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The Best Promise in the World
The Best Promise in the World Promises are a big part of our lives. They can be small and ordinary, like ‘I promise to be home by 6pm’. Or they can be big and significant, like ‘I promise to have and to hold from this day forward, as long as we both shall live.’ We all make many and varied promises. God, of course, makes many promises as well. The Bible is filled with them. Perhaps none bigger or more significant than John 11:25-26. Jesus says to Martha, as she grieves the death of her brother Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” It's quite the promise. In
Passing the Baton
Passing the Baton What is the gospel? It’s a deeply important question. It’s a question that takes us to the very heart of our faith. One of the clearest definitions of the gospel that I’ve heard comes from one of my former pastors, Dave Miers, who defines the gospel as “…the good news that God saves sinners and restores all things through the perfect life, sacrificial death, triumphant resurrection, and glorious ascension of King Jesus, who is currently seated at the right hand of the Father; from where he will come to judge the living and the dead”. This is a good summary of the good news. But perhaps a more important question is: Do you believe it? Do you truly believe the gospel? The reason I ask is
Called to Forgive
Called to Forgive I’ve recently been thinking about forgiveness a lot. I think most Christians probably think about this a lot, because most Christians (just like all humans) are wronged by the people around them. Here are three reflections on forgiveness, I hope they will be helpful to you if you are in the process of thinking through forgiveness. Forgiveness is Urgent The Scriptures even indicate that if we are unwilling to forgive others, we may not be forgiven by our Maker. This highlights just how important it is to our Lord that we truly seek to be following his example in the area of forgiveness. It would take too much space to go through all the passages which talk about this, but I’ve linked some of them below.
God, The Father
God, the Father I love to read. It’s one of my most favourite ways to relax. And so it’s no surprise that I have a lot of books. Recently I was looking through my book shelf, searching for something to read when I stumbled across a parenting book I hadn’t looked at for a number of years. As I flicked through the pages, I remembered how helpful and encouraging the book had been for me when our children were small. I’d love to share some thoughts from the book with you. The book is called “Growing Kids with Character: Nurturing your Child’s Potential, Purpose and Passion” and it’s by Hettie Brittz. Very early in the book the author points out that while there is a vast amount of parenting
Feeling Anxious about Money?
Feeling Anxious about Money? I was sipping on a coffee with a friend recently. And while we were chatting, he mentioned the pressure he’s feeling around money at the moment. It wasn’t crushing him, but he said he was feeling the pinch. The truth is many Aussies are feeling anxious about money. I read an ABC article today which said, “The majority of workers are struggling with soaring costs, reduced purchasing power and rising interest and mortgage payments.” That’s the situation we’re dealing with right now, and it’s leaving some feeling anxious or worse. What can you do if you’re feeling anxious about money? The emotion of anxiety is like smoke that’s coming from a fire in the human heart. We’re meant to follow the smoke to its source
Releasing Children from Poverty
Releasing Children from Poverty I recently read about a young man who once was a child living in desperate poverty but today is supplying vegetables to his local community through a hydroponic garden he himself created. This story is one of God working through others to release people from poverty in Jesus’ name! The name of this young man is Frizky. Frizky was eight-years-old when he entered the Compassion program. He had no idea that one day he would be supporting his community through a project he had created himself. Frizky and his team diligently worked together to build a greenhouse and care for 300 vegetable seedlings. The project has only gotten larger, and Frizky is now training two Compassion assisted young people to replace him in managing the
Three Truths to Treasure When Suffering
Three Truths to Treasure When Suffering It’s often said there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. I’d suggest we could add a third to the list: suffering. Suffering is an unavoidable fact of human existence. It doesn’t discriminate and it cannot be stopped. This fact has felt especially true these last few months. The suffering endured by so many recently, both near and far, is almost incomprehensible. A global food crisis. The ongoing war in Ukraine. A young Dad passing away suddenly and unexpectedly. An unforeseen cancer diagnosis. The ravages of dementia. And of course, more recently, the devastation of an earthquake in Turkey and Syria, which has, at time of writing, claimed upwards of 35,000 lives. It makes the mind boggle and the heart ache.
Creating a Culture of Desperation
Creating a Culture of Desperation “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 (NIV) There are times in life when most, if not all, of us experience a deep craving for something that we just cannot shake until it has been satisfied. Usually, this kind of language is associated with food. Maybe it is a craving for a particular flavour of ice-cream. Maybe it is a craving for a slice of your favourite pizza. Maybe it is a craving for an ice-cold drink on a really hot day. Maybe it is just a craving for food, full stop. For some, these cravings can be held in check until they go away or are otherwise satisfied, but for others, there is this
