The first day of Lent and Valentine’s Day do not collide that often. It creates an interesting situation this year. Valentine’s Day is full of chocolate and feasting. Ash Wednesday invites us to repentance and fasting. How can we combine Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day, fasting and feasting? Or do we need to choose one over other? Let’s find out. Fasting and Feasting Both fasting and feasting are part of Christian life. There is time for both. But the question…
Often I tell people to collect Bible verses to quickly remind them of God’s goodness in a time of need. Because when you’re feeling distressed you don’t have much energy to dig deep. Then it’s a huge blessing to have a first aid kit for weary pilgrims handy. Your own collection of special Bible verses that you know work time after time. Make sticky notes, type notes on your smartphone, collect them in a beautiful box or memorize them. Whatever…
How has your new year started? Are you reaching your goals? Or are you again doing the same old same old? It is hard to change. Especially, if we try to change on our own. Self-help does not work in long run. We need something more, we need God’s power. Blessedly, that is what God wants to give to his children. God wants to empower us to become what he has created us to be. We are called to live intentionally…
This month, I’ve been partaking in a challenge of getting rid of stuff. The goal is to get rid of as many things as the date number. The first day you get rid of one thing and on the second day, you part ways with two things and so on. During the month of January, it will around to 496 things all together. Not easy but so good. Getting rid of unused or otherwise unnecessary things makes room for peace…
I love Psalms. My whole life fits in the book of Psalms. It confronts, consoles, and counsels me. And, yes, it lifts my spirit and encourages me to go on with God. It reminds me what is important, who is in charge and why it matters what I choose and how I live. The book of Psalms guides me to the river of pure joy. Your faithful love is priceless, God! Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings….
What motivates you? Inner motivation beats outer motivation. So if you only do things because other people tell you so, your New Year resolutions won’t last. But if you really want change yourself, you have better chance to succeed. So it is in our spiritual life. It does matter what/who we are motivated by. Watchman Nee points out “Many saints cannot distinguish inspiration from emotion. Actually, these two can be defined readily. Emotion always enters from man’s outside, whereas inspiration originates…
How are you feeling? Are you excited about the New Year or are you dreading it? Have you made resolutions or are you continuing as you were? Whatever you do, be bold in Christ. Approach the New Year – and life in general – with boldness. Not because you are bold. But because God can embolden you. Note the difference! Commit your works to theLord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His…
As this year is almost over, our thoughts start to swirl around new beginnings. That’s good. But often we forget that finishing well is a skill that helps us to start well and live well. But, you see, if we don’t finish well, we can’t move on. At least, not well. And that’s what we want. We want to embrace the new with gusto. But that won’t happen if we don’t finish well. Okay, you say, how can we accomplish…
Do you wish there was more time in a day? I do. The demands of everyday life are great. Sometimes I do wonder how we all manage to get by with all the things we are asked to do. Juggling seems to be the style of living for many of us, especially during these last weeks of the year. Life is meant to be enjoyed, people cherished, and God worshiped. How can we accomplish that when we rush through things…
Are you craving for unity and peace? Yet you don’t know how to go about it? Especially among your own extended family or workplace? Isn’t it sometimes so hard? And don’t let me start talking about world peace or the lack of it. Or how about the unity among believers? Sigh. My response is ‘Come, Lord Jesus’ and I realize that Jesus really is the answer to unity and peace. How to go about it in our everyday life? We…
