THE HAPPINESS THAT IS BEST

JOHN 8:31-38 Some people may consider the claim that “everyone is doing it” to be persuasive. The list of justifications and excuses we use to get our way grows as we get older, like “No one will get hurt” and “It is not prohibited.” Every argument is based on the idea that what we want is … [Read more…]

NO LONGER A PRISONER

ROMANS 7:15-25 After I conducted a training at his place of employment, a middle-aged man came up to me and said, “I have been a Christian almost all of my life, yet I am continually disappointed with myself. Why do I continually appear to do things that I know I should not do? Is God … [Read more…]

LESSONS FOR CHILDREN

PROVERBS 22:1-16 Dan instantly thought about how he might help his daughter as she described a problem she was having at the school cafeteria. But then another idea sprang to mind. Perhaps the issue was a way for God to reveal Himself to her and help her grow to know Him better. He made the … [Read more…]

A FATHER’S EXPECTATIONS

2 CORINTHIANS 5:19-21 Fathers often have dreams of their children growing up, such as playing catch, fishing, witnessing a race, or becoming successful adults. These dreams can be both positive and negative. I do not know if my father had any unusual dreams before I was born, but as I became older, I found out what he … [Read more…]

OUR FATHERS

MATTHEW 6:9-13 Father’s Day is observed in numerous places. However, for some people, the concept of paying tribute to their fathers brings up unpleasant or contentious memories. Because of death or divorce, some people never knew their fathers. What is left over is sadness and a yearning for a connection that never materialised. Some people have had … [Read more…]

DOES HE HEAR US?

MATTHEW 26:39-42; 27:45-46 “It sometimes seems as though God is not paying attention to me.” These are the heartwrenching remarks of a woman who struggled to maintain her Christian walk while dealing with an alcoholic husband. She prayed to God for her husband’s change for many years. The thing is, it never happened. What should we believe … [Read more…]

BEFORE THE CALL

PSALM 18:1-6 As a mother of young children, she was occasionally susceptible to anxiety. Her initial inclination was to contact her mum on the phone and ask her what to do about her children. Parents can be a great resource, but when we read the Psalms, we are reminded of how often we need the type of … [Read more…]

HE WILL REPLY

PSALM 91 Most of the people we admire are quite busy and may not have our time. Thankfully, we know that God responds to us. According to an ancient story, a monarch paid weavers to manufacture tapestries and clothing for him. He instructed them to seek his assistance immediately if they encountered any difficulties. One young … [Read more…]

AS CLOSE AS THE MENTION OF HIS NAME

JOHN 16:17-24 All of us have experienced the loss of loved ones. Children get married and move abroad. For professional or health reasons, our parents are no longer with us. A child leaves home to attend school in another state or country. It is true that we have SMS, email, and WhatsApp. But we are here, … [Read more…]

HIS NAME IS HOLY

EXODUS 20:1-7 I was talking to a friend about misusing God’s name one afternoon. We might believe that this only applies to invoking God’s name in a casual or disrespectful manner or by adding it to a swear word. But my friend never missed a chance to share with me the meaning of true faith. … [Read more…]