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…
Did you make resolutions for 2011? I did not. Or, at least, I think they’re not resolutions but goals to more fully embrace the promises of God. You see, we just come from celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ that was so wonderfully promised in the Old Testament. (Just see Isaiah 9:1-7.) I am fully convinced that everything else God has promised to us will happen in God’s time. So I am boldly stepping into 2011 trusting God to take…
The second day of Christmas is a national holiday in Finland and many other European countries. This day is a good day to reflect what Christmas means in our everyday life. 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 to put our faith into action! The fact that God chose…
Far, far away in Siberia lived a good but poor king. He had always been told that when the Highest King would be born a star would proclaim his birth. As the poor king saw the star of Bethlehem, he knew right away that now the Highest King had been born. He chose the best things his country could offer: pearls, linen, fur, and honey to be his gifts to this new king and started his journey on his horse….
It’s not a trick question. But by answering it you will realize whether your life has the right perspective or not. What is most important today? It’s not finishing your Christmas shopping. It’s not clearing your to-do list (even if it is full of good and holy deeds). It’s not championing your life, either. The most important thing is to abide in God and feel his loving presence. God loves you and you need to abide in Him. If you…
It does not matter how dark it gets outside. It does not matter how dark the world is. What matters is that you have Light inside of you. Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.” (John 8:12, MSG) Claim the joy of Christ to be yours today and every single day of your life. Keep your light lit no…
I love the season of Advent. But I do not love the commercializing of the season of Christmas. I do not love the lies we are tried to make to believe. Actually, now that I come to think of it, I hate the lies that try to take away the real meaning of Christmas, the lies that try to take away the true colors of Christmas. For example, there was recently a department store add stating boldly: Luxury belongs to…
Faith is not a sentiment. It is a call for action. Too often we let the life happen and we wander without thinking, even without praying. But then we are in danger to get where the flow takes us and not where we want to go. We need to put our faith in action. We need to start our days by praying for guidance, for wisdom, for direction. Tommy Barnett states “I’ve discovered it is not sufficient simply to try…
Gratitude follows grace like thunder lightning, writes Karl Barth. I think so, too. There is nothing bigger or better in life than receiving grace through faith in Jesus Christ! G.K. Charleston has said “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” If we take time to wonder God’s mysteries in our lives we start to see God’s handiwork all around us. We need to cultivate wonder because wonder leads…
I heard the expression “experience-rich but reflection-poor” used about this generation at the conference I attended this week. Are you one of these people? Have you experienced all the thrills, bells, and whistles this time can offer and been left empty, used, and shallow? You are not alone. We are so easily distracted by everything that is going on. But there really is such a thing that too much of good things. It does not pay off to do everything,…
