reading and journalling through the Bible
-
Grumbling and Complaining Only Kills
Grumbling and complaining is contagious and only destroys. It does not build up others, but it only destroys. Galatians 5:14,15 “The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Phil 2:14,…
-
Who’s In The Driver’s Seat?
“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do…
-
What Makes One Extraordinary?
We think that doing extraordinary things requires extraordinary talent. But, ordinary people can do extraordinary things thanks to simple surrender, love and devotion to our extraordinary Creator. “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly…” (James 5:17a)
-
Under Pressure
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient…
-
Sticking It Out Over The Long Haul
As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into…
-
Why Is There Suffering?
This morning I read a passage which gave a glimpse into the purpose of suffering… 1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened…
-
Stuck In A Rut?
I again read this morning in Numbers 14: where the people failed to completely trust and instead grumbled and complained against God. As a result, they wandered in the desert- unable to enter the land God promised. It’s the age old problem – we think we know better and if we would only trust in…
-
Pride Leads to Destruction
I remember once playing a card game with a great Aunt and I was winning and gloating. She said to me: “Pride leads to destruction” and sure enough I lost the game. It was a lesson for me to not count my chickens before they hatched but to also seek humility. It’s a struggle for…
-
Keep Your Head Up
Growing up I used to play Hockey and we were always told: “Keep your head up and your stick on the ice!” ‘Cause if you didn’t you’d get clocked… or you’d knock a guy’s teeth out with your stick…. Which is what I did. I knocked a guys teeth out. Obviously the guy wasn’t happy…
-
Source of Joy?
What is the true source of joy during both good and bad times? A tree doesn’t grow without the flowing water beneath the surface. The storms may blow but the water flowing below the ground keeps the tree growing. Digging our roots into Christ and letting the Spirit flow in our lives brings joy. I…
Following and Trusting : Encountering God Out of the Box 