SHARING COMFORT

2 CORINTHIANS 1:1–10; JOHN 20:21 “God sent you to me today!” The woman said this as we left our flight to Lagos. She had sat by my side and was returning home after multiple flights. I asked her about her quick turnaround, and she replied, “I just put my daughter in rehab for drug abuse today.” I shared … [Read more…]

THE WAITING PLACE

PSALM 70; PSALM 37:7 Waiting for fish to bite, wind to fly a kite, or for Friday or the weekend—everyone waits. Waiting is difficult. We feel frustrated with awkward people, tedious jobs, and persistent health issues. Why does God not help us? Life involves waiting, but God is never in a hurry. Waiting teaches us patience as we … [Read more…]

YES MEN

2 CHRONICLES 18:5–27 Humans tend to look for information that backs their opinions. Research indicates we are twice as likely to seek supporting information. When we strongly believe in our views, we avoid challenges from opposing ideas. King Ahab of Israel, when deciding to go to war against Ramoth Gilead with Jehoshaphat, consulted 400 self-appointed prophets who … [Read more…]

THE FAITH OF THE WIDOW

2 KINGS 4:1–7; MATTHEW 6:32 It is pitch dark when Joanna starts her day. Soon, other villagers will rise to visit the rubber plantation, which is vital for income. Before tapping trees for latex, she spends time with God. Joanna supports her elderly mother and two grandsons after losing her father, husband, and son. The widow was … [Read more…]

WISDOM’S INVITATION

PROVERBS 8:10–21 At the age of sixty, renowned British journalist and social critic Malcolm Muggeridge converted to Christianity. As he celebrated his 75th birthday, he made 25 wise observations about life. One said, “I never met a rich man who was happy, but I have only very occasionally met a poor man who did not … [Read more…]

SWEET AND BITTER

PSALM 119:65–72 While some people enjoy sweet chocolate, others prefer bitter chocolate. Chocolate was a popular beverage among the ancient Mayans of Central America, who flavoured it with chilli peppers. This so-called “bitter water” appealed to them. It was brought to Spain many years later, but the Spanish liked chocolate sweet, so they added honey … [Read more…]

TAKING OFF THE CHAINS

EPHESIANS 1:3–14 Because it is located on the location of the biggest slave market in East Africa, their visit to the Christ Church Cathedral in Stone Town, Zanzibar, was extremely emotional. The designers of the cathedral wanted to demonstrate how the gospel frees people from slavery. Once a scene of evil and misery, this location … [Read more…]

GIVING THE GIFT OF PRAYER

ROMANS 8:28–34; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:11 “Your prayer was a great comfort during my brother’s illness; I truly appreciate it.” Jane thanked me with tears in her eyes for the church’s prayers for her brother facing cancer, which encouraged their family. Praying for someone is one of the greatest ways to show them how much you care. Jesus is … [Read more…]

COMING TOGETHER

HEBREWS 10:19–25; NEHEMIAH 3 Stephanie Kanowitz in The Washington Post says more than five million people pay to run obstacle courses each year, facing challenges like vertical walls and muddy tracks. Some do it for personal growth, while others enjoy teamwork and support. The Bible encourages teamwork in living out our faith in Jesus, urging us to … [Read more…]

WONDERS IN PERSPECTIVE

JOB 38:1–18; ROMANS 11:36 Some of us focus only on the negatives in the world. DeWitt Jones, a National Geographic photographer, highlights the positives by capturing moments of beauty that often go unnoticed. He reveals wonder in everyday people and nature through his lens. Job had many reasons to see the world’s wrongs. He lost everything he … [Read more…]