PROVERBS 15:13–15 A man crossed the road without looking carefully. I slammed on the brakes, missing him. Startled, the man looked up and met my gaze. I smiled at him. His face lit up with relief, and he lifted the corners of his own mouth in appreciation. I could not hear him, but I knew he … [Read more…]
PSALM 104:24–35 The hum produced by the hummingbird’s fast-beat wings gives it its English name. It goes by the names “flower-kisser” (Portuguese) and “flying jewels” (Spanish) in different languages. The Mexican Zapotec term biulu, which means “what remains in the eye,” is one of my favourite names for this bird. You will always remember seeing … [Read more…]
MICAH 5:2–4 “What is the remaining time until my birthday?” My child used to ask this question all the time when he was little. He found the waiting unbearable, even though he used a calendar to count down the days until his birthday. Waiting is a challenge for all God’s people, as seen in the prophecy … [Read more…]
ACTS 14:21–28 Despite the constant burden of unfinished tasks, it is important to celebrate God’s faithfulness and the tasks completed in our faith journey. Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, where they had been committed to God’s grace, after their first missionary journey. They gathered the church and reported God’s work, which had opened a door … [Read more…]
LAMENTATIONS 3:19–26 The pastor, amidst the music-filled sanctuary, reflected on the past year’s prayers, the grief and joy experienced by the congregation. He recalled the changes and healings experienced, as well as the joy of celebrating victories, weddings, graduations, baptisms, and welcoming children into God’s family. He reflected on the trials faced by the church members, … [Read more…]
MARK 9:33–37; MATTHEW 23:12 I was assigned a middle seat on a passenger flight but only saw a place behind to put my luggage. This meant I had to wait for everyone to leave before retrieving my bag. I laughed as I realised that waiting would be beneficial. I decided to enjoy the extra time by … [Read more…]
PSALM 89:1–17 Before starting his day’s job as a cook in his community in the seventeenth century, the monk Brother Lawrence would pray for God’s grace to stay in His presence. He continued to talk to God while working, listening for His guidance. He looked for and discovered a sense of his maker’s love regardless … [Read more…]
LUKE 11:5–13 During World War I, Oswald Chambers was assigned as a YMCA chaplain to British Commonwealth soldiers at Zeitoun Camp, a military training facility close to Cairo, Egypt, in October 1915. He called a religious service for the weeknight, and four hundred men showed up to hear Chambers’s talk, “What Is the Good of Prayer?” … [Read more…]
EZEKIEL 8 Young children may think they are hiding when they cover their eyes during a game of “hide and seek.” They believe you cannot see them if they are unable to see you. As naive as that may seem to grownups, we occasionally treat God in the same way. We may have a tendency to … [Read more…]
1 JOHN 3:1–8 They took out their 22-month-old granddaughter for the first time without her older brothers and gave her love and attention. She was eager to go with them, ready for more individualised time. Despite her inability to express it verbally at this time, she feels appreciated and loved. Their affection for her, in a tiny … [Read more…]
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