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…]

STAND FIRM

DANIEL 3:4-30 These days, anarchy and lawlessness are the norm. Even the individuals who are supposed to enforce the law can violate it with their full chest. As lawlessness grows, God urges us to choose and stand firm for Him against compromise. Standing for righteousness creates noticeable impact, showing God’s faithfulness. In Daniel 3:4-30, three Hebrew friends, … [Read more…]

LOYALTY WITHOUT SHAME

PSALM 34:1-4  Sports fans proudly show their support by wearing logos, posting on Facebook, and discussing their teams with friends. They leave no doubt where their loyalty stands. Our sports loyalties can remind us that our greatest loyalty should be to our Lord. This unashamed loyalty is demonstrated in Psalm 34, which emphasises someone who is … [Read more…]

LETTERS TO THE PEOPLE AT HOME

NEHEMIAH 8:5–12 American recruits in basic training for World War II used humour and letters to deal with their challenges. One young man exaggerated the vaccination process in a letter, saying, “Two medical officers chased us with harpoons. . . ” One soldier discovered that humour has its limits. After receiving a Bible, he wrote, “I … [Read more…]

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

1 KINGS 13:11–24 Her second child, Jane, wanted to sleep in a “big-girl bed” in her sister’s room. Each night, she tucked her in and reminded her to stay in bed, warning her about the crib. However, she often found her in the hallway and had to take her back. Later, she discovered that her sister … [Read more…]

MORE MATURE WISDOM

1 KINGS 12:1–7, 12–17; JOB 12:12 In 2010, a newspaper published a report featuring life lessons from eight senior citizens. It highlighted how ageing can bring emotional and social knowledge, referred to as wisdom. Wise older people offer valuable life lessons, but a newly crowned king in the Bible overlooked this. King Solomon had just died, and in … [Read more…]

A GOOD SEASON

ECCLESIASTES 3:1 Today marks the beginning of a new day and season in various parts of the world (depending on people’s location). New seasons matter to many people. Some eagerly await the changes a new season will bring. You might be counting down, hoping for a change in season, or looking forward to a break from … [Read more…]

AN “APP” IS AVAILABLE FOR THAT

EPHESIANS 5:1-7; PROVERBS 23:12 Remember when phones were for making phone calls? With the smartphone, talking to someone has turned into a storehouse of data. With cell phone applications, you can read sports reports, play games, plan trips, find an apartment, or do any of over 100,000 other tasks available with an “app.” The “apps” for phones … [Read more…]