Silent Time

Among the characteristics how God treats us - and how we are called to act towards others – is love and mercy. God forgives us, so we are also called to forgive others. God does not want anything to tear down our lives, so we, too, should not tear down others. God wants to build up our lives, so we are called to build up others’ lives as well. For example to help to get out of the troubles of life...

Is there any hope? Often there seems to be none considering the circumstances in the world. And yet there is great and true hope!

Would you call yourself meek? Hardly anyone nowadays refers to oneself as meek. Meek and humble are old words, often regarded as old-fashioned or outdated. And the meaning of the 2 words is often thought of in a negative way associated with “weak”. But often the opposite is true, the meek need to be strong in a world of pressure, temptation and persecution. While going through difficult circumstan...

On earth as in heaven.

There is a multitude of reasons that bring us into trouble, it might be our own fault or from others. Whatever the origin of the hardship is, such situations at the same time always offer chances to learn and grow. As long as we go through it we may not like it, but when looking back later on, they can be found as valuable life’s lessons.

Nobody is perfect, we all fall short of the good guidance and commends of the holy God. But there is good news: if we humbly receive the grace of the Lord, then nobody can accuse us.

Love is better than burnt offerings.

Whether we admit it or not, nobody has everything 100% under control, we may try to optimize some aspects of life, and the same time neglect other aspects. Even the most intelligent person has weaknesses. By the grace of the almighty God the highest, our lives may be blessed in those aspects which are really important and that count in the end.

It is one thing to bring prayer requests to God. Beyond that, there are many more aspects of prayer: to pray also for others in intercession, to bring our wrongdoing to God and to receive his forgiveness, to request the Lord for guidance to receive his advice, as well as to give thanks and praise to the Lord. And then we can pass on the good news to others as well, to proclaim the Lord’s mighty ac...

Have you noticed that many people do not have real hope? They only see this physical life and if they do not get what they want, they either get aggressive or they fall in despair or depression. But from the good news, we get real hope. In the Lord we can find refuge that reaches even beyond our imagination.

In the universe, regularly there are new findings with using telescopes and modern technology, and yet no planet like the earth is found, its distance to the sun is exactly arranged in a way to enable life, added by its prcise angle of rotation etc make the earth unique and water in its 3 phases enables physical life as we know it. The eternal, all-knowing God in his wisdom has created the univers...

What is the bread of life for you?

In the wilderness, if the strongest animal protects another one, then it is safe. If the strongest army is on guard, then no other rebels can harm them. How much more, if the real highest force is on guard: The almighty God promises to protect those who put their trust in him from all real harm.

What do you think of, when you hear the word “blessing”? An old-fashioned word? Or simply a good wish? There is much more to it, so big that it even goes far beyond our imagination.

There are many types of needs in life, for example the need for change, or the needs in case of being poor, or the need for rest when having too much work and there is also the need for forgiveness, because nobody is perfect. God offers help in all these needs.

What are your biggest doubts and fears? Several of the apostles had to go through serious trouble, pain and challenges. They learned to look to the Lord rather than to focus on the storm. We get invited to learn the same.

Jacob had wrestled long time in that night. God showed him: there are things that Jacob had done wrong. But when he understood and repented, he received forgiveness and a new name. How thankful he must have been, when the sun rose on that day. It got brighter, and also his life got much brighter. We stay in darkness our life long, when we reject God's mercy and goodness.

Think of a person with a good reputation. And of a person with a bad reputation. So many things are talked each day about others, spreading rumour and gossip.

The good news is available to people of any background, of every culture and every origin. When Barnabas saw that the people of Antioch had received the good news in their heart by the grace of God, he was amazed and very glad, then he encouraged them. Do you receive the good news today or do you reject it?

Any kinds of idols, whether hidden or obvious, can bring a lot of curse and adversity, often indirectly.  Jacob had worked for many years for his father in law. When leaving him, hidden “household gods” created trouble. Such an idol can be anything in life that becomes more important than God. What is most important to you – the almighty, living, creator God, or anything else in life?

Do you know persons who have difficulty to breath? Praise the Lord, if your lungs work properly, absorbing sufficient oxygen for a healthy body. For a healthy soul, prayer is like breathing. What stops us from praying? What separates us from God?

Does it make sense to punish the messenger who brings an uncomfortable truth?

By what do you live? It is clear that the human body needs food … we can calculate the required calories, minerals, vitamins and so on. But that is not all: we also need oxygen and a suitable ambient pressure and temperature range, etc. And much more. Even more than all that, we continually need the presence and protection of the Lord.

How easily we judge other people by their outer appearance! You may watch yourself for a couple of days: we meet someone whom we do not know yet and immediately form an opinion within a few seconds and in our mind put them into categories. Praise the Lord that he does not judge us people by such criteria as we do. 

What are your goals and targets? Some people achieve a lot, climb up the hierarchies and become successful in such a sense. Others can manage a lot of tasks within the 24 available hours per day. But to come to the father – is that a goal?