Psalms 24:3-4 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. The heart biologically, is an interesting organ with complex mechanism underlying it's function. Any impact... Continue Reading →
PERFORMANCE OR PRAYER?
Prayer is a very interesting enterprise, one that we see many examples and templates in scripture. Today, the Gospel sets our focus to two prayers we know quite well in the parable of the Pharisee and Tax collector, both of who went to the temple to pray. Their prayers were captured in this manner: "The... Continue Reading →
THE ALABASTER JAR OF OIL
Reference text: Luke 7:36-50 Do a bit of visualization with me today as you read along. As best as you can, picture the scene in this story: Jesus is startled while he sits at table. What is that? Or rather, who is that? He looks down to see a trembling woman. One who had crept... Continue Reading →
KEEP THE FRAME IN MIND
Luke 14:29-30 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.’ For our discourse today, I will digress from what seems the core of today's Gospel: "making detailed plans". In no way am... Continue Reading →
THE POSTURE FOR RECEIVING
Observers might look at a person's life and say "they got lucky". Yet, it would surprise us to know that life is not always a game of chance and probability. There is a 'how' to obtaining from life the results desired. You may know what to do, but there is a how to do it... Continue Reading →
A POLISHED EXTERIORÂ
Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. One of the interesting things about the world we live is the concept of branding or advertising. In this concept, organisation's and individuals can... Continue Reading →
GATEKEEP YOUR HEART
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. A gatekeeper does literally what the job title suggests, 'he keeps the gate', only permitting lawful entry. While in most cases... Continue Reading →
BEYOND WORDS
Luke 1:29-30 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. Mary's response to the words of the Angel Gabriel catch our attention. Following the introductory salutation, her... Continue Reading →
WHEN GOD SAYS ‘NO’
There are parts of scripture that tell you exactly what it wants to say. No need for longwinded interpretations, the content send the message loudly and clearly. Today's text from the letter of James is one of such and the verses of interest are as follows: "You want what you don’t have, so you scheme... Continue Reading →