Love vs Duty
I met a lovely Christian couple in my neighbourhood and, in our friendly banter, they shared with me intentions to bless the residents with gifts and organising a block Christmas party at the year-end. With all eagerness, they asked, “What do you think? Will it work?” I was encouraged by their zeal and initiative but wondered if they were missing something. Without sounding like a party pooper, I asked, “What’s your goal in having a Christmas party for your block […]
Adrift
‘Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away…’ Hebrews 2:1 When I was a teenager, our family rented a camp (our version of a chalet) on a lake for a week. I took the rowboat out fishing one afternoon and, when I came back, I nonchalantly tied a knot, mooring it to the dock. A violent storm ensued that night while we slept, and in the morning the boat was […]
Building Fences
There are special moments in your life when Jesus beckons you to come away with Him to be refreshed and refilled in His Presence. I was blessed with just such an opportunity at a recent conference by joining a band of Burning Hearts infused with one magnificent obsession – to worship and exalt Jesus alone. During one worship session, a line from a song by Caleb Andrews captivated me and began swirling in my spirit. ‘I’m building fences around the precious, […]
God’s Friend
‘And he was called the friend of God.’ James 2:23 Only two people were given the distinguished title ’Friend of God’ in Scripture. What an honour! What a privilege! What a legacy! I can think of no greater elite class to be a part of than this space occupied by Moses and Abraham. Exodus 33:11 says, ‘The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.’ Lest we forget, Exodus was written by Moses. Over […]
<strong>Who</strong>’<strong>s Calling?</strong>
I was in a delightful dinner conversation with a young and gifted worship leader from Nashville last week when I decided to steer the topic towards her dating history. As she was recounting her reasons for breaking up with the last guy, she casually quoted something her pastor had mentioned in church – and I was immediately arrested. This is what he said, “Your calling is a Person, and He will give you your assignments.” The profundity of this simple […]
<strong>Waiting Through Pain, Disappointment And Doubt</strong>
Have you gone through times of waiting where perhaps minutes felt like hours, and days like years? It feels as though life has ground to a standstill and time froze while you’re seeing others around you move on. Perhaps you start to wonder, “Will God answer my prayer?” or “Why is He taking so long?” followed by self-condemning thoughts of “Maybe I didn’t pray enough”, “I’m not worthy” or even having an urge to ‘help God’. While it’s important […]
Transitions
The dictionary defines a transition as the process or period of changing from one state or condition to another. I define it as semi-colons in the long sentence of our lifetime when God prepares to move us from one level of our calling / purpose / assignment up to the next. A transition is meant to be transitory. Its timespan depends on our maturity level, obedience quotient, and measure of faith. Exceed the ‘sell-by’ date of our transition phase and […]
<strong>The Mark Of True Maturity</strong>
More than 90% of the New Testament addresses the spiritual growth and maturity of believers. In his letters to the Galatian Church, Paul addressed believers born again in Christ, exhorting them to spiritual growth. And to the spiritually-gifted Corinthian Church, he wouldn’t have called them ‘carnal’ and ‘babes in Christ’ if he was impressed with their ability to operate in spiritual gifts. Paul was emphasising that spiritual maturity is not a given, but must be an intentional pursuit in the […]
Smoked Wineskins
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.’ Luke 5:37 When religious legalism and its pharisaical trappings reigned supreme, Jesus stepped down from the realms of glory to usher in the new age of freedom in His Name. He was the ultimate ‘New Wineskin’ spoken of in Luke 5:37. His final gasp as He hung on the tree, “Tetelestai,” was a resounding and deafening […]
The Gospel Of The Elite And The Outcast
John 3-4 records Jesus’ conversations with two people on the opposite ends of the social spectrum. First, He meets Nicodemus, one of the most respected, scholarly leaders in all Israel. He was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. Jesus called him ‘the teacher of Israel’. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night and addressed Him as a rabbi. “We know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God […]
