PSALM 71:5-18 Growing up, most of us enjoyed birthdays. We were happy to be older and enjoyed the balloons, gifts, and cake. As we got older and took on more responsibilities, birthdays became less exciting. The older we became, the more responsible we got. In Psalm 71, the psalmist expresses gratitude for God’s presence throughout his life. … [Read more…]
LUKE 18:9–14 The man I often prayed with put his hand over mine when I voiced my displeasure about a friend’s decisions that were pushing him farther into sin and how I was affected by them, and he said, “Let us pray for all of us.” I frowned. I admitted that it hurt a little, but … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 8:1–4 Joy, despite lacking medical experience, eagerly accepted the opportunity to assist a medical mission in a remote region. She met a woman there who had a terrible illness that was curable. Joy was disgusted by the woman’s deformed leg, but she knew she had to do something. Her patient started crying as she was … [Read more…]
PSALM 51 Ceramic repair, known as kintsugi, has been used for generations in Japan. Reinforcing fractures or filling in gaps with a mixture of gold dust and resin creates a visually arresting link. The artist uses brokenness to create something beautiful, rather than trying to hide the repair. The Bible emphasises the importance of remorse for sins, … [Read more…]
JUDGES 6:11–16, 24 Gideon received a divine message from the Lord in the middle of the workday. The angel declared that the Lord was with him, but Gideon was curious about why everything happened to his people, questioning why it seemed that God had forgotten about His people (Judges 6:12–13). God did not answer Gideon’s question about … [Read more…]
ISAIAH 53:9–12 Our daughter shed tears as we bid farewell to my parents, who had visited us. As I comforted her, my wife remarked, “I am afraid that is the price of love.” Though we may experience the agony of being parted from our loved ones, Jesus experienced the most extreme form of separation when He … [Read more…]
MARK 15:19–20, 33–39 There is a large cross in front of the altar at the church I attend. It is a representation of the original cross on which Jesus died, the point at which His holiness and our sin collided. God let His sinless Son die there in order to atone for all of our transgressions, … [Read more…]
LUKE 23:32–34 He experienced deep pain and anger after a friend betrayed him, leading him to question his ability to forgive. Despite forgiving, he still felt hurt and resentment. One day, God answered his prayers and allowed him to let go completely and finally be free. Jesus extended forgiveness during His death on the cross. He showed … [Read more…]
PSALM 148:1–6 Over the Gulf of Mexico, the sun was setting. Many people, mainly strangers, flocked to the shore to see this occurrence. Just as the sun descended completely behind the horizon, the audience broke out in applause. The book of Psalms shows that people respond to nature’s beauty by praising its Creator, as seen in Psalm … [Read more…]
2 CORINTHIANS 2:14–16 A charming tale about visiting a little village in Dover, England, is recounted by author Rita Snowden. One afternoon, while sipping a cup of tea outside a café, she noticed a lovely aroma. When Rita inquired about its source, a waiter informed her that it was the people she could see walking by. … [Read more…]
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