Another day with Jesus

                                             Ever since I reinvigorated this blog, we've followed the stories of women in the Bible. Today, we begin a new series and we'll focus on the Psalms.   Are they relevant to twenty-first century life?          That's what we'll discover.              Each episode will be a story or a meditation, and you can apply Psalm 1 to the first episode.           What do personal insults and storms have in common?                    How do you survive an onslaught?                                         Melissa    During her final year at her high school, Melissa’s teacher asked the cla...

                                       She’d seen him with her own eyes!   Beauty is in the beholder’s eye. A couple of months ago, I pruned the rosebushes in my garden, and the thorny stalks didn’t attract a second glance. Now pink buds and white velvety flowers flourish, brimming with vitality and beauty. As those tiny buds burst into full bloom, they overpower the stems, delighting us by their perfection.     Rhoda was a young servant girl whose name means ‘rose.’ She guarded the entrance to the Jerusalem home of Mary, John Mark’s mother, where first century Christians gathered for fellowship and worship. King Herod had martyred James to curry favor among the Jews. Their approval incited him to arrest more Christians, such as Peter, Herod’s next prized trophy.   Imagine if you were a first century believer in Jesus, or if our twenty-first century go...

                                                                   Mismatched                                                                           And God is good      A homeless man slouched on a park bench beside St Andrews Cathedral. I watched a group of teenagers in smart navy blue uniforms from the college skirt past him, and the stark contrast startled me. Why was he living on Sydney’s streets? Although I didn't know what had cause his situation, my heart overflowe...

  Sarah: mother of a nation            God kept her waiting until it seemed  i mpossible...   I glanced in my rear vision mirror as I drove at the speed limit down the highway. The guy on my tail was so close I couldn’t see his number plate. The right lane cleared, and he sped past me, maneuvering to the front of the queue. I drew up at the next traffic lights, and there he was, drumming the steering wheel with his fingers. Was he running late, or was his entire life spent in the fast lane, never enjoying a moment’s peace?     What can’t you wait for? A better home? To finish your studies? To recover from illness? Or significantly, a partner or a baby?       The centuries haven’t changed our yearning for precious little people. Abraham and Sarah were childless at seventy-five and sixty-five, expecting a lonely retirement. Instead, God sent these gray nomads from Haran on an epic journey into the unknown. T...

                                      Jesus won her heart.                                                                                                                               The Bride “I’m going to marry him!” “Oh! You’re his chosen bride?” “Yes, will you be one of my bridesmaids? I’m going to ask all our nine sisters because I can’t choose between them for our wedding party.” I’ve been discussing my wedding with my sisters. Dorcas is a seamstress and Lydia sells purple fabrics. My father agreed, signed the contract, and paid the price for my marriage. Althoug...

     Special moments...      and l ife-changing memories.  As I grow older, I spend more time reflecting on incidents of my childhood. I vividly remember my grandmother sending me a beautiful doll for my birthday. Mum took me to the post office after school to collect the large parcel and told me it contained something I'd been wanting for a long time. That's over sixty years ago, but the excitement and mystery of that moment will always stay with me.  What's your special memory? I imagine his disciples shared nostalgic memories about Jesus after he returned to heaven.   “Do you remember when he healed the little girl?” “Or the time he cooked breakfast at the beach?”     “Or when I sank into the Sea of Galilee, and he reached out and rescued me?”   “We met him on the road to Emmaus, and he explained the scriptures …I realized he was talking about himself. He is the Messiah!”   If you had been in Bethany durin...

                                             The Dinner Guest     Knock! Knock!  “Jesus! How good to see you! Please come in! You are just in time for dinner.”        The Lord Jesus had arrived in Bethany, at Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ home, where he was always welcome. They loved the Master. The village was three kilometres northwest of Jerusalem, and a congenial home where Jesus could rest after his journey.        As Lazarus and his male guests reclined at the table, Mary’s excited heart fluttered because Jesus was about to teach them more about his Father. Imagine knowing God like Jesus did! She snuck in behind the men and soaked up his words. His gentle, measured voice was a balm to her troubled heart. Martha kept Mary running off...

            Just when she reached the end of her resources...    What is it about Jesus that demands your attention?               How does he inspire you? When he lived in Galilee two thousand years ago, he attracted enormous crowds, who followed him everywhere he went. Throughout every generation, he has drawn followers. What sets him apart from everyone else? His love and compassion are exceptional. The most desperate or humble the person may approach him and expect to receive his love and compassion.   But he gives more than sympathy. He heals, restores minds and bodies, and by his example, reveals the character of his Father in a new light.   While Jesus lived on earth, how did he heal?   He performed miracles. How? While it’s impossible to know how he did them, it’s more important to realize he is God who can restore the people he created because his intelligence and power outs...