JOHN 14:5–14,19 David’s father criticised him as a failure and an embarrassment to his family. Despite excelling in sports, he felt like a loser. He contemplated his future and whether he could escape painlessly. However, he avoided discussing his feelings with anyone, as his culture taught him to keep his private heartache private. David struggled alone … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 11:25–30 A man stopped his pickup truck to offer a lift to a woman carrying a heavy load. The woman thanked him and climbed into the back of the truck. The man surprisingly noticed she was still holding onto her load. He asked her to put down her load and relax, as his truck could … [Read more…]
2 CORINTHIANS 4:1–7 In 1974, Chinese farmers discovered the Terracotta Army, life-size terracotta sculptures dating back to the third century BC. The discovery included 8,000 soldiers, 150 cavalry horses, and 130 chariots drawn by 520 horses. The Terracotta Army has become a popular tourist site in China, attracting over a million visitors annually. After being kept … [Read more…]
GENESIS 2:4–8 As children, we used to walk to school on cold mornings, enjoying the sight of our breath turning into vapour and the steamy clouds we created, rejoicing in being alive. The sight of our breath in the cold air prompted me to reflect on our Creator, who created Adam from the ground and gave … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 6:9–15; PSALM 145:18 In August 2010, 33 miners were trapped underground in a mine shaft near Copiapó, Chile. After seventeen days of waiting, drilling created a hole in the shaft ceiling, which provided a delivery path for water, food, and medicine. The miners relied on these to survive, and on day sixty-nine, the last miner … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 2:1–12; PSALM 95:6 Many manger scenes depict the wise men, or magi, visiting Jesus in Bethlehem alongside the shepherds. However, the gospel of Matthew suggests they visited later. Jesus was found in a house, where they worshipped him. They then opened their treasures and presented him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Realising that the magi’s visit … [Read more…]
MARK 6:7–12; 2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 Imagine embarking on a trip without any essentials, clothing, money, or credit cards, which seems both unwise and terrifying. Jesus instructed His twelve disciples to carry only their staff, no bread, bags, or money. Later, He instructed them to take purses, bags, and swords, and if they did not have a sword, … [Read more…]
1 CORINTHIANS 15:50–58 A financial advisor advises investing money with hope and preparedness for the worst, acknowledging the uncertainty of life decisions. However, following a course where effort is not wasted in the end is a valuable approach. Paul spent a year with Jesus’ followers in Corinth, a city known for moral corruption. After he left, he … [Read more…]
EXODUS 17:8–15 The Bible’s stories often leave us wondering, as seen in Moses’ decision to hold up God’s staff at the top of a hill during a battle. The Israelites won when Moses raised his hands, while the Amalekites won when he lowered them. Aaron and Hur also played a crucial role in their victory. Hur, … [Read more…]
JOHN 8:48–59 Jeralean Talley, the world’s oldest living person in 2015, died that year at the age of 116. Jerusalem celebrated its 3,000th birthday in 1995. A bristlecone pine in California’s White Mountains has been determined to be older than 4,800 years. That precedes the patriarch Abraham by 800 years! Jesus, when confronted by Jewish religious … [Read more…]
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