God changed the leopard’s spots … the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” Acts...

The root cause … you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation … 1 Corinthians 3:9 (AMPC)) All gardeners are aware of roots because a healthy root system is essential for ongoing...

The Good Shepherd “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…” John 10:14 (NIV) Shepherds and their sheep have deeply intimate relationships. Jesus our good shepherd knows us...

At the right hand of God Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had...

If no resurrection… Have you ever had a hard time believing something the Bible says about Jesus Christ? The virgin birth. Healing the blind. Walking on water. Raising the dead. There are many...

With us all the time To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven… Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) I recently heard of a Christian who was complaining to some of her fellow church...

A threefold blessing Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit… ” John 20:21-22...

Knowing God as Trinity Like many people, I used to believe God is rather monolithic. I imagined him, as he is often described, as one God, a lone being handing out mercy or judgment as necessary...

The misty optic  Where there is no vision, the people perish… Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) My mother used to have a leather spectacle cleaning pouch; inside it was a small, glass cleaning chamois and on...

What’s in your backpack? Most of us are not strangers to traveling, whether it be a daily commute or long-haul travel. Our trip to the U.S. Conference in October 2018 lasted 20 hours with several...

Another Place “Follow Me” John 21:19, 22 (NKJV) North of Liverpool, on the Merseyside coastline, is Crosby Beach. It is a 5-kilometre stretch of light brown sand and home to the art installation,...

The empty tomb. What’s in it for you? … she [Mary Magdalene] came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we...

In the grave Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away. I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my...

Another sign  …when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of...

Terms of endearment When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”...

He was a thief! Two criminals were also led out with him for execution, and when they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him with the criminals, one on either side of him. Luke 23:...

Punishment or loving choice As we look forward to celebrating the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, we also sometimes wonder just why he had to die in the first place. Why couldn’t his...

Peace be with you Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV) In what is commonly...

Praying for deliverance Does the world seem broken beyond repair? It seems every generation at one point or another feels this way. In smaller ways, we also have times of brokenness in our personal...

Knowing God the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is probably the most misunderstood member of the Trinity. There are all kinds of ideas out there about him and I used to have some of them. I believed he...

The royal visit The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!”...

The lost son So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and...

Lord! The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV) We hear of people fleeing for safety, looking for a place to hide. In the physical sense we...

Not confused.com For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV) As of October 2021, there were 361 UK-based insurance companies and...

A new heart   When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her...

Upside-down selfie with Jesus The selfie is the new autograph. Armed constantly with our phones, if we run into a famous person or even go to a famous place, we can snap a picture instantly. It’s...

Why God created us “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11 (NKJV) There was a time...

Knowing God the Son I was a Christian for many years before I knew Jesus. I had a vague idea who he was but almost everything I thought I knew back then was wrong. I have a much better understanding...

Inner peace And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:7 (NIV) The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, is...

Why am I here?  He destined us for adoption as his children through Christ Jesus, according to the good pleasure of his will… Ephesians 1:5 (NRSV) ‘Why am I here?’ ‘Because God wanted you!’...

Mum’s the word! But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. Galatians 4:26 (NIVUK) No matter what you call your mother: mum, mummy, mom, or mama, one of life’s cruel ironies is...

Royal flush If you know anything about the game of poker, you are probably familiar with what is called a ‘royal flush’. A royal flush is made up of the ten, jack, queen, king, and ace cards that...

Knowing God the Father Many things come to mind when the word ‘father’ is mentioned. One’s experience with fathers can determine how God is viewed. Human fathers can be anywhere on the scale...

The guilty go free ‘…it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release “the king of the Jews”?’ They shouted back, ‘No, not...

You are of more value than many sparrows “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, And he has become my salvation.” Isaiah...

You are my sunshine And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. Matthew 17:2 (NASB) You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make...

Lost and found “Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can...

What time do you call this? Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.” John 7:6 (ESV) I have a friend who is always late. If we arrange to meet for coffee, I...