Do you need some hope for the New Year? I think we all do. We’re starting a new year and now that we’ve reviewed all that needs to be done, the tasks seem a bit daunting. We need the courage to begin and hope to lift our spirits, right? So I was delighted to see this phrase by Päivö Parviainen on Facebook: “We never approach Jesus in vain.” How true, how encouraging, how uplifting. How so, you ask. Let me…
It seems to me that what we all need right now is comfort. The pandemic has been with us almost a year and the end is not quite there yet. We need to persevere but we are exhausted. Hence we need some comfort and new strength. Otherwise, we won’t make it. But do not fear, we are in good hands. The source of all comfort is our God. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God…
I’m almost weepy as I ponder on God’s promises to us and, especially, how beautifully he demonstrates that he is fully behind his promises. God became a human being so he could redeem our sins but also walk alongside us. He did not just tell us what to do, he became one of us. Even Jesus’ name declares God’s intentions to be always with us. All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive…
Often I tell people to collect Bible verses to quickly remind them of God’s goodness in a time of need. Because when you’re feeling distressed you don’t have much energy to dig deep. Then it’s a huge blessing to have a first aid kit for weary pilgrims handy. Your own collection of special Bible verses that you know work time after time. Make sticky notes, type notes on your smartphone, collect them in a beautiful box or memorize them. Whatever…
How are you doing? And how about the well-being of your soul? We hear the first question quite often even if they are not really wanting to know how we are. The second question is something we rarely get asked which is kind of sad. But maybe it is a question we should ask ourselves. You know, the well-being of your soul is the most important thing. Without the well-being of your soul, you are not only unhappy but also…
Many people think following Jesus is difficult. But I disagree. It’s the easiest thing ever. Because we were created to live with God. Sure, life is not easy. But life with God is easier than otherwise. The Blessing of all blessings is the love of God dwelling in your soul like William Law says it so eloquently: The Spirit of Love, wherever it is, is its own blessing and happiness, because it is the truth and reality of God in the…
It’s time for some encouragement, don’t you think? This will be a very short and sweet post today (due to the 3-hour power outage) but here’s the profound truth that keeps me going no matter what: “God is always with me and for me”. We can build our lives on God and his promises. So write this down, beloved of God: God is always with you and for you. This truth is valid for every single person on this planet….
Life is sometimes really yucky. Sometimes it really feels that all we do is shoveling dirt. How could we conquer the mount of dirt in our lives? How should we respond to all the dirt thrown our way? One thing is certain. If we store inside of us all the accusations or wrong doings we’ve experienced, we will burst or, at least, feel yucky. We need to learn to deal with the dirt in our lives. Otherwise we will drown…
Do you know how to draw strength from God? Do you know how to spiritually feed yourself? You see, God is not a theory. God is an indwelling power in the lives of Christians. But we do need to invite Jesus to reign in our lives. How do we do that? 1) By talking to God in prayer, telling him in our own words that we want his help, his strength, his joy. By surrendering to God, letting him know…
