Liz Bell

“Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. 10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him.” Nehemiah 3:9-10(NIV). I love this part of the story in Nehemiah. It illustrates how a nation can come together, utilizing its individual strengths to rebuild what has been broken and torn down. I see it as a reflection of the body of Christ, where we use our unique gifts to build the[...]

“Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.” Psalm 106:8,13(NIV). Lord, my God, I never want to forget Your faithfulness to me. You have watched over me, been with me, formed and shaped me, and continue to smooth out the rough edges of my life. I never want to forget how You saw me when my eyes turned from You. I never want to forget that even as I walked further away from You, You, LORD, were alw[...]

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1(ESV). Who doesn't like a good story that ends well? When we read the Word of God, we see that not all stories which begin with joy conclude in joy. Let's consider King Saul's journey in 1 Samuel. Saul, who was handsome, humble, and gifted as a leader, was beloved and chosen by God as Israel's first king. Although he began his reign with promise, pride soon overwhelmed him.[...]

“Enoch walked with God…” Genesis 5:24 It’s good to start well, but it is even better to continue steadfastly to the end.  I read or heard this somewhere, and I remembered it.  This is something God wants for us all.  Walking with God goes beyond putting one foot in front of another.  It implies a steady progressive relationship, and it’s a journey of a lifetime, not just in a moment.  Enoch lived 365 years, so for 133,225 days (by our calendar), he walked faithfully in relationship with God al[...]

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8 (ESV). I often think of this scripture.  I need it written in my mind and on my heart, so I not only remember it, but live by it.  But do I totally live this and trust in God, who sees clearly my path and the obstacles that may obscure my way?   Do I live in this surrender? As I read through the Old Testament, I see this scripture woven throughout the stories of the lives of those who came before u[...]

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23(ESV). "Speak to me, O LORD Speak the words I need to know. Speak Your wonderful Words of truth, As my faith continues to grow. Speak all knowledge and wisdom of You And open my heart each day, So I hear Your voice in the morning, And know what Your Word will say." After listening to Pastor Lori's teaching on September 9th, I felt a nudge to seek something deeper. Although I wasn't sure what I was looking for[...]

“FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES, AND AT THE LAST HE WILL STAND UPON THE EARTH.”(Job 29:25). "OUT OF THE WRECK I RISE!" This quote is from a poem by Robert Browning called 'Ixion.' Although I didn't read the entire poem, I found the basic meaning intriguing. Browning imagines Ixion, the title character, rising out of hell after gaining insight into his wrongdoings. This made me think of the Apostle Paul. He would not have risen if it weren't for his encounter with Christ—a remarkable transformation.[...]

“Beware of False Prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inward are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits…" Matthew 7:15-16(ESV). It was a beautiful, warm, and sunny spring afternoon as I sat on my deck, taking note of the fragrance in the air. My eyes drifted to our fruit trees. I smiled at the cherry tree, noticing it had more blossoms than the previous year. Wow, our pear tree was also flourishing, blooming from the top branch down to the lower tips. Simply beautiful! I ea[...]

"Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them." Jeremiah 5:14 (KJV). This past Christmas, I received a book by Billy Graham titled *Hear My Heart: What Would I Say to You*. I don't often quote from the King James Version, but I want to share excerpts from this great evangelist, who often spoke from this version of God's Word. One part of his story profoundly moved me. In a section of his[...]

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart..." (Jeremiah 1:5) There is something profoundly beautiful about this scripture. It has inspired me and filled my heart with joy. While God may not have set us apart like He did Jeremiah, He has chosen each of us for a purpose. As we are reminded in 1 Peter 2:9, we are chosen by God; we are His very own, called to represent Him to others. He has always seen us as valuable and precious. We are His treasure, dearly loved, and o[...]