One of my favourite stories in the old testament is the one about Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego - and it's all because of one short little phrase.
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My mind had moved quickly from misplaced wallet to stolen wallet - i was already worrying about tomorrow, when really, there was no need. I was feeling stressed about tomorrow when it was all in my head. Today has enough troubles yet i had begun to fill my head with tomorrows troubles also.
Read MoreWhen Jesus invites us to follow Him, when you grasp that 'me' fully, you too will have a decision make - to give up your life and follow....or stay with the fish. These ordinary people followed because when the 'me' invites you, to follow is the only action that makes sense.
Read MoreFinding moments to engage in contemplative thinking has always been a challenge, but today more than ever, we struggle to create space in our lives for reflection. Instead, there are powerful media devices everywhere that promise unending entertainment and amusement.
Read MoreToday, we find ourselves watching more YouTube and Netflix than ever and picking up the iPad to surf the internet or listen to a podcast. Is there any place in your schedule left for that time to be still?
Read MoreBut this is not about your face. The point is you can never reach the end of reflection or pin it down to a formula or an approach – and if you try, I suggest you will quickly become bored and stale in your sketch-life! Or worse, become too critical and self-righteous.
Read MoreHave you ever felt like there was pressure on all sides? A time when peace was hard to find? You are busy and when you stop, your mind is full of thoughts and your heart just races. It is difficult to sleep, and you feel wrung out, empty and exhausted. All that David had at the Cave at Adullam was the Lord.
Read MoreIn the same way, you can have a moment reading the scriptures and in prayer but it fades – you cannot live in the past memories. Rather those past memories encourage you to go, and taste again!
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.
Read MoreThe best thing a dad can do for his kids is to really love their mother. More than giving “things”, more than fancy holidays, more than expensive schools. Really love their mother.
Read MoreWhat you meditate on, works its way out in your daily living. If we meditate on good things, those things also work their way out. Philippians 4:8 tells us to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report.
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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 MoreWhen we see what God has done through Jesus, we see the love, care, grace, mercy, power and wisdom of God. It changes our whole attitude towards God, the family of God and the whole meaning of life. What command of God is too burdensome in the light of this? What can Satan possibly throw at us to take away what God himself has sovereignly provided us? In Christ, we are more than conquerors over the world (Rom 8:37).
Read MoreThe nature of true fatherhood includes all the normal traits we admire and celebrate - provider, carer, giver, teacher, example...and the list goes on!
But what about vulnerable?
As we stepped out in our faith, those dreams and desires that God had placed in our lives started to become a reality. When we exercised faith, our confidence and reliance on the Holy Spirit increased, and God performed an amazing work within us.
Read MoreGod took the initiative to mend our broken relationship with him.
This is a lesson for our own broken relationships with others.
We agreed that there are times in every Christian's life, when faced with our own failures, we ask questions, like “Am I really saved?” “Do I have eternal life?”
Read MoreOur worship preferences can distract and even separate our hearts from the Lord in worship. Worship ultimately is not for us but for the Lord. Yet our preferences in worship tend to serve us. And this can become a conditional issue in worship from your heart unto the Lord. In other-words, your willingness or desire to enter into worship is dependent on your preferences being satisfied. That was how Cain worshipped in Genesis 4.
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