The Cambridge Dictionary defines influence as “the power to have an effect on people or things”. We’d like to think we do not have any influence not so ever to be free to do whatever we like. But, no, that’s not how it works. We influence and we are influenced by people we meet and by things we read and watch. So what to do? We need to choose what kind of person we want to become and what kind…
I love different Bible translations. Years ago I wrote a thanksgiving post based on the Message version of this verse and thought it was so inspiring. Today I read the same verse from the Amplified Bible and saw it in a totally different light. So here’s my this year’s thanksgiving post. Praise God for the peace of Christ. Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding…
Do you have your own secret world of prayer? Good for you. If you don’t, ask God to show you what it means and how it works. It’s meant for every Christian. It is the ultimate place of rest and renewal. Life is tough; believe me, you need it. Lord, You have been our dwelling place [our refuge, our sanctuary, our stability] in all generations. (Psalm 90:1, AMP) God is our dwelling place God is always waiting for us. Prayer is not…
Just a quick reminder for all of us that we don’t need a telescope or a microscope or read horoscopes to find God or realize the hollowness of life without him. We are nothing without God. Our lives are just a big, ugly, shallow show without him. Blessedly, God sent his only son to make us complete in Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a…
These past few days I’ve been fascinated by three words (grow – flow- glow) and how they relate to Christian faith. And they do, quite beautifully too. They form a positive cycle of spiritual growth. Let me explain. The Bible tells us to grow in grace, right? You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18, NLT). Faith is not to be static but energetic and lively. How do we manage…
Do you you feel inadequate somehow? Do you wish you’d be a bit different than you are? Would you like to be a bit less imperfect? I have good news for you today. Because of Jesus God accepts you as you are. And that’s not all of the good news. It gets better: When you are in Christ, you are made perfect. Outside of Christ you are imperfect, but in Christ, you are perfect. For in Christ lives all the…
Thank God he sent his only son to save us from ourselves. Without Christ we are self-indulgent, self-righteous, self-conscious self-rulers that are only interested in self-preservation and self-promotion. And, let me tell you, that’s not life. That’s slavery. But, like I said. Thank God he sent Jesus to save us from ourselves. Otherwise we’d be not only stuck in the rut but also doomed for eternal slavery. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that…
It’s getting dark very early these days. Even the days seem gloomy. We yearn to have more light. We try to get rid of darkness by putting up Christmas lights. But no amount of Christmas lighting can take away darkness of our lives. Only God can do that. Psalm 36 verse 9 has been giving me comfort and perspective as it gets darker and darker around us: For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see….
The first letter to Thessalonians starts the way I would like to be described and remembered. Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you’re in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ, before God our Father. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, MSG’*) I would like to be a person recalled by my work of faith, my…
Why should we remember Jesus? Because he brought us life upon life. Because he frees us from (unvisible) chains. Because he has the words of eternal life. Why should we read the word of God? Because it brings us the good news. Because it frees us from the chains of the merely visible world. Because it testifies and reminds us of eternal life. The saying is sure and worthy of confidence: If we have died with Him, we shall also live…
