2 CORINTHIANS 3:1–6 My mother and her sisters practiced a lost art of writing letters weekly, filled with personal messages about life, friends, and family. This consistent practice caused mailmen to be busy. The apostle Paul’s said that those who follow Jesus are a letter from Christ. He encouraged the church in Corinth to continue following the … [Read more…]
JOB 2:1–10 The child raised his nose, pushed out his tongue, and squeezed his eyes shut the first time he bit into a slice of lemon. His words were “sow-wah” (sour). With a laugh, I grabbed the piece of fruit, planning to throw it in the trash. He ran across the kitchen in an attempt to … [Read more…]
JOHN 14:1–12 TV broadcaster Art Linkletter and a young child who was sketching an image of God. “You can’t do that because nobody knows what God looks like,” Linkletter remarked, amused. The youngster said, “They will when I get through.” Jesus’s response to Philip’s request to show the Father reveals that anyone who has seen Him … [Read more…]
LUKE 5:1–11 Refuge Rabindranath, a youth worker in Sri Lanka, spends his time playing, listening, counselling, and teaching young people late into the night. Despite his enjoyment, he is disheartened when promising students leave the faith. Simon, tired and discouraged after working hard all night, decided to let down his nets after Jesus instructed him to … [Read more…]
GENESIS 12:4–9 It is fun to go camping. Our least favourite part of the trip could be sleeping in a cheap, leaky tent, especially after a wet night. Abraham, a biblical hero, lived many years in tents after hearing God’s call to leave his country at 75. He trusted in God’s promise and lived away from … [Read more…]
2 KINGS 19:9–19 As a teenager, his mother taught him the importance of writing to gain perspective on challenges and high-stakes decisions. By writing out facts and possible actions, he was able to step back and view problems objectively, overcoming his emotions. Just as recording thoughts on paper provides fresh perspective, while we pray, we can better … [Read more…]
ACTS 20:17–20, 32, 35–38 On the eve of my son’s departure to attend university, I felt a lump in my throat saying goodbye. Paul, after teaching the Ephesians for three years, felt a sense of loss and abandonment. He decided to leave them behind, but he had advice for the Ephesians. They would continue to be trained … [Read more…]
2 KINGS 4:1–7 A children’s book tells the story of a poor boy named Bartholomew who removes his cap to honour the king. An identical hat appears, causing the king to be angry. Bartholomew is sent to the palace for punishment, where he removes hat after hat, each time with a new hat appearing. The 500th … [Read more…]
ROMANS 8:18–23; REVELATION 21 I can see and hear the soft wind sweeping through the trees as I look out my open office window. I can also hear birds tweeting. My neighbour’s just-mowed field is scattered with bales of pasture, and the sky is a vivid blue, with big white cumulus clouds standing out. Aside from the … [Read more…]
COLOSSIANS 3:8–17 As I was taking off the price tag, I grinned at the warning on the back of a cold-weather garment I had bought: “WARNING: this unique item of clothing will make you want to go outdoors and stay there.” An individual can endure and even flourish in severe and fluctuating weather conditions if … [Read more…]
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