‘For our citizenship is in heaven,’ Philippians 3:20 NASB The story is told of a pastor who asked his congregation, ‘How many of you want to go to heaven?’ Everyone raised their hand except one little boy. The pastor said, ‘Son, don’t you want to go to heaven?’ He replied, ‘Yes, but I thought you were getting [...]
‘I have taught you in the way of wisdom.’ Proverbs 4:11 NKJV Every day we are bombarded with messages from the media, employers, co-workers, people we meet, books, music, and our own thoughts. Satan works in two ways. First, he tries to feed you with stuff like temptation, depression, and worry. Second, he tries to keep you [...]
Celebrating Easter with kids is an opportunity to make special memories that will last a lifetime.
‘Forgive, and you will be forgiven.’ Luke 6:37 NIV Here are three more steps to forgiveness: 1) Accept people as they are and don’t try to change them. You say, ‘I’ll only forgive them if they change.’ That just keeps you tied to them, obsessing over what they did and demanding they act in ways that you [...]
‘You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.’ Ephesians 2:19 NIV ’His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. He came [...]
One of the most effective ways I have found to renew my mind is to meditate on scriptures that build my faith and remind me of God’s faithfulness and power to overcome my circumstances and fear.
‘Forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another;’ Colossians 3:13 NKJV The misery of living with unforgiveness in your heart always lasts longer than the pain of the offence. Always! When you hold on to resentment, you open the door to depression and physical illness. Forgiving brings healing to your wounds and restores your joy. [...]
‘You were made queen for just such a time as this.’ Esther 4:14 NLT The story of Esther teaches us two important truths: (1) You need mentors to guide you. Because she was willing to listen to Mordecai, Esther discovered that her calling wasn’t just to be a queen but a deliverer of her people. So, who [...]
Hot cross buns have been a traditional Easter treat for centuries, but their origin is steeped in rich Christian symbolism. These sweet treats are traditionally served during the Easter season as a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for humanity.
‘Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you.’ Psalm 55:22 ESV If you grow up in hard times, you will automatically do one of these two things: 1) Trust God more because you have experienced His faithfulness. 2) Worry, think, and incessantly talk about the what-ifs in life. And there are lots of them to [...]
‘He jumped into the water.’ John 21:7 CEV ‘At dawn, Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who He was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then He said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, [...]
What if a seven-second pause could transform your life? PAUSING in God is a practice we can often forget to do.
‘"Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say …"’ Luke 5:5 NASB You say: ‘What happened to the verse in Galatians 6 that promises whatever you sow you will also reap? I gave it my best shot. I trusted, sacrificed, did the right things, yet reaped nothing.’ Whether it’s [...]
‘Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.’ James 1:22 NKJV To identify the source of your discouragement, it’s helpful to talk to someone who can offer you insight and guidance. But be careful—you can talk your problems to death and get nowhere! That’s why the Bible says, ‘Be doers of the word, and not hearers [...]
‘Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,’ Colossians 3:23 CSB If you were in charge of hiring people at work, what would you look for? Skill, dedication, punctuality, reliability, patience, kindness, and consistency? Jesus said, ‘"Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much,”’ [...]
‘He will have whatever he says.’ Mark 11:23 NKJV To overcome discouragement, here are two things to help: (1) Speak the right words. One of the main causes of discouragement is negative self-talk. In his book Spiritual Depression, Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of Britain’s finest heart surgeons, writes, ‘Most of your unhappiness in life is due to [...]
‘Believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’ Hebrews 11:6 NKJV Here are three truths from Scripture that will make your faith more effective: First, believe that God is. The force of the language used here is much more than a vague acknowledgment of God’s existence. Mankind claims scores [...]
‘Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You.’ Jeremiah 32:17 NIV If the issue you’re wrestling with has discouraged you and got you down, here are some things to do: First, take a short look at the problem. Someone once said, [...]
Bear Grylls is an adventurer and survivalist who has gained fame for his survival shows on the Discovery Channel. But what is lesser known about Bear Grylls is his faith in God.
‘Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.’ Psalm 30:5 NLT One marriage expert says a single mother sent him a story that helped explain the loneliness and stress often faced by those raising children alone. She said she was looking out of her window one drizzly day and saw a mother robin [...]
‘He cancelled the record of the charges against us.’ Colossians 2:14 NLT When someone is arrested for a crime and brought into court, the prosecutor will say, ‘The charges against you are …’ At that point, they hope their lawyer can get the charges dismissed. Well, God has a record of every sin you have committed from [...]
This week’s memory verse is 1 John 5:14 – This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
As Christians, we need to take steps towards being counter-culturally grateful. In an age of self righteous entitlement, this is a different way of interacting with life.
‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.’ Psalm 23:6 NKJV The psalmist doesn’t lead with words like maybe, perhaps, possibly, or hopefully. No, he says, surely, which is a term of certainty. Surely means absolutely; without a doubt! There are a lot of things in life you can’t be sure of. [...]
"If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” John 13:17 NASB Jesus summed up His teaching on happiness this way: ‘ Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!’ The Bible gives us three keys that are vital to happiness. (1) Be [...]