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Month: December 2012

Getting Ready for 2013

Getting Ready for 2013

Are you ready for 2013? Or do you know how to become ready for a new year? The web is bursting all kinds of self-help articles of how to make the best of 2013. But they leave me empty and unsatisfied. No matter how much planning I’d do for the new year, it does not solve the problems. If I have not ended this year well, the new year will be same old, same old. So the best preparation for…

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Be Different for Christ

Be Different for Christ

Being different is not a goal itself but a co-product of being a faithful servant of God. When we do God’s will, we will stand out from the crowd. We will be different but God has a way to bring the best out of us. We will be blessed beyond measure. God wants us to become more and more Christ-like. We are not holy by nature. And we don’t become holy by accident either. We need God’s grace to both…

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A Stable Influence of Christmas

A Stable Influence of Christmas

The second day of Christmas is a national holiday in Finland and many other European countries. This day is a great day to reflect what Christmas means in our everyday life. But do we have a stable influence of Christmas in our lives? It was great to celebrate baby Jesus and welcome him to the world. But what does it mean to us that Jesus was born 2000 years ago? It is time to put Christmas into practice! It is…

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The Holy Night Changed Everything

The Holy Night Changed Everything

We are fast approaching the Holy Night. The night that changed everything. It’s true that whenever a baby is born, it changes the lives of the parents. But one baby changed the whole history and the future of the humankind. The Holy Night changed everything. The miracle of Christmas is earth-chattering. The wonder of Christmas is life-changing. Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied, “The Holy…

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Keep Your Light Lit

Keep Your Light Lit

It does not matter how dark it gets outside. It does not matter how dark the world is. What matters is that you have Light inside of you. Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, CEB) Claim the joy of Christ to be yours today and every single day of your life. Keep your light lit no…

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Do Not Fret

Do Not Fret

Life can be really hectic and even chaotic. I am not just talking about having too many hobbies or busy holiday schedule. I am talking about worries and burdens like severe illnesses, family feuds, depression, burn out, excess work load or lack of work, aging parents, and financial struggles. Sometimes we just don’t know how to make it through the day. What to do then? How do we manage when there is too much on our plate? For me there…

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Prayer as Homecoming

Prayer as Homecoming

My word for this year has been devotion because I wanted to truly devote my heart and mind to God this year. Too often we don’t really spend time in God’s presence. And when we do we monopolize the time we spend with him.  So I wanted  something more: “I want to be seen by God and I want to see God. I want to meet God in his terms. I want to spend time in quiet adoration. I want…

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Quit Dabbling in Sin

Quit Dabbling in Sin

Too often we keep dabbling in sin because we think there’s no harm in a dab of something. But this dabbling in sin keeps us from becoming Christ-like. One dab at a time we become what we worship, either lovers or enemies of God. We don’t drift towards holiness (it’s always a choice) but, yes, we gravitate towards worldiness one dab at a time. Like  D. A. Carlson has so powerfully said “We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance;…

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The Secret of Soaring Like Eagles

The Secret of Soaring Like Eagles

Two weeks before Christmas…are you already running behind? Exhausted? Weary? Maybe even burned out? It’s time to take a pause. It’s time to turn to Jesus to recover our lives. It’s time to take a real rest. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the…

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Towards Childlike Wonder

Towards Childlike Wonder

The Bible is full of miracles and advice to stay alert for God’s wonders: Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;     be alert for signs of his presence. (Psalm 105:4, MSG) Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. (Romans 12:11, MSG) We are children of an awesome and almighty God and we are called to pray boldly and expect great things. Why don’t we then do that? Why don’t…

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