What would it take for you to take a risk of faith? What would it take to get you out of your comfort zone and into an adventure of faith? These are the questions that have been running through my head as I’ve been reading the fourth diary in Mary DeMuth‘s and Frank Viola‘s brand new book The Day I Met Jesus: The reavealing diaries of five women in the gospels. The fourth diary is of a woman with a…
Do you spend time with God regularly? Do you live out your faith or is it something you reserve for Sundays only? And, most importantly, do you practice the absence of God or the presence of God? Too often Christians are so busy running their lives that they forget God. They forget that God exists and wants to be part of their lives. Even if they say they are Christians, they practice the absence of God. They forget what it…
Today I’ve been inspired by some thoughts on waiting and I want to share them with you. May they encourage you on your faith journey as well! We who have hope in Christ are able to wait because we know God is good all the time. For in [this] hope we were saved. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For how can one hope for what he already sees? But if we hope for what is…
Are you trained in greed or a creed? One alphabet makes a big difference, doesn’t it? The difference is as big as between day and night or life and death. How do you live your life? Are you becoming an expert in greed or are you training yourself in God’s ways? What are you teaching your children? Greed or a creed? They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! (2 Peter 2:14b, NRSV) This verse got my attention this morning….
How was your Christmas? Did you have a good time with your family and friends? I hope so. But even the most joyous time of year can’t compare to what we have in Jesus. For real. Nothing compares to Jesus. Nothing. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! (Psalm 63:3, CEB) This little verse captures what really matters in life. God’s love and God’s grace are better than life itself. No matter how much fun…
Are you trying to leave your problems in the past? I have a better idea. Do you know why? Your history is part of you, there’s no way you can leave your past behind you. But don’t despair. I really do have a better idea. Something that works time after time. Namely facing your problems, sins, any kind of emotional wounds with Jesus. With the words of Francis Frangipane “For the past cannot be forgotten, it can only be forgiven…
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…
Faith is a weird thing. You can’t see it. You can’t taste it or touch it. But you can sense it. You can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. You can see with the eyes of faith and you can know the truth. Yet it is very hard to describe to others. Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious…
Have you turned to God today? Or are you going on your own way? These questions right here defines your faith. Do you have a sunflower faith? A heart that follows God’s light all the time? Or are you focused on yourself and your problems? And then wonder why God feels so distant? There really is no other way to live abundantly than starting each and every day by turning to God. When we are focused on God, everything else…
Do you dare to hope when there’s no reason to hope? Do you dare to hope when your life as you’ve known it has been taken over by a razing storm? Do you dare to hope when life has become bitterness and poison? I hope so. I’ve been there. Everything but God was taken from me. But God was more than enough. I can testify that God is faithful. That’s why I can assure you: God will also see you…
