Sozo Today

“May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”  2 Thessalonians 3:18 Here in the South there’s nothing like a good sandwich. And here, a really good sandwich doesn’t have to be complicated, only a few basic components are necessary. Particularly in the spring and summer, you can choose pretty much any kind of filler or meat you like, but for me Dukes Mayonnaise is a must, a brand not widely seen around all parts of the country. And along with that Dukes Mayonnaise, fresh garden tomatoes this time of year are pretty awesome, with just a[…]

“The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy.”  1 Chronicles 29:9 In 1 Kings 2 and 2 Chronicles 29, King David comes to the end of his life here on earth. His reign over Israel as their second king had been a long and fruitful period. 1 Chronicles 29:28 says,“He died at a ripe old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. Then his son Solomon ruled in his place.” Just as Solomon was about to take the helm, his father David offered him some great advice.[…]

“God had richly blessed Obed-Edom.”  1 Chronicles 26:4b According to Wikipedia, “The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad.” People literally picked up everything they had and moved entire families west for just the hope that they could get in on this gold rush before it all ended. Many called it “Gold Fever.” In 1 Chronicles, we see a man by the name of Obed-Edom. He and his sons were assigned duties as gatekeepers and musicians at the[…]

“Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.” 1 Chronicles 22:19 In 1 Chronicles 22, the Temple of the Lord was sizing up to be quite a magnificent thing. David had furnished Solomon with an abundance of only the best building materials that would be used in the Temple’s construction, and all the skilled workers were ready to start this incredible project of building a house for the Lord[…]

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.”Psalm 30:11 There’s a Rhode Island judge who’s become pretty famous, but not for his harsh sentences, but rather for his mercy. Judge Frank Caprio is the Chief Municipal Judge in Providence, Rhode Island. Someone took note of Judge Caprio’s bent toward mercy and decided to create a You Tube channel and Facebook page. His philosophy, as seen from the bench, differs from the typical “tough on crime” approach and instead leans heavy on mercy. Not only do defendants often leave his[…]

“God’s way is perfect.    All the Lord’s promises prove true.    He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.” 2 Samuel 22:31  In 2 Samuel 21, a severe drought hit the land and David needed answers. He knew that, as God’s chosen people, they weren’t supposed to live in lack, so he sought the Lord. The Lord showed David that, because of the previous king, Saul’s, failure in breaking a covenant that had been in place long before him to live at peace with the Gideonites, a curse had come upon Israel. Saul, in his anger, had mercilessly killed many[…]

“Cast your burden on the Lord,And He shall sustain you;He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22 Have you ever been betrayed and wanted to get even? Or, at least maybe you’ve felt like you needed to get the word out in your defense? Through the years, I’ve discovered that in those moments I can trust in and rely on my Heavenly Father to take care of it. I know it’s hard, in those moments, when you feel as though you’ve been misjudged, mistreated, or misunderstood, but the truth is our Father is big enough and good enough to make every[…]

“For you have rescued me from death;    you have kept my feet from slipping.So now I can walk in your presence, O God,    in your life-giving light.” Psalm 56:13 Everyone could finally breathe a sigh of relief. At the cost of twenty-thousand lives, the rebellion was over. But not everyone was celebrating. As we see in 2 Samuel 18, instead of shouting and dancing in victory, David walked away in great sadness. Despite Absalom’s open betrayal and effort to kill him, in David’s eyes, Absalom, “young Absalom,” was still his son and David’s heart ached at the news of Absalom’s death. While everyone[…]