How do you spend your time? What do you do in your free time? What kind of a Christian are you? Yes, these are some deep questions, but they’re worth pondering on. Charles Spurgeon preached about Butterfly Christianity. You’d think he was talking about it in a good way…like a butterfly, Christian would be one who is developing and becoming a person of grace. But no. Quite the opposite, actually. Spurgeon writes, “My dear friend, Dr. Taylor, of New York,…
Have you ever met people who seem to ooze happiness? At first glance, they look like they have a halo that bright is the light around them. As you continue to observe them, you realize they have something deep within them that keeps them going despite their struggles. That is when you decide you want what they are having. You want to be as happy as them even when life continually gives you lemons. What about them satisfies them even…
Have you ever felt the touch of the Holy Spirit? If you have, there is nothing the world can do or say to you to make you quit believing. When the Holy Spirit convinces you Jesus is alive, you know it for certain. Most often the Holy Spirit speaks softly, without a fanfare. Sure, God can make also loud statements. But most often the Holy Spirit touches our hearts while we pray and worship God. Yes, we are told to…
God’s definition of success is pretty much the opposite of the definition we find in a dictionary. The Bible does not urge us to be successful. Instead, we are told to thrive towards faithfulness. Success God is talking about comes from staying in his love. And even this happens not by our own might but by God’s grace. We need to just remember we are loved by God. All else follows. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your…
Are you spiritually tuned to God? Or are you one of those Christians who live under their privileges as God’s children? I hope you claim all the blessings meant for children of God. Because only that way you can live as you are meant to live. When spiritual transaction is part of your everyday living, you are well empowered for victorious living. Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have…
We are told from very early on to be independent and self-reliant, preferably efficient and successful. That’s what’s expected of us, right? Then comes Christianity and tells us the opposite: depend on God, not on yourself. This can be really confusing and it can be hard to go against the grain. But the Bible does not mean you would not take care of yourself. Instead, it urges us to rely on God, not on ourselves or other people or money…
No matter what you’re facing, be strong in Jesus and pray hard. You might ask, what does it mean to be strong in Christ? Such a good question. It means you draw strength from Jesus, not from your own resources. And as we know his resources are limitless. Hence we are both encouraged and empowered at the same time. Then we are ready to move on to praying hard. In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from…
The core element of faith is surrender. Some people don’t think so but Jesus told his disciples that all who want to come after him must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. That is what faith is all about: surrender. And not just once but daily. Because there’s always something new to surrender. As A.W. Tozer has said, “Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.”…
Do you want to be happy? I think we all do. Too often people think that God would not want them to be happy. Like God’s goal would be to make you unhappy. That doesn’t ring true, does it? Quite the opposite is true in fact. God wants you to be happy with him. You grant him blessings forever; you make him happy with the joy of your presence. (Psalm 21:6, CEB) With the words of Charles Spurgeon “Man was…
How do you feel about spiritual testing? Are you tired of trials? I hear you. But, believe me, there’s more to testing and trials than we might think. There’re hidden blessings involved, you know. Each trial has a purpose Warren Wiersbe has said “Life’s trials are not easy. But in God’s will, each has a purpose. Often He uses them to enlarge you.” This already make me feel better of tests and trials. Each trial has a purpose. God has…
