Last week I finished reading through the book of Genesis. Genesis is the first book of the Bible. It has been called “the book of beginnings,” because it describes the beginning of Creation, humankind, sin, salvation, Israel, and many other important themes woven throughout Scripture.1 Here are my three main takeaways from this read through Genesis.
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But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:14–16, NKJV)
For me, 2025 was a rough year. I wrote about that elsewhere, so I don’t want to dwell on that here. After a rough year, it’s difficult to dream about what God might have in store for the upcoming year. But dwelling on past struggles is a sure way to stay stuck in life. So, I’m prayerfully dreaming about 2026 by setting some goals that I’m sharing here.
Continue reading1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4–5, NLT)
This past year has been a wild ride. More transitions, another move, and four major losses that brought four significant chapters of my life to a close. Honestly, it’s been unexpectedly difficult and I’m looking forward to putting 2025 behind me.
Continue reading9 Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
10 Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
11 Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
(Psalm 96:7–9, NKJV)
Psalm 96 has been a favorite of mine for several years. Recently, as I was prayerfully reflecting on it, verses 7–9 really stood out to me. What I noticed was that, quite literally in the heart of the Psalm (this middle of five stanzas), the Psalmist has poetically captured a sense of God’s heart in our worship. Here, I’d like to mention three details the Lord has impressed upon my heart from these three verses.
Continue readingNow behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. (Luke 24:13–15, NKJV)
The early morning sun crested over the horizon on the first day of the week. It was now the third day since Jesus was crucified, killed, and buried. A small group of faithful women, followers of Jesus, brought spices they had prepared to the tomb (Luke 24:2).
Continue readingAnd He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. (Luke 22:25–27)
Luke 22 brings us to the Day of Unleavened Bread, “when the Passover [Lamb] must be killed” (Luke 22:7). Sometime during the few days leading up to this one, two important, parallel events happened involving two of Jesus’ closest followers.
Continue readingTherefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. … you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. (Luke 21:14–19; NKJV)
Luke 21 brings us to one of the many challenging passages in the Gospels. This is Luke’s account of the Olivet Discourse, where He answers the disciples’ questions about the future destruction of Jerusalem and His Second Coming.
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9 The hands of Zerubbabel
Have laid the foundation of this temple;
His hands shall also finish it.
Then you will know
That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things?
For these seven rejoice to see
The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
They are the eyes of the Lord,
Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
(Zechariah 4:9–10; NKJV)
It’s that time again. Another new year. Another season of anticipation for what God has in store for us individually, our communities, and our world. Last year was the first year I published my New Year’s goals. In this post I will continue that habit for 2025.
Continue readingJesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (Luke 20:34–36)
Luke chapter 20 summarizes Jesus’ testing by the religious leaders after His arrival in Jerusalem and leading up to Passover. One of the many details I find interesting in this chapter is how these events connect to Passover.
Continue reading9 Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,’
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man who executes My counsel, from a far country.
Indeed I have spoken it;
I will also bring it to pass.
I have purposed it;
I will also do it.
(Isa 46:9–11; NKJV)
Over and over again, Scripture calls us to remember what God has said and done. Remembering gives us a chance to reflect deeply about God and His work in our lives. It calls to mind the evidence of God’s faithfulness to His promises and His people, which gives us wisdom for the present and hope for the future.
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Tim Northup 
