Bible study and stuff

08/24/2026

What do you do when God doesn’t immediately take you out of the fir...

08/08/2026

In this sermon from Pastor Anthony Hall, discover the biblical patt...

08/08/2026

O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

08/03/2026

COME TO ME

When we hit the depths of depression or crash from an anxiety attack, we can feel lower than a catfish’s belly button. (I know, catfish don’t have belly buttons, but they're bottom feeders. You get the picture).
In Psalm 42, the writer owns his depression. He speaks to his soul and says, "Why are you so dark?” Look at verse five and the first part of verse six:

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." (Psalm 42:5-6a)

The writer is in the pit of despair. He has no hope. His gut’s growling. Yet it’s as if that still, small voice whispers in his ears, "You're going to be okay. You need to refocus. Your hope can’t be in yourself. It has to be in God.”
Our souls were created to be filled with Jesus. He gives us health professionals, medicine, godly men and women, and the Church to lower life's volume or pick us up when we’re down. But none of those can replace Jesus. That’s why His invitation to us is so important as we deal with anxiety and depression. Look at that invitation:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus is always there with you through your highs, lows, wins, and losses in life. He simply invites you to come to Him. He’s not there to shame you, to tell you that you’re less than something because you’re suffering. Instead, He's there to provide you hope, love, rest, and relief.
I picture Him standing there with two nail-pierced arms open wide, lovingly looking at you or me, saying, “I know you’re going through something rough. Come to Me. You’re tired; life has put something on you that you can't do by yourself; that you didn't bring on yourself. Only I can give you that true rest that you need. Do you want rest for your soul? I promise you that I’ll give it to you. I’m gentle, loving, patient, and kind. Let me help you."

08/01/2026

Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.” - Zechariah 9:12, NKJV

Be a Prisoner of Hope

To be a “prisoner of hope” means that you can’t get away from it. You’re held by it. You should be discouraged, but in spite of all that’s come against you, you still believe you’re going to see your dreams come to pass. You may have what seems to be an incurable sickness, and you could be stressed out, but you know nothing can sn**ch you out of God’s hand. Your hope is not in the medicine, the treatment, or the professionals, even though all those things are good and we’re grateful for them. Your hope is in the God who breathed life into you. Keep your hope in the Lord.
You need not be overwhelmed by the size of the obstacles you are facing. Goliath looked stronger and more powerful, but like David, you have your hope in the Lord. You know that if God is for you, none will dare be against you.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I am a prisoner of hope, and You’ve promised to restore back double for anything I’ve lost. Thank You that You alone determine my destiny and nothing can sn**ch me out of Your hand. I believe Your Word is true. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

07/23/2026

MERCY
Hebrew: חֶסֶד (chesed)
Pronunciation: KHEH-sed
Strong's: H2618
Appears 248 times in the Old Testament

KEY PASSAGE
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning." — Lamentations 3:22-23

BIBLICAL MEANING
Loyal, covenant love that never gives up. Chesed is God's steadfast commitment to His people — love that persists through failure, rebellion, and unfaithfulness. It's love you can count on because it's rooted in His character, not your performance.

STRONG'S DEFINITION
Chesed, an Israelite

WORD ORIGIN
The root meaning is debated but likely connected to eagerness, zeal, or even 'bowing the head' in devotion. It carries the sense of committed, active loyalty.

ORIGINAL LANGUAGE INSIGHT
The Hebrew word 'חֶסֶד' (chesed) encompasses a rich tapestry of meanings including steadfast love, loyalty, kindness, and covenantal faithfulness. It conveys a relational dynamic that is deeply rooted in commitment and mutual responsibility. Unlike the English 'mercy,' which often implies a one-sided act of compassion, 'chesed' suggests a reciprocal relationship where both parties are bound by a covenant. Understanding 'chesed' in its original language reveals a depth of relational fidelity and divine-human partnership that is often lost in translation.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE
In biblical Hebrew, 'חֶסֶד' typically functions as a noun and often appears in construct form, linking it to another noun to express a relationship, such as 'חֶסֶד אֱלֹהִים' (chesed Elohim, 'the steadfast love of God'). This grammatical structure highlights the source or object of 'chesed,' emphasizing the relational aspect. The construct form underscores that 'chesed' is not an abstract quality but a dynamic, relational attribute.

LIFE IN BIBLICAL TIMES
In the ancient Near Eastern context, 'chesed' was understood within the framework of covenant relationships, such as those between a suzerain and vassal. It was a term that signified loyalty and obligation, often involving legal and social responsibilities. This cultural backdrop highlights 'chesed' as a communal and covenantal virtue, where individuals and communities were bound by mutual commitments and expectations, enriching its biblical usage with layers of social and divine fidelity.

DID YOU KNOW?
Chesed is so rich that translators struggle to capture it. It's variously translated as 'lovingkindness,' 'steadfast love,' 'mercy,' 'loyalty,' and 'unfailing love.' No single English word can contain its meaning.

THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Chesed is central to understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. It's the reason He doesn't give up on Israel despite repeated rebellion. In Christ, we receive this same relentless, pursuing love.

APPLY IT
You have received chesed — love that didn't quit on you. Now extend that same stubborn loyalty to others. Who in your life needs love that won't give up on them?

MODERN MEANING
Compassion or forgiveness

RELATED WORDS
Compassion (racham), Faithfulness (emunah), Goodness (tov)

EXPLORE IN SCRIPTURE
• Psalm 136:1
• Lamentations 3:22-23
• Micah 6:8

07/21/2026

07/20/2026

Careful who you talk to about your life❤️🙌🏻✝️

07/19/2026

“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.””
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭2‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers,