Living Today
Interesting articles from Christian teachers and leaders. Designed to help you as you follow Jesus here in Papua New Guinea
4 Ways to Love Better
I was recently talking with someone about some relationship struggles they were experiencing. The need for patience was what we ended up with as a critical component to loving better.
It’s very interesting, that in the love chapter in 1 Corinthians, it starts with “Love is patient…”.
Love in our relationships (spouse, friends, family etc), is more than just the thought. God wants us to love, not just in word, but also in deed! The good part is that God will help us love.
Here are 4 habits Christians could practice to better love one another:
- Be Patient in All Things
1 Corinthians 13:3
Love is patient, love is kind….
- Keep Your Promise
Matthew 5:37
Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
- Learn to Let Go
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
- Trust Without Wavering
1 Corinthians 13:7
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Article by Mark & Cindy, Vision Christian Media
The Voice
The fundamental truth is that as “followers of Christ”, we need to know the voice of our Father BUT in a world with so many voices bombarding us all the time, this is not only hard but can be very confusing. John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me. We have voices telling us how to do just about every part of our lives. Who to vote for, what we identify ourselves as, what is right or wrong. You name it – the voices are plentiful and loud. As believers, God...
A Fathers Heart
Despite having 21 years to prepare a father of the bride speech for my daughter wedding last week - it’s hard as a father to keep reminding yourself that “your little girl” isn’t that little anymore - she has grown up into a beautiful women. There are many great privileges a father gets to have with his daughter. Things like Blowing bubblegum bubbles A high five that stings Learning to whistle First bike ride Rollercoaster introduction Using power tools Fits of laughter and moments of tears...
Who Am I? Part 2
As we continue to remind ourselves of who we are IN CHRIST... the following LIFE GIVING verses speak of all that we have and need is in Christ alone... Complete in Him Colossians 2:10 Crucified with Christ Galatians 2:20 Alive with Christ Ephesians 2:5 Free from condemnation Romans 8:1 Reconciled to God 2 Corinthians 5:18 Qualified to share in His inheritance Colossians 1:12 Firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with gratitude Colossians 2:7 A fellow citizen with the...
Who am I? Part 1
Ever struggled with “who you are?” You know… that voice that says you are defeated, or have nothing, or not beautiful etc. Have a read of these LIFE GIVING VERSES then remind yourself that IN CHRIST… you have everything you need. I AM - God’s child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God 1 Peter 1:23 Forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood Ephesians 1:7 / Hebrews 9:14 / Colossians 1:14 / 1 John 1:9 / 1 John 2:12 A new creature 2 Corinthians 5:17 The...
Living out Faith in a Hostile World
You don’t have to look any further than the most recent headlines to see that we live in uncertain times. Many people think the world has never been more hostile to Christians than it is now, especially since the cancel culture continues to target people who aren’t seen as politically correct. Being a Christian in a deeply secularised society is a growing challenge. Everyone’s truth seems to be accepted unless you’re a Christian. So how do we live out our faith in such a hostile world? With...
Blessed to be a Blessing
Numbers 6:24-26 says Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. If we could shrink the Earth’s population into a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following. There would be: 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from the western hemisphere, both north and south, 8 Africans 52 females; 48 males 80 living in...
When All Seems Lost
Now what? That’s something that all of us have said to ourselves at one time or another. In his new message, ‘When All Seems Lost’, Pastor Jeff Vines covers the topics of marriage and keeping relationships strong. Jeff offers encouragement for those of us who are struggling with chaos and feeling lost. God does not give His law arbitrarily. When God tells us He wants us to live in certain parameters and by certain precepts, He does it because He loves us. If He’s the creator and sustainer of...
Compassion and Action
The crewmembers on board Logos Hope all left their homes at one point to come on board the ship to live and work together with others from around the world. They exchanged their familiar environments for a very unique accommodation – a ship – which sooner or later they also call their home for a specific amount of time. They all do know though, that there are many people in the world, who are longing for a place to stay in which they can experience peace and safety. The refugees who leave...
Dad’s Toolkit
It’s a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the value of family, and in particular the role of dads. What are your strengths as a parent? Are there some areas you could grow in? How do you begin your journey of becoming the parent God has called you to be? Brett and Kate Ryan from Focus on the Family, have created a ‘Dad’s Toolkit’ that’s full of ideas on how dad’s can improve themselves. It contains things like conversation starters with your kids, and questions we can ask our dads. Healthy...
Truth, Lies and Financial Freedom
Many Christians divide their lives into categories. Some things they want Jesus to be a part of, but not others. Because we compartmentalise our Christian lives, according to Pastor Jeff Vines, we instantly assume that everything we don’t devote to God is neutral. God will still love us, but any area that we withhold from Him and think we can handle on our own is a false assumption. C.S. Lewis said, ‘There is no neutral ground in the universe.’ Every square inch, every split second is claimed...
How Are Things At Home?
‘I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.’ Psalm 101:2 NLT
After King David’s affair with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan told him, ‘The sword shall never depart from your house.’ (2 Samuel 12:10 NKJV) And it happened. His son Amnon raped his half–sister Tamar, and because David had lost his moral authority at home, he did nothing about it. When his other son Adonijah tried to take the throne, his father ‘never crossed him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?”’ (1 Kings 1:6 NASB) If ever there was a time David needed to be a husband and father, this was it.
As a leader he unified Israel, won wars, and brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. But with his own family, he blew it. No wonder he ‘went up by… the Mount of Olives, and wept.’ (2 Samuel 15:30 NKJV) When he heard of his son Absalom’s untimely death, he cried, ‘If only I had died in your place!’ (2 Samuel 18:33 NKJV) And when he faced death himself, instead of sending for his wife and children, his servants hired a ‘young woman… and she cared for the king.’ (1 Kings 1:4 NKJV)
The man who made strangers of his own family died in a stranger’s arms. It’s too late to change David’s story—but not yours! If you succeed in your career and fail at home, your achievements will be hollow. Apart from your relationship with God, your first priority should be to love your spouse and dedicate yourself to the children in your care. David wrote, ‘I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.’ Sadly, he didn’t live up to these words. But by God’s grace, your story can be different!
SoulFood: [bible passage=”Gen 40:1–41:43, Phil 2:5–13″ version=”esv” heading=”H3″]
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2023