Author Archives: Dawn Voskuil

About Dawn Voskuil

Although Dawn Voskuil has a degree in Education, she has spent most of her adult life in lay ministry. She has taught Sunday School, facilitated Bible Studies, and spoken at youth gatherings. She has chaired a Women's Ministry program and has led a Moms In Prayer group for many years. She has opened her home to the work of the Lord. During those years, others have commented on her ability to see things often missed in Scripture and her God-given talent of "bringing the Bible to life." They have encouraged her to write down and share her thoughts. Thus, the purpose of this blog. Dawn lives in Northern IL with her husband. She has three grown children, two of whom are married, and three grandchildren. Dawn is currently serving part-time as the Dean of Women at Ellerslie Discipleship Training. When she isn't writing or ministering, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and being out in nature.

In Need of a Minor Miracle

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When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And … His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” John 2:3 & 5 ESV1

Read John 2:1-12

It had been a busy few days for Jesus. He had just started His ministry. It had begun with His baptism, where He had been met by both God and man each declaring His identity and purpose. As the days passed, He had met several people. Some had decided to join Him in His ministry. Others weren’t so sure. He had traveled back and forth over the rugged landscape of Decapolis and Galilee. (See John 1:29-2:1). Now, He was ready to relax with His family and His friends, old and new, at the wedding of someone very close to Him. Continue reading →

Tackling Temptation

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Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Matthew 4:1 ESV1

Read Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, & Luke 4:1-13

Temptation is bad, isn’t it? Why then was Jesus led by the Spirit into temptation (see Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12, and Luke 4:1)? We are supposed to plead with God not to lead us into temptation (see Matthew 6:13). And the Scriptures tell us God “tempts no one” (James 1:13b). Yet, God, through the Holy Spirit, led Jesus right into it. Why?

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A Child of God

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Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”                Matthew 3:8-9 ESV1

Read Matthew 3:1-12

In the time in which Jesus walked the Earth there were groups of very religious people who were absolutely sure that they, above others, were right with God. They studied the Scriptures, followed very high standards of holiness, and taught others to do the same. Two of these religious groups were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Shortly before Jesus began His earthly ministry, his close relative, John the Baptist, was preparing the way for Jesus by preaching, “‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 3:2). A great number of people from the region believed John’s message. “[They] were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:6). Presumably, because they were serious about matters of faith, “many Pharisees and Sadducees [were also] coming to [John’s] baptism, [and] he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come’” (Matthew 3:7)? Why was John so rude to those wanting to do the right thing?

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Removing Obstacles

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As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Luke 3:4-6 ESV1

Read Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8, Luke 3:1-18, and John 1:6-28

All four Gospels begin their accounts of Jesus’ ministry with the ministry of John the Baptist. Luke goes as far as to identify the exact timing of John’s appearance on the ministry scene through the reign of a king, a governor, three tetrarchs, and two high priests (see Luke 3:1-2). Scholars far more knowledgeable than I have used that information to pinpoint John’s ministry as having taken place between the winter and spring of AD 26. Why was it so important to start explaining Jesus’ purpose for coming with the relatively short ministry of another?

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Introducing Others to Jesus

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The next day again John [the Baptist] was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus … One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. John 1:35-36, 40-42a ESV1

Read John 1:11-51

Andrew came to faith in Jesus by the testimony of John the Baptist. Andrew had been a disciple, or a follower, of John. As is the nature of being a disciple, Andrew had likely spent a great deal of time with and listening to John. And John spent much time talking about the coming Messiah. So much so that even casual observers of John were able to say, “Everything he [John] said about this man has come true” (John 10:41). Because of his close association with John and John’s teachings, Andrew was ready to follow the Messiah as soon as John identified him. “‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:36b-37).

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A Home for Jesus

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And He said to them, “Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?”  Luke 2:49 ESV1

Read Matthew 1:18-25 & 2:11-15; Luke 1:26-56 & 2:41-52

“God so loved the world that He gave His only Son … in order that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16a & 17b). But before Jesus saved the world, he was a Baby who needed care, a little Boy who needed providing for and protecting, and a young Man who needed encouragement and direction. Who on Earth could God trust to raise His Son? Who could be up to the challenge of parenting all of God wrapped up in the skin of a little Boy? Both Mary and Joseph must have been exceptional people! Much can be deduced from Scripture about this couple.

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Living with the Lover of Souls

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And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.   Luke 2:36-37 ESV1

Read Luke 2:21-24 & 36-38

Why was this old woman living in the temple? The temple wasn’t a house. It wasn’t a hotel. It had no bedrooms, no restrooms, no kitchens. Most of it didn’t even have a roof. As a woman, Anna wouldn’t have even been allowed in the roofed part. Where did she sleep? What did she eat and drink? Where did she bathe? From where did she get her clothes, and how did she keep them clean and mended? Who cared for her when she was sick?

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Sharing Secrets with God

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Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  Luke 2:23-26 ESV1

Read Luke 2:21-35

There were undoubtedly many reasons why God chose Mary and Joseph to raise His Son. One of those reasons was that they were obedient to His commandments. When Jesus was eight days old, “they brought Him up to Jerusalem [to the temple] to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’) [see Exodus 13:2 & 12]  and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons’ [see Leviticus 12:8]” (Luke 22b-24). At that time, Jesus was also circumcised and officially named. But more waited at the temple for the young family than tradition.

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The Really Wise Men

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Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.   Matthew 2:2 ESV1

Read Matthew 2:1-12

Who were these or Wise Men, or Magi (as they are called in the NIV2 and the NASB3)? From where did they come? Why were they looking for a star? And how did the Magi know the unusual star they saw was a sign for the birth of the King of the Jews?

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The Bigger Picture

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There was a priest named Zechariah … He had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.   Luke 1:5-7 ESV1

Read Luke 1:5-25 & 57-80

Zechariah was a priest. He had spent his life serving God. He was from a family of priests who had served the LORD for generations. His wife, Elizabeth, also came from a family of priests who honored God and ministered to His people. They “were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But (emphasis mine) they had no child” (Luke 1:6-7a). Though they were doing everything right, something was not right in their lives. Their prayers for the thing they wanted most weren’t being answered.

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