It’s getting dark very early these days. Even the days seem gloomy. We yearn to have more light. We try to get rid of darkness by putting up Christmas lights. But no amount of Christmas lighting can take away darkness of our lives. Only God can do that. Psalm 36 verse 9 has been giving me comfort and perspective as it gets darker and darker around us: For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see….
Do you know the difference between grace and mercy? I was reading a prayer of Daniel and I was awed by the humbleness how he approached God. He realized we really don’t deserve anything from God. Yet he boldly approached God for appealing for his compassion. I was thinking that’s how we all should approach God: humbly yet boldly. It’s true we don’t have anything to offer God. But yet he is inviting us to come to him. It’s not…
I experienced grace this morning. I go to a group gym every Monday and Friday. This time I had forgotten to reserve my place. There I was ready to exercise and my name was not on the list. Somehow I had not even realized I had forgotten it. Needless to say I felt frustrated and stupid. But the trainer extended me grace and allowed me in without reservation. It felt very, very good. It was undeserved grace, pure and simple….
I know many of us are in great need of physical healing (Right now I have several people on my prayer list). But let’s not forget the even greater need for spiritual healing. Because through spiritual healing we are not given just life in this world but also life after death. If we don’t have spiritual cleansing from inside out, it does not matter how healthy we otherwise are. Because then we are walking in the land of death. We…
Few years ago I read an interview with a retiring bishop. He was asked what he would like to be remembered by. He said that it’s not important that he would be remembered. But he hopes people would remember that God is good. Amen to that! It’s not really about us, it’s about God! Because God is good – all the time! God is all mercy and grace— not quick to anger, is rich in love. God is good to…
I wasn’t planning on writing a post on Hebrews 10:19-36 but these verses kept coming back to me over and over again so I finally succumbed to the challenge. This passage gives us (at least) five tips for Christian life. So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body. (Hebrews…
I didn’t realize the word ‘hold’ is such a hope-filled and faith-saturated one. I was doing a search at Biblegateway.com and found an abundance of faith-affirming and uplifting verses that had the word ‘hold’ in them. Here are my favorites: Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands. (Matthew 10:28, MSG, emphasis added*) We…
Do you think the blood of Christ is too precious for you? That you think so highly of the blood of Christ that you don’t dare to apply it to you and your sins? That you and yours problems are too small to bother Jesus? Slow down for a minute. Let’s think this through. [Therefore, I do not treat God’s gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and…
Have you ever wondered why you don’t make any spiritual progress? You’ve been diligent with spiritual practices and attended faithfully church functions but nothing happens? Sometimes we are lead to desert and that’s ok. There are different seasons in faith life too. But make sure that you don’t ignore the most important aspect of your spiritual life: the Holy Spirit. This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life…
Do you know how you can have your sins washed away? It’s one of the most important things to know, don’t you think? Of course, you need to first acknowledge that you are a sinner. But aren’t we all? I, at least, don’t know any one person who would be so perfect and holy that there would not be any trace of sin in him/her. If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners],…
