Some people wish that God were like Santa. He’d give us what we want. But the problem is: we don’t know what is best for us. Some people do think God is like Santa. And when they don’t get what they want, they throw God over board. But God is not like Santa. Or, like Harry Emerson Fosdick has stated, “God is not a cosmic bellboy for whom we can press a button to get things”. But if you think…
Do you believe that God loves you for real? Have you let that sink in your heart? Or is it only a nice, intellectual concept for you? God’s monumental love for us is a fundamental fact of Christian faith. If you don’t yet fully embrace it ask God to enable you to believe it. When you really grasp this lovely fact it opens you up to be fully human and fully alive. Because your value comes from God: you are…
Do you enjoy rooting for the underdog? I do. Whether in sports or fairy tales like Cinderella I’ve always enjoyed cheering the least likely to win. The world is a harsh place and it does my soul good to see that people do overcome adversities. There are a lot of stories of underdogs in the Bible. Today I want to look into how David got anointed to be king. He was the least likely candidate, just like Cinderella. Pay also…
Why do Christians want to extend peace to each other? What’s the big deal with peace? Those are interesting questions. Everybody thinks peace is nice but God’s robust peace is much more than nice! Let’s find out why. The Amplified Bible provides a neat definition for this heavenly peace: And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot…
Are you in need of life-giving, life-nourishing words? Do you feel dragged down? You’ve come to the right place. I want to share with you a gem in the Bible: the chapter 55 in Isaiah. We need to read and re-read this every time we feel spent, tired or over-whelmed (or all three at once). Because here God offers you love, grace, and joy. All three at once. “Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Are you…
We all know God is love. But God is also Joy! All the joy in the world derivatives from God. And there is no joy apart from God. No matter how hard people try to tell you so. All the attempts to have fun are poor substitutes for joy. God was, is and will be JOY. “God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic— before he did anything else. I was brought into being a long time ago, well before Earth got…
If we want to be filled with joy, we need to be filled with God. The world offers passing entertainment but God offers real, lasting and exuberant joy. The joy God gives is not artificial or forced but delightful and true. It’s a gift from God. Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people, Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil. So, God’s people, shout praise to God, Give thanks to our Holy God! (Psalm 97: 11-12, MSG) Evelyn…
Many of life problems are based on the forced separation of God and love. But love is inseparable from God. There is no true love without God. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed. (2 John 6, MSG) We are called to live in love. But we are unable to do it without God and his grace. Jerry Bridges…
Do you remember the Rubiks’s cube? Or “magic cube” as they also called it? Did you ever solve it? It felt it was impossible to solve it. Just like the problems we face in every day life, they seem impossible. But that’s just how they look from our perspective. We can’t see in the future. We don’t know how things are interconnected. We don’t have magic powers. Still we are not to give up! Angel Gabriel told Mary: “And did…
Waiting on God is hard. But I have learned that it is wise to wait for God’s timing. I have also learned that God’s word is truly trustworthy. God does not break his promises. God can’t break his word. Because he is God. When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!” Abraham…
