Do you know deep down in your soul that God loves you? I hope so. Because that’s the truth. No matter what you’ve done or left undone, God’s love does not waver. It’s not about you, it’s about who God is. What a relief! This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and…
How are you feeling about the ending of one year and the beginning of the new one? Sometimes we are a bit resentful. Other times we can’t quite get rid of the old one soon enough. No matter how you possibly feel now, know that you’re safe in God’s arms. All the promises of God are valid any year, so you’re good, all the time because God is good, all the time. So let’s anchor ourselves in God and let…
What do you wish for Christmas? The most amazing gift is peace of God. It’s something the world can’t give you. Peace the world gives is something you get when you are able to retreat from your troubles. God’s peace is so strong you can feel a deep peace even in the midst of chaos. How can we attain it? By receiving it in Jesus. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;authority rests upon his…
When a tragedy strikes, people don’t need words, they just want somebody to be there for them, right? So let’s not stress about what to say, let’s just be there for them. Isn’t it amazing how we are comforted through the presence of others? Just think how much more the comfort of God’s presence will do wonders in our lives. So we all need comfort from time to time. We don’t – even though we might think so – need…
Fullness is something we crave for, right? We yearn for it. Yet when we receive it, most often than not, we are not satisfied. We’re either too full or we crave now for something else. How come fullness is so elusive? Maybe because we look for the wrong kind of fullness. The only kind of fullness that can satisfy us is the fullness of God. Being too full of food or candy is not pleasant no matter how good the…
How is your prayer life? Are you praying impossible prayers? Or do you settle for nice little prayers? I hope you choose to pray big, bold prayers. Because that tells me your God is big and mighty. You see, “God delights in answering our impossible prayers” as Bob Goff has put it. God delights in you asking for impossible things. Because that tells him that you a) need him, b) you believe he can do mighty things, and c) you…
Once again I am taken by a short verse in the Bible. It amazes me how the Word of God can feed us precisely what we need most. And it’s most certainly a verse that I’ve read many times yet it still clears my head and helps me to breathe more deeply. It reminds me of God’s willingness to help me. And when I remember that I am ready to tackle anything life throws at me. When I am afraid, I…
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…
I’ve been touched by a gospel story this week. In some ways, it captures what I’ve been trying to learn to convey to you. Grace is sufficient and the only way to heaven. So it’s finally time to stop trying to earn it (or run from it). He [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and…
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…
