard. As Christians, we can find comfort and hope in God’s Word as we walk through the grieving process. Recognize That Grief Is Normal When we experience the death of a pet, it is normal and expected to grieve. Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Part of living in a fallen world is dealing with sorrow and loss. Jesus himself wept…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
The story of the Exodus is one of the most pivotal events recorded in the Bible. This epic moment marks the liberation of the Israelites from slavery under the Egyptians and sets the stage for God’s covenant with His chosen people. At the center of this account is a defiant Pharaoh who refuses to let the Israelites go, triggering the 10 plagues from God that ultimately lead to freedom. But who exactly was this Pharaoh of the Exodus? The Bible does not explicitly name the Pharaoh of the Exodus. However, through clues in the biblical text and correlation with Egyptian…
This is an excellent question that requires careful examination of the biblical text. Exodus 9 describes two of the plagues that God sent upon Egypt – a plague on the livestock in verses 1-7, and a plague of boils on the Egyptians and their animals in verses 8-12. In Exodus 9:6, we read that during the livestock plague, “All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.” This seems to imply that all the Egyptian livestock died in this plague. Yet later in verse 20, during the plague of boils, we read that…
The beloved Psalm 23 has brought comfort and peace to millions of people for thousands of years. The psalmist David wrote “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). But how can we truly have no fear in the face of difficulty, danger, and even death? What does the Bible have to offer about overcoming fear and having confidence in God? Recognizing the Source of Fear Fear often comes from focusing on the problem itself rather…
The verse 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” This verse encourages believers to always be abounding and excelling in serving the Lord. But what does it mean to abound in the Lord’s work and how can we live that out? What Does It Mean to Abound in the Lord’s Work? The word “abound” means to excel, to be plentiful, to overflow. To abound in the Lord’s work means that we are overflowing with zeal, diligence, and…
The Green Bible is a version of the Bible that highlights verses and passages that relate to environmental stewardship and care for creation. The text of the Bible itself is the New Revised Standard Version, but key verses and sections relevant to nature and the earth are printed in green ink instead of the standard black. The Green Bible was conceived and published in 2008 by HarperOne, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. The goal was to make it easier for people to see and reflect on what the Bible says about the environment and our responsibility as Christians to care…
The Bible warns that in the last days, there will be an increase in demonic and satanic activity, including miracles, signs and wonders performed through the power of Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). These counterfeit miracles are designed to deceive people into believing lies and turning away from God and the truth of the gospel. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about demonic and satanic miracles: 1. Miraculous signs and wonders can come from sources other than God Jesus himself warned that false messiahs and false prophets would come performing miraculous signs and wonders in order to deceive…
The land of Ammon was an important region in the Old Testament, located east of the Jordan River. Though not as well-known as some other biblical lands, Ammon played a notable role in several key biblical stories and prophecies. The Ammonites were the primary inhabitants of the land of Ammon. They were descendants of Ben-ammi, who was the son of Lot through an incestuous relationship with his younger daughter (Genesis 19:38). This made the Ammonites distant relatives of the Israelites, as Lot was Abraham’s nephew. However, the Ammonites were often enemies of Israel. Prominent Stories Involving Ammon Here are some…
Should Christians care about physical appearance? The Bible has a lot to say about physical appearance and how Christians should think about it. Here is an overview of the key principles from Scripture on this topic: Outward Appearance vs. Inward Heart A core teaching in the Bible is that God looks at the heart, not outward appearance. 1 Samuel 16:7 states, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Our character and spiritual condition matters far more to God than how we look on the outside. Proverbs 31:30 also says, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty…
In the Bible, there are a few references to God giving His people a white stone with a new name written on it. This concept is intriguing yet somewhat mysterious. By examining the biblical context, we can gain insight into the meaning and significance of receiving a white stone with a new name from God. Biblical References to the White Stone The white stone is specifically mentioned in Revelation 2:17, where Jesus says to the church in Pergamum: “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with…