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...

The solid foundation “When the foundations are being destroyed,     what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3 (NIV) When living in Southern California, I experienced several earthquakes. One...

I see God 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 with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) I see God in...

Through the door… This study is the twenty-ninth in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament (Revelation: chapters 4 – 22, read in 35 minutes) After these things I looked, and behold,...

Dead to me The phrase ‘dead to me’ has unknown origins but saying that someone is ‘dead to me’ communicates that you no longer want to speak or have any kind of contact with that person. This...

24/7 Christians I’ve never been a weekend warrior, but after I strained a muscle digging a hole for a plant, I had to admit I might be one. I don’t dig holes every day but maybe I should,...

Night and day …for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NIV) Having grandchildren in both America and Canada I am not unfamiliar with...

DIY  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIVUK) The term...

God’s amazing gifts And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that...

Love at first sight Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  for you are...

He who has an ear, let him hear… This study is the twenty-eighth in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament (Revelation: chapters 1,2, and 3 – read in 8 minutes) …“What you see,...

Memorial Day Memorial Day in the USA was first established near the end of the Civil War to remember the lives of the soldiers who died in the conflict. These men paid the ultimate price to ensure the...

Remember to hope He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up...

More than wishful thinking …God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (ESV) We are used to hearing the word ‘hope’ used within the context of wishful thinking....

Life is short This year seems to have sped by faster than usual. Wasn’t I just walking through the woods looking at the spring wildflowers? It also seems like no time at all since my children...

Customised When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” Acts 11:18 (NIV) What a blessing...

I can’t but you can I find myself saying this a lot more as I get older: ‘I just can’t do this anymore.’ Things that seemed easy for me in the past, such as gardening, are a challenge...

To those who are called … This study is the twenty-seventh in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament (Jude – read in 1 minute and 28 seconds) But you, beloved, building yourselves...

Therefore… Have you ever noticed how many times the word ‘therefore’ appears in the Bible? One rule of thumb that has been given to help understand a passage in scripture, is that when you see...

Stop the clock One of the more fascinating themes of science fiction is the concept of time travel. The Star Trek franchise addressed it in several episodes and at least three of the movies....

The ministry of a father  For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children… 1 Thessalonians 2:11 (NIVUK) Four pastors were deep in conversation about the best...

Uzziah’s problem with pride  … you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who...