As a Year 5 kid, I strained to read the blackboard because it seemed easier to me to stay and strain even though I could have moved forward at any time.
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I pray that we have faith like the Centurion- where Jesus is astonished by such faith! I pray that our response to Jesus is to "just say the word" as we exercise our faith and trust.
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Take a moment to think about how you view yourself. Ask yourself, “Does the way I view myself match up with what God thinks of me?” This is by no means an exhaustive list, but in light of the Gideon story, here are some ways that God sees you. Be encouraged!
Read MoreChapter 11 of the book of Hebrews has great application and this application speaks to Fathers. Using the the heroes of faith mentioned in the passage, the word Father in an anagram form produces some characteristics of the Fatherhood of God. We ought to study and live by these characteristics as fathers, and become more like Him.
Read MorePutting on clothes like this is a faith step, and a physical step of action, belief and attitude that we practice. Here, our the physical reality of the old nature is challenged by faith. And like a doctors coat, we allow the clothes of Christ to influence our thinking, our attitudes, our hearts. This is faith at work in a very practice sense.
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And I understand well why Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus calls us to be childlike. But why? There are many things about children that we can disregard. Things like tantrums, selfishness, immaturity, lack of wisdom... but there are also many things about children that we should seek after.
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And I understand well why Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus calls us to be childlike. But why? There are many things about children that we can disregard. Things like tantrums, selfishness, immaturity, lack of wisdom... but there are also many things about children that we should seek after.
Read MoreJesus went all the way to cross - He counted the cost and He was prepared to pay. And His resurrected life is now offered freely to all. Jesus offered His life, like seed scattered by a farmer, freely and willingly. Jesus did not reconsider giving His life based on results, that is, our acceptance of His salvation. Rather Jesus made every preparation to help us be His disciples - Jesus has a plan and a purpose for our lives, and He does call us to live with intention and faith, building and provisioning for others who we invite to join Jesus on the Road.
Read Moreou wonder if you tried hard enough. You wonder how your family will feel about their investment into your education and ambitions and sense of failure. You return home to take up fishing, the business of your father and of the village. The other boys you fish with are more advanced in the trade because have been trying to learn scripture. You can't read the sea as well as others your age, and younger... And your mind is trapped in a cycle of disappointment as you reflect on what could have been....you always felt you were destined for something else.
Read Morehinking about faith leads us to think about Jesus - the one whom our faith is in. When Jesus says He is the good shepherd, His claim is based on relationship with His creation, us, His sheep! The Lord's desire for friendship is embedded in the claim "I know my own sheep". And because Jesus knows us, we know Jesus. Everything always starts with Christ and His 'knowing relationship' with us first - we are invited into this special relationship.
Read MoreMoses made an astounding request to know the Father by being in His presence as recorded in Exodus 33:12-23. It was a 'One Day' moment that the Bible records where Moses wanted something more from Him - and God was pleased with this desire. The desire of Moses was for the presence of the Lord, just to be close to the Father - or maybe to be 'In Him'.
Read MoreIn the midst of the storms of life that you face and others face around you, remember the word of the Lord - that He leads you besides still waters, even in the midst of the storm. Remember to thank the Lord in the midst of your storm, and allow the Holy Spirit to encourage your heart with the still peace of God that passes all our understanding.
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When faced with a powerful, scary giant that no one else wanted to face, it’s important to remember those weapons David used. Faith, courage, a heart for God, humility, and God Himself. David said to Goliath confidently, “You come at me with a sword and spear? Ha! I come to you in the name of the Lord God Almighty!” Honestly, who could stand a chance against that? When we understand who God is like David did, our enemies also don’t stand a chance.
Read MoreWhen a man blind from birth found himself obeying Jesus, and then healed in John Chapter 9, the very next thing the man found himself doing was being attacked by the religious leaders of the day.
Read MoreRegardless of the time, the place or the environment - Jesus is always walking towards us.
Read MoreBut with the words - 'forget all that', Isaiah 43 takes a remarkable turn in verse 18 stating that the past is nothing compared to what the Lord is going to do. After all the amazing things of the past, verse 18 begins an incredible declaration that causes hope and expectancy to arise once more.
Read MoreIt is important to remember that in this storm, there would have been a sense of the end of life for all on-board. There was no hope. There was no way out. There was nothing ahead but fear and the unknown.
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