There are a lot of big things happening in the world. They can be scary or unsettling.We hear about missiles and rumours of war. We hear about destruction and pain. And that’s on top of the general malaise or anxiety that a lot of people are feeling.Last winter I was speaking with another parent at … Continue reading “Because my God is bigger”
power of God
When all seems broken, uncertain or wrong
Professor Michael Reeves says: “When all seems broken, uncertain, or wrong, remember God the unchanging who, through it all, cannot be broken, uncertain, or wrong.”* Let’s just sit with that for a minute. Are there times when things seem broken?Are there times when things seem uncertain?Are there times when things seem wrong?Yes, yes, and yes. … Continue reading When all seems broken, uncertain or wrong
The protection of our big brother
We’ve been thinking about Jesus as our big brother. He is described in those terms in Romans 8:29, and he calls disciples “brothers and sisters” in Mark 3:35. One of the things an ideal big brother does is protect his younger siblings. ‘But,’ you might be thinking, ‘Jesus doesn’t protect me—at least not in a … Continue reading The protection of our big brother
His power gives confidence and peace
Jesus is powerful. If you believe in and follow him, you probably already think that. But the more we learn about his power and goodness, the more confident we become. A greater understanding of his power and goodness also brings us greater peace. Let me provide an example. As I’ve been explaining, spiritual warfare is … Continue reading His power gives confidence and peace
Walking into a battlefield with one eye closed
When I say the word “demons,” what comes to mind? Is it The Exorcist movie, or someone on TV supposedly commanding an evil spirit to depart as he hits someone on the forehead? There is a lot of information out there which is either misguided or wrong. But that shouldn’t dissuade us from learning more … Continue reading Walking into a battlefield with one eye closed
Christ of the Abyss
I recently came across a series of amazing pictures from around the world. Most of them depicted nature or works of art. One in particular grabbed my attention. It had both. It was a bronze statue called “Christ of the Abyss.” You can see it in the graphic that goes along with today’s devotional. It … Continue reading Christ of the Abyss
Mesus and McJesus
Kyle Idleman came up with the term “Mesus.”* It’s when we project the things we like about ourselves onto Jesus---and only those things. If we like acts of mercy and adventure, we focus on those things in Jesus (while neglecting everything else). We think we’re honouring Jesus, but we’re really just honouring what we like … Continue reading Mesus and McJesus
God works in the trenches
God works in the trenches. Consider the story of Esther and how messy it was. Young virgins were summoned for a sort of dark, horrid beauty contest in the Persian court. Because Mordechai refused to bow to the king’s second-in-command, Haman, a plot was hatched to kill not only Mordechai, but all of the Jewish … Continue reading God works in the trenches
With God all things are possible
Merry Christmas! After today, The Up Devotional is going on pause until January 3rd, but I just wanted to send you one last message on Christmas morning. Christ is born! Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah—God’s chosen king and representative on the earth. But something his followers came to learn was that Jesus was more than … Continue reading With God all things are possible
Even if he hinders you 10,000 times
In 1 Thessalonians 3:17-18 (ESV) Paul mentions something to his fellow-believers. He was writing from a different town but really wanted to see them in person so he could help and encourage them. He wrote: “we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come … Continue reading Even if he hinders you 10,000 times
