Romans: God’s Perfect Plan
Romans: God’s Perfect Plan
(Journey with David Cook – Walk through Romans in 50 Days)
The book of Romans outlines what Christians believe, and explains God’s perfect plan in bringing sinners back to Him. More than any other single book in the whole of the Bible, it has played a crucial role in shaping church history. It has been called the greatest theological…
Discover an invitation from Jesus
Saying life is messy is an understatement for most of us! So is it possible for us to have peace about our life only when everything gets in order? Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled . . . trust Me.”
Never Give Up!
When missionary Adoniram Judson entered Burma (Myanmar) in July 1813, he found an unreached people in a hostile land. Today, there are some 3,700 congregations who trace their origin to Judson’s pioneering ministry. His primary legacy, however, is the complete translation of the Bible into Burmese—still in use today. Judson’s path was difficult, for he faced opposition, rejection, imprisonment, serious illness, pain. He also lost two wives and seven children to death. But through it all he persevered for the cause of Christ.
How I Managed Doubt In My Life
When I was in primary school, I used to stammer. This speech impediment hampered my conversations with friends, teachers, and parents, leaving me with feelings of inadequacy.
Whose Mess?
“Could they not carry their own garbage this far?” I grumbled to Jay as I picked up empty bottles from the beach and tossed them into the trash bin less than 20 feet away. “Did leaving the beach a mess for others make them feel better about themselves? I sure hope these people are tourists. I don’t want to think that any locals would treat our beach with such disrespect.”
The very next day I came across a prayer I had written years earlier about judging others. My own words reminded me of how wrong I was to take pride in…
I was born and raised in Rwanda. I had five siblings and the most amazing parents. My parents were very devout and we went to church regularly. We read the Bible and prayed together every night as a family. We were taught to love and treat others like family too. When I imagined heaven, I pictured my family lining up before God and my dad introducing my mom and us children to Him. And then God would wave us through, leading us into heaven. I could not possibly imagine things going any other way.
But around 8 p.m., April 6,…
My wife was 30 weeks pregnant when we lost our baby. She got home late from her first family baby shower and we stayed up even later going through each gift for our first daughter. But during the night, she started cramping and we drove to the hospital. I was sure that we were overreacting. Two weeks prior, the obstetrician said everything was fine. But the ultrasound at the hospital showed no heartbeat. Our baby had died.
“We’ll take care of everything,” said the doctor.
We barely heard her. We were lost in our hurt, confused by what was happening, and…
What kind of life does God desire for us?
Life has a way of shaking up our stability, and it is times like this that reveal where we place our trust. God desires for us a life of wholeness, a life of being complete. But how we get there is very important.
Waiting for God
At 14, I had been wandering from Jesus. But then I turned back to Him and went from a rebellious teenager to His passionately enthusiastic disciple. One night, I planned to stay up until God revealed Himself to me. This lasted about 3 hours before I succumbed to tired eyes and fell asleep. The next morning, I was deeply disappointed that a tangible experience with God didn’t take place. For I thought that He would surely respond to the eager expectations of a young girl. Over the years, however, God has revealed Himself to me in many unexpected ways as I’ve…
I Can’t Stop Sinning: What Should I Do?
I’ve just joined a squash club and I’m starting to think it was a mistake. For one, the membership, courts, new shoes, racquet, and balls are expensive. Secondly, every game reduces me to a sweaty mess—surely it must be unhealthy to sweat that much in one 40-minute window.
Pencil Battle
As I learned to write my letters, my first-grade teacher insisted that I hold my pencil in a specific way. As she watched me, I held it the way she wanted me to. But when she turned away, I obstinately reverted the pencil to the way I found more comfortable.
I thought I was the secret winner in that battle of the wills, and I still hold my pencil in my own peculiar way. Decades later, however, I realize that my wise teacher knew that my stubborn habit would grow into a bad writing practice that would result in my hand…
Ant-Man: Good Things Come in Small Packages
On paper, Marvel’s twelfth instalment, Ant-Man stands no chance against the other Marvel heavyweights. There’s nothing revolutionary about its bug suits, its advanced technology, or its shrinking powers. Yet, it manages to beat the bad guy on the big screen—by reducing its hero to a speck. Ant-Man, clearly, is no small (ahem) proof that good things come in small packages.
Obtaining peace during times of conflict
Jesus said He came that we might have abundant life. The problem for us is that sometimes we think “abundant” means “easy.” Join us for an encouraging conversation about the issue of peace during times of conflict. Incredible lessons can be learned from Jesus’ last night with His disciples.
What God Has Done
Recently I had the privilege of speaking at a summer camp for boys, aged 9 to 12. During that week, the Holy Spirit moved and twelve campers received Jesus as their Savior. On the last night, one 9-year-old boy—who had received salvation during the camp—approached me and said, “You changed my life!” I smiled and replied, “I’m so happy, but God is the One who truly changed your life!” I knew it was God who had done the work in the precious boy’s heart.
The Checkup
It’s that time of year when I go to the doctor for my annual physical. Even though I feel well and I’m not experiencing any health problems, I know that routine checkups are important because they can uncover hidden problems that if left undiscovered can grow to be serious health issues. I know that giving permission to my doctor to find and remedy the hidden problems can lead to long-term health.
Clearly the psalmist felt that way spiritually. Pleading for God to search for hidden sin, he prayed, “Search me, O God, . . . and see if there is any…
