Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times”. Matthew 18:21-22 Comment Forgiveness is something that we’ve found takes practice and is a choice. We can’t wait until we ‘feel’ like forgiving...
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbouras yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’ Matthew 22:36-40 Comment There seems to be so stressful news at the moment...
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and prayers shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 MSG Comment In...
I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. John 15:5 MSG Comment Pastor Giovanni holds two grape branches in his hands. One budding, able to bear fruit. The other from a wild grapevine...
Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.” Matthew 11:25-26 MSG Comment The phrase that struck me here is ‘Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer….’ He didn’t say, ‘Let me get...
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years…. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body...
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. Hosea 11:4 NIV Comment Ever feel tied down, tied up? Limited by your limits? I do. I chafe against all the restrictions that come day by day as I try to get work done, spend time with family, deal with my latest tech crisis and have a bit...
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning...
I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. Psalm...
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 (NLT) Comment How do you feel about what’s in the news these days? I have to admit to feeling downright depressed when I hear about...
