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Showing posts from February, 2025

Asleep In The Boat

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The wind howled like a living thing, shrieking through the night as the boat heaved beneath the weight of the waves. It was as if the sea itself had risen in fury, lashing out with relentless force, tossing the small vessel as though it were nothing more than driftwood. Water surged over the sides, drenching the disciples as they fought against the chaos, their hands gripping the wooden edges with desperate strength. The rain poured in heavy sheets, blurring their vision, making it nearly impossible to tell where the sky ended and the sea began. Every crash of the waves sent cold shockwaves through their bodies, their hearts pounding with the fear that at any moment, they might be swallowed whole. (Mark 4:37) This was no ordinary storm. They had seen rough waters before—many of them were fishermen, after all. They knew how to navigate through wind and waves, how to adjust the sails, how to hold steady when the sea grew restless. But this was different. This was a storm that defied ex...

Finding Peace in the Struggle

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After the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him across the Sea of Galilee. It was evening, and He stayed behind to pray (John 6:15-16). The disciples set out in the boat, but soon found themselves battling a strong wind and rough waters (John 6:18). This was no calm trip. They were struggling, making slow progress, and probably wondering why Jesus had sent them off into the storm. But Jesus, though distant in body, was never far from them. As they fought against the storm, Jesus began walking on the water toward them (John 6:19). This moment was unexpected, startling, and powerful. In that moment, He wasn’t just walking on the sea; He was asserting His authority over it. The sea, in Jewish thought, often represented chaos and danger—something that only God Himself could control. So, when Jesus steps onto the water, He is showing His disciples, and all of us, that He is Lord not just over the calm and peaceful, but also over the storms and chaos of lif...

The Veil Was Rent For Us

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The Veil Was Rent For Us When Jesus died on the cross, an extraordinary and highly symbolic event occurred in the temple in Jerusalem. The veil in the temple, a thick curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, was torn in two, from top to bottom. This moment, recorded in Matthew 27:51, was not just an incidental event in the crucifixion narrative, but a powerful and profound act with deep theological meaning. To fully grasp the weight of this event, we must understand the significance of the veil in the temple and the implications of it being torn apart at that moment. The temple veil was much more than just a physical barrier. It was a deeply symbolic object that represented the separation between God and mankind. The temple, in the Old Testament, was the place where God's presence was believed to dwell. At the heart of the temple was the Holy of Holies, the most sacred and inner room. This was where the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s prese...

Will You Stand With Him?

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When we think about standing with Yeshua, it’s important to remember that this isn’t just about a one-time decision. It's a daily commitment, a constant choice to follow Him, no matter where that leads. For many, standing with Yeshua has meant enduring suffering and loss. And yet, the example of those who have been martyred for their faith serves as a powerful testimony of His strength in our weakness. The story of Asia Bibi , the Pakistani Christian, is a powerful example of a woman who stood firm in her faith even when it cost her years of her life in prison. Imagine being falsely accused, condemned to death, and knowing that you might never see your family again. But Asia’s story is one of unwavering faith. She chose to hold on to the truth of the Gospel, even when it meant facing persecution. Her strength didn’t come from herself, but from God. Even in her darkest moments, she was sustained by His grace. It’s the same grace that is available to each of us when we choose to...

THE PROVIDER

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God’s provision is one of the most profound and powerful truths in Scripture. It’s not just a concept or an abstract idea—it’s a living reality for those who trust in Him. He has promised to provide, and His word is sure. The Creator of the universe, the One who spoke the world into existence, is the same God who promises to meet every need of those who trust in Him. But the key here is trust. Without trust in the provision of God, we miss out on the fullness of what He offers. We must trust in Him completely—wholeheartedly. There is no half-way with God; it is either all or nothing. His provision is a promise that requires our faith, our belief that He will act in His perfect timing, with perfect wisdom, and with perfect love. When we truly trust in the Lord, when we let go of our anxiety and cling to His promises, we open ourselves to seeing His miraculous hand move in ways we could never have imagined. The Psalms echo this truth: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm...

The Good Shepherd

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There’s something profoundly intimate about the relationship between a shepherd and their sheep. It's not one based on distance or command but on a consistent, ongoing connection. The shepherd doesn't stand apart from the flock and shout orders from afar. No, the shepherd is close by, guiding each sheep with personal care, knowing each one by name, and the sheep knowing the shepherd’s voice. There is a kind of comfort in this relationship, an assurance that the shepherd will lead them through whatever comes their way, even in the harshest of circumstances. Jesus captures this deep relationship in John 10:3-4, where He says, “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” It is the voice of the shepherd that matters most. It’s not the loudest or most dominant voice in the crowd, but ...

From Darkness to Light

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John 9 is this amazing story of a man who was born blind, but it’s not just about a physical healing—it’s this powerful symbol of moving from darkness to light, both in a physical and spiritual sense. The chapter kicks off with a question from Jesus’ disciples: “Rabbi, who sinned , this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). And that question really shows how people back then thought about suffering. If someone had a physical problem, like blindness, they assumed it had to be because of sin—either the person’s sin or their family’s sin. They had this idea that if something bad happened to you, it was a punishment for something you did wrong. The Greek word for sinned here is hamartano (ἁμαρτάνω), which means to "miss the mark." It’s about moral failure, like messing up in God’s eyes. So, the disciples are basically asking, “Who messed up to cause this guy to suffer?” But Jesus flips it on them. He says, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned , but that ...

From Cuneiform to the Digital Age: Using Technology Wisely

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When we reflect on how humanity has communicated over the centuries, it’s truly fascinating to see the journey we’ve made. Think back to the ancient days of cuneiform, one of the earliest known systems of writing, developed by the Sumerians around 3000 BCE. People would carve symbols into clay tablets, recording everything from laws to stories to the thoughts of the kings. This act of writing was more than just practical; it was seen as something sacred. The Sumerians believed that their gods gave them this gift of writing. This wasn’t just a new tool; it was an avenue through which the divine communicated with humans. "What we write," they thought, "is not just human; it's something that comes from the gods." In the same way, today we live in a digital age where words, ideas, and communication travel faster than ever before. We’re no longer limited to clay tablets or even paper—now we have the ability to send messages across the world instantly, through t...

Living out the fruits of the Spirit

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When we think about living out the fruits of the Spirit in our everyday lives, it’s easy to picture it as something that happens internally, in the quiet of our hearts. And yes, that transformation begins within—our hearts changed by the Spirit’s presence—but it doesn’t end there. It has to show up in how we live, in how we love, in how we interact with people every single day. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, particularly the part where he talks about the fruits of the Spirit ( Galatians 5:22-23 ), is a call not just to have these virtues inside of us, but to let them flow out into the world, visible and tangible. The list he gives us— love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control —becomes the natural evidence of the Spirit working through us. These aren’t just qualities we try to ‘fake it till we make it’ with; they are qualities that are supposed to reflect the character of Christ, to show the world what it looks like when someone surrende...