Forgiveness is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Without forgiveness, having to carry the shame of the things done wrong can be oppressive. It can be repressive. It can be like walking around with something that keeps you on edge when engaging with others. You’re on edge in case they ask, in […]
Read More In The ClearYour mouth can be very useful when dealing with the battles of life. Muhammad Ali had this thing that he did back in his ascending years as a boxing champion. He’d have this habit of telling reporters the round in which he would deliver the knock out blow. Sure enough come that round the knock […]
Read More Say It, Bring ItThe ram. What a tricky customer. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of a ram. That creature has some horns on him that will have no problem rendering a very aggressive response to upset or irritation. The smart folks, however, have sussed where the strength of the ram can be seen. It’s […]
Read More Give Up Strength to be StrongGod has placed people and episodes in life to show that we are in need of Him. Stubborn resistance to it, dismissive reproach of it and feigning ignorance and apathy to it makes it no less the case that these incidents and individuals are there and have been there. They are there to help us […]
Read More In Need Of YouIt is a reality to me that having made certain mistakes in life, I’m very keen that those in my sphere of influence don’t make the same ones. I’m not stopping them making other mistakes. They can carry on with that. In as much as I can, though, I get the impression that I’ve made […]
Read More Restored to RestoreIf you love me, you will keep my commands. That’s an interesting statement to make. It’s a statement of restraint as well. Restraint within the boundaries of that relationship if you really want that relationship to flourish. It sounds like a power play. It sounds very demanding. Yet consider relationships. Two parties engage with each […]
Read More Love and ObedienceGrowing in knowing does mean starting from a place of not knowing. This is a reassuring truth. It’s a truth that should keep us humble. It should keep us humble because we are not in charge of the knowing or even the growing. All we’re ever really in charge of is our attitude to the […]
Read More Jesus: The Way To God and True HumanityOften the challenge of remaining faithful is when times get tough, but what about when there’s an experience of great success? A few of us have been studying the book of Kings. It’s a fascinating book. Full of episodes that marvel and astonish with character profiles of individuals that challenge us about character. Recently we […]
Read More Staying Faithful – A Test of CharacterAll he could see was how he was let down. When he needed him the most, he was let down and let down badly. That he was able to still get things done and progress with his plan was something he was happy for others to focus on at the time. Yet that feeling of […]
Read More Reconciliation: Can We Get Past The Hurt?The work stopped. That’s how it seemed. No one visited. They could not visit anyone. Shut-in. Locked out. It looked as though they would not be able to do what they loved to do because that required engaging with others. The frustration and sadness was evident. Then they received the call. A lone voice on […]
Read More The Work Continues
