Glory that lasts And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! 2 Corinthians 3:11 (NIV) We all want things to last – that toaster, our marriage, our...

James  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you...

The who question Most of us who were born more than (ahem) a few years ago probably remember learning about the 5 Ws and the H. It was the first thing I heard about during a class on journalism. Who,...

A balanced view of Christianity Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the...

Passing away When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:4 (ESV) Today we are living in what can be described as a troubled world – a world where...

Unbelieving prayer This is the 22nd in a series of studies on the subject of prayer …The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NRSVA) Do you believe things will happen when...

In all things It’s inspiring to see God work his infinite power. For me, it’s also in the little things that I get to see God and experience him on a daily basis. I usually take time to...

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...