Aroma makes the difference! Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.  Ephesians 5:2 (NLT) Cutty...

Nowhere to go  Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20 (NIV) In 2019/20 in London, 10,726 people were recorded as...

The Impossible “…for God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26 (NRSV) A few days ago I was watching a film titled The Impossible. It was based on a true story about a family of five that...

The empty tomb ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!…’  Luke 24:5-6 (NIVUK) Until recently, I worked for a Chinese-owned company, so it was not...

The aftermath of Good Friday    The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said…” ...

Today is Friday… When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him… Luke 23:33 (NIVUK) The evening was getting worse. Jesus was betrayed. One by one he was abandoned by his...

Shaking things up …But I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:27 (NIVUK) Have you ever been so frustrated with someone you want  to shake them? There you are trying to tell them something...

Escaping the prison of sin  “…if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  John 8:36 (NKJV) It once housed the worst criminals in the USA and it was based on the huge rock in San...

Wisdom …that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the...

How do you fight your crusade? When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17 (ESV) My earliest memories of history lessons tell of King...

Whose likeness This is the coin in use around the time of Christ. Look closely at it and you see a major problem for the Jews of the day. The inscription reads: “Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the...

Esther and us “…Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 (NLT) As a teacher working in a Jewish school the story of Esther is one that we visit...

Can you bring me a donkey? “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:38 ESV Have you ever felt uncomfortable? I have, lots of times...

Fox’s poo! “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah...

But…! For I the Eternal your God hold you by the hand, whispering, “Fear not, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (Moffatt) Did you ever look at the ‘but scriptures’ in the Bible? ‘But’ means...

Are you listening? “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” Matthew 13:43 (NLT)  During His ministry Jesus...

Jesus in the lions’ den So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. Daniel 6:16 (NIVUK) No, the title isn’t a misprint. Daniel in the lions’ den is a...

Open hands close eyes If someone told you to “hold out your hands and close your eyes” what would you do? I know what you might be thinking, “Well, it depends on who told me to hold out my hands...

Rest and be thankful “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28 (NIV) The view from the highest point on the A83 is one of the most magnificent in...

0% perfect, 100% forgiven    “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (NIV) In today’s featured scripture, Jesus says he came to save the lost. Who, then, are the...

Dare to be a Daniel “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 (ESV) The account of Daniel and the lions’ den is, arguably, one of the best known Bible stories...

Come ‘Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.’ Isaiah 55:1 (NIVUK) In the space of...

How do you wear your crown? Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the...

The Creator God “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.” Job 38:4 (NIV) I’m sure that most people welcome effective vaccines developed to combat...

Lukewarm coffee I have a friend who likes her coffee lukewarm. Her husband on the other hand will only drink it piping hot. Early in their marriage this created a moment of tension. One morning her...

What’s in a name? ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat...

Find your life “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:25 (NIV) Who doesn’t want to save their life? We cling to life...

Is there life after death?   “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work...

Do we smell? Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the...

Circles of joy “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”   John 15:11 (NKJV) My little dog delights in her daily excursion to the woods...

Belly of the whale In 1891, in the black, cold waters off the Falkland Islands, a whaling boat was attacked by a giant sperm whale. One of the sailors went missing. A day later—or a few days...

Through faith For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.   Eph.2:8-9 (NKJV) I do not know where to...

The Lost Son “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive...

Be ready “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”  Matthew 25:13 (NIV) Christian preacher and broadcaster Harold Camping, basing his calculations of dates in Bible...

The time is short? …the appointed time has grown short…  1 Corinthians 7:29 (NRSV)  The apostle Paul had a very distinguished education. His formative years were spent in Tarsus and he was...

Silence is golden … A time to keep silence, And a time to speak… Ecclesiastes 3:7 (NKJV) Silence is golden. In the book of Job, Bildad could have used this advice; Job’s  misery was...

The promises of God For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV) The Bible contains many...

Pinky promise When I was a kid, my friends and I would often make promises to each other. If we really wanted to emphasize our commitment, we’d say things like “cross my heart and hope to die”...

As white as snow! “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as...

The power of lament  “…How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” Luke 13:34 (NLT) Over the last...