At the sound of Joshua’s shofar and the breathtaking touch of Yahweh’s hand, the walls of Jericho fall. But dire trouble rises from the ruins. Trouble in the Ruins chronicles a period just over fifty days, spanning the spring grain harvests of Canaan. The Israelites are eager to celebrate their new life in the Promised Land, and God has already […]
Author: clsmithsword
February Reflections ~ “Beloved, let us love one another”
A Valentine Story Tucked Into the Heart of Black History Month I really love Valentine’s Day. Even more than I like getting chocolates and flowers, I love having another reason to say I love you. I want to take every opportunity to tell my husband, my children and grandchildren, and a handful of other precious […]
Hunger Inflicted by a Plague of Locusts
Swarms! Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes . . . the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm —Joel 2:2,25 We all experience times when we are hungry for a word from God, but scripture just seems like so many words on a […]
Rahab—A Name Redeemed
Rahab of Jericho~ the best known of the primary characters in THE STONES OF GILGAL novels. How odd—since she is a foreigner, a Canaanite girl, joining a cast of six young Israelites. Although the lives of these six Israelites impacted the future of their nation in significant ways, their stories lie buried beneath the dust of time. Othniel, Acsah and […]
Acsah—an inspiration for International Women’s Day
The Stones of Gilgal novels retell the powerful stories of the era of Joshua from the viewpoint of seven real (but minor) biblical characters including two very strong women, Rahab and Acsah. In honor of International Women’s Day, may I introduce Acsah (Judges 1:12-15) Daughter of Joshua’s closest friend, the heroic Caleb. Future wife of Othniel, the greatest […]
Othniel – A different kind of hero
The Stones of Gilgal Novels follow the epic adventures of a group of ordinary young Israelites. As they battle evil together, they sink their roots deeper and deeper into the bedrock of Truth and Love, slowing being transformed from a stand of saplings to a forest of giants, Oaks of Righteousness for the display of God’s splendor. […]
When “All I Can Do Is Pray,” Prayer Is More Than Enough!
How often when tragedy strikes, do we say a quick prayer and then flail about, grasping for something we can do to make things better? To human eyes, the physical realm often eclipses the spiritual—even to believers who affirm that God is the ultimate, everlasting, unchanging reality. Prayer too often seems our last resort. The writer of […]
Dreams and Visions and Waiting for Gold
Balaam’s Curse begins with a celebration on the border of the Promised Land. If ever a people chased the end of a rainbow and found gold, it was this people, this time, this place. They were a people on a quixotic venture. They themselves were the fulfillment of an impossible dream born when God told one childless man […]
Warriors needed. Armed and ready
“Some people call us victims. Some call us survivors. I like the term warriors.” Matt Sandusky stated yesterday at the “Not A Target” symposium for the prevention of child sexual abuse in Sonora, California. Victim. Yes, sadly, for nine years. Survivor, yes, in spite of trying to escape his personal hell through risky behaviors and eventually an […]
Stories Endure Forever
Have you ever pictured God the Father as a storyteller? Of course, we know that Jesus liked stories. The gospels are packed with parables. But God? Hmmm. Think about God’s Book. Sixty six books really. Primarily story, right? God chose to weave the threads of individual lives over and under the warp threads of events […]