Devotions (Page 53)

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. The first word “Therefore” indicates a link to the previous chapter. Chapter 11 is the…

Dear Church Family, I have been in more prayer meetings in the last 5 weeks then in the last 12 months. And I am sure some of you have similar experiences.  2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV) has been mentioned a few times in the prayer meetings. 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my…

John 15:5 (CEB) “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything.” Some time ago, I was driving to pick up food near a mall in Etobicoke. I’ve become so used to seeing this area packed full of people, all rushing around. I was a little caught off guard to see how empty the streets and parking lots were, that…

Matthew 26:6-11 6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She…

Numbers 23:19 19 God is not human, that he should lie,     not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act?     Does he promise and not fulfill? Last week I was greatly encouraged by a powerful testimony from Nicaragua. It shows how God orchestrated a whole container of medical supplies way back in 2015, before COVID-19 appeared on the scene, to meet the escalating medical need in March 2020!  Wow, how cool is that? Last Thursday,…

Author: Eric Wee 24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24) Recently I was discharged from the hospital for my angioplasty. It was a nervous time for me as I can’t even recall when was the last time I was admitted to a stay in the hospital. Many things rushed through my mind about the procedure – about the uncertainties and outcomes. Prayer works. Because the Peace of God will guard your heart…

Authors: John & Kuen Tan from the West End Life-Spring What is going on in the world today and where are we heading?  Two months ago if someone mentioned that there would be a pandemic caused by an unknown virus called Covid-19, which will bring the world to a lockdown and the worldwide economy crashing down, many would have just brushed it off as impossible or scaremongering.  Why? The world was at the height of an economic boom, the stock…

Dear Church Family, I just wanted to share with you two prayers from my time with the Lord today. These two prayers are taken from the ancient devotional practice chronicled in the book, The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle The Midday Office The Prayer Appointed for the DayGrant me, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while I am placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus…

So, I don’t know this from personal experience, but they say when people get married, all of their habits and complexities, all the quirky little things that make up each person, come right along with them… Apparently, they don’t just exist there with you though. The good, the bad and the ugly of each person becomes even more obvious and exaggerated in marriage.  Before COVID-19 changed life as we know it, that was only a hypothetical to me. As it…

Happy Good Friday everyone! This weekend marks a special time for Christians everywhere–Easter weekend. In past years, Good Friday may have just meant a day off of work, but I think it has special significance this year in light of COVID-19. What we commemorate on Good Friday is the day that Jesus was crucified and buried. Can you imagine what this day must have been like for Jesus’s disciples and followers? After Jesus’s crucifixion, the disciples went into hiding, fearing what might…

Matthew 12 New Living Translation (NLT)7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep!…“…For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you…

Psalm 1211 I look up to the mountains—    does my help come from there?2 My help comes from the Lord,    who made heaven and earth!3 He will not let you stumble;    the one who watches over you will not slumber.4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel    never slumbers or sleeps.5 The Lord himself watches over you!    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.6 The sun will not harm you by day,    nor the moon at night.7 The Lord keeps you from all harm    and watches over your life.8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,    both now and forever.…