Back to School

 

For those of you who know me well, you will know that I should have been a doctor.

Now, this is not for the reasons you may think. I have no great skill or knowledge in the medical field. No. I should have been a doctor because my handwriting skills surpasses any doctor’s penmanship.

That’s right. I have very messy handwriting. This is why I type most everything I can. But in saying that, I have filled numerous notebooks with quotes, verses, book summaries etc with chicken scratchings that somewhat resemble a form of handwriting. No matter how hard I try, my hand scribbles so fast to keep up with my overactive thought processes and the result is an untidy page that I hope someone besides myself can read and understand.

Okay, so why am I talking about this, you wonder?

I grew up in the analogue age. The age when all schoolwork was done with pen and paper. The dog really could chew up your homework. Phone numbers were compiled in a large book that everyone had access to. Letters were written by hand, mud maps were hastily scribbled on a scrap of paper and mobile phones, Bible apps and iPads were nowhere to be seen. We’ve come a long way since then.

Believe it or not, these tools of years gone by might be just the thing to freshen up your time with the Lord this year.

How long has it been since you took the time to hand write out a passage of Scripture? How long has it been since you wrote a verse on a piece of card and hung it up where you could regularly see it?

Do you know why I’m so passionate about this? It’s not because I have lovely penmanship, because we’ve already established the fact that I don’t! (Just ask my family if you want proof). The reason I’m so passionate about handwriting the words we read in our Bibles is because it does something for you that no amount of Bible app reading, or even physical Bible reading will do.

Stay with me while I just nerd out on this topic for a bit.

Studies have found that handwriting, compared to typing, (which by the way, I’m doing right now) results in more complex brain connectivity patterns which in turn enhances learning and memory.

A study done by one research group studied 36 students to compare brain activity while writing by hand and typing. They used EEG data (electroencephalogram- a test that measures electrical activity in the brain) to come to some interesting conclusions.  

They found that “Handwriting, whether in cursive on a touchscreen or traditional pen and paper, activated extensive brain regions, vital for memory and learning”.

They found that connectivity of different brain regions increased when the participants wrote by hand, but not when they typed.

They also found that the students learnt more and retained more information when they took handwritten notes as opposed to typed notes.

Okay, back to the Bible.

A few years back, I decided that I would become more intentional in writing Scripture and I purchased some hard cover books that were specific books of the Bible in an empty lined notebook. In these I could write out, word for word, letter by letter, every jot and every tittle, the words of Scripture.

Now, I will admit, I haven’t made huge progress in writing out the whole Bible, which I never set out to do, but I have written a fair amount.

So why in the world would I do this when I have access to as many Bibles as my bank balance will allow me to purchase, at my very fingertips?

I want to give you some reasons for why handwriting the Word of God is important and let you come to your own conclusions (after giving it a try, of course).

One of the first things you’ll notice when you begin to write out passages of Scripture is that it helps you slow down and soak it in.

As I write, I am focusing on each word as I read it and write it down. I look from the pages of my Bible to the pages of my notebook. There are no annoying pop-up messages, no ads, no email notifications. The distractions fall away and my mind is engaged in an intentional way.

You know how it is as you read your Bible. As you read, you often find your mind wandering. Thoughts come flooding in and before you know it, you suddenly realise that you have no idea what you’ve been reading for the past 5 minutes. Anyone relate?

The simple act of writing out what you’re reading helps you to stay focused.

Another thing that handwriting the Bible does is that it forces you to slow down and observe more. So not only are you soaking it in, but you are observing more of what the passage says. You begin to see repeated words or phrases, because your hand is performing the same movements and as you read and write the repeated words, you begin to notice why the word is used and how it is used.

As you write, you see words you may not understand and these stay in your mind more than when you just skim over them in a cursory reading.

Handwriting Scripture also strengthens the learning process and is helpful for all learning preferences.

We all learn differently, but for the most part, we all have a preference for how we receive and pass on information.

If you are a visual learner, then seeing the passage as you write it helps you to retain it. Using different coloured pens or highlighters will be beneficial to you. Seeing the words come to life on the page will hit the spot for you.

If you are more of an auditory learner, then don’t think I’m going to let you off the hook. I’ll bet that you hear the words in your mind as you write them. Better still, read them aloud or mumble them under your breath as you pen them down.

And if you’re a kinaesthetic learner that learns more through experience and doing, then this is right up your alley, because the simple act of moving the pen on the paper, the slight arm movements, the page turns, the fingers loosening and tightening on the pen will help to imprint the words on your heart.  

It is well documented that writing by hand stimulates neural activity in the brain which encourages creativity and enhances brain health.

So, writing out Scripture is not only good exercise for your mind and heart, but it is also great for your brain!

You retain a lot more of what you read when you physically write it out. Why do you think it is that back in my primary school days we were forced to write 100 lines of “I will not talk in class”? (And yes, I did say WE). Why did our teachers force us to do this? Because they knew the power of writing and retaining information. They hoped that the physical act of writing repeated phrases would help reinforce the rule we had disobeyed.

This is one of the reasons handwriting out verses, over and over, that you are trying to memorize is so beneficial.

There are so many benefits to handwriting the Word of God, but I’ll just give you one last one.

Writing Scripture leaves a legacy. A handwritten Bible or portions thereof, leaves a very tangible legacy of faith.

Whether you choose to write a different passage of Scripture each day, or just your favourite verses. Whether you write them on a greeting card or in a notebook, or on a post it stuck to the wall, it’s the process itself that is most important.

Can you imagine if you made your own copy of a book of the Bible, how precious it would become to your children or grandchildren, passed down from generation to generation?

But I want you to know this. Simply reading or writing Scripture will not make you a better Christian. If you do not read, obey, apply and share what you read, then the only benefit is your brain health. And what God is most interested in is our heart health.

In the Old Testament we read of the laws of God and how the Jewish people were told to ‘write them on the posts’. I’ll leave you to do your own study on what a Mezuzah was and the meaning behind the command given to them. Needless to say, God saw it as important, and so should you.

Deuteronomy 6:9 KJV - And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

The word ‘write’ is found 91 times in the Bible. It’s an important part of God’s Word.

Can I challenge you if you have never written the Word of God by hand, with pen and paper, then start today!

Start with your favourite verse or passage. Grab a notebook or a piece of card. Sit down and soak in the Words of Scripture. Observe as you write. Read aloud as you write. Listen to what you’re reading. Slow down. Take it in. Meditate on it.

Joshua 1:8 KJV - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Be intentional.

Be thoughtful.

Be disciplined.

 

 

 

 

If Only I Had……………………

 

As I sit here tonight, listening to the rain pouring down, forming rivers along the driveway and sending waterfalls cascading from the rooftops, I read a phrase on my computer screen that stops me in my tracks.

“I could be happy, if only I had………..”

What a slap in the face!

For the past couple of weeks, I am sad to say that I have not been the most grateful person out there. Me, who continually harps on the importance of gratitude in one’s life to anyone who will listen, sitting here with the realisation that I am guilty of harbouring an ungrateful spirit.

I have been living with an attitude of discontent for so many weeks that is has almost become the norm. And that is NOT okay.

The first thing that came to my mind when I read the phrase tonight, was TIME. If only I had more time. If only I didn’t have to spend so much time working outside the home. If only I had more time. If only I didn’t have to spend so much time on the paperwork. If only I didn’t have so many commitments that kept me from what I want to do. If only I had more time.

Now, the things on my to-do list are not sinful. They are not wrong. They are good things. And some of them are the best things. Things like focusing on my relationship with the Lord through intense times of study and reading and prayer. Things like spending more time with my grandchildren. More time in my home cleaning, cooking and serving my family.

The problem is my focus. My focus is off. I am so concerned with the lack of time and the things I wish I had, that I have begun to forget what I DO have.

I have begun to forget the things I need to be thankful for.

Now, I don’t have any trouble at all staring into the clouds watching the sunset over the horizon and thanking God for it. I don’t have any trouble at all gazing at a lone flower nestled among the weeds and praising God for his marvellous creation.

But what I do struggle with is the mundane. The ordinary. The hard. Life. Life in general.

A long time ago I read a quote by an author, and it has often come to mind and pricked my heart with guilt because of how I sometimes behave.

“When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty, my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup”

What does it take for circumstances to steal my joy? Do I depend on what goes on around me for my happiness? Do I see my cup as half-empty or half-full? Pessimist or optimist?

Shouldn’t I just be thankful I have a cup!

I decided to read over some of my old posts on the subject of gratitude to give my heart a little talking to and let’s just say, I needed the lecture!

Here’s another quote that totally wrecked me and literally made me gasp aloud.

“What if everything I complained about today, was taken away tomorrow?”

Go back and read that one again.

Think about that for a moment. Just sit with it. Lock it in. Process it.

What if all those things you and I grumble about, all those moments that annoy, all those things that frustrate you, all the hard things, everything that causes you to complain, what if it was taken away?

Now, if you don’t think seriously, you might think, “great, good riddance”.

But wait. Stop. Think. Long and hard.

That long, hard day at work, means you have an income, whether great or small, that allows you live with a roof over your head and food on the table. Granted, it may not allow you to take yearly holidays to the Bahamas or in my case, into the wild outback taking in the great expanse of country and sky that is available in this amazing country of ours. But you have what the Bible says we can be content with.

1 Timothy 6:8 KJV - And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

The dishes in the sink mean you’ve eaten a meal. The clothes in the laundry basket mean you have more than one outfit to choose from. The fridge that always seems to need cleaning out means that you have more food than the vast majority of people in other countries.

The husband that you complain about not pulling his weight with the chores around the house, or working long hours, or the children that never seem to be able to pick up after themselves.

If all that you complained about was taken away, what would you have left?

Food for thought.

I know that I have been thoroughly convicted tonight about all that I have to be thankful for. Yes, they are hard things. Do I wish things were different? You bet I do! Do I wish I had more time? You bet I do!

But while I’m wishing my days away, so is the time slipping through my fingers.

This past week it has been impressed upon me once again, that not only has God given everybody on this earth the same 24-hour days, but that he also expects us to use them wisely. (Ephesians 5:16)

I can’t change the circumstances I find myself in at this present season of life, but what I can change is my attitude!

Like I just told a friend of mine, I need an attitude adjustment!! A gratitude adjustment if you will!

I need to stop thinking that if only I had such and such, I would be happier. If only my life was different, I could live with more gratitude. No.

We all know that we shouldn’t let circumstances dictate our joy. Our joy should come from Christ. He is to be the source. He is the well-spring that we should be drawing from.

So, let it be known, I have been thoroughly chastised by the Word of God and his commands to be thankful, not just FOR all things (Ephesians 5:20), but IN all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

It is God’s will that we be thankful. And it is our responsibility as Christians to do the will of the Lord. We don’t have to search the scriptures and spend hours praying for Gods’ will in relation to this, when it is so clearly stated. Give thanks. It is the will of God.

True gratitude is not something that comes naturally, nor is it something that is given to us at salvation. No. It is a choice. In order for you to experience joy, you have to make a choice, A choice to be thankful. A choice to praise.

The journey to joy is not by getting something that we don’t have, but rather, by appreciating and being thankful for the things we do have.

So, whatever it is that you’re struggling with being thankful for, take a moment to think about what would happen if it was taken away.

Maybe, you, like me, need a GRATITUDE adjustment.

Psalm 106:1 KJV - Praise ye the LORD.

 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 Rough around the edges – but it’s okay

Have you ever been guilty of thinking that God only hears you when you speak in ‘stained glass sentences? Like he only hears the prayers that use ‘church language’. Or that you have to pray in King James Version speech? (Please don’t cancel me for saying that. I am not dissing the King James Version. But you know what I mean.)

Sometimes we can overthink our prayers and worry that they are not Christian sounding enough or not spoken in appropriate ‘God language’.  

I think new Christians often struggle with these thoughts and feel intimidated when they hear an eloquent prayer spoken by someone who has walked with Christ for a long time.

(Spoiler alert. Not all eloquent prayers come from a heart of humility.)

But what happens when our prayers sound like a sigh?

What if they sound like a sob?

What happens when all there is, is anger, hurt and frustration?

What if all we have is questions?

What do we do when we don’t know how to phrase the thoughts that swirl within us?

I want to be an encouragement today to those of you that struggle with feeling like you’re not ‘praying right’.

Who was it that made you? Who was it that formed you in your mother’s womb?

God. God made you. God formed you.

So, don’t you think that because God made you then he can understand you?

He understands your language of prayer.

He understands your prayers, whether all he hears are sobs and the sound of tear drops spilling onto the floor or the quick intakes of breath as you gasp for air.

He understands your prayers if they are full of pain. Full of heartache or frustration.

He understands prayers of brokenness. Psalm 34:18 KJV - The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

He understands your prayers if all he ‘hears’ is silence.

There have been times in my life when I couldn’t pray. All I could do was cry. And so, my prayers were simply tears. He cares about them too. (Psalm 56:8). They are a language he understands.

If God can speak light into darkness, and he can, and he did, then he can hear you in your darkness.

God is the master of all languages. He understands them all.

He understands the language of grief. The language of sorrow, happiness, disappointment, joy, depression, anxiety.

And when we don’t have the words to express what we’re feeling inside, instead of condemning us, the Holy Spirit comes alongside us and provides strength, guidance and His comforting presence. But that’s not all!

The Spirit intercedes for us with ‘groanings that cannot be uttered’.

Romans 8:26-27 KJV - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

In other words, he prays on our behalf. When we have no words, he speaks for us.

He translates what is in our hearts and brings them to the Father.

When you come to realise that God understands you, no matter how your prayers come out, when you realise that he can interpret your language, then you can live with the freedom to come as you are.

To pray prayers that are not polished. Not edited. Prayers that are broken, hurting, disappointed, confused, frustrated. Prayers that are not grammatically correct. Prayers that are not fully formed sentences. Prayers that are interrupted by tears.

You no longer have to pretend you’re okay. You don’t have to ‘man up’, wipe away the tears, clear your throat and speak.

No. Just bring your mess.

Bring your brokenness.

And lay it before him.

Those who draw near to God will find him drawing near to them. (James 4:8)

He hears you.

He understands you.

He can translate your language. You don’t have to copy and paste someone else’s. You can speak to him in the language of your heart and he will hear. He will understand.

So, quit trying to keep it polished. Just be real. Be raw. Be unfiltered.

Come to him in humility. Come to him broken and watch him put the pieces back together again.

Speak your language. Listen. Obey. And watch him answer!

Ephesians 3:20-21 KJV - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

He Hears Me

Here I am again, down on my knees
And with every pleading word, Thy comfort I seek
Though the words are slow to come
My thoughts are racing by
Peace fills the room, Thy spirit is nigh

He hears me
When I'm crying in the night
He hears me
When my soul longs to fight
Till the morning will come
And the light of the dawn reassures
He hears me

Any hour, wherever I may be
In the silence of an empty room, or on a crowded street
Whether offering thanks, or in urgency I pray
I never go unnoticed, I'm never led astray

He hears me
When I'm crying in the night
He hears me
When my soul longs to fight
Till the morning will come
And the light of the dawn reassures
He hears me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relinquish the need for control

 

Psalm 46:10 KJV - Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Be still. What picture comes to mind when you read those two words? Be still.

When God said those two words, he meant something surprising. And maybe you haven’t looked at it quite this way before. Let me try and explain.

If you are like me and the anxiety is loud, your mind won’t switch off and unwanted thoughts are swirling around inside your head today, while the phrase ‘calm down’ feels downright impossible, then listen closely. This phrase spoke to me today and I pray that it will be an encouragement to you as well.

In this verse in Psalm 46, God says, “Be still”.

The Hebrew word for ‘still’ is the word raphah. It doesn’t mean to sit quietly with your emotions. It doesn’t mean to sit in silence.

It means LET GO.

Release your grip. Let it fall. Stop striving. Stop trying to control what you were never meant to carry.

Sometimes we try and carry things our Heavenly Father never meant for us to carry.

Realising what this little word ‘still’ means reframes the whole verse. It carries the idea of putting a stop to the fretting, the impatience, the restlessness and resigning yourself to the will of God. Letting go.

It’s not a quietening of the noise but a quietening of the heart.

This stillness is a choice. It is making the choice to quieten the voices in our heads, flick the switch on our anxiety and sit in God’s presence reflecting on the fact that he is God and he is good.

We are told not only to be still but also to know. We are to acknowledge that he is God, unchangeable, omnipotent, omniscient, all-wise, faithful, merciful, kind. We are to remember where our help comes from. We are to know God.

God is not asking us to pretend that the storm raging inside of us is not real. He is inviting us to loosen our grip in the midst of it. Let go. A surrendered control.

Peace comes when our trust replaces our control and we place our burdens in his hands.

“Peace flows strongest through open hands, not clenched fists”

I think sometimes I’m guilty of being a control freak. I often have this obsessive need to take command of a situation, because I fear that if I don’t, it will all fall apart. Sadly, this controlling spirit only leads to frustration, anxiety, fear and overwhelm. If I would only remember that God has not called me to take action in every situation. Not only will he use other people to accomplish his purposes, he also knows that if I would just get out of his way, he could work unhindered and use me in a different capacity in a place where I belong.

There is another place in the Word of God where we see this little phrase ‘be still’. It is worth mentioning because it brings out another aspect you may not have thought about.

Mark 4:39 KJV - And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

The difference in meaning in this verse is that in the Greek, these words mean to be silent or to be dumb. So, in essence, to hush or to shut up!

The Lord told the wind and the waves to shut up! And I think sometimes, that’s what we need to do. Just shut up! Be still and listen.

I know that when I am overwhelmed because I am carrying what is not mine to carry, I find it hard to listen. It’s hard to tune out the noise in my head and let the Lord whisper into my heart.

Can I remind you that God speaks in the stillness, the devil screams in our busyness.

When we loosen our grip on the things we are trying to control, when we relax, abandon, let go, we begin to experience the peace that comes from open hands. Hands of surrender. Hands of submission to his will.

It is then that we can hear God’s voice. In the stillness.

Quiet your mind and your heart, fill them with God’s truth, speak his promises and words of comfort over your soul.

Lay your burdens down. Practice God-confidence over self-confidence.

Be still. Let go.

 

 

 

More than “A Verse of the Day”

 

There is a growing trend amongst believers. And it is this.

Post a verse a day. Send it out to friends and family. Post it to Instagram. Put it up on What’s App. Send it out via text.

And yes, it usually has good intentions. The Word of God spread far and wide, in the hopes that the verse will speak to someone who needs it and be an encouragement to them.

I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing.

But what I am saying, is that we need MORE than a verse a day.

The older I get, the more I long to be in the Word of God in a deeper, richer way. The more I long to study it. Meditate on it. Learn from it. Understand it.

If I want to understand my Bible, I am going to need more than a verse a day.

And if you want to gain a better understanding of your Bible, you are going to need more than ‘the verse of the day’ to sustain you.

Yes, a single verse can encourage you. Yes, a single verse can speak to you. It can help bring comfort, healing, blessing. But to understand scripture, it requires more than a verse a day. It requires context. It requires study.

God’s Word was not written in snippets. It was not written in one-line verses. It was written in books, in letters, in stories – all meant to be read together.

Context is key.

When we isolate verses, we run the risk of missing the authors intent. We run the risk of misapplying God’s promises. We risk misinterpretation.

One of my favourite authors says to ask yourself these questions when you read a passage.

What did this text mean for them and for then?

What does it mean for us and for always?

What does it mean for me and for now?

Oftentimes, we make Scripture about us instead of God. The Bible is a book about God.

Yes, there are many stories in its pages that can be applied to us and for today, but its goal is to draw us toward Christ, bringing repentance and making us more like him.

We are to imitate Christ. We can’t do that if we don’t know him. And we can’t know him unless we learn about him. And we can’t learn about him if we are not in the Word of God, studying it, meditating on it, memorizing it, applying it, obeying it and letting God reveal himself to us through it. 

When we read a verse, we have to remember that context is key. ALWAYS. Context. Context. Context.

Understanding Scripture means asking better questions.

Who wrote this and to whom was it written?

Why was it written?

What happened before and after this passage?

Where does it fit in history?

And most importantly, instead of asking, “What’s in it for me?”, we should be asking, “What does this teach me about God?”

There are so many questions to ask ourselves that we could do an entire series on it.

When we neglect to ask ourselves the right questions and we verse hop, reading just a verse a day, without context, we can often be left feeling very confused.

Why? Because we are only seeing pieces. We’re not seeing the whole picture.

Sadly, I think that in some churches, long-time members and infrequent attendees are not being taught how to study the Bible.

We are being told to READ our Bibles, but we are not being told how to STUDY them.

We are being told how important it is to read the Word of God. We are being told to read a portion each and every day. And that is good. But I fear that some Christians treat it like the old saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”.

The Bible is not a lucky charm.

Maybe you read more than the verse of the day. But just because you read a lot of your Bible and know a lot about the Bible doesn’t mean you are walking close to the Lord. Head knowledge doesn’t necessarily mean heart awareness and change.   

Many people read the Bible like a fiction novel. They read for pleasure. For entertainment. Or just to say they’ve read it. To brag. They want a good plot a good climactic narrative and an epic conclusion. Then the book is done, and they’re left with the memory of a great story and maybe a handful of interesting quotes, but no real comprehension and understanding and it doesn’t change their life.

Other people read their Bibles by jumping around. A verse a day. A passage in Galatians then a verse in Exodus then a Psalm and so it goes. They’re reading their Bibles like they’ve been told to do. But they are often reading without understanding and with no context. They are being exposed to the Word of God, but they are not letting it speak to them through the guidance of the Holy Spirit by ‘rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)

What we believe about God shapes how we live. It determines how we endure hardship. It influences how we respond to the circumstances in our life.

Did you know that you don’t need a theological degree to understand Scripture? Yes, there will always be passages that are hard to understand, but you are responsible for what you do with the book you hold in your hands.

God has given us passages that help to interpret other passages. We have been blessed with Godly men and women who help to expound and explain the Word to us through various resources.  

When we become content with only consuming the verse of the day that pops up on our Bible app, or is sent to us by a friend, then we are missing out on so much!

The Bible doesn’t hurry us. The Bible invites us to linger. To soak it all in. To meditate on it.

As we read and study the Word of God slowly, faithfully, consistently, not just a verse at a time but a whole passage, a whole chapter, a whole book, God’s truth speaks into our lives and shapes who we are and who we become.

When we read our Bibles like we should, and obey it like we should, it grounds our faith. It increases our discernment. It produces fruit that lasts. It enables us to live lives worthy of our calling. (Ephesians 4:1)

The goal of Bible reading and study is not to check off a list. It’s about growing in our personal relationship with Christ.

Like Gipsy Smith, the old evangelist said, “It’s not about how many times you’ve been through the Bible, it’s about how many times the Bible has been through you”

Your spiritual growth is directly proportionate to the amount of time and effort you put into study of the Bible. Not growing spiritually can be traced to a failure to be in the Word. You don’t grow if you refuse to feed yourself.

What would happen if you blindfolded yourself and reached into the fridge and took out 3 things to make a meal from? Tomato sauce. An apple. A jar of olives. Like a Master Chef competition.

Sometimes that is how we approach the Word of God. We close our eyes and open to a page. We open our Bible app, read our verse of the day and carry on. We pick and choose, picking a verse here and a verse there and maybe even a short passage and then we think that we will be able to make a spiritual meal out of it and grow.

 

In order to truly grow spiritually, we need to read and study the hard passages, the difficult to understand. The uncomfortable stories. The ones that leave us scratching our heads.

We need the balance of the whole Word of God. The whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:27)

 

Don’t let your spiritual growth be stunted because of your spiritual diet.

By all means, read your verse a day, but don’t let it stop there.

Get curious about why that verse is where it is. Get curious about the context in which it was written. Try and understand what God wants to show you through it by looking at the surrounding verses.

Don’t just let it stand alone. It has neighbours. Invite them in and let them shed some light on it.

Aim for more than ‘a verse of the day’ and you’ll be amazed at the precious treasures you’ll find.

Colossians 3:16 KJV - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

 

Emotions or God’s Word?

(The danger of placing emotional awareness over the Word of God)

 

 

Have you noticed a subtle shift in parenting these days? Have you noticed that for the most part, children can quite quickly name the emotions they are feeling?

“I feel sad.” “I feel overwhelmed.” “I feel anxious.”

Children are taught to name their emotions. To verbalize how they feel. And I’m not saying that this is a bad thing. In moderation, and in its proper context, it is very good and helpful.

My concern is that we are training our children to trust their emotions more faithfully than they trust God’s Word.

Do you think that quite possibly we are training a generation of children that know their feelings more than they know God’s Word?

As a parent, maybe you didn’t mean for this to happen, but it’s happening.

Most children can name their emotions and state how they feel, but can they say, “God is my strength”? “The Lord is my shepherd”? “God’s Word is truth”?

So many parents spend more time teaching their children to process their feelings than they do teaching them to follow Jesus.

It’s not because they don’t love their children. It’s not because they don’t know any better. It’s because the culture and world we live in has convinced them that emotional affirmation is of paramount importance and that naming their feelings will help them deal with life.

It’s a sad place we’ve come to in this world. We’ve begun to replace God’s truth with the world’s lies.

Don’t get me wrong, I know and believe firmly that emotions are God-given, but our feelings were never meant to be our guide. Emotions are indicators, they are not our instructors. Yes, emotions are given by God, but emotionalism is not.

God gave us feelings and God himself feels! When he walked on earth in human form, he felt happiness, he felt sadness, he felt anger. But unlike us, he was and is perfect and never let his emotions cloud his judgement or rise above God’s truth.

God’s Word is to be our guide and God’s Word is the only truth. Only scripture has the authority to lead.  NOT our emotions.

If we treat feelings like facts and the Word of God like a suggestion, then we risk the danger of raising children who are emotionally aware but spiritually fragile. Children that have soft hearts, but no anchor.

If our children grow up learning to trust in their emotions more than they trust the Word of God, we are in fact teaching them that self-confidence is more powerful than trust and faith in God and his Word.

We are setting them up for failure. We are setting them up for a weak spiritual walk, weak faith and instability.

It’s not only our children who are susceptible to this. We are too!

If we let ourselves be ruled by our emotions, if we treat Scripture like a suggestion, if we allow our feelings to have first place, our children will too.

We are leading by our example.

Before being quick to blame society and culture, take time to think about who and what is discipling you? Are you letting your emotions rule you? What kind of an example are you setting for the little eyes and ears that are watching and listening?

If we take the time to teach our children God’s Word, if we live out consistently what God teaches us, if we instil in their hearts and minds the Word of God and if we show them what it looks like to trust truth over emotions, we will give them something the world can’t offer. We will give them a firm foundation to build upon. We will give them a foundation that doesn’t shift even though their feelings do.

This is why we, as parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, have to be intentional, rooted in God’s Word, abiding in Christ, discerning, growing, trusting and leading by example.

If we allow our own feelings to sit on the throne of our hearts, our children will learn to worship the same thing. And yes, I did use worship and feelings in the same sentence. God is not the only thing (or person) we can worship. Some people have a great admiration and love for many things that are not worthy of placing on such a high pedestal. And feelings is often one of them.

This generation needs parents and mentors who are anchored in God’s truth, rooted in the Word and not tossed around by feelings.

If we want to shepherd our children’s hearts, we have to model obedience, faithfulness and trust in God. We have to teach confidence in God. We have to be willing to lay down the world’s philosophies, no matter how popular, and make the shift towards the Word of God.

We have to teach them to acknowledge their emotions, and we need to acknowledge our own, without surrendering to them. We have to be always pointing them to Christ.

This is what shapes their hearts and draws them to him. This is what steadies a family and strengthens relationships.

By all means, let them feel their feelings. This is healthy. But teach them to acknowledge them and then compare them with God’s truth.

Teach your children the promises of God. Teach them how to combat lies with truth. Teach them verses that they can quote when their feelings begin to overwhelm them. Teach them to trust the Word of God and make it a part of their daily life. Make the Bible come alive to them through storytelling, singing, scripture memory, dramatization of notable characters found in the pages of God’s Word.

Teach them that emotions are healthy and God-given but that they are not to be relied on. Teach them to express them but also to respond to them with God’s Word and his promises.

Teach them verses about Joy. About fear. About sadness. About anger. About worry. About anxiety.

The Word of God is a book of treasures and obedience to it will help you to grow strong, emotionally stable, confident and God-honouring children.

Deuteronomy 6:7 KJV - And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

 

“Feelings come and feelings go,

And feelings are deceiving;

My warrant is the Word of God--

Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned

For want of some sweet token,

There is One greater than my heart

Whose Word cannot be broken.

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word

Till soul and body sever,

For, though all things shall pass away,

           HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!”         

M. Luther 

 

2025 

What kind of a year was it?

 But did you make it through?

 

Well, it’s that time again. December is almost done, and a new year is peeking around the corner. Will it be the year we expect? Will it be the year we hope for? Only God knows the answer to the questions we play over and over in our minds as we turn the page onto a year full of unknowns.

Personally, this past year has been a year of extremes. Highs and lows. Joy and sadness. Hope and despair. But through it all, God has remained faithful.

I began the year with the word I believed God had given me as my word of the year. Change. And what a year of change it has been! Never did I imagine the things he had in store for me.

I can’t even begin to explain the changes I’ve seen in so many ways. But I am so glad that our God doesn’t change. (Malachi 3:6).

I am so glad that he remains the same, yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Despite the struggle that 2025 has been and the hardships it has brought, there have been numerous blessings. Too many to count and some of them hidden.

Praise God for this precious promise found in Lamentations.

Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV - It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

These verses hold great hope for me as I know that no matter what happens, how my days go, or how my years pan out, God’s mercies are never-ending and he gives me a fresh start each morning.

Maybe you’ve faced a similar struggle this past year. Maybe you’ve fought some battles you didn’t plan on fighting. Maybe you feel worn and weary and in need of a rest.

Can I encourage you with this: If all you did was make it through, it’s okay.

If you look around at your peers and see all they’ve achieved, if you feel frustrated that others lives seem so blessed and others prosper when you’re finding it hard just to make ends meet, don’t despair.

God does some of his best work in the dark. In the valleys where there is little sunlight, and you feel buried underneath the weight you’re carrying, God is still working. Just as a seed has to lie in the damp, dark soil before it breaks through and reaches for the light, often, it is the same with us.

If all you did was make it through, but you’re still here, you’re still trusting in God’s faithfulness, you’re still putting one foot in front of the other, it’s okay.

You don’t have to have an amazing list of achievements beside your name.

If you were faithful in the little things, God saw it and he took notice of it and he is pleased.

I think sometimes that comparison can become such an enemy to our peace of mind. We see what others are doing on our social media feeds and we hang our heads in despair feeling worthless.

We beat ourselves up over our seeming lack of accomplishments. We wonder why we haven’t achieved our goals, financially, physically. We struggle with feeling insignificant and forgotten by God.

Can I let you in on a little secret? Comparison is often the thief of joy.

Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians against comparing ourselves with others.

2 Corinthians 10:12 KJV - For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Comparison can often be crippling. If we spend our days pouring over what others have accomplished and look on in despair at our own accomplishments, we will most likely spiral into a defeated mindset and pretty soon, we will begin to downplay all the little things we do that really hold significance, if only we saw them through God’s eyes.

As you look back on the year gone by, don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t worry if you didn’t achieve big things.

If you are still breathing, then God’s not done with you yet!

If you made it through the past year and you are still walking with the Lord, trusting him, claiming his promises, reading his Word, fellowshipping with other believers and obeying God as you take it one day at a time, then you have achieved great things!

Weary mother, if you feel like a failure because you haven’t achieved the goals you set and yet you kept your children fed and clothed and your husband loved and cared for, you did well. God noticed. Even if no one else did. God did.

If you weren’t able to save money like you wanted to because of unexpected bills, but you gave to God’s work generously with what you had and were a wise steward of God’s providence, then you did well. God noticed. Even if your bank balance was not tipped in your favour, God remained faithful.

If you worked at your job, and gave all you had in service to God, sharing his love through your testimony and yet you felt unappreciated, God noticed.

What I’m trying to emphasize is that it’s okay if all you did this past year was simply make it through.

Our goal as a believer should be to grow in our spiritual walk and develop a closer relationship with Christ through spending time in his Word and talking to him on a regular basis through prayer.

The earthly pursuits we chase after pale into insignificance in comparison to building God’s kingdom and chasing hard after him.

Don’t be concerned with achieving great things in the world’s eyes.

Can I encourage you to look back over the past year and take a spiritual inventory.

Are you in a better place in your Christian walk than you were 12 months ago? Have you prioritized time with God? Have you learnt new truths as you studied the Word? Have you served in the church in whatever God put on your heart to do? Has it been a gradual climb?

Maybe you haven’t been able to do all the things you hoped to in the past year, but if you are growing as a Christian and serving God with all your heart, then you’ve done well. God noticed.

God is not looking for great worldly achievements. God is looking for heart growth. He’s looking for things that hold eternal value.

And God is looking for a heart of gratitude.

He puts us through the fire in order to purify us (Job 23:10) He knows that it’s the hard times that build Godly character into our lives.

Through the trials he sends, we are to praise him continually.

Hebrews 13:15 KJV - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

We are to be thanking him for ALL things. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

I find that if I focus on all I have to be thankful for, my hardships and the days of struggle don’t play such a big part in my memory. They are pushed into the background as I pour out my worship to him.

Yes, the past year has been a year of change. A year of frustration, disappointment, hardship, pain and struggle, but I rest in the promise that God is still faithful. God is still good. (2 Thessalonians 3:3; Lamentations 3:23; Philippians 1:6)

He has taught me many valuable lessons in the past 12 months, and I have learned more than ever that I can trust him. I can trust him with ALL my days. I can trust him with my finances. I can trust him with my health. I can trust him with my relationships. I can trust him with my heart.

2026 looms ahead and already it looks to be a year full of unknowns. I see some hard things coming my way and although I’m unsure how I’m going to navigate through them, I know that as I walk, he walks beside me. If I fall, I have only to reach out my hand. If I cry, he sees my tears. If I raise my voice in worship, he hears me.

I have the promise of his presence.

I can trust my unknown future to a known God. The God who made all things. The God who already knows what lies ahead. I don’t have to fear. (Psalm 23)

So, friend, don’t be afraid of the wind. It’s not about the power of the storm, it’s about who you have in the boat with you.

Keep God close. Don’t walk away from him. Keep near him. Let him guide your steps. If you’re walking blind, keep a tight hold of his hand. When you fall, he’ll be there to pick you up.

Stay in fellowship. Meditate on his Word. Develop a heart of gratitude.