The Word Worker

Category: Nonfiction

  • The Undying Sacrifice

    —

    by

    wordworkerrussell
    in ,

    The sun crept over the hills, its deep shadows still heavy on the path to the tomb. The women bringing oils to preserve the body of their teacher halted transfixed by the sight of the seal rolled to the side and bright rays breeching the darkness within the cave. The broken body taken in grief…

  • Killing God

    —

    by

    wordworkerrussell
    in ,

    In the Sinai law system, God provided specific celebrations that would remind the Israelites of important concepts they needed to hold onto. The first celebration of each year was of course Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. This eight day long celebration was intended to remind the people that God had delivered them from…

  • The Mercy Seat

    —

    by

    wordworkerrussell
    in ,

    On the Day of Atonement the High Priest carried the blood of the sacrificial bull and goat behind the veil and sprinkle it on the mercy seat. This was a symbol of God’s cleansing and sealing the people for His own holy purpose. It was also a solemn moment, as on the Day of Atonement…

  • Balanced, or Teetering?

    —

    by

    wordworkerrussell
    in ,

    Parenting often feels like walking a tightrope. Without a balance pole. Meeting physical needs of growing bodies can alone feel like an insurmountable challenge. That pair of shoes you just bought last month that already don’t fit. The three hundred dollars worth of food that didn’t last a week. Then there are the emotional needs,…

  • “Follow Me”

    —

    by

    wordworkerrussell
    in ,

    Purpose Matthew 4:18-22 “As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen. ‘Follow me,’ he told them, ‘and I will make you fish for people. Immediately they left their…

  • The Family That Works Together

    —

    by

    wordworkerrussell
    in ,

    It’s a lost art, families working together. Here and there you will find a small family owned business that includes the kids, but thanks to child labor laws that is rare. Our family doesn’t work together because of business. It’s our life. Our lifestyle is somewhat non-traditional. My husband doesn’t work a traditional job; he…

  • Enslaved or Redeemed?

    —

    by

    wordworkerrussell
    in ,

    When the Israelites saw the Egyptian horses, chariots, and warriors bearing down upon them in the hollow of the mountain with the sea at their side, they forgot everything they had seen over the previous year. They forgot the devastation wrought in Egypt, devastation that had never been seen in a thousand years of Egyptian…

  • A Beautiful Mess

    —

    by

    wordworkerrussell
    in ,

    Last night I made pumpkin sweet rolls to surprise my kids for Thanksgiving breakfast. I only do things like this for one reason – the reaction. The truth is that I hate cooking, especially baking. It’s tons of work, takes a ridiculous amount of time, and overheats the house. Often ingredients must be mixed just…

  • Moment of Truth

    —

    by

    wordworkerrussell
    in ,

    It was three in the afternoon. The hilltop and city walls were lit with torches that smoked and sputtered. The sun had disappeared at noon and not even a single star could be seen in the unnaturally dark sky. Crowds of people shoved against a perimeter of Roman shields, shouts and raucous laughter filling the…

  • Not Normal

    —

    by

    wordworkerrussell
    in ,

    As anyone who follows my blog knows, I have been silent for several weeks. This was not by choice, but by circumstance. I want to try to explain why because I hope to encourage others to embrace who they are in whatever situation they may find themselves. Life is not one size fits all. Every…