What’s your take on happiness? Is it overrated or is it something you expect to be? Sometimes Christians think it’s not something we should be. But how could we not if we’ve been right with God? What if happiness is holy? But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. (Psalm 68:3, NIV,*) Happiness is an outward expression of an inner joy. Nothing but Jesus can make us truly joy-filled. Nothing but Jesus…
I’ve been raspberry picking this week. We have lots of wild raspberry bushes just behind our garage. Raspberries are so delicious, aren’ they? They’ve taught me something too. If you look at a raspberry bush, it doesn’t look anything special, does it? But if you humble yourself and kneel down, you find treasures you did not expect from just looking at the bush. See yourself!This made me think that this is how we should live our lives too: humbly and serving…
We need prayer daily. There’s no way around it. It’s not because of God we pray. It’s because we need it. (Here are my top 10 reasons why I can’t live without prayer if you’re interested). Prayer reminds us who and whose we are, why we are here and where we are going. Daily prayer gets us focused and inspired. Prayer starts our day right: When we surrender to God, everything will work out. Here I have a small collection…
Too often these days the name of Jesus does not evoke reverence and awe in us. We take Jesus granted or don’t recognise the amazing things Jesus really brings into our lives. We are ignorant of treasures hidden in Jesus. What could be so amazing about Jesus? First of all, through Jesus we get to know God Almighty. There’s no other way to God than Jesus. But even that’s not all, folks! We are called to personally know Christ. And…
Have you been wondering what to do with all the hate going around? Hurt people hurt people. It seems like there is more and more toxic waste going around. Is there anything we can do about it? Or should we just give in? Absolutely not! We have the way to make a huge difference in the world. Even start a revolution of grace? Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,…
Have you been hurt badly? Do you think the offence should not be pardoned? Do you think God should not extend grace to your offender? I hear you. It is hard to understand why God would offer grace for all sinners. But he does. Because he loves us. TheBible tells us: And He [that same Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because…
Are you in need of help? But are you too embarrassed or too proud to ask for help? Or do you think no one can ever understand what you’re going through so why bother? I hear you. Being vulnerable and weak is not fun. But denying our need for help does no good for anyone. That way we don’t get the help we’d need but we also deny others the blessing to help us. And we’d all miss God’s hand…
Sometimes you hear people saying that Christianity is not important any more. That the message of Jesus Christ is not that much needed in today’s world. That the power of grace is weakening or, at least, its not so meaningful any more. I could not disagree more. The world seems to be going crazy. There hasn’t been a time when God’s grace was more needed than right now. And, for the record, the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ…
Albert Benjamin Simpson (December 15, 1843 – October 29, 1919), also known as A. B. Simpson, was a Canadian preacher, theologian, author, and founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He has already been dead almost 100 years now but his writings are still relevant. How on earth? Because he wrote about eternal things that last. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is…
Have you ever wrestled with God in prayer? Have you cried your heart out to God trusting that he will help you? Have you been perseverant in your prayer? Not letting God go until he has blessed you? Good for you. Prevailing prayer has more power than you know. With the words of Samuel Chadwick. “There is no power like that of prevailing prayer – of Abraham pleading for Sodom, Jacob wrestling in the stillness of the night, Moses standing in the…
