Browsed by
Tag: the salvation plan

Why Is Christmas Still a Big Thing?

Why Is Christmas Still a Big Thing?

Some people have lost their faith in Christmas. Either it’s too commercial, too childish, or too something else. And, yes, if you look at Christmas as a social obligation, I agree. But we should not forget the meaning of Christmas. If we do, we celebrate something because it is that time of year. But Christmas is much more than cookies, presents, and get-togethers. Okay, you say, why is Christmas still a big thing? Glad you asked. Christmas is a big…

Read More Read More

God Is Gracious

God Is Gracious

John the Baptist was born as a miracle to elderly parents six months before Jesus. He was not named after his father because an angel visited him and told him he was to be called John instead (Luke 1:13). So there must then be a deep meaning to this name, right? So what does the name John mean? And what does that have to do with us? The English name John is the transliteration of the Greek name Ioannes, and the Greek…

Read More Read More

Rolled Away for You

Rolled Away for You

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…

Read More Read More

Why God Chose the Shepherds

Why God Chose the Shepherds

What do you think? Why did God choose shepherds to be the first witnesses to the birth of Jesus? We all can give a reason or two why we think God did it. But few days ago I read a great column (in Finnish) by Rev. Dr. Eero Junkkaala who gave five possible reasons why God chose shepherds. I found them inspiring. Hence I want to share them briefly with you. Hopefully, they can give you a new way to look at…

Read More Read More

Choosing Life over Death

Choosing Life over Death

To tell the truth, I feel inadequate to write anything on the holy week. The amazing love of God shown to us during the events of the holy week leaves me in humble awe and I am questioning whether I can do justice to that. But thankfully this is not about me but about God. So I will share a couple of observations on the awesomeness of God and our deep need of Jesus to choose life over death. On…

Read More Read More

God In and Through Us

God In and Through Us

If Christmas means ‘God with us’ and Easter spells out ‘God for us’, then Pentecost must be ‘God in and through us’. Okay, you say, but what does it mean? First God sent Jesus to die for us and make us right with God. Then he sent the Holy Spirit to live in his children: to guide, to protect, to inspire, to enable, to empower them to be all God wants them to be. The Holy Spirit really lives and…

Read More Read More

RSS
Follow by Email