If you are looking for a helpful expression of the heart of a Jesus-follower, the hymn version of the prayer of St. Francis is very pointed and clear. The focus of this prayer is on loving God first (it is a prayer to Him), then on loving our neighbour. Loving like this goes against our…
Author: Norman Sennema
the Lord’s peace-keepers
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 149 OBSERVATION: To sing a new song is to find new ways of telling people how great God is. Express praise with our whole being – songs, words, dance, musical instruments – and to do it day and night (‘on their beds’). The Lord delights in those who delight in Him.
hand it all over
Christ says, “Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here…
a little less lost…
“Your nature is a hard thing to change; it takes time…. I have heard of people who have life-changing, miraculous turnarounds, people set free from addiction after a single prayer, relationships saved where both parties “let go, and let God.” But it was not like that for me. For all that “I was lost, I…
everyone and everything
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 148 OBSERVATION: This songwriter wants EVERYONE and EVERYTHING to praise the Lord. He doesn’t ask, he tells everyone and everything to praise Him. He gives the following reasons: because the Lord created us [v.5-6] and only He deserves it [v.13], He has provided rescue for His people [v.14] and He holds His people close…
the Jesus creed
Here is an attempt by Brian McLaren to put into words a summary confession about Jesus. Since Jesus is the center of our faith, and the ultimate revelation of God, we need to be clear on Who He is. We have confidence in Jesus Who healed the sick, the blind, and the paralyzed. And even…
an atheist misses Jesus
I found this fascinating story of an evangelist turned atheist, and his end-of-life perspective on Jesus. In the late 1940s, Charles Templeton was a close friend and preaching associate of Billy Graham. He effectively preached the gospel to large crowds in major arenas. However, intellectual doubts began to nag at him. He questioned the truth…
so great! so good!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 147 OBSERVATION: In this Psalm, I hear a follower of the Lord bursting to tell everyone how great and good He is, and how wonderful it is to know and love Him! Essentially there are two reasons to praise the Lord: because He is so great, and because He is so good! How great…
reading Psalms
For those participating in the SOAP Bible Reading schedule, here is an introduction to the readings from Psalms that begin today (Taken from GotQuestions.org). Author: Most people automatically think of David when they consider the question of who wrote the Book of Psalms. A shepherd boy who rose to become the most famous king of…
connecting with Ajax
This past week I have been visiting some of the local ministries and service agencies in Ajax. I am reminded that the work of the Lord is so much broader than our narrow perception of it. I was able to connect with some of the staff of the following groups: Hope Community Church, a Salvation…