One of the really great things about Christianity is that God does not force us to do anything. God invites us and waits for willing hearts to follow his leading. How is your heart doing? Are you willinghearted? I’d like to say yes. I desire to say yes. But when I read these words of Jesus I am left wondering: Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it…
You know that faith is a gift from God. You can’t earn it, you can just receive it. Just as spiritual gifts in general, also faith is inspired and brought to pass by one and the same Holy Spirit. All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when. (1 Cor. 12:11, MSG) If you have had the pleasure to receive the gift of…
Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Finland as Friends’ Day. In some ways I think it captures the heart of Valentine’s Day even better when it does not exclude all but romantic love. And having friends is one of the best things in life, don’t you think? So worth of celebrating. But just think what it would be like to be friends with Jesus? And the best news is that’s exactly what Jesus wants to be with us. You are My…
Do you have any idea how much God cares for you? Because God’s love for you is boundless. God went to great lengths to make a way for us to get back to him. But even that’s not all. God wants to care for you right now, right where you are. God cares for you more than you ever know. No matter what you’ve done or left undone. You are loved. I waited a long time for the Eternal; He…
Do you have heroes of faith? Or do you have a faith-filled role model who preaches the gospel (also) without the words? Good for you. My heroes of faith are people who have God’s image imprinted on their hearts. They are people who let God into their lives and have learned to bask in his love and care. They’ve learned to listen to God and trust him no matter of what. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and…
Do you know how to live to the max? Isn’t that every person’s dream? Yet so many of us fail miserably. We don’t really know how to go about it. Life lived to the max seems like an enigma. Should it be this difficult? Of course not. How then do we mess up our lives so badly? Most likely we look in the wrong places or drift into easy life. How can we then learn to live to the max?…
Do you recognize God’s presence in your life? Or are you too busy to take notice of the divine intervention? These are the questions the Bible asked me today. I was reading the chapter 19 in Luke where Jesus is entering Jerusalem to be crucified. Jesus wept over the city because he knew they were not recognizing and welcoming God’s personal visit. This is how he prophesied: When the city came into view, he wept over it. “If you had…
Do you blame yourself for past mistakes? Do you insist on labeling yourself as a loser? Are you stuck in a rut? It’s time to wake up to see yourself with God’s eyes. It’s time to embrace the freedom of Christ. It’s time to believe the good news of forgiveness and renewal. It’s time to let the bygones be bygones. It’s time to move on into new life with God. Kurt Bubna profoundly writes in his book Epic Grace, Chronicles…
I’ve heard or read the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well many, many times. I’ve been mesmerized by the living water over and over again. But somehow I have never paid much attention to the latter part of the verse until now. Or that’s how it feels this time. How about you? But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water…
There is no way around it: Love is the most important thing in our lives. Without love we are lost, broken and lonely. But God’s love and grace can change that. Like Kurt Bubna writes in his book Epic Grace, Chronicles of a Recovering Idiot: “Let me tell you from firsthand experience what I know about the love and grace of God. It’s ludicrous. It’s scandalous. It’s crazy. It’s ridiculous. It’s healing and restoring. And it always break my heart….
