Praise You in the Storm Psalm 34:1 (NLT) I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. It’s the start of a new year, and I don’t know about you, but I am finding myself praying for a better one than the year before. Last year was a difficult one for many. For me and my family it was one of lockdowns, isolation, and sometimes loneliness. There were times throughout …
Good News and Praise Luke 2:16–20 (NIV) So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and …
Isaiah 30:15b: In quietness and trust is your strength. (NIV) Those who know me well know I am not a fan of quiet. I don’t like being by myself, and if I ever find myself in a situation where I have to be, you will hear music, background television, or simply my voice singing, so there is no silence. I have often wondered what it is I don’t like about silence, and I have never …
Having three children, there are often disagreements. Cruel words are spoken, feelings (and sometimes bodies) are hurt, and relationships are damaged. These occasions usually occur because of selfish choices. Someone saw something they wanted and so they took it, regardless of whose it was. The cry of “Hey that’s mine!” and “But, I want it!” can often be heard and sometimes a verbal or physical altercation ensues. As adults, we like to think we have a better handle on our selfish behaviour but, in truth, our natural tendency is still to satisfy ourselves first. At its core, this could be sin’s definition. When we focus on ourselves and what we want, we sin. God’s plans and promises are forgotten or ignored, and we go our own way.
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Keeping it in the Family Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10. Families can be complicated things! Growing up, my family was dad, mum, my sister and me. I feel very blessed to have an amazing family. We enjoyed each other’s company and looked forward to family holidays and special events celebrated together. I knew my family knew me, and …
Happy, Grumpy, Bashful, Boastful and Doc May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14. When we think of the word “boastful” it has a negative connotation. To boast is to talk excessively about your achievements or possessions. We associate the word with other words like bragging, flaunting, and swaggering. Maybe when you hear the word you …
Are we There yet? Eternity is a tricky concept to understand or explain. We can think of it as a future possession, something we will attain one day when we leave this earth and join Jesus in heaven. This is certainly the concept presented in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). The gospel of John however doesn’t describe eternity like that. In John 5:24 Jesus says, Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my …
I’ll be Back! John 14:1–3 (NIV) Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where …
Work is a Gift What do you do for a living? This is often one of the first questions we ask when meeting someone new. When we are in the final years of school (if not before) we start to think about what we want to do next, and plan how best to prepare for our ‘dream job’. I was very fortunate that I decided at the age of eight I was going to be …
Everything in Its Time Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 One of my favourite images is that of the “4-season tree”. You may have seen it, but if you haven’t let me describe it to you. The image is of the same tree, but in each of the four seasons of the year. In summer, the tree is full of lush, green leaves, basking in the sunshine. In autumn, the leaves have turned brilliant shades of red, orange and …
Hand Me Downs Our family was one of girls. My mum was one of two girls, and each of them had two daughters also. This meant lots of laughs and mischief when we all got together, but it also meant we could share clothes. I am the eldest, so the “good” dresses that were purchased for me at Christmas time, and for special occasions, inevitably found their way to my younger sister’s, and cousins’, closets. …
Making All Things New I saw a photo a few weeks ago. It was of a lady who lived in northern New South Wales. She was a farmer and had taken a photo standing in a paddock on her property. It was a side-by-side shot 12 months apart. The first photo had a background of bright orange. It was of a dust storm that had ripped through her town. Her face had a disgusted look …