Archive

Don’t fear the future ‘Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will...

Already a good New Year This week, we are blessed to celebrate the coming of another year with fireworks, parties, and cheers of “goodbye” to 2023 and “hello” to 2024. At the start of a new...

One-word prayer  There is something about starting a new year that brings energy, excitement, and hope. The flipping of the calendar from December 31 to January 1 is a built-in rhythm of renewal. It...

The kiss of experience  But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because...

Love and goodwill The Christmas season is upon us and the sounds of jingling bells, songs of winter sleighs and roaring fires, and of course, peace and goodwill toward all are in the air. We like to...

God has come … “God has come to help his people.” Luke 7:16 (NIV) The people witnessing the miracle before them, spoken of in Luke chapter 7, could only respond in amazement. This...

Christmas unwrapped – the slaughter of the innocents. This is the fifth in a series of Christmas studies. When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave...

Noisy night Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared…praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke...

The joy of Christmas Christmas is my favourite holiday. It’s more than just a single day — it’s an entire season! Here in America you ‘hear’ the Christmas season before you see it. That’s...

Coming of the King – Advent love This is the fourth in a series of studies on Advent. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22...

A nobody, born to nobodies? And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the...

No room for Jesus In the days before the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem for the census. When Joseph tried to find a place to stay for the night – Mary was in labour...

‘Tis the season for babies… …and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger… Luke 2:7 (NIV) …or at least one baby in particular. In an...

Christmas unwrapped – a Christmas exchange This is the fourth in a series of Christmas studies. …Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be...

Away in a manger …and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:7 (NIVUK) The Christmas...

Expectant waiting Most of us don’t like to wait. And while most waiting does seem painful and arduous – like standing in line, or sitting in traffic – sometimes waiting brings great excitement...

Coming of the King – Advent joy This is the third in a series of studies on Advent. The Lord is my strength and my shield;  my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and...

John the witness  There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he...

  Home for Christmas Everyone wants to be home for Christmas. What is it that makes them almost inseparable? Both words conjure up feelings of warmth, security, comfort, nurture, and love. The...

Incarnation, perfection, salvation! “Behold, the virgin shall be with a child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)...

Christmas unwrapped – come all ye faithful This is the third in a series of Christmas studies. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to...

Joy to the world He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:22 (NLT) ‘What do you want me to know Lord?’, I said in my mind. Joy and laughter was my...

Best-Laid Plans Those who know me know that planning is one of my love languages. I love the feeling when a perfectly laid plan comes together. And my love tank is filled when someone considers what I...

Coming of the King – Advent peace This is the second in a series of studies on Advent.  ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’ Luke 2:14...

Why are we waiting? The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter...

God is present While shopping at a store of vintage items, I came across a plaque with the words: “Bidden or not bidden, God is present.” On the back, it says Carl Jung had this carved in...

Swaddled She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. (Luke 2:7 CEB) Jesus was swaddled. As a...

Christmas unwrapped – the greatest gift This is the second in a series of Christmas studies. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIVUK) We are fast approaching that time...

Come Jesus come He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20 (NIV) I have heard the words: ‘Come, Lord, Jesus!’ all week. I...

Our Coming Hope This week begins the season of Advent, a time when we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus, his arrival into our lives, and his anticipated Second Coming. During Advent, much attention...

Coming of the King – Advent hope This is the first in a series of studies on Advent. At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for...

When you see these things happening “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these...

Jesus shares Humility is a tricky thing. If you think you’re humble, you probably aren’t. And if you think you aren’t, well, you might or might not be. So how can we know? Maybe one...

Jesus’s genealogy This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: …Tamar…Rahab…Ruth …Uriah’s wife [Bathsheba] …Mary Matthew 1:1, 3, 5, 6, 16 (NIVUK)...

Christmas unwrapped – fruitful bread This is the first in a series of Christmas studies. ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for...

So close Recently, a child of God, a saint, left his dwelling here on earth to be with the Father, Son, and Spirit in the heavenly realm. We mourned his loss to us, and we celebrated the gift to God....

Thanksgiving Most Americans will have just celebrated this year’s Thanksgiving holiday, a special time with family and friends over good food. As believers, of course, we don’t limit giving thanks...

Shove them away What should we do with wayward thoughts? We all have them. Sometimes they take root in our minds and develop into negative thought patterns that can be hard to break. Paul had a lot to...

Waiting for the King ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite...

Offering hope Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… 1...