God Hears the Humble (Humility)

 I love it that when King Josiah was only 8 years old he became king.  In one so young, we might expect a person to be out of control with newly garnered power.  But we read that he did ...

"What was right in the eyes of the Lord" (see 2 Kings 22). 

 He didn't let his position of power and authority go to his head.

On the contrary, he must have been a person characterized by humility.  We can judge by his actions.  The 2nd Kings passage continues that he did not turn right or left but kept straight on to follow the Lord's ways and of his great ancestor King David who loved God.

Despite all the very wicked kings that reigned between King David and King Josiah, including King Josiah's own father, King Josiah did what was right and good as much as possible according to what he knew and imitated from King David.

This goes to show that even when there are wicked people around us or even just those who don't know the Lord that we can still unswervingly follow Jesus and His ways.  It may be difficult but not impossible.

The benefit of King Josiah's humbleness was that the Lord heard his prayers.  So when the Book of the Law was found in the rubble of the temple, which incidently King Josiah had ordered to be repaired, he tore his clothes in consternation.

He realized, that as it was being read to him, that there was so much  he had not been following. What's more, because of all the succesion of wicked kings, the people who were supposed to be "the people of God" and following it's ways, were not so doing.  In fact, many had become as wicked as the kings.

He knew they were all in big trouble and that God would not be happy - an understatement - with them.  He quickly sent men to inquire of the Lord.  He was ready and willing to take the consequences.

Once again, we recall that God hears the prayers of humble people.  When they admit their sins repentantly, God often shows mercy.  Let's see how God answered him.

God told King Josiah that because he was humble and repentant, he'd die in peace and wouldn't see the disaster or feel any punishment that would be coming upon his people.

You see,

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

Let's all continue to grow humility in our hearts, follow the Lord's ways and repent of our sins (see 1 John 1:9).  Then we can listen for God's answers to our prayers; be they what they may.

Almighty Heavenly Father, like King Josiah, I want to do what's right in Your eyes.  Convict me when I sin, so I can continue to do what's right.  May I always be humble and repentant and do what pleases You, all my life long.  Hear my cries, O Father, I wait for Your answers.  In Jesus' name I ask.  Amen.

                                                       ~  ERC  FEbruary 2026  ~

Based on James 4:6, 2 Kings 22:1 & 2, 11, 13 and 19-20. ESV.

Sing, Lord, Hear My Cry (Psalm 38), along with Psalter's Voice.

God's Sons and Daughters of Encouragement (Humility)

 

At first, his name was Joseph.  But then the apostles like Peter, James and John gave him a new name.  They called him 'Barnabas'.  This means 'son of encouragement.'  

When we read about him in the Scriptures we see some of his encouraging acts of grace and mercy.  He sold a field and brought all the proceeds and set it at the apostles' feet.  The money could then be used to feed the poor and/or to go to preach the good news message of Jesus to others.

Saul, who had been systematically persecuting Christians, got saved.  The Christians were afraid of him and wouldn't allow him to join them, fearing trickery.  However, Barnabas discerned Saul's sincerity and brought him to the apostles, indicating that he believed Saul was truly the Lord's.

I believe Barnabas' actions stemmed from his humility.  This became one of his strengths.  He didn't need to show off  but instead, he quietly found ways and means to encourage others.  He became a bridge for Saul, who later became known as Paul.  This Paul became a mighty man of God, who had great and far-reaching spiritual effects over the millenia, even to us today.  We can attest to these by reading the New Testament, which was mostly composed of Paul's letters to various churches and individuals of yore.

As James 4:10 (NIV) says,

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."

Not only you, but others too.  Lifting another up may encompass lifting them up from depression, needing a touch of tender, loving care that particular day and so much more.  Such empathy and compassion would help such a person to feel loved and happier, able to go throuigh their day and even to serve the Lord in greater capacity.

Let's pray we can each grow in humility that makes us sons and daughters of encouragement too.  Who knows, your gift may become your new name.

Heavenly Father, thank You for all the times You sent someone to encourage me, someone who was a humble encourager.  May I too grow in humility, and in turn, be able to lift another up in Your name.  I ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                  ~ ERC  February 2026 ~

Based on James 4:10; Acts 4:36-37 and 11:21-22, 25 & 26 ESV.

Sing, Thy Will, along with Hilary Scott.

Book Review - Blind Pursuit - By Rob Sinclair - Publication Date: 3 March 2026

Blind Pursuit was a jab of pure adrenaline rush for me, perpetuated by active murder, intrique, and layers of lies.  Lea never quite trusts Denis as she investigates for the 'rat', to flush it out, all the while poor Callum, in foggy haze, complicates and overall, throws curve balls into the mix.  Iranians, Russians and questionable elements from questionable places are thrown into the mix and kept the narrative tickingly mysterious. I did love and appreciate the bursts of humor injected into the chaos, which made me laugh right out loud.

The switchbacks from 'before' and 'present' times annoyed me.  It was another type of annoyance to have to interrupt my reading as I found this to be a difficult-to-put-it-down sort of read, so that the first annoyance was overridden when I had to take breaks.  All in all, this was a gripping and most satisfying read, thus I give it a 5-Star rating.

                                                 ~  Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger  ~

                                                                 March 2026

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to be by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.  

Book Review - When Justice Comes (Book 3 Tupelo Grove Saga)) - By Colleen Coble and Rick Acker - Publication Date: 3 March 2026

 

When Justice Comes is the third and final book in the Tupelo Grove Saga series.  The heart-stopping, pulse-racing tempo never flags as the dangerous and dire race escalates towards the adoption-of-Simon deadline.  Hez and Savannah, Michael Willard, Savannah's Dad, among others, collide and scramble to outdue each other.  Some want to cover up misdeeds, especially of the illegal nature,while others wish to expose them towards gaining justice, as the book title would indicate.  Help comes from God as well as from another unexpected source.

I found the narrative believable and the characters authentic.  Although there are two authors writing I feel it is seamless.  There were no blatant jumps from one writing style to another that I could detect.  Therefore, the story ran with excellent connectivity.

As always, I appreciated the interjections about God, prayer and faith.  These are a big plus for me.  This book also offers discussion questions at book's end and touches on some of the issues encountered in the narrative such as:  adoption rules in certain states; the idea of forgiveness for even terrible offences; dealing with grief and more.

I was well satisfied with this tale from beginning to ending.  I give this book a 5-Star rating.

                                              ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                           November 2025

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads. 

Actually, more than 200.  It's more like 360 reviews.

  

Better Leadership (Humility)

 

There are times we meet leaders who love to flex the power of their position.  It can be a real trial and people will walk as if on eggshells to keep equilibrium without the power play of rage and vindictiveness weighing in.  This type of leader uses fear to control those under their power and authority.

No doubt there are times when leadership needs to be firm and make ultimate decisions.  If they can do so with the good and benefit of the 'followers'' interests in mind, after hearing them out, this is acceptable and reasonable, even if not always appreciated.

We come across such scenarios at home, school, offices and even at church.  It would be so good and pleasant if leaders would learn humility.  They could build greater trust between themselves and those under their authority.  They could better remember to be kind, to admit their own mistakes; thinking more of others' interests and how to benefit the whole population under their scope of authority and not their own self-interest.

Most likely the 'followers' response would be greater trust and greater cooperation, not to mention greater respect for the one in leadership positions.  This may not happen overnight but with consistent and persistent 'better leadership' it is hoped that even if slowly, it would be surely, and there would be flourishing on both sides of the equation.

We can pray in Jesus' name, it does.

Lord Jesus, You have been and still are, the best leader, ever!  While You walked this earth You were meek, loving, caring and humble.  We take our example from You and try to imitate You in this attitude.  So sorry for all the times we have failed in this.  We ask now for Your help for whoever finds themself at one time or another, in a position of leadership, to be able to lead with marked humility.  We ask in Your name Jesus, amen.

                                                      ~  ERC  February 2026  ~

Based on Philippians 2:3-4 ESV.

Sing, Refiner's Fire, along with Brian Doerksen as a prayer.

Good and Pleasant Unity (Humility)

 "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity" (Psalm 133:1).

It's good when siblings can get along well together, taking good care of each other.  Sometimes though, there are conflicts.  However, when the 'oil of humility' is regularly applied there are benefits that can make these relationships better and run more smoothly, like a well oiled bicycle.

With humility, we become wiser, more godly, gentle and patient.  The good and pleasant feelings become stronger and there will be greater unity.  This can be the same whether at home, school, the office or  particularly, at church. 

Moses, Aaron and Miriam are a famous Bible trio who demonstrate this goodness and pleasantness, for the most part.  Yet, they did have their serious conflicts as well. 

The first display of brotherly love and affection that's recorded in the Bible in regards to these siblings seems to be when Miriam watched over her baby brother Moses when he was in a basket set afloat on the Nile River.  She watched until he was safely in the arms of his own mother once again (as a nursemaid) and of Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him.

Much later in Moses' life, we see the trio interacting again.  God had asked Moses to lead the Israelites' Egyptian escape from centuries of slavery.  Aaron and Miriam took up their parts too.  Aaron became Moses' spokesperson while Miriam worked with the women.  She even led the ladies in a celebratory dance after they safely escaped Egypt and Pharaoh's tyranny.

Discord came when Aaron and Miriam got proud and racist.  They said that since Moses was married to a foreigner that he shouldn't be the leader.  This was a grave accusation as it was GOD who had made Moses the designated leader.

Aaron was punished by not being allowed to enter the Promised Land, which may not seem like much to us but it was everything to the Israelites back then.  Miriam became snow-white with leprosy.  This in and of itself was a mercy God gave her but she still  had to be quarantined for a week, ostracized from the company of Israelites.   Aaron admitted it had been a sin and a very foolish slight and wrong (see Numbers 12:10-12).

Due to their jealousy and pride, they brought disgrace and loss of respect upon themselves.  On the other hand, repentance and humility brought greater wisdom and unity.  In turn, there was good and pleasant fellowship stemming from their newly learned humility.

Let's learn to live together in humility, thereby cultivating good and pleasant unity among our siblings at home and brothers and sisters-in-Christ at church.

Abba Father, there are times when it is so challenging to live with siblings and/or our church sibs.  Help us all to inculcate deeper humility so we can develop and keep good and pleasant unity.  May we be more helpful and kind to each other, thinking them more significant then ourselves.  Let the attitude of Jesus be ever more ours as we imitate Him.  I ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                 ~ ERC  February 2026  ~

Based on Proverbs 11:2, Ephesians 4:1-3, Psalm 133:1 and the book of Exodus.

Sing, How Good and Pleasant It Is, along with Divine Hymns and Lord I Need Your Help, along with Upper Room.

Lord's Day Devotion - God is Immense

"God is Immense." 

 I heard this phrase from one of Alistair Begg's sermons about God's grace.  The phrase stuck with me and I wondered at its parameters.  There are none of course, because God is infiinte.  He cannot be measured.

Trying to define God's immensity leaves us mostly speechless.  By illustration we have the saying, "It's only a drop the bucket."  Or another one, "It's only the tip of the iceburg."  There is so much depth, wideth, height, and core mass, it's all beyond our comprehension and even broadest imagination.

Just think of the universe He created for us human beings to live in.  The earth, and all the other planets, the sun, moon and stars - 'out there' beyond the beyond; it's sooooooo vast!

Think of it.  God plunked it all easily into space, time, matter and energy:  galaxies, stars and planets.  None of us could ever plan it.

Besides His Creator -ness, we could explore God's love, goodness, grace, mercy, His righteousness and more.  Most is inconceivable to us.  How can we even begin to fathom this 'drop in the bucket' or 'tip of iceburg'?

If we're to know God, we must explore the Holy Scriptures

 "which are able to make [us] wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus," 

and more.  Would this be enough to begin? 

Partly.  Begg did mention the word 'experience,' which he went on to define.  Spend time with Him, read and meditate on the scripture.  Listen to Him.  Don't babble on ourselves if we wish to hear from Him.  Then whatever the Lord is saying to us, we need to put it into practice in our lives.

Praying and seeing how the Lord works in our lives, gives us the experience with God.  This is how we can begin to truly know our immense God who loves us.

It's been said that the life of a Christian is not a religion but a relationship with God, Most High.  Building up this relationship with our Heavenly Father, God, is essential to coming to know Him.  We have to connect regularly with Him who first loved us (see 1 John 4:19 NIV).

In closing, I'd like to leave this verse from John, who must have also begun to realize the vastness of God and Jesus.  He wrote,

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, - the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.  Amen" (John 21:25 KJV).

This is the God who loved us and sent Jesus to buy our pardon and provide salvation for the 'whosoever will' who accept His gift (see John 3:16).  This Lord's Day, as you meditate upon what God has done for us through Jesus, burst into praise as you partake of the broken bread and drink from the cup of wine.  As you reach for these emblems representing Jesus' sacrifice for us, be in awe and full of gratitude.  He is our God of Wonders!

Let's then sing, "Hallelujah!" until He comes.  We will have all eternity to know Him and His immeseness more, not as theory or head knowledge but in practice, experience and relationship. 

 No book can contain the whole.

                                                ~  ERC  February 2026  ~

Based on Romans 8:31-39 ESV and 2 Timothy 3:15.

Sing, God of Wonders, along with Paul Baloche.