One thing I’ve learned from the Bible is that we need to bring everything to God. Everything. Whatever it is that troubles us, we need to give to God. Sometimes we think God wants only the good stuff but that’s not true. God wants the whole package: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Because he knows we need Him to live according to his will. Hence, if we doubt, we give that doubt to God. Then he can come…
It’s Friday the 13th. What to do? How to go about it as a Christian? Well, I’d suggest you start your day with the Lord. Not because it’s Friday the 13th but because it is the best way to start any day. When we live our days with the Lord, we are safe and sound, even on Friday the 13th. How do I know? Well, the Bible tells us so. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.The sun…
I find the gift of faith is so amazing that I have a hard time understanding why everybody does not think so. Because through faith we are all invited to come to God who is love. Why would anybody refuse to let Love come close is beyond me. Because love makes everything better (in my book anyway). I believe people either have not heard or have not understood the essence of Christianity. Most people think faith is old-fashioned or irrelevant…
Last week I wrote about how believing needs to begin again every morning. That’s why none of us can boast of our faith, we are all beggars of grace. But this does not mean that we weren’t called to grow in faith. Faith is not a pill we swallow once in our lifetime. Rather it is an organic connection with God we are all invited to enter. And this is where we can grow in faith. We are called to…
Life is not an easy ride. But there are things that can make it a bit brighter and more meaningful. Because Jesus changes everything. For better. So here are some things I hope you know. Hopefully, they will bless you. Five things I hope you know You are loved. Everything starts with love. We need love to bloom and that’s why we seek it anywhere and everywhere. But many of life’s miserable things come from this search for love. Don’t…
After vacation, it can be really hard to get back to the grind. There are of course many reasons for this. But it helps to realize perfection is not required of you. Not even on a good day and especially not right after vacation. So it’s totally okay to be slow and a bit disoriented. Even now you can rest in grace and wait for good because God is good. God has not forgotten you. Actually, he has provided everything….
Sometimes we make simple things complicated. Unfortunately, we do that to faith too. And by doing so we create a new religion of works. But salvation is really simple. So simple that even a child can understand. It’s based on the work of Jesus, not ours. Because Jesus died for our sins, we can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus. We just need to believe. And stand by faith. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in…
I’ve always marveled God’s willingness to wait for us to get ready to do his will. Willingness in faith is not self-evident, it’s a choice. God does not force us against our will. It’s called love. Yet we so often abuse that love. But when we finally are ready to accept it, we are amazed by its sweet power. I’ve come to understand God’s will for us is the ultimate best. Yet we rebel. We are not willing to surrender…
Obedience is not a buzzword. Nowadays everyone wants to be independent and do whatever they want. That’s why obedience is not very fashionable. And because faith is trusting and obeying God, faith is not very fashionable either. But faith in Christ gives us something eternal, something that never goes out of fashion. With the words of Paul, the gospel “is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16, NIV). The blessings of obedience are out of…
Do you ever wonder how you can remain a faith-filled Christian in this post-modern, post-Christian world? If we focus on the culture around us, the task is quite daunting for sure. But if we focus on faith and the Giver of Faith, we will be just fine. Because faith is much more than a bunch of dogmas. Faith is about living out Divine power. For you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart…
