If the Book of Joshua feels like Israel charging triumphantly into the Promised Land, then Judges is the sobering reality check that follows: a raw, unfiltered look at what happens when a nation forgets its foundation. Judges is one of the most dramatic books in the Hebrew Bible, blending history, theology, and storytelling with a strikingly human honesty. Many Bible video overviews like those from The Bible Project or dramatized retellings from Bible Stories for Kids describe it as an ancient “cycle of brokenness,” and that phrase really captures the heartbeat of the narrative.
The Setting: A Leaderless Nation
Judges spans roughly 300–350 years after Joshua’s death. With no central king and no unified leadership, Israel becomes a patchwork of tribes learning (often painfully) how to survive morally and politically.
The book opens with what could have been a hopeful moment: Israel continuing to conquer the land (Judges 1). But the momentum slips quickly. They fail to fully drive out the surrounding nations, and this slow compromise becomes the seed of deeper issues.
Bible Project videos often highlight this as “the beginning of the downward spiral” which is a theme that defines the rest of the book.
The Cycle: Sin → Oppression → Cry for Help → Deliverance
One of the clearest patterns in Judges is its repeated spiritual and social cycle:
Israel abandons God for the idols of surrounding nations
Foreign oppression rises
Israel cries out in distress
God raises a judge: a spirit-empowered leader
Temporary peace, until the cycle starts all over again
If you’ve seen animated Bible summaries, they often use a literal spiral graphic to show how each cycle gets worse than the last, less faithful, less heroic, and more tragic.
The Judges Themselves: Imperfect Heroes
“Judge” here doesn’t mean a courtroom official; it means a military deliverer and regional leader. Some are well-known; others get only a verse or two.
Major judges include:
Othniel – the ideal model judge (Judges 3)
Ehud – the left-handed strategist who frees Israel from Moab
Deborah – prophetess, leader, and the only female judge (Judges 4–5)
Gideon – called while hiding in fear; later struggles with pride (Judges 6–8)
Jephthah – a tragic figure known for his rash vow (Judges 11)
Samson – perhaps the most famous judge; gifted with supernatural strength but undone by lack of discipline (Judges 13–16)
Modern Bible video commentaries often explore how the judges become progressively flawed—reflecting Israel’s own growing corruption.
A Nation Unraveling
The final chapters (Judges 17–21) are some of the darkest narratives in Scripture. There are no judges, no heroes just moral chaos. These stories show:
Idolatry spreading unchecked
Violence and civil war between tribes
A society drifting far from God’s laws
The repeated line, highlighted in many dramatic retellings and commentaries, serves as the book’s haunting refrain:
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” — Judges 21:25
It’s not just a summary, it’s a warning.
Why Judges Still Matters
Judges is more than a collection of wild stories; it’s a historical mirror. It shows the dangers of spiritual forgetfulness, the consequences of compromise, and the resilience of God’s mercy. Every time Israel breaks the covenant, God raises up deliverance as imperfect though it may be.
Bible Project videos emphasize that the book ultimately creates longing: longing for true leadership, true transformation, and a king who can lead with righteousness.
That longing sets the stage for the books of Samuel and the rise of David.
Galatians 1:6-7 – “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.”
Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?”
Highlights:
Paul defends his apostleship and message, saying it came from Jesus Christ, not men.
He warns the Galatians about turning to false teachers preaching legalism.
Emphasizes that salvation is through grace, not works.
Galatians 2 – Justified by Faith
Key Themes:
Unity of the apostles
Justification by faith, not by the law
Living in Christ
Important Verses:
Galatians 2:16 – “A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
Highlights:
Paul confronts Peter for hypocrisy (favoring Jews over Gentiles).
Strong declaration that righteousness comes by faith in Christ, not the law.
Paul’s personal testimony of living by faith, not by human effort.
Galatians 3 – Faith or Works?
Key Themes:
The foolishness of returning to the law
Abraham’s faith
The law as a guardian
Important Verses:
Galatians 3:11 – “The righteous will live by faith.”
Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Highlights:
Paul argues that the Spirit comes through faith, not law.
Uses Abraham as proof that justification has always been through faith.
The law was a temporary guardian until Christ came, not a means to salvation.
Galatians 4 – Heirs Through Christ
Key Themes:
Adoption as sons and daughters
Freedom vs. slavery
Allegory of Hagar and Sarah
Important Verses:
Galatians 4:6-7 – “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts… So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child.”
Galatians 4:9 – “But now that you know God… how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces?”
Highlights:
Believers are adopted into God’s family and made heirs with Christ.
Paul expresses heartbreak that they are turning back to slavery under the law.
Uses Hagar and Sarah to illustrate the difference between being a child of slavery (law) and freedom (grace).
Galatians 5 – Freedom in Christ
Key Themes:
Living by the Spirit
Christian freedom
Fruit of the Spirit
Important Verses:
Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free… do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Highlights:
Believers are called to live in the freedom Christ offers, not under legalism.
Warning against using freedom as an excuse for sin.
Encouragement to walk by the Spirit, not the flesh—resulting in spiritual fruit.
Galatians 6 – Sowing and Reaping
Key Themes:
Restoring others gently
Sowing to the Spirit vs. the flesh
Boasting only in the cross
Important Verses:
Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:14 – “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Highlights:
Encouragement to carry each other’s burdens.
Warning that what you sow (to the flesh or Spirit), you will reap.
Final encouragement to remain faithful and to boast only in what Christ has done, not human efforts.
OVERALL MESSAGE OF GALATIANS:
Salvation is by grace through faith—not by works of the law.
Christ brings freedom from sin and legalism.
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live transformed lives.
Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace is not just a film—it’s an emotional journey that gently wraps your heart in warmth, compassion, and hope. From the very first frame, it’s clear that this story is driven by a deep desire to uplift and inspire, and it succeeds with grace.
At the center is Lucy, a radiant little girl whose innocence and unwavering faith become the emotional core of the film. Despite her illness, Lucy’s optimism never falters. Her belief in kindness, love, and the healing power of compassion is both humbling and profoundly moving. Through her eyes, we see a world where forgiveness and second chances are possible—even for those who believe they’ve fallen too far.
The film’s connection between Lucy and Edgar, a hardened inmate, is nothing short of miraculous. Their bond speaks to the redemptive power of love and how the purest hearts can reach the darkest souls. Watching Edgar’s transformation, prompted by Lucy’s courage and unwavering light, is one of the most emotionally powerful elements of the story.
What truly elevates Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace is its unapologetic embrace of faith—not in a preachy way, but in a deeply human, healing sense. It reminds us that even in the darkest times, peace can find us, often through the most unexpected messengers.
The performances are gentle and heartfelt, especially from Scarlett Diamond as Lucy. Her portrayal is so genuine that it lingers long after the credits roll. The film’s direction, pacing, and soundtrack all complement the story’s emotional resonance.
In a world often clouded with cynicism, Lucy Shimmers and the Prince of Peace is a rare and beautiful reminder of hope, second chances, and the quiet power of grace. Prepare to cry, reflect, and be moved—it’s a story that leaves a lasting impression on the soul.
My women’s bible study group are doing seven online sessions covering the book called “Seamless” by Angie Smith where she summarizes the bible, making it easier to understand it as one whole story rather than everything that it encompasses. Here’s notes from the first week!
Seamless by Angie Smith
Week One:
Day One: Introduction
* The Purpose of this study is to simplify the bible and make it less intimidating for readers to access The Word
* The bible wasn’t written for experts. It was written for us.
Day Two: Creation & Fall
* “In the beginning…” Genesis 1:1 Three simple words launch us into Gods love for us.
* God created the earth in 7 days
The list of what was created each day:
* Light/Dark Day/Night
* Sky/Heaven
* Earth/Seas & Plants
* Sun/Moon/Stars
* Birds/Fish
* Land Animals/Humans
* Day 7: Rest
* What resulted from the original act of disobedience against God (the fall) was the turning point for humanity. The first sin against God.
* Satan asked Eve in Genesis 3:1 “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit of any of the trees in the garden?” Satans approach in the verses 2-7 is very conniving, cunning and sly.
* God created a situation where His people could choose whether or not to live in accordance with His rules. They chose not to.
* Sin took root into the Garden of Eden and it will grow into a monstrosity before God, in His mercy, will send His Son to us.
Day Three: Results of the Fall
* God asked in Genesis 3:9 “Where are you?” When he is asking this question he wasn’t asking them to identify their location but rather their condition. He wanted to pull Adam and Eve out of their fear and shame so He could meet them where they are.
* God knows exactly where you are as He knew where they were -mind, body, soul and spirit. What He wants from you is the same as He wants from them. To come to Him no matter how difficult it seems.
* Adam blames God & Eve for the Fall because “God gave Eve to him and Eve was the one to commit the sin.”
* Eve in turns blame the serpent. We always have a choice to believe either God or the Devil. It can’t be both.
* Sagan will bruise the heel of God’s people, he will wound them and have a negative effect on their lives. He is the enemy of God and the Devil will always do his best to injure and mislead God’s children. But a wound to the heel is not lethal; it’s temporary.
* After Adam & Eve is sent out of the garden we see the pattern of sin continues in their children. The first murder is committed by their son Cain against his brother Abel out of jealousy.
* Other people existed also at this time. It is said that Adam and Even had other sons and daughters but we only hear of Cain, Abel and Seth.
* Seth who has a son of his own named Enoch. Not to be mixed with Cain’s son also named Enoch.
* Enoch fathered Methuselah who fathered Lamech who fathered Noah
* Read Genesis 6:5-8
* Wickedness overcame the land and the sin of the world worsen. God knew the depths of the humans hearts and knew they were alienating themselves further from Him.
* Understand that we aren’t God and we cannot simply put ourselves in His place. He is all knowing. He cannot go against His nature or His promises.
Day Four: The Flood
* Noah found favor with God and told him to build a great ark because He was about the flood the earth.
* It rained for 40 days and 40 nights (whenever the number 40 comes up in the bible it indicates a time of testing.
* It stopped raining after 40 days but the water didn’t disparate until 150 days later.
* The first thing that Noah did when he got off the ark was build an alter for God and offered burnt offerings.
* One of the central themes of Scripture is the use of sacrifice as a symbol of our need for atonement.
* God made the first animal sacrifice back in Genesis chapter 3 when He made animal skin clothing for Adam and Eve.
* God blesses Noah for his faithfulness and tells Him to be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. Let’s try this whole humanity thing over again.
* God uses the symbol of a rainbow as a promise to never flood the earth again.
* Even when we didn’t deserve it. God gave us another chance.
* God doesn’t have to love you, but He does. You don’t have to earn it.
Day Five: Job & Babel
* The members of the heavenly court come together and Hod gives Satan permission to test His most righteous servant, Job.
* Satan strips Jobs life away from him.
* I believe God is good even when we don’t always understand all the particulars of His decisions.
* Job shows faithfulness amidst the suffering.
* In suffering we should turn to God and find comfort in Him.
* Noah’s three sons were Shem, Ham and Japheth and they multiplied until the world was full of people again.
* The world spoke one language until they decided to build a great city and make a tower for themselves.
* God took this as humans were trying to elevate themselves and no longer put Him first.
* The Tower of Babel was a monument that stood for men’s desire to be important.
* God scrambled their ability to understand a language and had them spread out instead of building power together.
Singleness is a gift. It’s a time for cultivating wholehearted devotion to Jesus, a time for growing in faith and contentment. A time for self control, for seeking and building the Kingdom of God. Singleness was meant to be lived in relationship with Jesus, and it is this relationship that brings beauty, joy, and purpose. It is this relationship that brings abundant life.
We hear so much about the Proverbs 31 woman but what does that really mean? The purpose of Proverbs is to implement wisdom, discipline and understanding. It was written by Solomon who had a history of lustful behavior. It was written to his sons and the men of Israel to seek Godly wisdom. In Proverbs 31 he highlights the importance of the perfect, Godly woman. When reading it as a woman we can often interpret it to God speaking to us, his children, as he asks us to seek the true wisdom within each of us and pursue a pure life.
History and Overview of Proverbs:
Title and Author: The book of Proverbs is traditionally attributed to King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom. The title “Proverbs” comes from the Hebrew word “Mashal,” meaning “parables” or “sayings.” Solomon is credited with writing the majority of the proverbs, although other contributors include Agur (Proverbs 30) and King Lemuel (Proverbs 31).
Historical Context: Proverbs was written during the reign of Solomon, around the 10th century BC, a period marked by peace and prosperity in Israel. This era allowed for the flourishing of wisdom literature, as the nation was not preoccupied with warfare or survival.
Audience: The primary audience of Proverbs was the people of Israel, particularly young men who were being molded for leadership and responsibility. However, its teachings are universal and timeless, applicable to all who seek wisdom.
Purpose: The purpose of Proverbs is to impart wisdom, discipline, and understanding. It aims to guide individuals in living a life that is pleasing to God, characterized by righteousness, justice, and equity (Proverbs 1:2-3).
Genre and Style: Proverbs is a collection of wisdom literature, characterized by short, pithy sayings and poetic parallelism. It uses metaphors and similes to convey deep truths.
You don’t have to be single in order to pursue or become a Proverbs 31 woman. I think it is sometimes hard when we go through life and find our soulmates and have our children to identify ourselves outside of those relationships. I do believe it’s important to do self-work and deep dive into who we are on an individual level. It’s important for us women who are often caretakers to take care of ourselves and pour into ourselves so we can furthermore pour into those that we love. “You cannot pour from an empty cup”, as they say.
Furthermore, when you feel good on the inside and develop a strong sense of self, you begin to glow with confidence, reassurance and a type of strength that cannot be dimmed or lessened. This can attract truly wonderful things in life whether it’s a new job, opportunity or partner. Your path becomes clearer and the possibilities of what you can accomplish are endless.
What verses or statements stand out most between the two pictures?
What are some of your strengths in life? What do you think that you can work on?
Do you believe in the Law of Attraction?
What do you look for in an ideal partner? Do you see any of these traits within yourself?
Do you find that your ideal partner reflects someone God would want for you?
What is your favorite verse about love?
As you dive into your femininity, it’s important to devote time with God so that you can truly hear Him. The biggest part of your spiritual journey is setting time aside so that your goals and aspirations align with God’s goals and aspirations for you. Ladies, this even applies to dating and relationships with others. Those who are meant to be in your life will stay even after you pray about them. If you pray that God touches the hearts of those that you love and care about He will work on their hearts just as He is working on yours. The more you take God seriously the more He will work in favor of you. Think about Job and his journey with God.
Practice dating with God. Take long nature prayers walks, use arts and crafts as a form of creative worship, have devotional time in a cafe, express your love and gratitude for God throughout your day, and take a picnic with Jesus. There are so many ways you can set time aside to build your relationship with Him, single or not.
Godly Dating
The Law of Attraction suggests that positive thoughts bring positive outcomes in people’s lives. I believe that this can go a step further and say that the more you build yourself up and step into your Godly femininity the more you attract the right people in your life, this goes for not only men or partners but also friends. Your glow can even inspire those who are already in your circle to do the same.
It can be scary to date as a Christian, you want your beliefs to align with others and you don’t want to push people away by feeling like you are too much. But you should embrace being too much. Embrace being yourself. The right person is going to love and cherish you for who you are and see your value and try to feed into that and not shy away. It can be scary but it will be well worth it in the end. You will find people who will turn you away or not stay and you have to be okay with that. You have to be willing to stand on your boundaries and remain confident in your life choices. You may have to be the one to turn away and that is okay too.
Christian Dating Tips:
Pray for each other.
Pray before meals together
Have a weekly bible study date
Do bible reading plans together
This can be done with devotionals or through the bible app! Just set a daily reminder and chat about it! You can choose a plan that works best for you two!
Consider going on a church date.
This can be with your home church or theirs or even one that is completely different! After church go out for lunch and discuss the sermon and what you thought about the experience
Respect that family responsibilities and church responsibilities come before dates and relationship
Be honest and open with each other
Be encouraging and respectful
Pray together before making decisions
Talk/pray about your futures together
Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind before you love each other
Put God first in your relationship, always.
Don’t stress too much about where to go, or what to do, just have fun.
Don’t just date to date, date to see if they are the person God wants you to spend your life with.
Praise God together, serve God together, study God together and love God together.
Which of these 15 tips stand out to you the most?
You will come across a lot of toxic people in this world, not just in the dating scene. There are safe, Godly ways to deal with certain people. First of all you want to pray for them and hand them over to God. (Matthew 10:14) Like I mentioned before, God knows people’s hearts way better than we do. You may see the potential in someone but God knows them better. Set clear boundaries. (Matthew 18: 15-17) This can mean distancing yourself physically (1 Corinthians 15:33) and letting go emotionally. (Proverbs 4:23) Give yourself time to heal spiritually, mentally and physically (Psalm 34:18) They’re called toxic for a reason. These people can wear down your soul and drain you. Give yourself time to heal from this and detect yourself healthily. Lastly, spend time with healthier relationships (Proverbs 27:17) It’s important to always embrace those in our lives that are for us and love us deeply and truly. Surround yourself with your people. The people that bring out the best in you.
If you are single and thinking about dating or dating already it’s important to pray for your future spouse. You want these prayers to reflect the person you see yourself being with. Even if you are already in a relationship or married it’s important to continue to pray for your spouse and your relationship.
How to pray for your future spouse:
That he/she will resist sexual temptations. (1 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 5:3-5)
That he/she will make wise choices (Galatians 5:13)
That he/she will have great knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18)
That he will have a heart for our children (Colossians 3:21; Malachi 4:6; Ephesians 6:4)
That he will be the spiritual leader of the family (1 Corinthians 11:3)
That he/she will be a hard worker. (1 Corinthians 15:38, Colossians 3:23, Proverbs 31:31)
That he/she will love me deeply. (Ephesians 5, Colossians 3:19)
That he/she will have spiritual endurance (Hebrews 12:1, Isaiah 40:31)
What are some other prayers you would like to add to this list?
What do you feel is the biggest struggle for dating in this day and age?
What do you think can be done to make it better?
Do you feel as though most men in today’s age are husband material?
What do you look for in a Godly Husband?
How to know a relationship is from God?
It comes back to you even after you surrender it and let it go.
It brings peace, not confusion.
It comes with a purpose and feels like an answered prayer.
It’s rooted in Christ. Pulls you closer to Jesus, not further away.
You feel grace all around you and it helps you recognize the mercy of God.
A collection of poems announcing the downfall of Assyria and Nineveh
Assyria was one of the great ancient empires and also known as one of Israel’s great oppressors. Assyria’s expansion into Israel destroyed The Northern Kingdom and it’s tribe there. (2Kings17)
The fall of Assyria came in 612 BC, Babylonians rose up and took the city of Nineveh (Assyria’s capital) Chapter two depicts the fall of the city of Nineveh followed by chapter three where it depicts the fall of the empire entirely. BUT chapter one’s introduction to the book begins with the Lord’s anger and how he plans on seeking vengeance for his people of Israel and heal the oppressed and those who go against Him. God appears to judge the evil among nations.
“The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7
Nahum quotes Exodus (34: 6-7) by saying The Lord is slow to get angry, but His power is great and He never lets the guilty go unpunished. The poems then goes on to discuss the differences and similarities to The Fate of the Nations vs. The Fate of God’s Faithful Remnant. He never mentions Ninevah or Assyria by name in chapter one which could imply a few things:
Nahum is portraying Ninevah’s fall as an example of how God is at work in different points of history.
Chapter two then brutally depicts the battle of Ninveah and the state in which the city becomes.
Chapter three goes into detail about how the city’s downfall effects Assyrian’s as a whole. “Woe to the city built on innocent blood” He proceeds to explain that their own voilence is what ultimately lead to their downfall.
That he/she will resist sexual temptations. (1 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 5:3-5)
That he/she will make wise choices (Galatians 5:13)
That he/she will have great knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18)
That he will have a heart for our children (Colossians 3:21; Malachi 4:6; Ephesians 6:4)
That he will be the spiritual leader of the family (1 Corinthians 11:3)
That he/she will be a hard worker. (1 Corinthians 15:38, Colossians 3:23, Proverbs 31:31)
That he/she will love me deeply. (Ephesians 5, Colossians 3:19)
That he/she will have spiritual endurance (Hebrews 12:1, Isaiah 40:31)
calling c.p 