It has been quite common for Christians to be told to leave their comfort zone so that they can be truly effective for the Lord. But, is being comfortable such a bad thing? After all, the Holy Spirit’s ministry is being our Comforter, which means - He comforts us (John 14:26)? And let us face it - most of us like being comfortable…………….
Read MoreBut Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion]. (Luke 5:16, AMP)
Our prayer time with the Lord is critical to our development as Christians. When we see in the Psalms how David opened out his emotions to God…………………
Read MoreIn New Zealand's first ever census in 1853, 7 percent of New Zealanders classified themselves as non-Christian.[1] More recently, 29.6 percent in the 2001 Census, 34.6 percent in the 2006 Census, 41.9 percent in the 2013 Census, and 48.2 percent in the 2018 Census, had no connection to religion at all………………………..
Read MoreIn April 2019 Australian rugby union star Israel Folau urged those targeted in a post to "turn away from your sin". He listed a number of the types of people who sinned including,……………………
Read MoreSomeday we will be the silent guest at our own funeral. There are likely to be relatives and friends present to mourn for us who we have not seen in years…………
Read MoreTelling the truth is a basic requirement for trust. If we find out that someone has lied to us, it takes away any trust that we have in them, and then we wonder whether there have been other times that we have been lied to that we do not know about…………………
Read MoreIn this verse Paul is encouraging the Philippians by telling them that he continually prays for them (Philippians 1:3-5) and has confidence in their determination that they have, and the sanctification that is occurring in their lives - the process by which Christians are made like Christ………….
Read More“Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s” is a well-known quote that appears in Matthew 22:21. It is a response from Jesus when He confronted in a joint attempt by the Herodians and Pharisees to get Him to say something that they could use against Him.
Read MoreThere is a saying that we do not hear very often these days that goes, ’There but for the grace of God, go I'. It was generally used when a person was seen to be having a hard time in their lives, and another person looking on was thankful that they were not in the same position……………..
Read MoreEveryone needs to believe that they matter and that they do have a purpose in life. As each one of us pursues what these things mean it is inevitable that we will seek the advice of others in order to find the answers………..
Read More“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—……………….
Read MoreWe are no longer Jews or Greeks or slaves or free men or even merely men or women, but we are all the same—we are Christians; we are one in Christ Jesus. And now that we are Christ’s we are the true descendants of Abraham, and all of God’s promises to him belong to us. (Galatians 3:28-29 TLB) ………..
Read MoreHow does God speak to us through our conscience? In The Foundations of Christian Doctrine, Kevin J. Conner states that mankind’s conscience was inactive until they sinned, ‘but the moment man sinned his conscience began to work, and his thoughts began to accuse and excuse him…………………….
Read MoreAll those who know your mercy, Lord, will count on you for help. For you have never yet forsaken those who trust in you. (Psalm 9:10 TLB)
Sadly, many believe that true security is provided by the things of the world—……………………….
Read MoreWhether we accept it or not, war is part of our lives. Wikipedia has an article which shows that most existing high death conflicts occur in developing countries. Some of the countries who have suffered ongoing or successive conflicts for several years include the Congo, Iraq and Syria…………
Read MoreIf we were to sit for a while in our local shopping centre and look at the faces of the people going past what would we see? Would we see faces that tell the silent story of a longing for peace, some rest from their worries and fears, or the lifting of some burden or trouble in their lives?
Read MoreThe story is told of a girl who stayed for dinner at a friend’s home. The meal was ready and the girl was asked by the mother whether she liked broccoli………
Read MorePsalm 148:5–13 (AMPC)
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away [He fixed their bounds which cannot be passed over].
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps!
You lightning, hail, fog, and frost, you stormy wind fulfilling His orders!
Read MoreIn Luke 19:37-40 we read –
Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:
“‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
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