PSALM 126 Their son struggled with drug addiction for seven years, causing significant hardships for the family. As they prayed for his recovery, they learned to celebrate small victories, remembering a good day as a reminder of gratitude for God’s help. Psalm 126:3 highlights God’s tender mercies, stating that the Lord has done great things … [Read more…]
HEBREWS 4:12–16 In 2015, 245 million surveillance cameras were installed globally, growing by 15% annually. Millions of people with smartphones capture daily images, creating a global, cameras-everywhere society and causing debates on security and privacy. The New Testament book of Hebrews states that our relationship with God is more exposed and accountable than surveillance cameras can … [Read more…]
RUTH 2:8–13 Anne Herbert, an American writer, wrote the phrase “practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” in 1982, which has since become popularised through film and literature. Why should we show kindness? For those who follow Jesus, it is to demonstrate God’s tender mercy and kindness. Ruth, a foreigner from Moab, was poor … [Read more…]
2 CHRONICLES 20:13–22 French artist Henri Matisse, during his final years, experimented with a new style, creating colourful, large-scale paintings using paper instead of paint. These bright images were crucial to him, as he was often confined to his bed due to cancer. Being in the valley, where dread overshadows everything else, is a common experience for … [Read more…]
JOHN 14:5–14,19 David’s father criticised him as a failure and an embarrassment to his family. Despite excelling in sports, he felt like a loser. He contemplated his future and whether he could escape painlessly. However, he avoided discussing his feelings with anyone, as his culture taught him to keep his private heartache private. David struggled alone … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 11:25–30 A man stopped his pickup truck to offer a lift to a woman carrying a heavy load. The woman thanked him and climbed into the back of the truck. The man surprisingly noticed she was still holding onto her load. He asked her to put down her load and relax, as his truck could … [Read more…]
2 CORINTHIANS 4:1–7 In 1974, Chinese farmers discovered the Terracotta Army, life-size terracotta sculptures dating back to the third century BC. The discovery included 8,000 soldiers, 150 cavalry horses, and 130 chariots drawn by 520 horses. The Terracotta Army has become a popular tourist site in China, attracting over a million visitors annually. After being kept … [Read more…]
GENESIS 2:4–8 As children, we used to walk to school on cold mornings, enjoying the sight of our breath turning into vapour and the steamy clouds we created, rejoicing in being alive. The sight of our breath in the cold air prompted me to reflect on our Creator, who created Adam from the ground and gave … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 6:9–15; PSALM 145:18 In August 2010, 33 miners were trapped underground in a mine shaft near Copiapó, Chile. After seventeen days of waiting, drilling created a hole in the shaft ceiling, which provided a delivery path for water, food, and medicine. The miners relied on these to survive, and on day sixty-nine, the last miner … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 2:1–12; PSALM 95:6 Many manger scenes depict the wise men, or magi, visiting Jesus in Bethlehem alongside the shepherds. However, the gospel of Matthew suggests they visited later. Jesus was found in a house, where they worshipped him. They then opened their treasures and presented him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Realising that the magi’s visit … [Read more…]
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