As we are approaching Mothers’ Day I want to remind all of us that our worth is not based on whether we have children or not. Our value comes from the Lord and it is constant and non-negotiable. It does not increase if we have children and it does not decrease if we don’t have. Just like your identity, also your value is in Christ, not in motherhood or work or success or even relationship status. But to all who…
What does define you? What are you made of? Not things that we’d think that often yet they matter. Who we are matters. Whose we are matters even more. Today I read a Bible verse that made me wonder of what qualities actually define me. These are the qualities I want to define me: mercy, kindness and truth. Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck,…
Today I’ve been pondering on giving. What it is and what is is not. I don’t think we need expensive gifts but I do think we need extraordinary generosity. Material gifts do not bring happiness. But love and caring do. Because when we love each other, we are touched by God. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. (Luke…
Peter is one of the Bible characters whose spiritual growth impresses me time after time. He was passionate for Jesus from early on yet he didn’t first really understand what it meant to live for Jesus. But Peter was willing to learn, first from Jesus and later on from the Holy Spirit. Peter’s story is an encouraging example of heavenly spiritual formation, what it really means to grow in grace. Just think…Peter was the one who cut off the ear…
Compassion makes life beautiful. Compassion makes life worth living. Compassion gives us a glimpse of heaven here on earth. Because God is is the epitome of compassion. If we want to be compassionate we need to become more like him. The fifth spiritual fruit discribed in Galatians 5:22 has traditionally been translated kindness (NIV/NRSV/CEB) or gentleness (KJV). The Message describes it as “a sense of compassion in the heart”. I think it is more thought-provoking than kindness or gentleness. It…
