Teach us how to pray Part one of a series of studies on the Lord’s Prayer One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to...

Debt forgiveness in Christ In The United States of America, more than 44 million people have outstanding school loan debt – amounting to more than $1.5 trillion that is currently owed. The...

The Man up there As I listened to Neil Diamond’s Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show, my attention was drawn to the phrase “the man up there.” I used to think it was...

The tax collector “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ” Luke 18:13 (ESV) We...

The brown-eyed girl Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body…But in fact...

Kingdom of Jesus Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight…but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him,...

Joy And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty...

God is a relationship  God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV) If you were to ask anyone to describe God, the...

Mrs. Fidget In C.S. Lewis’ book, The Four Loves, Lewis writes a descriptive picture of love gone bad. He introduces us to Mrs. Fidget, who is known for living for her family. But it turns out that...

A great Christ Over the years, I’ve done a lot of things outside my comfort zone. I’ve experienced several different reactions, including hiding in the ladies’ room and praying....

Delighting in prayer And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them...

Little is much when God is in it “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your...

Follow me John 21:1-19 (NIV) The smell of a charcoal fire, hot bread and broiled fish wafts over the shore to the seven disciples who had been fishing all night but had caught nothing. Suddenly, in...

Do you love Jesus? “You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.7 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; hence she has shown great love....

Sleep tight It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil: for he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2 (ESV) Have you ever wondered why God designed...

Filled Aristotle is quoted as saying, ‘Nature abhors a vacuum’; He was one of the first to observe that on Earth, there are no naturally occurring spaces where nothing exists. The moment that a...

Judged by a label For most of my married life I have been what used to be known as a housewife. I was also a stay at home mom and now I call myself a homemaker. Those labels aren’t necessarily...

The leper returns Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your...

It is what it is… or is it? Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…” John 11:25 (ESV) In life there are certain...

Growing in grace …These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb… Revelation 14:4 (NET) I wonder if, like me, you...

Wait upon the Lord I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27:13-14 NIV) We...

Disappointed with God? …making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things...

True boasting Have you ever had a medical bill that made you cringe? Regardless of where you fall in debates over how you should pay for healthcare, there is one thing everyone can agree on. Good care...

Labeled and Judged We use labels for everything, including each other. Besides our names, we know and judge others in terms of everything we say, do and think. Some are good, some are bad and some are...

Valuing family ministry I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5 (NIVUK) The...

Twists and turns “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:14 (NIV) I’m grateful for motorways because they enable us to get around the...

The Church, the body of Christ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV) During a conversation with a friend recently I mentioned that I belong to...

Jesus comes with loud crying and tears During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was...

Going home  This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” John 18:9 (NIV) We were driving south on the M1 motorway, ten minutes...

Unseen footprints You’ve probably heard the old hymn ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus. The lyrics go like this: ‘Have you trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be...

Our guide for life When Sir Edmund Hilary decided to attempt climbing Mt. Everest, he knew he couldn’t do it alone. He knew a lot about mountaineering, but understood having a good guide would...

Eyes to see “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony…’...

To God be the glory “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) According to...

Hope I have never played much golf. And when I did, it showed. My friend called my approach the “hit and hope method.” And he was almost right. He thought I just hit the ball, and hoped it went in...

Passing on the blessings …grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15 NIVUK) Some years ago, a lady invited my family and...

Filled with the unlimited fullness of God! … to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19 (NIV) If you haven’t...

The myth of isolation Have you ever participated in a large, multi-day event that was spiritually exhilarating and yet physically exhausting? In July 2021 we held the GCI Denominational Celebration as...

Mind maintenance Walking the trails adjacent to our property has been a big blessing to me. On my morning walks, I’ve seen deer, birds, a rabbit and lots of banana slugs! Ours aren’t...

Cash for honours “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9 (NIV)  This verse has two...

Philip preached Jesus So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this...