Devotionals

Last week in part one of this devotional, we talked about the crippling affects of fear – how it is best defined as ‘False evidence appearing real.’ We discussed Elijah’s bold conquest over the prophets of Baal as told in 1Kings 18, and how it contrasted with his anxiety and depression in 1Kings 19, when he found out Israel’s queen was out to kill him. Elijah ran away and hid, but when God sought him out, he gently corrected his wrong thinking and showed him he still had a plan, and that the prophet wasn’t as alone as he feared.
Continue reading “Fear, Trust, And Promises Part 2.”

There’s a lot of fear in our world at the moment. In fact, I think 2020 has to be one of the most fear-provoking years I’ve ever known, as much of our world has been in lockdown and people have been prevented from socialising with one another. Even now that we are allowed to meet up in small groups, some people are understandably still fearful.
Continue reading “Fear, Trust, And Promises, Part 1.”

In Acts chapter 4, we find Peter and John being brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin because their teaching isn’t meeting their so-called high standards. This follows close after the healing of the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful. That man had been begging there for many years, so was well known to those going in and out of the temple, and his healing drew a crowd, especially when he started walking, jumping, and praising God. Verse 10 of Acts 3 says the people were filled with wonder and amazement. They obviously had questions, and Peter and John were more than glad to answer.
Continue reading “Can People Tell You’ve Been With Jesus?”

As the Israelites stood on the banks of the Jordan river on the verge of entering into the promised land, they must have wondered how they were going to get across. The Bible tells us the Jordan was at flood stage, so it would have been flowing pretty rapidly. (Joshua 3: 15). About 40 years earlier, the previous generation had stood on the bank of the Red Sea and seen the miraculous hand of God as he made a dry path through its centre, allowing his people to walk through, but killing their Egyptian enemies as the waters tumbled back down and drowned them.
Continue reading “Stones Of Remembrance.”

Social distancing seems to be a new phrase that’s entered our vocabulary since the onset of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. We’re told to keep 2 metres between ourselves and anyone outside our households where possible. As I write this in early July, people in the UK are finally able to visit friends at home, but we’re still urged to keep our distance.
Continue reading “Socially Distant, But Closer Than Ever”

I’m sure you will thoroughly enjoy this final post in a 3-part series about self-control written by my dear friend Sarah Tummey.

We’re thinking about a quote from Trina Bresser Matous: That self-control includes control emotionally, physically and in one’s thoughts. We’ve looked at our thoughts and emotions, so what does it mean to have self-control physically? As far as I can see, she’s talking about our physical bodies and how we use them. Paul talked about this too, when in Romans 6:13 he urged us to offer the parts of our body to God as instruments of righteousness (to be used for doing good). That reminds me of my favourite Casting Crowns song. “Slow Fade” came out of a Sunday-school song from fifty years ago, to the tune of “If You’re Happy and you Know It”. Casting Crowns kept the concept of the song, but changed the lyrics and melody to make it more adult. It’s all about the effect your actions have on those around you. We can offer our eyes to God by turning away from something unwholesome, rather than give it a second look. We can offer our lips to God because if we make promises we can’t keep, hurting people could be further disillusioned.
Continue reading “Self-Controlled Actions, By Sarah Tummey”

I’m sure you will thoroughly enjoy this second post in a 3-part series about self-control written by my dear friend Sarah Tummey.

Last week, we considered Trina Bresser Matous’ statement that self-control includes control emotionally, physically and in one’s thoughts. If I’m really honest, self-controlled emotions have been a struggle for me. Nowadays on social media, you see quotes such as: “We can’t control what happens to us, but we can choose how we respond”. This was never taught or shown to me growing up. It’s only as an adult that I’m hearing people say it, and not just Christians either. I could understand a Christian saying: “In my own strength I’d fail at this, but the Holy Spirit’s changing my outlook and helping me to be different”. The fruit of the Spirit is self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). As Christians, we want that fruit of God’s Spirit to grow in us because we want to please Him, but how do you choose to respond well without that motivation? I suppose any stressful situations can increase blood pressure and heart rate, so the calmer you can be, the better.
Continue reading “Self-Controlled Emotions, By Sarah Tummey”

Continue reading “Self-Controlled Thoughts, By Sarah Tummey”

I wish to thank the writer of this devotional for sharing their heart so honestly.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5: 8
Continue reading “Forgive, And Shatter The Snowball, By An Anonymous Contributer.”

I love to laugh. Just writing those words reminds me of a scene from one of my favourite childhood films – Mary Poppins, where Mary, Bert and the children end up having a tea-party on the ceiling with Uncle Albert, as he sings: “I love to laugh, loud and long and clear!” Every time they start laughing, they levitate. The hidden message is that laughter can lighten your mood and cause you to feel like you’re floating above your circumstances. I have definitely experienced the feeling of relief when I’ve shared light-hearted moments of hilarity with close friends even during the worst seasons of my life, literally feeling myself unwind, like a tightly coiled spring.
Continue reading “I Love To Laugh”