Since the hate-filled happenings in Charlotte, this Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote has been going through my mind. Over and over again. “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” We can’t be silent anymore. Things are escalating rapidly, we need to act. We can’t stay silent any longer. Not to speak is to speak; it’s taking sides with evil. Is that what you want?…
Do you have a special place on earth that you call your own? I’ve always admired people who are established and happy about it. I’m more a sojourner in spirit. For my kids, I am planning on staying at one place as long as God is not specifically calling us elsewhere. I think, until I get to heaven, I will always be eager to move on. How about you? But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And…
Are you worried that you could mess up God’s plans? Do you think you are letting God down by not being effective and productive enough? I have good news for you. There’s no way you could ever mess up God Almighty’s plans. God knows you and – yet – he loves you very much. He knows how much rest you need and what is happening in your life. You can rest assured you’re not able to wreck God’s plans for…
Summer seems to be a time when everything stops. Nothing happens. Yes, we need that kind of time to relax and rejuvenate. But too much is too much, right? Little by little we become anxious to do something, anything really. The wise thing here is to wait until it’s the right thing to do, not just because we are too anxious to wait. This happens in our spiritual life too. Waiting on God is a big part of Christian living. We…
Summer is an awesome time for spiritual check-ups. Usually, we get some time off the grid or even time away from routines. That gives us time to see our life better than when we are barely trying to survive from day to day. Today I am trying to look at my life if there are any other gods than God Almighty. You know, it’s so easy to start collecting idols without even noticing it. How about you? Are you collecting…
Sometimes, we all crave comfort. Or maybe I should say, most of the time, we all crave comfort. Most likely we don’t realize it but we do. Life is hard, the world seems harsh. Hence, we crave comfort. The advertisers try to sell us their products to bring us some level of comfort. But they all are fake advertisers. There’s only one way to get lasting comfort and that is Jesus. Until we are truly comforted by the Lord, we…
I reserve Sundays for play and worship only. I try to avoid doing anything useful (like doing laundry or mowing the lawn). When you first start doing this, it might feel a bit annoying that you can’t deal with the everyday stuff whenever you want. But when you truly embrace the idea of play and worship only, you start celebrating the fact that you have a whole day set aside for worship and play only. You can plan ahead of…
My oldest goddaughter is getting married today. Even though we have never lived in the same place and sometimes even thousands of kilometers have separated us, our connection has never wavered. I’ve been praying for her since before she was born and that’s the key here: prayer. We don’t have this great connection because I would have been such an awesome godmother. It’s because of God’s grace. And that’s the secret to any steady relationship. Prayer is also the pathway to…
How does your perfect day start? What do you need to get your day going well? Coffee and a newspaper? A cup of tea and little time for yourself? Or do you crave for some time with the Lord? I love starting my day with some quiet time with God (but I do understand that some people prefer to do it in the evening or some other time of the day). It readjusts my attitude, fills my heart with hope and…
Are you afraid of the future? You don’t have to be. Of course, it’s easier said than lived out but I truly believe it and try to live according to that belief too. Certainly, the future is scary if we face it all alone. But if we live our lives with God, there is nothing to be afraid of. Here are some verses and thoughts for a fear-free future. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope…
