The end of the road? “…..give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” Mark 6:25 (NKJV) In the first chapter of Mark, John the Baptist’s ministry starts out full of optimism...

To be with God This is the fifteenth in a series of studies on the subject of prayer …[Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for...

Job done It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery…You who are trying to be justified by the law have been...

God holds our hand The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV) How often do we...

An unexpected saviour This is the 21st study in a series of studies about shadows in scripture Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the...

No exception to the rule The Main Ingredient was an American soul and R&B band best known for their hit song, ‘Everybody Plays the Fool.’ Although the song is about unrequited love, its...

Enabling grace Most Westerners like to think of themselves as self-sufficient, able to handle things without help and never want to appear weak or vulnerable. This isn’t unique to Americans. It...

Take nothing “….Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.” Mark 6:8-9 (NIV) Jesus gave his disciples...

Open your eyes This is the fourteenth in a series of studies on the subject of prayer I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 (NIVUK)  You...

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...

My dwelling place Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God....

Temple builders This is the fourteenth in a series of studies on the subject of prayer …in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:22 (NKJV)...

Too good to be true You’ve probably experienced a situation that just didn’t make sense to you. It was too good to be true, and you weren’t sure if you should believe it. Well, you’re in good...

Unasked and answered Unanswered prayer has received a lot of attention over the years. People like to give reasons why God seems to say no, such as it’s not the right time, something better is...

Jesus’s concern for the marginalised …Jesus realised that power had gone out from him. He turned round in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ Mark 5:30 (NIVUK) Jesus was on his way...

Rooted in love …And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of...

A.C.T.S This is the thirteenth in a series of studies on the subject of prayer …pray continually…   1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIVUK)  Paul’s pithy command to ‘pray continually’, or ‘pray...

I will make a way …I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 (NIV) The garden is out of control again. What used to be a vegetable garden is now filled with...

Men of peace This is the nineteenth study in a series of studies about shadows in scripture …and he [Solomon] had peace on all sides round about him. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man...

Two are better than one Recently, a photograph surfaced online that showed an early version of Sony’s PlayStation game system. To me, it just looked like an old cable box. But when I looked closer,...

The heart of Christianity Being Christian means different things to different people. Most of us, including those who believe in God, carry around preconceived notions, probably passed on to them...

Megastorm And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. Mark 4:37 (NKJV) A couple of years ago I was reunited with an old school chum. It had been 40...

Call on the Lord This is the twelfth in a series of studies on the subject of prayer Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.  Psalm 5:2 (NIVUK) May 1940 was a time of grave...

Life after death “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants...

A firm anchor We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf… Hebrews 6:19-20...

Following in the steps of the disciples? “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life...

Father’s Day For Christians, Father’s Day is not only a time to celebrate fathers and fatherhood, but also a reminder of our heavenly Father’s unconditional love for all his children. In his...

Do the maths As a student, I did pretty well in maths – until I got to trigonometry! I couldn’t make heads or tails of it, so that was my last maths class. I do remember a little bit of...

We do not know how … “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The...

Commit your plans to the Lord This is the eleventh in a series of studies on the subject of prayer Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 (NIVUK) Some...

As we go The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you...

The personal touch Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man… Matthew 8:3 (NIV.) I cannot help but think about hands today. My hands hurt from the arthritis in them. My joints are swollen, and...

We will rejoice and be glad This is the eighteenth study in a series of studies about shadows in scripture …“These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things...

Christ, conqueror of my soul The English poet, William Ernest Henley, was an avowed atheist. You might recognise his name from his famous poem entitled, Invictus. Invictus is Latin for...

God delights in us “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over...

Who is Jesus?  When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’ And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He is...

A lament [God] has shown you . . . what is good…what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV) When we look at our societal...

Mayday This is the tenth in a series of studies on the subject of prayer But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’   Matthew 14:30 (NIVUK)...

You did it for me “The King will reply. ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'” Matthew 25:40 (NIV) The morning was...

The whole armour of God This is the seventeenth study in a series of studies about shadows in scripture ‘I’ve searched the land and found this David, son of Jesse. He’s a man whose...