Archive

Be holy But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV) I agree that God is holy, divine, perfect in...

The songs of home Did you have a trip your family took while you were growing up? Maybe to visit relatives across the country? Or maybe back to a parent’s hometown? Or that one resort or beach town...

Jesus in Everything One of the shorter verses in the Bible is 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – ‘pray without ceasing.’ It sounds good, but can anyone do this? I try, but it’s not easy, especially...

Stand firm Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of...

Christian courage So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! Psalm 31:24 (NLT) Some people think that responses such as silence, meekness, and forgiveness are passive or weak....

Jesus prayed for you and me This is the 21st in a series of studies on the subject of prayer  ‘My prayer is not for [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their...

Rolled away There was a barrier between the women and their goal to reach the Lord. They had faithfully kept the Sabbath, and they were dedicated in love. They now moved forward as they prepared to...

God will strengthen This is the 26th study in a series of studies about shadows in scripture “Behold, I have made your face strong against their [the people of Israel] faces, and your forehead...

The comfort and connection of bread During the early days of the pandemic, one surprising trend was the number of people who turned to bread making – to the point that yeast and flour were in...

Walking on Water You’ve probably heard of the technique – or joke – of how to deal with the fear of public speaking. I’ve never tried it, probably because it didn’t seem...

Be careful how you live  Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but...

Bless one another This is the 20th in a series of studies on the subject of prayer   ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;  the...

In our mind’s eye Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) God has given us many gifts....

He is able to save The shore was just littered with stones; no shells, just rock after rock smoothed by rubbing against each other and the sand. As the waves rolled over them and withdrew, they made a...

God will raise This is the 25th study in a series of studies about shadows in scripture “ ‘…the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place. From them...

Under the broom tree This is a broom tree. Solitary shrubs like this grew all over the desert in biblical times—rugged, resourceful plants that shot their roots deep into the unforgiving dry soil. ...

Jesus, the living stone I have a couple of cactus plants on my windowsill. They are a very slow-growing variety called Lithops. They require very little water but thrive on lots of sunshine....

How we can forgive Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.   Ephesians 4:32 (NIVUK) Our God is a forgiving God; it is his nature to forgive,...

Sacred dependence One night in January, my pregnant sister was rushed to the hospital when her water broke. After hours of labour, she was eventually given a Caesarian section, for it was taking too...

Help This is the 19th in a series of studies on the subject of prayer ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you...

Already attained Only let us live up to what we already attained. Philippians 3:16 (NIV) Looking at this verse alone and out of context, you may think that to attain what Paul is talking about, you...

Every spiritual blessing Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because...

Having only a natural relationship with a supernatural God Imagine the greatest chef of all time was cooking for you, and all you asked for was a bowl of cereal. Or that the most profound singer of...

He lives in us Jesus lives in us. Several Bible verses affirm this, in particular Galatians 2:20. But exactly what does this mean? We know it happens in and with the Holy Spirit, but we are human and...

The teacher in you So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up...

What is prayer? This is the 18th in a series of studies on the subject of prayer ‘Lord, teach us to pray…’ Luke 11:1 (NIVUK) We have been looking at the topic of prayer for many weeks so it’s...

Titanic The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV) She was gigantic for her time, the pride of the British White Star Line. Built...

The heavens declare The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. Psalm 19:12 (NIV)...

God is salvation This is the 24th study in a series of studies about shadows in scripture …the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:...

King David’s foil Don Quixote had Sancho Panza. Sherlock had Watson. The hare had the tortoise. This literary convention called the ‘foil’ has been around since stories were told. The foil is...

Rising to our level of incompetence In 1968, Canadian educational scholar and sociologist Dr. Laurence J. Peter came up with a theory called the Peter Principle. Someone can be well-qualified and...

River Deep – Mountain High …how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ… Ephesians 3:18 (NIV) Anyone alive in the 1960s will surely have heard of the Ike & Tina Turner classic...

Heaven is waiting This is the 17th in a series of studies on the subject of prayer So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5 (NIV) Billy Graham once...

Weddings! On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. John 2:1-2 (NKJV) I have the luxury...

New every morning Because of the mercies of ADONAI we will not be consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning! Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 (TLV) There...

We are all on the road to Emmaus This is the 23rd study in a series of studies about shadows in scripture “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship...

Walls of hostility You have heard the adage, ‘Good fences make good neighbours.’ But hindsight says, ‘Bad neighbours, make good fences.’ Ever since Adam and Eve turned hostile against God,...

Releasing God’s power through prayer A.W. Tozer said ‘What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us’ (The Knowledge of the Holy). People think a...

Break dividing walls For [Jesus] is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands...

Carried aloft When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 (NIV) It was a full house as Jesus was teaching in Capernaum when some men attempted...