Living Today
Articles from Christian teachers and leaders. Designed to help you, as you follow Jesus here in Bougainville
Where are Today’s Disciples?
By Tony Davenport Just days after claiming millions of uncommitted Christians are causing a “catastrophic decline in a Biblical worldview” veteran Christian researcher George Barna says that’s also led to a critical shortage of disciples. In expanding on the theme of...
Where Are Today’s Disciples?
Just days after claiming millions of uncommitted Christians are causing a “catastrophic decline in a Biblical worldview” veteran Christian researcher George Barna says that’s also led to a critical shortage of disciples. In expanding on the theme of his new book...
Where Are Today’s Disciples?
Just days after claiming millions of uncommitted Christians are causing a “catastrophic decline in a Biblical worldview” veteran Christian researcher George Barna says that’s also led to a critical shortage of disciples. In expanding on the theme of his new book titled: Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind and Soul, Mr. Barna observed Christians are swapping a Biblical worldview for alternative philosophies. His research found most parents are so poorly discipled in...
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...
Seasons
We all experience different seasons in our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from...
Relationships
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is, for the brethren to dwell together in unity. Relationships are such a part of our lives that at times we forget how important and necessary they are. Every part of our day is revolved around different forms of relationships. Imagine a life with no relationships? We would be like a person stranded on a deserted island. Yes, at first it might be alright, (especially for introverts), but after a while without any other human contact, we...
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...
The Cross at Easter
The cross is an important symbol during Easter, reminding us of the incredible sacrifice Jesus made. Despite all of our struggles and pain, the cross reminds us we are not alone in this world. We can find strength and comfort knowing that Jesus has already saved us from our sins. It’s this hope for redemption through Christ’s death on the cross that makes Easter such an integral part of Christian tradition. Stu Millar from Train to Proclaim recently shared on Vision Chrisitan Media his...
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...
Stand on God’s Word (1)
‘I have blotted out… your transgressions, and… your sins.’ Isaiah 44:22 NKJV
When you have a hard time forgiving yourself. There is only one unpardonable sin named in the Bible (see Luke 12:10). As a believer, you probably haven’t committed it, and God will forgive you for everything else. However, when God says He forgives you and you refuse to forgive yourself, it’s like opting to stay in prison after the judge has wiped your record and set you free. And worse, you’re committing the sin of pride. How come? Because when God forgives you, and you refuse to forgive yourself, you’re putting your opinion above His.
If you’re having trouble forgiving yourself, stand on God’s Word: ‘I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.’ (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV) ‘I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.’ (Isaiah 44:22 NKJV) ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.’ (Isaiah 55:7 NKJV) ‘“Never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,” says the Lord God.’ (Ezekiel 16:63 NKJV) ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ (1 John 1:9 KJV) ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.’ (Romans 8:1 NKJV)
Are you ‘in Christ Jesus’? Then rejoice; you no longer need to struggle under the weight of condemnation. God has totally forgiven you, so forgive yourself and move on.
SoulFood: Judg 4–6, Mk 8:1–13, Ps 88:9b–18, Prov 13:4–6
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©