Are you worried that you could mess up God’s plans? Do you think you are letting God down by not being effective and productive enough? I have good news for you. There’s no way you could ever mess up God Almighty’s plans. God knows you and – yet – he loves you very much. He knows how much rest you need and what is happening in your life. You can rest assured you’re not able to wreck God’s plans for…
My oldest goddaughter is getting married today. Even though we have never lived in the same place and sometimes even thousands of kilometers have separated us, our connection has never wavered. I’ve been praying for her since before she was born and that’s the key here: prayer. We don’t have this great connection because I would have been such an awesome godmother. It’s because of God’s grace. And that’s the secret to any steady relationship. Prayer is also the pathway to…
I’ve always loved The Parable of the Sower. The Holy Spirit seems to be speaking through it so powerfully. At least, that’s my experience. It opens our eyes to see what hinders our spiritual growth and what helps us to grow into maturity. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow…
How does your perfect day start? What do you need to get your day going well? Coffee and a newspaper? A cup of tea and little time for yourself? Or do you crave for some time with the Lord? I love starting my day with some quiet time with God (but I do understand that some people prefer to do it in the evening or some other time of the day). It readjusts my attitude, fills my heart with hope and…
It is amazing how God is fully present – through his Holy Spirit – in our lives. It is a mystery and a wonder and we can’t really fully understand it yet. Nonetheless, it is true. If you have not experienced it yet, ask for it. Ask God to come into your life so clearly that you can see it and feel it. Christ came to be with us and now the Holy Spirit continues to do that. God is…
Are you afraid of the future? You don’t have to be. Of course, it’s easier said than lived out but I truly believe it and try to live according to that belief too. Certainly, the future is scary if we face it all alone. But if we live our lives with God, there is nothing to be afraid of. Here are some verses and thoughts for a fear-free future. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope…
The resurrection story never gets old: it holds the miracle of salvation. I love hearing it again and again, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and all them in different translations. Because there is always something to catch my attention anew, always something to stir in my heart. This time I realized the stone was rolled away for you and me. Not for Jesus. He did not need it to be rolled away, he had already risen. The stone for rolled…
Have you ever wondered what it means to live for Christ? It is very contradictory to what we hear otherwise. The world wants us to find ourselves and live for ourselves and go after what we want. Yet, the Bible tells us to live for Christ. Nothing less, nothing more, nothing else! What does it mean though? For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that…
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,…
How is your faith doing? Are you excited about your salvation and eager to work with Jesus? Or are you rushing around like crazy without any chance to slow down to spend time with Jesus? And losing your interest in faith stuff in the process? Let me tell you: it doesn’t have to be that way. Do not settle for a mediocre version of faith. With the words of John Ortberg “For many of us the great danger is not…
