Have you asked God to show what this year is all about? How has God responded to you? Or have you asked yourself how you should change this year? How have you responded to that? Too often we try to run our lives without consulting God. We try to decide ourselves what needs to be done and then we proceed to change ourselves according to our plans. And we forget God out of the equation. When God is not part…
Do you know the deep secret of joy? It has nothing to do with the entertainment industry but it has everything to do with Jesus. Because, you know, nothing but Jesus can give us freedom from all the ugliness in our lives. And that’s not even all. Jesus can save us from eternal separation from the ultimate goodness. Martin Luther explains the deep secret of joy very well: The heart overflows with gladness, and leaps and dances for the joy…
This Advent season I hope you’re not running around like crazy. You know, abundant life is not found in shopping extravaganzas or perfect decorations. Spending money will not bring your peace or happiness. You get bankruptcy and hollowness instead. Because you become what you embrace. If you go after false idols, you become false. They despised his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and the warnings which he gave them. They went after false idols, and…
We are called to shine. But not to attract attention to ourselves but to God. We are called to shine for God. What does it mean? How could we glow for God? We can’t make ourselves glow but because God is full of glory, all we need to do is to reflect his light to the world. The more time we spend with God, the more we shine for God. The more God exposure we have, the more we reflect…
Getting ready for Christmas is not about finishing your shopping lists. It’s not about cleaning your house or preparing scrumptious meals. It’s not about getting the Christmas cards out on time. It’s not about trimming your tree beautifully or decorating your house festively. It’s entirely something else. All these other things can be fun but the one thing that really makes or breaks our Christmas is our heart condition: Do we love Jesus more than anything? Jesus: Simon, son of…
Are you familiar with God’s word? What are your Bible-reading habits? Psalm one encourages all of us to chew on Scripture. What could that be? How would your life benefit from chewing on Scripture? How well God must like you— you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College. Instead you thrill to God‘s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2 MSG) Chewing on Scripture means thinking…
Many people count their blessings. I do too. I offer thanks for them in my evening prayer. Then I move onto my concerns and petitions. Then I do something that brings me peace and lots of hope. What could that be? Being peaceful and hope-filled is the best way to fall asleep, don’ t you think? I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a…
Practicing thankfulness is important. There are scientific studies even to prove that practicing thankfulness is healthy in many ways. It helps us to concentrate on the good in our lives for sure. Just like Mr. Roger’s mom used to say to him when he was a boy and saw scary things in the News: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Look for the blessings. You will always find things to be grateful for. Practicing…
It’s Friday the 13th again. And people are either joking or serious about their superstitions about the day. I am so tired and weary about this happening over and over again. I can understand that non Christians are superstitions but don’t you think Christians should know better? Earlier, before you knew God personally, you were enslaved to so-called gods that had nothing of the divine about them. But now that you know the real God—or rather since God knows you—how…
Last night my new class called Faith in Everyday Life started. I had been anticipating, praying and preparing for it for quite some time now. The class was well attended and it was a huge blessing to see how much enthusiasm for learning and growing in grace there was. One thing always amazes me after a speaking engagement is that I feel myself so empty. Peaceful but empty. Blessed but empty. Fulfilled but empty. Today it’s time for my own…
