Beth was so excited to visit the new playground close to her house. As she ran towards the swings, she tripped. It was a painful fall. Her immediate response was to find her mom for comfort. Aren’t we all like Beth? Life is filled with painful falls. A friend lets us down. Someone special is… Continue reading Unbelievable Comfort
“It makes no sense”, I think as I head out at 5 am for a long training run. “Why can’t I just stay fit?” I don’t want to do this run. But, if I want to have any chance at finishing my upcoming marathon, I have to put in the effort. Sacrifice is key to… Continue reading Rev 5v12 – It’s all about sacrifice
Have you ever read a book and been disappointed with the ending? Well, what about the greatest story ever written – the Bible? Genesis, the template for the entire story, starts with, “In the beginning God…”. God takes an earth that is nothing and makes something beautiful. And into this, he places humans. But it’s… Continue reading Rev 22v20 – Choose your ending
I find etymology, the study of the origin of words and their meanings, intriguing. One example is found in Proverbs 12:25, which reads: “Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up”. The word “worry” comes from the Old English word “wyrgan”, initially meaning “strangle.” If you’ve ever grappled with intense anxiety,… Continue reading Pro 12v25 – Releasing the strangle
“Have you heard about the new supplement that has been proven to add years to your life?” These types of claims have been around for centuries. Yet, what if there was a supplement that worked? Well, there is. “For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.” (Proverbs… Continue reading Pro 9v11 – The life-extending supplement
War in Ukraine, war in the Middle East. Drug violence, gun violence, robberies, hijackings. We are in a world living in fear, where violence is occurring in every continent of the world. If you are feeling despondent or fearful, God wants you to put your hope in His promised future, which will last forever. “In… Continue reading Mic 4v3 – God’s future
There is an extraordinary tumbleweed plant that blows across the desert. Called the resurrection plant, it may have been dead for 100 years until one day, it blows into a puddle of water. Within minutes, it comes to life, unfurling its dead fronds. Then, if rain falls on it, within hours, flowers appear, and seeds… Continue reading 1Co 15v52 – The resurrection plant
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows “mighty vengeance” against Hamas“(BBC). “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Jesus – Matthew 5:44). It’s hard to comprehend these two sentences together. After the violence perpetrated on innocent people in Israel, our natural response is vengeance. But God says he is the… Continue reading Mat 5v44-45 – Not a normal love
Sometimes it’s storms, and sometimes it’s old age. But when a massive oak tree falls after standing so tall for so long, it leaves a gaping hole in the forest canopy. Yet the sad loss of this giant sentinel means light and nutrients for saplings just beginning to grow. When the giant oaks in our… Continue reading Psa 116v15 – The fallen tree
“Too soon!” Our cry of despair when someone precious unexpectedly dies. While life is filled with joy and challenge, hope and disappointment, death is a blade that slices across everything. A devastating finality. A searing anguish. There is only one occasion where the gospels mention Jesus crying, and it is when he is standing outside… Continue reading Isa 57v1-2 Gone too soon