A few years ago, I almost lost my faith. Seems I never had a strong hold on faith to begin with, despite all those mornings I showed up regularly for Sunday school and worship services. I just didn’t realize how weak it was until my family faced a series of crises. As our trials dragged on for year after year, stress and grief consumed me and left me wondering where God was, and if he really cared for us. I…
What is the difference between a Christian and a non-believer? Not much. We breath the same air, we read the same newspapers, we pay the same unbelivable price for gas. The difference is that we know where our help comes from. I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121: 1-2) Indeed, my help does not come from horoscopes, money or…
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) On New Year’s Day, it is meaningful to reflect on…
At the moment the cock crowed for the second time. The Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:72) Once again Peter shows us how to walk in faith. When we have sinned, we need to break down and weep. We need to repent. We need to stop living for ourselves and start living for God. We need to turn around…
Peter is one of my favorite Bible characters. I idenitify with him because he was passionate and very human. But, most of all, I admire his willingness to grow in grace and let the Holy Spirit transform him to a mature man of God. Let’s see how Peter can help us to take the first steps towards (re)making Jesus Christ the center of our lives.During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake….
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…
Lately God has been nudging me about giving people second changes. In general, I think, we don’t want to give people second changes. We want to cut them out of our radar if they have not been trustworthy. But God is all about second changes, forgiving and loving people time after time. What about us? There is a saying “the first time some one hurts you, it’s their fault; the second time they hurt you the same way, it is…
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….
When I was a student at the University of Helsinki a German tourist stopped me on the street. First he asked me if I spoke any German and all I could mutter was ‘JA’. Then he asked where the cruise ship possibly would be and all I could do was point and say ‘DA’ (there in German). He thanked and was on his way. First I was embarrassed how little I had been able to speak German. At least I…
Last week I attended a women’s conference with my mom. We got there at the last minute and the only available seats were at the back. Not the ideal place to see and hear everything but it had to do. After the presentations the buffet was surprisingly opened right behind us and suddenly the first were last and the last were first. It was such a powerful first hand experience of “The last will be first, and the first will…
