Continue reading “How to Meditate on the Bible Daily”Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.Psalms 1:1-2
Marriage is such an important life step for everyone who decides to take it. Two people decide to spend the rest of their lives together in a loving and life-long commitment. It’s a life-changing event where you are no longer by yourself; you have to think of your partner, too, when making certain decisions. When you enter university, you begin life as an adult and oftentimes parents or other people ask, “So when are you going to get married?”, especially as you grow older. And if you’re not married by a certain age, people may begin to wonder about you. I guess these days, that sort of pressure is lessened as more and more people are getting married later in life, or not at all.
As a single man in my late-30s, who’s also the oldest child in my family, I’ve definitely been asked more than once about when I’m going to get married and “settle down”. When I look at all my friends and younger siblings who’ve gotten married, and some who’ve gotten divorced, it makes me wonder if I really want that. But I’m not here to disparage marriage in any way. In fact, I think it’s a beautiful thing because it’s also an important thing to God and Jesus. There’s a deeper spiritual meaning to it all, so let’s find out what the marriage God and Jesus desire for us today.
Continue reading ““Until Death Do Us Part” – And Then Some: The Marriage God and Jesus Desire for Us”
I turn 38 this year. While it’s not that old, it’s still old enough (older than many of my coworkers, at least). As I get older and think about all the responsibilities and pressures I have now, the more I long for my childhood days. Back then everything was much simpler. I didn’t have any real responsibilities as a child except getting my schoolwork and household chores done. I often played with my younger siblings or friends outside for hours until dark – especially in the summertime. It was a lot of fun.
I remember my teenage years with all its angst, insecurities, and other experiences that come with growing up. I remember seeing that cute girl in class and feeling butterflies in my stomach and that feeling when that cute girl said, “yes”, at the school dance. And I also remember my first teenage heartbreak. Those days seem long ago now, but oddly enough I still hold those memories dear to me. It may be similar for you, too.
Nostalgia is nice. It’s a wistful, almost magical, feeling that takes us back to simpler times. But isn’t that the problem? It takes us back. It can keep us from growing up and maturing emotionally – and even spiritually. What do I mean by that? Let’s find out together.
Continue reading “It’s Nice to Look Back at Times, but It’s Better to Look Forward: Becoming Mature Believers”
If you’re old enough to remember the 1980s and 1990s, or have watched the Netflix series, Stranger Things, then you’ve probably heard the song, Material Girl, by Madonna. It’s a catchy pop song that’s fun to listen to and sing along with. I certainly enjoy it from time to time. The chorus goes like this:
“Cause everybody’s living in a material world, and I am a material girl.”
When we think about the lyrics to the song, and look at how people live today, it’s easy to see how we go after worldly possessions: a bigger house, a fancy car or two, Black Friday spending frenzies, and many more things. We look at what others have and desire it for ourselves. If you’re not religious or Christian, I guess you can live however you want, but if you claim to be a Christian, then…is this how we should live our lives as believers in Christ and God?
Continue reading “Even Though We Are Living in a Material World, Let’s Not Become Material Girls – Building Heavenly Riches Over Earthly Ones”
The Lord of the Rings series by J.R. R. Tolkein is a work that has influenced so many genres of film and literature – especially the fantasy genre. Even if you haven’t seen the movies or read the books, perhaps you’ve heard the names of “Frodo”, “Bilbo”, “Gandalf”, or even “Gollum”. Even rock bands like Led Zeppelin have referenced this series in a few of their songs. What I love about this series is how all the characters have depth. They have their own motivations that make them stand out and become relatable.
Continue reading “The Battle Within – We Must Overcome Ourselves”
The Fruits of the Spirit are very important qualities to have and develop in our lives of faith. They help us become more like God – our Creator – as we grow in our faith and understanding, and change ourselves to live according to the Word. We’ve looked at the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. Now let’s take a look at the remaining fruits and try to put these into action.
Continue reading “Bearing the Fruits of the Spirit (Part 2)”
Do you have any favorite fruits? Perhaps you like apples or bananas. Or maybe you like kiwis or grapes. For myself, I like oranges. Fruits are excellent sources of essential vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial things our bodies need. We need to eat a number of fruits for our daily needs. They help our body cleanse itself through antioxidants and other compounds like that. Plus, they taste so good! I don’t know about you, but honestly, I don’t eat enough fruit (I need to change that).
Continue reading “Bearing the Fruits of the Spirit (Part 1)”
Continue reading “How Should Faith Affect Our Life?”“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
Hebrews 13:7
If you could have any X-Men power, what would it be? Would you want to heal like Wolverine? Or have telepathy like Professor X? Or maybe the power over ice like Iceman? One power that seems very advantageous is Mystique’s power. Hers is the ability to shapeshift her very body into any other person so she can fulfill her mission – whatever it may be. That ability could definitely be a danger to some people, but an asset to others. As neat as a physical ability like that could be, have you ever thought of being a spiritual “Mystique”?
In 1 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul talks about “becoming all things to all people” for the sake of the gospel. What does Paul mean when he says this, and what does it mean for us as believers today? Let’s find out.
Continue reading “Are You a Spiritual Shapeshifter? – Becoming Different Things to Win People for Christ”
“Hello, Jonah here. You’re probably wondering how I got here in the belly of a great fish. Well, it all started when I tried to run from God…”
When you think about the Old Testament prophet, Jonah, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? It’s probably how he was swallowed up by a fish, right? But have you ever wondered why that happened? Jonah is known as the “angry prophet” because he was told to preach to Nineveh and make them repent. They did, and Jonah was angry at God’s mercy. Jonah’s story is an important one for us as Christians to read and learn from. Let’s find out what it means for us today.
Continue reading “A Closer Look: The Prophet Jonah”