Is receiving the grace of Christ an amazing race or amazing grace? It is a relief to know it does not require to be the winner of the amazing race to receive the grace of Christ. There is nothing we can do to earn the grace of Christ. It is the amazing gift from God; it is amazing grace. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when…
The world news are very upsetting, don’t you agree? Every week we read about some horrific news. It makes us homesick to God. We long for a place where righteousness is at home, where we can all be at peace. Blessedly, heaven is such a place and we are all invited. Even the price has already been paid by Jesus. Hence anyone who believes in Jesus is more than welcome there. Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow,…
Are you trained in greed or a creed? One alphabet makes a big difference, doesn’t it? The difference is as big as between day and night or life and death. How do you live your life? Are you becoming an expert in greed or are you training yourself in God’s ways? What are you teaching your children? Greed or a creed? They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! (2 Peter 2:14b, NRSV) This verse got my attention this morning….
The second day of Christmas is a national holiday in Finland and many other European countries. This day is a great day to reflect what Christmas means in our everyday life. Do we have a stable influence of Christmas in our lives? It was great to celebrate baby Jesus and welcome him to the world. But what does it mean to us that Jesus was born 2000 years ago? It is time to put Christmas into practice! It is time…
If you’re not ready for Christmas, don’t worry. That’s how it’s supposed to be. Babies are born when they are born. Most often it is when everything is not ready yet. And no matter how much you prepare, a baby is always an unknown territory anyway. So if you find yourself in a situation that everything is not perfect, you’re celebrating Christmas the authentic way. Mary did not have much for Jesus either. So be merciful to yourself and concentrate…
I hope that this Christmas season you take time to do two things. They make or break your Christmas. First of all, welcome Jesus into your heart. He was born for you. Do you let him be born in your heart? Second of all, I hope you take time to reverently adore Jesus. That’s how we get the Christmas spirit. By welcoming Jesus and worshiping him. O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord…
Are you trying to leave your problems in the past? I have a better idea. Do you know why? Your history is part of you, there’s no way you can leave your past behind you. But don’t despair. I really do have a better idea. Something that works time after time. Namely facing your problems, sins, any kind of emotional wounds with Jesus. With the words of Francis Frangipane “For the past cannot be forgotten, it can only be forgiven…
The world news seem to be getting more horrific all the time. Kidnappings, massacres, wars, murders, accidents. It all feels terrible, especially in the season of love and peace. How can we be merry? How can we rejoice when the world is full of tears and heart-break? But do we then forget what is the reason of the season? Do we forget why Jesus came into the world? The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord…
Preparation is a big part of any celebration. The bigger the celebration, the larger-scale preparations are needed. As human beings we need time to get ready. But also God carefully prepared the creation of the world and the way of salvation long before they happened: In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1, AMP,*) How wonderful to know that God took time to prepare everything in the world, including you and me….
Are you painfully conscious of your need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened? Do you know what those things are? How do you get your soul refreshed, supported, and strengthened anyhow? If we hurry and go after all the bling-bling in the world, we will miss it. But if we take time to listen, we find our way to the well. God has been calling us to the fresh waters long, long time. Already…
