Facing Plenty
A couple of weeks ago, I was going through it. My heart was heavy and my spirit burdened. I prayed and read my bible almost all day long ... The turmoil in my soul drove me to the Lord … But as things got better, I started to slow it down. This week, I was back into the storm again and guess what? I have been praying, worshiping and reading my bible constantly … What is it about hardships that draws us near to God? … Why are my prayers so heartfelt and my bible reading so life-giving in such times? ….
The Glory of God
This is part 2 of the previous post, ‘Glory’. In Exodus 33, Moses asked God to show him His Glory. After the grievous sin committed by the Israelites, he wondered if God would still be with them. Moses wanted reassurance, one that goes deep. He knew that beholding God in his very essence, was the only thing that could strengthen him again. … So, what is the Glory of God? According to God himself, it is all of His goodness. All of it, all at once and all of the time.
Glory
Many of us only have a vague idea of the meaning of the Glory of God, even though it is a prominent theme in the Bible and the Christian life. The more I understand it, the harder it is to explain. But for the next two blogs, I will do my best, by God's grace, to help us meditate on it.
“Brethren, Pray For Us”
We who believe in Christ are the body of Christ and individually members of it. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. One underrated way to care for one another is by regularly praying for each other. Paul's prayers are a wonderful model to use when praying for others: thanking God for the brethren, praying for endurance, for knowing God, for Hope, love and sanctification, for wisdom and for Gospel ministry.
You Are God’s Unique Design
You, an image bearer of God, have a unique set of genetic instructions that make everything about you…God not only intricately designed who you are at the genetic level, but he also placed you purposefully in this specific time of history, nation, environment, etc. to do something unique through you. “We must be fearless in affirming all that we are by creation, redemption, and calling, and ruthless in disowning all that we are by the Fall” (John Stott - The Cross of Christ).
Making Wise Decisions
Wisdom is not a formula. What is wise in a given circumstance may not be in another. Wisdom springs from the heart. It starts with a transformed inner Person. Remember Solomon? When he prayed for wisdom, he asked God for a wise heart (a), not for more rules. Tim Keller put it this way: “Wisdom is not less than being moral and good; it is much more”. So what exactly is wisdom? How to make wise decisions?
Jesus: 'Come Away & Rest A While’
When we consider that what matters for eternity has already been secured by Jesus through his life, death, and resurrection, we learn to look at temporary things in perspective. We learn to rest in Him. In a (not so) strange way, we work best when we rest well in God.
Your Soul Thirsts For God
Did you know that when you feel hunger pangs you might actually be thirsty? Essentially, your body knows it needs something but due to mild dehydration, stress, boredom, etc., it gets confused and sends the wrong signals to your brain. Your brain then thinks you need food and makes your stomach growl when you simply need water. Fascinating, isn't it? Consider how well this mimics our spiritual experience.
‘Good’ Friday? Good Evidence!
Joyful day friends! It's Good Friday. Today commemorates the day our Lord Jesus was crucified and died. Why call it ‘good’ then? …Today, I wanted to give you a few points to make the case for the resurrection of Jesus - for your own encouragement and for conversations you may have with others on this topic….remember, faith is a gift from God.
What If Jesus Was Not Raised From the Dead?
“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” - Romans 8:22-23