Author: Alex

This is the third instalment in Sarah’s excellent series of 6 devotionals for the season of Lent.

So much has been written about this, but while we’re on the subject of what Jesus gave up, I must include the most important gift: Himself. “Then Jesus went with His followers to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and He began to be very sad and troubled. He said to them, ’My heart is full of sorrow, to the point of death. Stay here and watch with Me.’ After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed, ’My Father, if it is possible, do not give Me this cup of suffering. But do what You want, not what I want.’ Then Jesus went back to His followers and found them asleep. He said to Peter, ’You men could not stay awake with Me for one hour? Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. The spirit wants to do what is right, but the body is weak.’ Then Jesus went away a second time and prayed, ’My Father, if it is not possible for this painful thing to be taken from Me, and if I must do it, I pray that what You want will be done’” (Matthew 26:36-42).
Continue reading “Self, by Sarah Tummey.”

This is the second instalment in Sarah’s excellent series of 6 devotionals for the season of Lent.

In these weeks of Lent, the church thinks of Jesus’ life, given for us. He didn’t cling to equality with God, and nor did He cling to His almightiness. “Coming to His home town, He began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked. ‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all His sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?’ And they took offence at Him.
Continue reading “Almightiness, By Sarah Tummey”

As we begin the season of Lent, Sarah has produced a series of devotionals, and has kindly agreed to share them with us all.

Today is the first Tuesday in Lent – a season where the church spends forty days (or more, if you count Sundays) reflecting on all that Jesus went through for us. Much like Advent prepares us to celebrate Christmas, Lent takes us towards Easter when we remember Jesus’ death on a cross and God raising Him from the dead. Some people use this time to abstain from something, in order to identify with Jesus’ disciplined lifestyle.
Continue reading “Equality With God, By Sarah Tummey.”

Many thanks to my friend and sister in Christ Ines Higgins for sharing this deeply moving and personal testimony. If you’d like to hear more from Ines, you can subscribe to her podcast, Intentional Purposeful Living With Ines. just search in your favourite podcasts app, or:
Click here

Pretty much since I have been a Christian, I thought I’d believed in forgiveness. I would say amen every time someone would say that it is important to forgive. I would pray for people to forgive others and I would even forgive others for the little things they did to annoy me, like if someone stepped in my way when I make my way through town with my cane or if someone steps before me in a queue. But what about the big things?
Continue reading “Forgiveness, … The Power That Can Break A Dam, by Ines Higgins.”

A massive thank you to my dear friend Sarah Tummey for writing this week’s devotional.

“I am now ready to visit you the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I want nothing from you, except you” – 2 Corinthians 12:14. Paul wrote this verse to believers in Corinth and southern Greece, but I’ve always liked it because I think that’s what God wants most from us – not our possessions or the works we do for Him, but us as people.
Continue reading “What God Wants, by Sarah Tummey.”

In Ezekiel chapter 20, we find the leaders of the nation of Israel presenting themselves before the prophet to ask for guidance from God. We might think this is a good thing for them to be doing, since it’s important for all of us to seek god’s guidance. However, as we consider this chapter in its context, we’ll come to understand that these leaders were rebellious, and responsible for guiding their nation into sin and idolatry. They want to hear from God, but are not prepared to forsake the idols and false gods they have permitted to be set up all over the land. For them, The Lord is just one option out of many, and they aren’t truly committed to taking on board what Ezekiel has to say.
Continue reading “Acting Out Of Who We Are, Not What we Feel.”

During this past month, I have been re-visiting the story of our first parents Adam and Eve, and how they walked and talked freely with God in the Garden of Eden. How wonderful that must have been! There was complete and uninhibited fellowship between the Creator and his creation. Adam and Eve were innocent and childlike, having no knowledge of good or evil. They just knew God was providing for them, and that was enough. They had freedom to roam his beautiful creation, enjoying whatever they liked, except for one thing. There was only one rule they couldn’t break.
Continue reading “The Root Of Sin Is The Middle Letter.”

I first met Josie when she was 4 years old, and find it hard to believe that cute, cuddly little girl is now 12, and attending senior school. However, one thing that’s always been evident is this young lady’s love for the Lord. I therefore felt extremely emotional as I watched her being baptised at our church this past Sunday (26 January 2020, and was honoured when she said I could share her testimony as our weekly devotional. So, here is the history of Josie’s relationship with Jesus, in her own words.

I don’t really remember life before having Jesus in my heart.
Continue reading “Josie’s Testimony (aged 12.)”

Thanks to Lou for this thought-provoking devotional.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves, a cord of three strands is not easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4: 12.
I recently read a devotional in which the writer told of a plant which was given to her. The plant had large leaves on tall thin stems. The stems were not strong enough to support the leaves, so instead of standing tall, the stems grew up a little way, then leaned over, flopping back down towards the ground. The writer then saw another plant the same, but the stems of this plant had been braided, or platted, together. These stems stood up tall and straight.
Continue reading “A Cord Of 3 Strands, by Lou beard.”

There are few more wonderful and exciting experiences for a Christian than that of watching someone you know and love begin a relationship with Jesus, especially when we’ve been praying for them for a very long time. We want to jump up and down for joy, and often, so do they. Their enthusiasm is contagious, reminding us of the early stages of a beautiful romance. Yet, as we think back to when our walk with the Lord first began, we recognise that this was merely the first step along a journey, and we’re still learning and travelling.
Continue reading “The Ongoing Journey Of Salvation.”