INSCRIBED ON OUR HEARTS

DEUTERONOMY 6:1-12 Religious inscriptions are prevalent in the neighbourhood, appearing on various surfaces such as plaques, walls, doorposts, commercial vehicles, and registered business names. Examples include “By the Grace of God” on a minibus and “God’s Divine Favour Bookshop” on a business signboard. Religious inscriptions on wall plaques, jewellery, or T-shirts do not accurately reflect a … [Read more…]

A WIDOW’S DECISION

PSALM 34:15-22 A close friend lost her husband to a heart attack. As a counsellor who provided solace for others, she now faced the prospect of returning home to an empty house after forty years of marriage. She told us she would choose to “wear the label widow proudly,” believing it was the label God had given … [Read more…]

ICE FLOWERS

1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-14 Wilson Bentley, a 15-year-old, was fascinated by the intricate beauty of snowflakes. He used an old microscope to draw sketches of their designs, but they melted too quickly. In 1885, he attached a bellows camera to the microscope and took his first snowflake picture. He captured 5,000 unique snowflake images throughout his lifetime … [Read more…]

THE VOICE OF FAITH

HABAKKUK 3:16-19 The news was numbing, causing tears and fear to overwhelm her. Life had been going well until it was suddenly interrupted and forever changed without warning. Tragic events can manifest in various forms, including loss of loved ones, illness, wealth, or livelihood, and can occur at any time. Prophet Habakkuk experienced fear as Babylon invaded … [Read more…]

DISCONNECT THE SCOREBOARD

EPHESIANS 4:25-32 John, a friend, advised the newlyweds at their son’s wedding reception. He shared a football coach’s strategy of keeping the losing score on the scoreboard to remind them of their failure. John said that this is a bad marriage strategy. Instead, when your spouse upsets or fails you, turn off the scoreboard and … [Read more…]

JESUS OVER ALL

COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 A friend’s son wore a sports jersey over his school uniform to show support for his favourite team. He wore a chain with a pendant reading “Jesus” over his jersey, illustrating the deeper truth that Jesus deserves first place over everything in our lives. Jesus is supreme over all creation and the head of … [Read more…]

A MOUNTAIN’S-EYE VIEW

PHILIPPIANS 4:8–13; COLOSSIANS 3:1 According to David H. Roper, Idaho’s valley in the USA experiences extreme cold in winter due to clouds and fog, trapping cold air behind warmer air. However, a nearby road climbs Shafer Butte’s flank, a 7,500-foot mountain, allowing for a refreshing view of the valley below. This road offers a short distance … [Read more…]

UNKNOWN MENU

JOHN 4:31-34 Meat Mountain is a hidden menu item in fast-food restaurants, resembling a featured item. It is known only through social media and word of mouth, suggesting an offer of secret menus to in-the-know customers. Jesus revealed His hidden food to His disciples, who were confused about it. He explained that it was to fulfil His … [Read more…]

STAY CALM

PSALM 46 In the past, letters were responded to within weeks, while fax machines provided a few days’ response. Today, with email, instant messaging, and mobile phones, a response is expected the same day. In Psalm 46, two commands are read: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Being still is essential in today’s busy … [Read more…]

YOU CANNOT TAKE IT BACK

GALATIANS 5:13-26 A woman parked her car and blocked my way to the fuel pump. I could not wait, so I honked my horn and shouted at her. I felt bad about being impatient and unwilling to wait for her to move. I apologised to God and realised I could have spread kindness and patience instead … [Read more…]