Don’t you ever wish there would be a refresh button for your life? That by only pushing the button everything would just miraculously sort out just fine? But, yeah, I guess that’s not how life works. But we have not been left alone to deal with the mess we’ve made. Jesus asks: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a…
One of the best things about Christianity is that we are not just saved, made right with God but we are also made whole. Wholeness is something everyone in the world wants. We want to feel complete. We want our lives to be wholesome. We want to be happy, whole, and peaceful. The way to wholeness is available for us in Christ. But only in Christ. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore…
Do you think God’s promises are unrealistic? That it’s impossible to think you could ever overcome anything just because of Jesus? I have news for you. The name of Jesus is more powerful than anything in this world. How do I know this? The Bible tells me so many times over and I’ve experienced it in my life myself. Christ is the source of strength for anyone who wants to be his. Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The…
Do you know that you’re called to bear witness? When you have come to know the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and when you – by grace – believe it, you are truly free. But what are you supposed to do with this knowledge, this joy, this freedom? When you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, you are, just like Peter, commissioned to move beyond yourself, to bear witness that Jesus is alive and God is at work among us….
God decided long, long time ago that he wants to adopt you into his family through Christ. God also decided that he wants you to be the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. God wants you to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by Jesus. All this is said so beautifully in the Message version of the letter to Ephesians: How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s…
Do you know or do you want to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life? The Bible is very clear on this. Especially this passage from the first letter of John spoke to me on the matter: My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free…
Have you heard? Christ is risen! And with that everything has changed. Truly. Resurrection life is not business like usual. Jesus really died on the cross for our sins and he was buried like said but on the third day he was risen. But that’s not all, folks! Jesus was risen but sin stayed in the tomb. Christ conquered all the evil forces. Easter really isn’t “just” about being exited that our friend Jesus lives. God did not “just” rose…
Are you tempted to skip Good Friday and hop straight over to Easter? I hear you. I think it’d be great to pretend that all the cruel things on Good Friday did not happen. And, especially, denying our part in it, right? But that’s not how God planned out our salvation. It does involve blood, suffering, and dying. All for our sake. Our salvation was costly. We can’t forget that. We can’t skip Good Friday. Otherwise, our Easter joy would…
To tell the truth, I feel inadequate to write anything on the holy week. The amazing love of God shown to us during the events of the holy week leaves me in humble awe and I am questioning whether I can do justice to that. But thankfully this is not about me but about God. So I will share a couple of observations on the awesomeness of God and our deep need of Jesus to choose life over death. On…
Do you get often tears in your eyes? How do you react to them? This quote by Frederick Buechner changed how I think of tears in my eyes. Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come…
