Fragrant

2 and live in love as the Anointed One loved you—so much that He gave Himself as a fragrant sacrifice, pleasing God. Ephesians 5:2 I got to thinking about being fragrant. There are some gorgeous fragrances out there - flowers, bacon, fresh baking, clean washing, natural and man-made scents that delight our senses. Then there are …

Real, True Religion

I am reading JI Packer's Knowing God. This verse from Jeremiah came up in my current chapter. Then the other's followed in my reading. It felt like something I should take note of particularly in light of conversations I had and issues in the world that I read about. I don't have a lot to …

Dressed for Success?

Wow, it's been a while since I wrote here, longest gap since I started. Lots of things going on with me: changes, growth and loss but all good and nothing that compares to the joy of knowing Him! On that note, I had a verse today that made me go 'Hmmm' - in a good way. …

What Are You Looking For?

These are the people who chase after Him;     [like Jacob, they look for the face of God] Psalm 24:6 These people, that the psalmist refers to, are people of integrity and honesty before God. They are able to come into His presence, to 'ascend the hill of the Lord'. Ears to listen, eyes to see— …

Cover Your Face

I read Psalm 51 yesterday. I pretty much know it by heart - its sentiments are very close to this wayward heart but a different translation can bring fresh thoughts and verse 9 made me pause. Cover Your face so You will not see my sins,     and erase my guilt from the record. Psalm 51:9 I'm …

Not the Blessing We Were Looking For

Maybe you recall the old Sunday School song based on Acts 3. If you watch the video keep an eye out for the disappointment on the lame man's face when Peter and John hold out empty hands. Then see how his face changes before he goes 'walking and leaping and praising God'. Isn't that the …

Penalty!

I went to watch my soccer team yesterday, during the game two players were given red cards for clear violations of the laws of the game. The players on the field were outraged telling the referee that he was wrong, that the player didn't deserve it, that the whole thing was unjust. But the laws …

Bite the Bullet

I realised this morning that there are some changes I just hate. I received an email from Microsoft last year about the decommissioning of Live Mail in Windows, I took a look at the Mail app in Windows 10 and stuck my head in the sand ignoring it. They sent me another email last month …

Immanuel

Before we know the God of Love we can be in any number of places: disbelief in His existence, doubt of that existence, fear and worry that He is real, terror because we know He is real. Then we come to know Him: we meet the God of Love who came down to earth so …

Hallelujah

I get excited about things. I am very much an in- the-moment person crying with the sad movie, shouting at the bad guy, cheering on the hero. Songs, movies, books, pictures can make me laugh or cry. Yesterday the sermon I heard made me want to jump up and down and shout for joy because …