What woman is mentioned the most in the Bible? Surprisingly, this is a tricky one and involved counting the old-fashioned way, from several different concordances. I’m awarding top place to Esther,* one of only two women to have a biblical book named after her. Others will say Sarah. My count is from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV); Esther was...
Read MoreRead MoreRest. Sabbath. Summer. I'm trying to think of any women that rested in the Bible. Hmmm...
Read MoreRead MoreThere she was, in the blazing desert sun, exiled by leader-of-the pack Abraham, whose wife, Sarah, had decided she just couldn’t stand to have Hagar (Genesis 16 and following) around anymore. Some of it might have been Hagar’s fault. She probably did act a bit prideful or conceited. Sarah, believing she was unable to bear children (she gave it a...
Read MoreRead MoreThe Scarlet Cord: Conversations with God’s Chosen Women Reviewed By June Maffin of Bookpleasures.com •By June Maffin Published June 29, 2011 Women's Issues Authors: Lindsay Hardin Freeman and Karen N. Canton ISBN: 978 1 84694 375 1 Publisher: 0-Books “Scarlet Cord … God’s Chosen Women.” Before the first page of the book is opened, the reader is confronted both by the exquisite artwork on...
Read MoreRead More“So much has been said and sung of beautiful young girls, why don't somebody wake up to the beauty of old women?” ...
Read MoreRead More“Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.” (Matthew 27:19) Pilate’s wife had judged Jesus correctly. Think how history might have changed had Pilate listened to her. Perhaps God was speaking to her in that dream, as he did to many men in the Bible. No wonder Pilate washed his...
Read MoreRead MoreWhile Mary is being contemplative, Martha springs into action this week, providing food and housing for Jesus and the disciples. Jesus would not have stayed with his Bethany friends were it not for Martha's hospitality. May we have both traits in our hearts this week: a contemplative spirit and a deeply welcoming heart....
Read MoreRead MoreWhile Martha of Bethany made sure that Jesus had a warm and gracious home to visit, Mary of Bethany, her sister, ministered to him on a soul level. She listened intently. She understood, when no one else but Thomas did, that Jesus was on his way to the cross. And she anointed him, recognizing his kingship and also preparing him...
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