LET'S PREPARE OUR HEARTS

On Sunday mornings, we often come to church like an out-of-tune piano. We bring all kinds of baggage that has accumulated during the week, yet we want our worship to be pleasing to God.

 

The "bringing the baggage" part is fine, as long as we leave it at the foot of the cross.

When we enter the throne room, do we come with open hands or clenched fists? How can we receive anything from God if our hands are clenched in anger and/or fear? We must be in tune.

 

God is eager to get our hearts in tune. If we ask Him to empty us of the baggage that fills us up, He will empty us and make room for the worship and praise that is trapped inside but wants to be released before our God.

Our purpose on Sunday morning is to glorify God and express our love and gratitude to Him for all that He has done. This time, we give to Him.

Sunday praise and worship doesn't begin at 10 a.m. when the praise band plays its first notes.  It is a pilgrimage to the throne room of God that begins when we open our eyes that morning.

So let's come together on Sunday morning with our hearts in tune, ready to praise the Lord of our hearts.

I USED TO BE A CHRISTIAN, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME.

Throughout my life as a believer, I have encountered people who claim to have been Christians at one time, but then either through reasoning, social conditioning, or personal disappointment, decided that Jesus was not the right thing for them. But it is only in recent years that I have seen people make this claim more boldly and proudly than ever before. As if being a follower of Christ is a burden to be lifted, a lie to be set free from.
I can't understand why anyone would ever walk away from Christ and declare themselves an unbeliever. I understand that religious pressure from family or the culture we live in can lead to rebellion-but to walk away from Christ, the truth you claim to have once known? It doesn't make sense. 

The apostle John explains why this is possible. He says that because we live in the last days, there are many antichrists among us. These people who once claimed to be one of us were never one of us, otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left us, it proved that they did not belong to us. -1 John 2:19
He is saying that these people were never true to what they claimed to believe. They were/are antichrists. Wow, that's a tough statement!
I have people in my own family that I love dearly that have walked away from Jesus and it breaks my heart.  I wonder if there is a way back for them. Are these people just so-called "backsliders"? I hope so, because if they are, life or death will eventually turn them around and they will run to Jesus again. But I don't think John is talking about "backsliders" here. He is talking about the seed of the Antichrist. And I believe that these people are truly lost forever. Let's hope and pray that none of our unbelieving loved ones are among them.

ISAAC LIVES

The sermon at church today reminded me of a time when God asked me to sacrifice what I love.  A while back, I was on a life-changing 30-day Daniel fast, and on day 27, God led me to a place where I questioned what I loved and what I loved doing in my life.

My profession, love and passion, all of my life was and is being a creative musician.  It is how I express myself, it is my shrink, my tear collector, my bliss and joy and even a blessing to others. And yes, of course I love Jesus.
I love Jesus and I go to church and I love doing my "Christian duties". But what if all the things I love compete with the one who gave me all these things? What if they have become a distraction and not a tool?

I just read my fasting journal and my entry for day 27 was pretty desperate. I knew God was speaking to my heart:

'God is speaking to me ... I now doubt my profession as a musician,  God is asking me "Do you love my gifts more than you love me?"... I can answer this with: "Lord You are my 1st Love", "I can not disobey You when I hear You so clearly" ... I'm pleading not to take music out of my life, but if it is His will, then it needs to be done ... God says: "Isaac lives!'

I was distraught and sad when God spoke to me like this. He made it clear to me that even though I had given my life to Christ, and even though my whole outlook on life had changed when I did, I was still holding on to other things when God says to hold on only to Him.

On the 27th day of my fast I understood that I have to be willing to unclench and be willing to let go of everything I love and instead trust the One who gave me all the things I love.  Even if it makes me sad, I have to let "Isaac die". When I understood this and signaled to God with a heavy heart that I will let go of the things I love if this is really His will, He said: "Isaac lives.

God asks us to be willing to sacrifice the very thing He gave us in the first place, not to destroy it, but to leave us with a space that can only be filled by Him.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son. But he knew in his heart that God would intervene. Abraham thought that God would bring Isaac back to life  after he sacrificed him (Hebrews 11:19), but God didn't let Abraham even go that far. He intervened when He saw Abraham's trust in God's wisdom and plan.

THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE MAN ON THE CROSS

I'm not really comfortable with images of Jesus. I guess the beauty of the man on the cross as it is displayed  in many churches, graphics, paintings and souvenirs, is meant to be a depiction of the beauty of God's love. But I can't really look at these images without thinking that the real image of Jesus is being hidden and even distorted.

No one knows exactly what Jesus looks like, but He certainly doesn’t look like the beautiful, perfectly groomed, long-haired, white man on the cross.
The Word of God gives us a glimpse of what Jesus might have looked like. It is in the book of  Isaiah:

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” - Isaiah 53:2–3

This is the awesome, selfless appearance of God in the flesh, who didn’t come as a king with splendor and pomp, but who becomes the eternal King for all those who see Him and understand who He is.

TREEHUGGER - A PRAISE

Every morning I go to the park nearby. It has become my meeting place with God over the years. I feel undisturbed and peaceful there and when I arrive I almost immediately start talking to God. The first words that come out of my mouth are usually words of praise and thanksgiving. Gratitude for the beautiful place He has provided for me. A place where I can rest and come to Him just as I am, and praise for His creation that obediently illustrates life and does what it was created to do.
Sometimes on my daily walks the vegetation seems to join in my praise and worship. And other times it seems like it's trying to comfort me when I'm in need of God's help.

The old hymn "In the Garden" comes to mind: "He walks with me and He talks with me". I can see His garden waking up in the spring and going to sleep in the fall. The colors He uses for His pictures are vibrant and comforting, and when you look closely, you begin to wonder if you have ever seen such colors before. Each season has its different sounds, smells, and images that are imprinted on my heart, soul, and mind so that I have a place to go when there is no park available.

The enemy is trying to rob us of these impressions of God. We are distracted by a world that is noisier than ever, an enemy that is more desperate than ever, and an arsenal of pleasures and indulgences at our disposal that no generation before us has ever seen. Our daily lives pull us in a thousand directions away from God's garden.

God's Word is like His garden.  When He tells us to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8), He knows that we need these things as a shield to protect us from a world that wants to destroy us..

I want to focus on the good things around me. They are there for a reason. God is in them every day, every hour, every minute. And if there is no park for us to go to, God is still there where we are.

The beauty of creation is in the Creator Himself. My neighborhood park is a beautiful enclave for which I'm grateful, but God's garden is wherever God is.  Let Him be with you always.

ICE SKATERS

Did you know that even those who walk with Jesus still fall into sin? It may sound obvious, but it’s true: believers—Christians, disciples of Jesus—are not exempt. Every one of us sins. Yet for those who walk with Jesus, sin takes on a different shape.

It’s a bit like watching a figure skater stumble during the Olympic Games. In that first moment, the fall looks awkward and disappointing. But if you look closer, you notice something else: the way they fall is almost graceful, gliding across the ice, recovering with elegance, and rising again so quickly it feels like the fall itself was part of the performance.

That’s how it is with us. We stumble time and again—through failures, doubts, and weaknesses. And that’s okay. Because it is often in those broken places that God invites us to come to Him, to receive forgiveness, and to begin again.

Forgiveness is never something we can earn. It is the gift of God’s grace, made possible through Jesus Christ on the cross.

When we wonder if our guilt might be too great, we can rest in this truth: we are loved—no matter what. Even when we fall, God extends His hand, lifting us up to continue walking—this time with new confidence and freedom.

So we hold on to His grace and step courageously back “onto the ice.”

The performance goes on—with every step, and with hope alive in our hearts.

 “But God demonstrates
His own love for us in this:

 While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us” 

Romans 5:8

BORN TO LOSE

That title might sound like a throwback to some cheesy rock anthem from the eighties—but stay with me. It’s more true than we’d like to admit. We’re born, we form habits, and we slowly grow into someone we eventually accept as “just who I am.” Then we settle there. We tell ourselves, “God made me this way,” and use the phrase I’m only human as a convenient escape from deeper spiritual responsibility.

But when Jesus stepped into the picture, He shattered that mindset. He exposed the hard truth: if we rely on our human nature alone, we are born to lose. The world we’re born into—broken and ruled by sin—cannot produce anything but more brokenness. And that’s why Jesus’ words sound so radical.

He said that to follow Him, to find life that lasts forever, we must deny ourselves (die to our old selves), take up our cross (Mark 8:34), and be born again (John 3:3). That is not self-help; it is self-surrender. The reason so many people—even some believers—struggle with this is because His call runs against everything our ego wants to cling to.

Jesus’ teaching presses us with a choice: either grasp at our own life and lose it, or surrender ourselves to Him and truly live. Free will is a gift, but it can just as easily become our downfall. The self was never meant to be its own god.

I DON'T LIKE THE MUSIC!

Church music leaders often hear this: "Music has lost its meaning," "back in the day we used to have real worship and praise music," or "I want my hymns back." While I believe these statements are correct from a traditional viewpoint, it is similar to stating "everything was better when I was young." However, God's word, our relationship with Him, and our experience remain unchanged. On the other hand, humanity's ability to understand, act, and respond has changed significantly in the last 2000 years.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the old hymns and I love contemporary music. However, I personally have a hard time worshiping in spirit and truth with super loud and repetitive upbeat music. But I will defend its existence.

It is sad that the human race, in its intellectual evolution, needs to simplify everything. But at the same time, I believe that those who seek God with a true heart (Jeremiah 29:13) and have a relationship with Him will never lose their longing for God and their daily expression of praise and worship. It's our root and it's systemic, but it's expressed in a different way in this century.

I believe that simply playing cool Christian songs that don't focus on the corporate praise and worship element is wrong and should not be used in corporate worship. Unfortunately, this is what is happening in our churches quite often. However, the evolutionary direction of simplifying everything in our worship culture and culture as a whole is not necessarily a means of simplifying God, it is just who we are in this day and age. We are still able to worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24), even though the music is not as "musical and deep" as it used to be. 

I think sometimes all this is just a bitter cry for what has been lost, bundled with a kind of "selfish" ambition to leave things as they are.

The ever-changing world has changed our ability to perceive, act and react, but the powerful and convicting truth of God, full of expression and stirring emotion, has not changed. Even though our corporate, musical praise and worship gatherings are expressed with fewer words and simpler melodies, God is still God, and His Spirit instilled in us is still the same Spirit as it was 2000 years ago. Our way of expressing it has changed.

THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO BE

I am a very creative person, full of ideas and with many desires in my life. Every once in a while, I come across a role model, someone whose life has made a difference and is a positive success. Then I go to God and say: "that's where I want to be" and He says: "I've already put someone there". 

     

Could it be that my pursuit of happiness and success should be a pursuit of contentment? Doesn't God know where I am and why I'm here? Maybe I should stop thinking about a purpose that hasn't found me yet and start seeing the purpose that is right where I am. 

 

My idea of success is certainly not God's idea of success. And while this thought may be disappointing at first, I must begin to see the divine legitimacy of where I am. When I do, I will be just as influential as my role models. In a different place, but just as important.

A life in Christ is a life in mission. Our hope is in Christ, not in ourselves. When our desires are surrendered to the desires of God, our life and mission in Christ becomes a source of peace that accomplishes many things.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life"

- Proverbs 13:12

HE WHO IS IN ME

While writing "Sacrifice of One", I was under heavy attack. In just two days, I suffered from a temporary but severe hearing loss caused by my tinnitus that lasted for weeks, I suffered from an eye infection, and a painful sciatica immobilized me for a whole week. For unknown reasons, the enemy fought against me more fiercely than usual. However, I was determined to complete the song for our church's Good Friday service.  

And so I ignored the world and its pain (to put it poetically) and fought the enemy back by reaching for the peace and joy that can be found in every circumstance in our lives (2 Thessalonians 3:16) and I finished my song in time.
I don't know if my song needed to be finished in time so my church could hear it, or if anyone was impacted by it, but I know this: I had to finish the song in spite of my pain and discomfort. I had to show the enemy that 'the one who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world' (1 John 4:4).

A WELL-PAYING JOB

A few years into my redeemed life, I realized that not only was I receiving the free gift of eternal life, but I was also receiving the responsibilities of a committed relationship. I was hired for life to a well-paying job. Although there are no days off and no vacations. The responsibilities seem endless. A simple prayer request becomes an urgent task, an encounter with an unsaved person becomes an often heart-wrenching mission that can last decades or forever. Many of the tasks into which you pour your strength, your tears, and your hope may never bear fruit that you will see in this lifetime. But the job itself is a reward.  Out of tears, discouragement or weariness comes joy, encouragement and strength.

Being born again brings with it the responsibility to act on your new heart, your new thoughts, and your zeal to share what you have been given with those who don't yet have it. Worrying about your own life is kind of unnecessary because your employer says, "Do not worry, everything you need will be given to you" (Matthew 6:30-33). And the biggest bonus when your job is finally over is eternal life. A well-paying job indeed.

WHEN DOUBT STRIKES

A few days ago a friend of mine sent me a booklet by a German theologian who, without denying the necessity of Jesus for salvation, claims that Jesus wasn't divine and that Jesus' words were not translated correctly. According to the theologian, this leads to false assumptions and beliefs. This theologian studied the ancient Bible languages for decades, and everything I read in this pamphlet had the appearance of a thoroughly researched study.

How can a respected theologian write such a thing? "Jesus not divine?", "His words not the truth as I know it?".  I was about to laugh it off and dismiss it as the attempt of a "ferocious wolf in sheep's clothing" to confuse me (Matthew 7:15), when for a split second the question "What if?" popped into my mind. I was shocked. Had I just experienced doubt about my core beliefs? 

I immediately began to pray and asked God to fill me with His truth and wisdom and for some reason I began to speak out loud what that truth was. As if I needed to shout it out to the world around me.

What came out of my mouth was the unchanging Christian message. The truth so simple that some can't believe it. But we need to hear it again and again in its simplicity to be reminded of where we stand.

"It is God who wanted to make himself known to us, his creation, whom he loves. But a creation that was also on the verge of collapse because it didn't know who God was, and so in a desperate attempt to fill the "God vacuum," people decided to make up their own gods. So God, who is Spirit, sent Himself to earth in the form of Jesus the Christ (the Messiah), who had been prophesied centuries before. To live among us, to teach us who God is, and to show us a way out of our finite and miserable existence. God came to us in the form of Jesus to reveal that our deep longing for Him points to Jesus. Jesus lived for us and walked before us so that we might have a way to walk. And He died for us so that we might find eternal life through Him and Him alone. And when Jesus died for our sins, He didn't leave us alone, but sent His own Spirit to live in the bodies of the born-again believers to counsel, guide, and communicate with them. Jesus is God's final attempt to show His love for mankind before He "closes the book" forever."

After shouting out this simple and eternal truth that I firmly believe, I realized that these split seconds of doubt are actually a healthy exercise. When you do not make up your own mind, but let God do the work (2 Peter 1:20-21), it draws you closer to Him and makes you stronger and bolder.

Jesus, the man on the cross, had a moment of doubt when he cried out: "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). So it is perfectly normal for us to have moments of doubt in our human nature. But it is imperative that we question our doubts rather than questioning God.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, 

correcting and training in righteousness,

so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped 

for every good work

2 Timothy 3:16-17

SUPPRESSING THE SPIRIT OF GOD

In recent days, I’ve been overwhelmed by sadness and anxiety, a heaviness that drains my strength both physically and mentally. One morning, as I walked to the park, I asked God why I felt this way. Why has this sudden sadness stolen my joy, and more importantly why can’t I overcome it? I pleaded, “Please speak to me. Show me how to get through this.”

I know the truth: Christ lives in me, and through Him, I can overcome. But today, that truth felt distant and hard to apply. To my surprise, God’s answer was simple: “Through me.” It wasn’t the dramatic sign I expected—no angel, no miracle—just the quiet, powerful truth I already knew.

As I walked, I opened my daily devotional. It was about drunkenness, something irrelevant to me—or so I thought. But halfway through, it pointed to Ephesians 5:18: “Be filled with the Spirit.” Instantly, I knew God was speaking to my heart. My prayers had opened me to this reminder: to overcome fear and depression, I don’t need extraordinary signs—just to let His Spirit fill me.

Being filled with the Spirit means focusing on Christ’s presence vividly and joyfully. It means rising above life’s tragedies and casting out all the fear, sadness, and stress. Today, I realized I had been suppressing that Spirit by inhaling too much of the world’s negativity.

The choice is mine: the poisonous fumes of this world, or the life-giving Spirit of God. Today, I both failed and succeeded. Praise God for His grace!

DON'T WAIT FOR GOD'S PACKAGE

When we come to God with a request, we often pray earnestly, sometimes even desperately. Then, we sit back and wait, expecting our answer to be delivered right to our doorstep.

 

But sometimes, God surprises us. Instead of just dropping the gift off, He invites us to go on a little journey to pick it up ourselves. And on that journey, we might have unexpected encounters with others, with God Himself, or gain experiences that become blessings to share with others later on.

Sometimes the blessings we most need come not just in the gift, but also in the journey that shapes us, opens our hearts, and connects us more deeply with God and those around us.

MY GOD-COLOURED VOICE

I realize that I often pay too much attention to what I’ll call my “God-colored voice.” It’s the voice that tries to say the socially acceptable thing instead of speaking spiritual truth. It’s the “churchy, feel-good voice” that aims to please everyone, even when a harder truth needs to be spoken. 

 

But there is a difference between the voice of the Holy Spirit - who never holds anything back - and my own self-shaped, God-colored voice, which only leads to lukewarm choices. 

 

Those choices may feel right in the moment, but they are usually tailored to my own comfort rather than to God’s desire, or the obedience the moment demands.

STAY WITH ME AND I STAY WITH YOU

In John 15:5-7 Jesus explains that just as a branch cannot live apart from the vine, so our souls cannot thrive apart from Christ. Jesus invites His disciples—and us—to remain in Him, for in His presence our lives bear fruit that endures. Through prayer, through the quiet of Scripture, through listening and meditating on His Word, the breath of God renews our spirit. But when we drift from Him, our hearts grow dry, and like a branch severed from its source, we slowly wither away.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." 

HOPE

What came to my mind was this: "When problems replace hope, something is wrong with your faith." Maybe that sounds a little harsh, because I do have faith. Yet sometimes that saying fits me uncomfortably well. There are moments when I feel like a prisoner. By nature and character, I have always needed the freedom to walk freely—or to walk away from things when it was time. But now I sometimes feel that my circumstances have put me inside a box.  

Still, I know very well that God is above everything, and that I should always depend on Him completely. And then, in the midst of sadness and seemingly unchangeable situations, there are those sudden moments when my spirit cries out: "IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL." In those moments, I know it truly is—and I treasure them deeply.

WITNESS

I was able to observe a beautiful scenario that perfectly complemented our youth pastor's message this morning. His theme was about caring for people and going out and telling them the truth about Jesus. After church I went to Whole Foods Market and saw two young men talking to a young woman from Pakistan who had a booth there to promote a product. One of the men had a T-shirt that said: "There is Hope - Hebrews 11". 

So I was curious to see what would happen. One of them started to talk seriously. After a while, the young woman became emotional. Then the men prayed over her and she began to cry profusely. You could tell that something or someone was tugging at her. When the prayer was over, you could see that her tears of sorrow obviously turned into tears of joy. What a beautiful picture! 

I don't know if she gave her life to Jesus today, but she definitely encountered the power of the truth of Jesus, which once you know, there is no going back. I thanked the men for their courage.

JESUS ABOUT RELIGION

"You and your religion..." I often hear remarks like this from friends, family members, or others who don’t believe. My response usually surprises them: I’m not really religious at all. That answer often leaves them puzzled, because they expect Christianity to be just another system of rituals, rules, and traditions.

But Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. He came to restore a broken relationship—reconnecting us with God in the most personal and understandable way. Christianity, at its core, is not about ceremonies or regulations; it is about knowing and walking with Jesus Christ. It is not a Religion - it is a relationship.

Interestingly, when you read the Gospels, the people Jesus spoke most firmly against weren’t the outcasts or sinners, but the religious leaders of His day. In Matthew 23 (Matthew 23:23-28), for example, He openly rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, saying they looked righteous on the outside but were full of greed and self-indulgence on the inside. In John 8 (John 8:31-36), He exposed how their hearts were hardened by legalism, showing they cared more about rules than about mercy and truth.

Why was He so strong with them? Because religion without relationship blinds people to God’s heart. Jesus wanted His hearers to see beyond empty ritual and find true life in Him. He was passionate about breaking down barriers that kept people from approaching the Father.

That’s what sets Christianity apart. It isn’t about us climbing up to God through religious effort—it’s about God reaching down to us through Jesus. It’s a relationship offered freely, one of love, forgiveness, and daily connection with the living God.

"MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL"

At first sight, this frequently quoted biblical passage may appear reasonable, but it's not precisely what the Bible says.
In his first letter to his young protege Timothy, the Apostle Paul stated that,  "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:10

Obviously, it is not money that causes evil, but the love of money.  If we remove words, the statement's meaning changes, and distorts the word of God.

Money is nothing bad. You can do many good things with money. However, if we hoard, become greedy, and love money, we create a false idol, leading to destruction and suffering eventually.

Nothing we own is ours. Everything belongs to God.
(1 Corinthians 10:26   |    Psalms 24:1)

THE BIBLE IS NOT IMPORTANT - I CAN FOLLOW GOD WITHOUT IT

Even without the Bible, we can know something of God. We see His power and majesty in creation (Romans 1:20), and we sense His law written on our hearts (Romans 2:14–15). Creation and conscience whisper His reality. Yet, whispers alone are not enough. There is a difference between sensing that God exists and actually knowing Him in a personal, life-changing relationship. That is the heartbeat of the Christian faith.

When I first encountered the Bible, I struggled to accept it as “the infallible Word of God.” I assumed it was just a human book, even a product of the Catholic Church. It didn’t help that it was written by many people, across many centuries, in many places. How could such a fragmented collection possibly be one trustworthy revelation from God?

But as I learned more, I began to see the Bible not as a random collection of writings but as a divine masterpiece—an immense puzzle only God could piece together over 1,600 years. What convinced me most, however, was Jesus Himself. He affirmed the Old Testament, quoted from it, pointed to its authority, and declared that He was its fulfillment. As I studied, I was astonished: the very writings Jesus endorsed described the Messiah—and every path pointed to Him.

Consider just a few examples. The prophet Micah foretold the Messiah’s birthplace centuries before Jesus was born (Micah 5:2). Isaiah described His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14) and His suffering (Isaiah 53:3–6). Psalm 22 described crucifixion in detail—written 800 years before crucifixion even existed. Altogether, more than 300 prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.

This realization reshaped my heart. I stopped approaching the Bible as a skeptic trying to expose it and began to read it as a seeker listening for God’s voice. Fourteen years later, it has become not just a book to me, but a fountain of living water (Jeremiah 2:13; John 7:38)—God’s supernatural gift to humanity.

Through Scripture, we don’t just learn about God—we encounter Him. He becomes Father, Friend, Shepherd, Savior. His Word becomes a compass in life’s labyrinth and a light for eternity. It shows us who He is, who we are, and how, despite our failures, His love still reaches for us.

Yes, we can sense God in nature and in our conscience—but only the Bible tells us His name, His story, and His invitation. Without it, we may guess at His presence. With it, we can know His heart

WHY ARE CHRISTIANS THROWING BIBLE VERSES AROUND ALL THE TIME?

Simply to prove and document what they claim. It is important to test and verify what someone is trying to tell you as the truth. Unfortunately, people don't put much effort into finding out who Jesus is, what He says, and what the reason for His appearance in this world is. People like intellectual fast food, so they just believe what they are told, either for or against, depending on where you stand. This careless "trust" can have dire consequences.

Many are misled and even deliberately manipulated in their understanding of God, either because they don't have access to God's Word or because they think they don't need to spend time exploring God's Word. Either way, when a Christian throws around Bible verses, you are confronted with the truth and its source.

CAN SATAN READ MY THOUGHTS?

Although Satan has some power and influence (no wonder he is called "the ruler of this world" (John 16:11), "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), "the angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14), "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4), etc.), he is not omniscient and cannot read our thoughts.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Satan can read our thoughts.  The book of Job makes it very clear that Satan does not have that kind of power. If he did, he would have known that Job would never denounce God.

Even though Satan can't read our minds, he still has an advantage over us: Satan has been watching people and human nature for thousands of years (Job 1:6-7).

You could say that Satan and his demons are experts in human behavior. He knows how we respond to temptation. He and his demons can easily guess what we are thinking. Therefore, it is important to know how Satan approaches us and how he works.  He certainly does not do it with horns, pitchforks, brimstone, and a scary Halloween mask. Satan is described as "the angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). However, when we know the character of Satan and submit to the Spirit of God, he will flee (James 4:7).

GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES

'God helps those who help themselves' is one of the most quoted "bible verses" that can't be found in the bible.  This quote is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin (quoted from "Poor Richard's Almanac" written in 1757). In reality this quotation comes from the English politician Algernon Sidney from his article "Discourses Concerning Government" published in 1698.

DANIEL FAST - DAY 10

Today is my 10th day on the Daniel Fast. I was going to do it for 21 days, but now I feel like continuing indefinitely. I've been praying for the past few days to stay in God's presence, as I experience it right now, and not leave his side.

There is a change happening in my life right now, and it is a good one. I feel deeply close to God, and in that closeness, I find safety. Even in the midst of life’s turmoil, I find myself smiling and can honestly say that I have peace. This feeling is new to me!

FEAR

Fear is something we all know—no one gets away from it. It doesn’t pick and choose who to visit; it shows up for everyone at some point.

But here’s a truth that gives me hope: the Spirit of God living inside us is stronger than any fear we face. It’s not about fighting with loud words or grand gestures. It’s more like a quiet, steady strength that helps us stand firm, even when fear tries to shake us.

God didn’t give us fear (2 Timothy 1:7). In fact, the Bible talks about fear over 300 times—not because God wants us afraid, but to remind us to trust Him instead. Fear often comes when we doubt if God really has everything under control.

What’s amazing is that when we decide to trust God with our whole heart, those fears don’t have to rule us anymore. They become His to carry. He takes on the worries we can’t handle, so we can find peace and freedom in Him.

So let’s lean into that power God gives us—the Spirit inside. Let’s choose to trust Him day by day. When we do, fear loses its grip. We don’t have to face it alone because God is always right there with us.

"But you will not even need to fight.

Take your positions;

then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory"
2 Chronicles 20:17

GOD LOVED THE WORLD SO MUCH

God’s love for the world is beyond comprehension. As John 3:16 declares, He gave the most precious gift—His one and only Son—so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but inherit eternal life. This is not just a promise, but the heartbeat of the Gospel: love that sacrifices, redeems, and restores.

Yet the story doesn’t end there. John 3:17 reminds us that Christ was not sent to condemn the world but to rescue it—to step into our darkness and draw us into His marvelous light. That is the language of grace: not judgment first, but salvation offered freely.

Here lies the turning point: belief opens the door to freedom, forgiveness, and life without condemnation. Refusing that gift, however, leaves us imprisoned by unbelief. Condemnation, then, is not God’s desire—it is the tragic consequence of rejecting the lifeline He extends.

The choice stands before each of us. Will we trust this love? Will we step into the salvation God has provided in Christ? Eternity turns on that decision.

And who is Jesus? He is not only the Son of God, but also the very expression of God’s love in human form. He is the light that pierces despair, the shepherd who seeks the wandering, and the true home for the restless heart. In Him, we discover that we are never forsaken but always pursued by grace. To walk with Him is to step into the embrace of unfailing love, a love strong enough to carry us through both earth and eternity.

PURPOSE

"My purpose is to help fulfill the purpose of others"

I CONFESS, I AM A VEGETARIAN

After a Bible study on the book of Daniel, I had a conversation with a friend that stirred me to speak deeply about my convictions regarding my vegetarianism. Even though Daniel’s temporary faithfulness to a plant-based diet was, of course, an act of obedience to God, I also believe that choosing a vegetarian lifestyle today remains a way to embrace God’s original intention for humanity, while receiving both spiritual and practical blessings.

From the very beginning, Scripture reveals God’s vision for humanity to live in harmony with creation. In Genesis, before the Fall, God designed a world overflowing with love, abundance, and beauty. In that world of perfection, He provided humanity with fruits and vegetables for nourishment (Genesis 1:29). This was part of His perfect plan—a plan marked by compassion and life, not by death.

In contrast, living in our fallen world today, it is difficult to shut our eyes to the harsh realities of modern slaughterhouses. The suffering of creatures—designed by God to flourish and enjoy life—mirrors the brokenness of creation itself. We may try to ignore it, but the unsettling truth remains: animals are sacrificed, often under horrifying conditions, for pleasures that are far from essential. Reflecting on this can be sobering.

Yet here is the hopeful truth: by choosing a vegetarian life, we have the opportunity to resist that brokenness. We can step away from unnecessary cruelty and align our daily choices with compassion and stewardship—values that echo God’s original design. In doing so, we affirm not only His vision for creation but also His call for us to mirror His goodness in the way we live.

The blessings of this choice reach beyond the spiritual. Countless studies show that a plant-based life often comes with physical health benefits and mental peace. Our bodies thrive on wholesome foods from the earth, and our consciences rest easier knowing we are not contributing to needless suffering.

To be clear, I do not believe Scripture condemns the eating of meat. In Acts 10:11–13, God makes it evident that eating meat is permitted. It remains a matter of personal conviction and freedom. But for me, living as a vegetarian or rather vegan has become both a gift and a calling: a way to honor God’s compassionate design, to strengthen my body, and to embrace a more mindful, life-affirming path.

“The Lord is good to all, 

and his compassion is over all 

that he has made.” 

Psalm 145:9

John Piper on Worship...

“Music and singing are necessary to Christian faith and worship for the simple reason that the realities of God and Christ, creation and salvation, heaven and hell are so great that when they are known truly and felt duly, they demand more than discussion and analysis and description; they demand poetry and song and music. Singing is the Christian's way of saying: God is so great that thinking will not suffice, there must be deep feeling; and talking will not suffice, there must be singing.” - John Piper

For more information about John Piper click here

GOD IS IN THE POPCORN

From darkness into light—what a journey it has been. Today, I see God’s light shining ever more brightly, and I cannot help but recognize His hand in everything around me. He truly is in control of all things.

One unexpected reminder came to me while making popcorn. Yes—popcorn! For the first time in my life, I decided to make it from scratch. All it took was a small handful of corn, a little oil, and a hot skillet. As those hard little kernels began to pop, transforming into something soft, inviting, and delicious, I stood in awe.

It struck me deeply: each kernel began small, tough, and seemingly insignificant—yet under the right conditions, guided by heat it could not control, it became something far greater than it appeared to be. In that simple kitchen moment, I saw my own story.

God has taken what was once hardened in me—small, overlooked, maybe even inedible to the world—and by His grace turned it into something meaningful, something new. That is the power of the cross. It transforms the insignificant into significance, it softens the hardened, and it brings forth something good and beautiful.