Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 Comment We often think about the need for forgiveness when there’s been a significant conflict and of course it’s vital to forgive in those circumstances so we can reconnect and restore closeness. However, I’ve found that it’s also important to forgive...
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 Comment Today is the Fourth of a series of five prayers leading up to Marriage Week (10-16 May). The theme of this year’s Marriage Week is Naked Marriage and we’re looking at the bare essentials of marriage. I love the fact that my husband is such friendly, spontaneous person....
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer – may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Proverbs 5: 18-19 Comment Today is the third of a series of five prayers leading up to Marriage Week (10-16 May). The theme of...
“Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26,27 (NLT) Comment Today is the second of a series of five prayers leading up to Marriage Week 6-10 May. I rarely explode with anger. I tend to internalise my feelings and anger...
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1...
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into...
What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretence. Tell your neighbour the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. Ephesians 4: 25(MSG) Comment If asked: “Do you ever lie?” I would say: “No! Honesty is very important to...
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behaviour from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give...
You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. Ephesians 5:...
I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. John 15 v 1-2 Comment Today we took down a large beech tree in our garden. We planted it 20 years ago –...
