By: Michael McQueen The holiday season is here. While rest is undoubtedly and necessarily a priority for most of us this year, the holidays can be a stressful time for many. The bustle of Christmas gift shopping and the logistics of family trips and get-togethers can eat away immense energy. Then, once the gatherings have [...]
So many times we get life advice from people who frankly have no business giving it. Here’s a tip, if you wouldn’t want to walk a mile in their shoes, don’t take advice from them.
‘To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown.’ Job 6:14 NKJV A pastor writes: ‘What makes you glad or sad or mad? What puts a holy smile on your face? What causes your spirit to sob uncontrollably? What makes you pound your fist on the table out of righteous indignation? Somewhere in the mixture of that [...]
‘Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,’ Colossians 3:12 CSB The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, ‘If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.’ In his documentary on twentieth-century wars, [...]
Every day we exist within an underlying set of assumptions that shape our society and dictate how we approach everything from church to politics and our personal family life.
‘If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you ...’ Exodus 33:13 NIV Listen to more of Moses’ friendly talk with God: ‘If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you.’ Moses is in a national crisis that [...]
In an economy often characterised by overconsumption, waste and fast fashion, the push for sustainability is not always popular.
‘I know you by name and you have found favour with me.’ Exodus 33:12 NIV Moses talked with God like a friend, sharing what he felt and thought. And God wanted it that way. Here is how the conversation went: ‘Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’… You have said, ‘I [...]
This week’s memory verse is Psalm 23:4 – Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
‘I will bring the one-third through the fire … and test them as gold is tested.’ Zechariah 13:9 NKJV If you’re being tested today, you’re in good company! Job, the most righteous man on earth, was tested beyond what most of us will ever have to endure. And when he emerged, he told God, ‘I heard about [...]
Maria, from Sydney, NSW, lost her 33-year-old son to suicide and wants to help others struggling with mental health issues.
John Molhoek from Ipswich, Queensland, is part of Vision’s 35-year history of helping other radio stations get set up in the nineties.
‘“And I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”’ Jeremiah 3:15 ESV Seeking to impress the congregation, a young seminary graduate incorporated the biggest words he could find into his Sunday-morning sermon. It was a disaster! Stepping down from the pulpit, he met an old preacher who said, [...]
‘These were … the mighty men whom David had.’ 1 Chronicles 11:10 NKJV Success in any endeavour calls for surrounding yourself with the right people. That’s why you should always seek God’s input in your relationships. Rehoboam should have listened to the advice of his father Solomon’s wise and experienced inner circle. Instead, he heeded the advice [...]
‘In returning and rest you shall be saved.’ Isaiah 30:15 NKJV Burnout is characterised by disengagement and stress by over-engagement. In burnout, your emotions become blunted; stress makes them over-reactive. Burnout causes emotional damage; stress primarily causes physical damage. Burnout affects motivation and drive; stress affects your physical energy. Depression from burnout comes from a loss of [...]
‘And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,’ 1 Timothy 1:12 NKJV Another form of burnout is ‘compassion fatigue’, and people helpers are the most vulnerable. Symptoms include the belief that you’re no longer effective, treating yourself and others with detachment, withdrawing from your [...]
Visionathon is Vision’s biannual fundraiser that celebrates the power of faith, hope, and love. It’s a time when we all come together to support Vision’s mission of spreading the gospel throughout Australia and helping people look to God daily.
‘Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?’ Proverbs 20:6 NIV A pastor writes about his experience with burnout: ‘The children had gone to school, my wife was off to work, and I did something I’d never done before. I turned the phone down, put a note on the door, and went [...]
‘Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.’ Romans 5:5 NKJV American writer, Jon Walker, says: ‘I’ve struggled with my weight most of my life. I’ve dropped weight and put it back on. I’ve tried every diet and made up some of my own. I [...]
This week’s memory verse is Psalm 23:3 – He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
In today’s digital age, self-learning has taken on new dimensions, with different generations turning to diverse platforms to acquire knowledge.
‘We who have fled for refuge might … hold fast to the hope set before us.’ Hebrews 6:18 ESV Does your situation look impossible? Are you getting ready to give up? Don’t! Emilie Batisse was seventy-nine when she was injured in a hit-and-run accident and wasn’t expected to live. When Norman Vincent Peale went to visit her, [...]
‘Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!’ Psalm 34:8 NKJV What you believe about God is crucial to the quality of your life, especially in difficult times. So, starting today, tell yourself, ‘God is good – all the time,’ and keep saying it until it gets down [...]
We do not need to see some movies to know that it contains content that we want to avoid. But, people must learn to discern for themselves, in choosing film and how they live.
‘The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.’ Psalm 19:8 NLT The marquee outside a little country church read: ‘Jesus said …’ That’s it – nothing else! Obviously, the custodian was interrupted before finishing the job, leaving an incomplete message for passing drivers to fill in the blank. Doubtless, some would drive by, giving [...]