Way too often we struggle alone. Way too often we forget to turn on the Holy Spirit GPS. God gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit and we are meant to abide in him and him abide in us. It doesn’t happen if we forget its existence. It doesn’t happen if we forget to turn it on. But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at…
I hope you didn’t come to read this blog post in order to find a quick formula for becoming holy. Because then you will be disappointed. There is no such quick-fix formula. But we are not out of hope, either. Because God gave us the Holy Spirit to do his work in us. Through prayer we can approach God and state our willingness to be changed, to become holy like the Father God. But we have also been given another…
It’s Melodic Monday! This week here on Flowing Faith we are going to discuss about how to become holy like our God is holy. It is -in essence- the work of the Holy Spirit. Today’s song, Lifesong by Casting Crowns, will help us to ponder whether our lives are in line with God. What is our lifesong and what is it telling to the world? Is our lifesong pleasing to God? Empty Hands held highSuch Small sacrificeIf not joined with…
I’ve always wondered why it is a human tendency to try to fit God in a box. What purpose would a-god-small-enough-to-fit-in-a-box serve? Why on earth would we like to want to tame God? I guess, we would like to use God for our own purposes. We would like to say how things should be run in our own lives. We would like to be God. That’s our human sinful nature right there. Our God is wild and holy. There is…
“Is your default mode toward others judgment or grace?” asked Rick Warren on Twitter on the 28th of August, 2010. I’ve been contemplating it ever since. Have I fully embraced grace, been changed inside out and now truly reflecting God’s love and grace? That’s what I want. But it’s not always so easy. I wonder how I can truly love the people but hate the sin. Can I really love so completely that my disagreement won’t sneak in as a…
It’s Melodic Monday! Today’s song is My Own Little World by Matthew West. This songs continues to assure us that it really does matter what we do with our lives. Life is not about us. It’s about God! Here’s an excellent quote by Henri Nouwen that has been speaking to me lately (I know I already quoted it on Saturday but it fits here so perfectly):”We seldom realize fully that we are sent to fulfil God-given tasks. We act as…
I’ve always loved the stories in Exodus. What a powerful God we have! Each time I read them or hear them I am in awe of God’s miraculous and mysterious ways to get his people out of slavery into a life of freedom. Just like the people in Exodus so are we in deep trouble. Blessedly God’s story of salvation did not end at Exodus. Salvation is something God did (especially in Jesus) and is doing for us because we…
Sometimes we think that God calls only impressive, competent people into his service. But I think we could not be more wrong. God is looking for willing people who he would bless and equip for his service. Moses is a great example of this. Moses objected, “They won’t trust me. They won’t listen to a word I say. They’re going to say, ‘God? Appear to him? Hardly!’”(Exodus 4:1, MSG) Moses could not believe that he would be able to do…
God is calling ordinary people to do extraordinary tasks! Don’t worry! You are not supposed to do those extraordinary tasks by your own strength. God will empower you to do them. But you need to be faithful when God is urging you to step in faith. For example, let’s take two Hebrew midwifes long, long ago… The king of Egypt had a talk with the two Hebrew midwives; one was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. He said, “When you…
It’s Melodic Monday! Today’s song is If We’ve Ever Needed You by Casting Crowns. The song gently calls us back to God and back to work for the Lord. This week at Flowing Faith we are talking about how it really does matter that individual members of the body of Christ are faithful in their faith and in their work. We are called to repent, be renewed by the Holy Spirit and get on with out callings. We really do…
