Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. (Proverbs 13:24 NLT) The more I work with children the more aware I’ve become of the lack of discipline in their lives. Years ago, I would have been disciplined for talking back to my eldersContinueContinue reading “Don’t Spare the Rod”
Author Archives: risingwiththeson
Bring It to Him
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. (Matthew 14:16-18 NIV) I once caught up with a friend who was preparing for a difficult test. She shared howContinueContinue reading “Bring It to Him”
No Good Apart from God
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:38 NIV) This is one of my favourite Scriptures. For years I read it and missed the point. See, Jesus ofContinueContinue reading “No Good Apart from God”
Maranatha!
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20 NIV) After witnessing the apocalypse, the apostle John longed for that day and prayed, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus,” and this has been the believer’s prayer ever since. It’s the desire of every follower of Christ to beContinueContinue reading “Maranatha!”
Let His Light Shine
Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” (John 8:12 CEV) There’s a fitting song that we sung on Christmas Eve as we lit the candles atContinueContinue reading “Let His Light Shine”
No Compromise
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not fromContinueContinue reading “No Compromise”
His Word Stands Forever
“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” (1 Peter 1:24-25 NIV) Fall is by far my favourite season of the year. There’s something about this season that just appeals to me. Perhaps it’s theContinueContinue reading “His Word Stands Forever”
From Timid to Bold
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) It seems that lack of confidence was a serious problem for young Timothy (see 1 Corinthians 16:10-11; 1 Timothy 4:12),[i] so Paul wrote to remind him that “God has not given us aContinueContinue reading “From Timid to Bold”
Test Everything
I am as concerned about you as God is. You were like a virgin bride I had chosen only for Christ. But now I fear that you will be tricked, just as Eve was tricked by that lying snake. I am afraid that you might stop thinking about Christ in an honest and sincere way.ContinueContinue reading “Test Everything”
Who Are Your Friends?
Don’t fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you. (1 Corinthians 15:33 CEV) Who are your friends? The truth is we’re prone to be influenced by the people that we associate with. In First Corinthians chapter fifteen, Paul warned the Christians in Corinth against the bad company of the false teachers, who had infiltrated their ranksContinueContinue reading “Who Are Your Friends?”