Posts with the category “thank-god-it-s-friday”

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.James 3:13Last Friday we reflected on the many people who have come before us who encourage us in our faith through their perseverance.I wrote this blog post the day after the news of Tim Keller’s death. There have been many social media posts and articles discussing h...  Read More

1 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. 3...  Read More

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.1 Thessalonians 4:13-14I remember getting an update from an old friend that they had just been diagnosed wit...  Read More

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify t...  Read More

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6Life is full of problems to be solved. Little problems like what to eat for dinner. Big problems like family or work conflict. Sometimes, particularly these big problems, they consume us. We begin to lose sleep. We can’t think of anything else.Do you hav...  Read More

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.Hebrews 4:9-11Do you get tired of hard work? Particularly, of the hard work of following Jesus? It isn’t easy to resist the te...  Read More

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Ephesians 2:10I’ve been unemployed a few times in my life. My first University degree was a Bachelor of Arts majoring in History & Politics. To steal a movie quote, all this meant is that I could think deeper thoughts about being unemployed.I remember it was really hard. That feeling...  Read More

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.1 Timothy 1:12-14Living f...  Read More

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.Romans 12:4-6Remember the WWJD (what would Jesus do) movement? It seemed like every kid had a WWJC bracelet. It was an interesting idea ...  Read More

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.Genesis 1:3-4Growing up I had a friend who lost his mum at the age of 9. It left him with a Dad and two younger brothers. A house of three bo...  Read More

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sistersRomans 8:28-29I don’t know about you. But I’ve made a lot of mistakes in life. I’ve made decisions that hurt me and many that hurt...  Read More

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.2 Timothy 3:16-17Imagine for a moment that someone you really looked up to you, wrote you, you personally, a book. A book of their thoughts, their life story and their wisdom on how to live. Wouldn’t you treasure it?...  Read More

The heavens declare the glory of God;    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.Day after day they pour forth speech;    night after night they reveal knowledge.They have no speech, they use no words;    no sound is heard from them.Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,    their words to the ends of the world.Psalm 19:1-4We live in a beautiful part of the world. Every time I walk down to t...  Read More

Shouts of joy and victory    resound in the tents of the righteous:“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;    the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”I will not die but live,    and will proclaim what the Lord has done.The Lord has chastened me severely,    but he has not given me over to death.Open for me the gates of the righteous;    I will ente...  Read More

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be h...  Read More

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.Romans 1:21Today we look at the flipside of thanksgiving: thanklessness. Ever done something for someone and received no thanks? What if that happened every time? You work hard to show kindness to someone, going out of your way for them, sacr...  Read More

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.Psalm 107:21The pessimist looks at the world and sees calamity at every turn. The optimist sees linear progress. What is your bent towards? What should the Christian see? What God sees right?So what does God see? Well, all perspectives I think. But truthfully and He tells us something of this. The pessimist...  Read More

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13The early Church Father, Tertullian said it best, “Hope is patience with the lamp lit.” The reality is that life can be very dark because of death and its symptoms. And if the Dawkins brigade are right then it is far dar...  Read More

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.2 Thessalonians 1:3 One of the most encouraging things in life is when people grow in their faith. That’s what I reckon anyway. When people have a ‘light-bulb’ moment in regards to God’s grace. When people make faithful ...  Read More

When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.”2 Chronicles 7:3 In the history of Israel every now and then God did something that showed people His glory. That would cause them to look on in wonder a...  Read More

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.1 Timothy 2:1-3I don’t think Christians know how to think about pol...  Read More

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.2 Thessalonians 2:16-17Aussies are an optimistic bunch. “I’ll be right.” Often, it’s a wishful thinking kind of optimism with no solid reason for hope.Have you ever thought things would be ok? But they ...  Read More

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.Romans 16:3Is there someone who gave a lot so that you could be saved? Paul speaks of two people, a married couple, and his thankfulness for them. They risked their lives so that Paul could continue his gospel work and this has led to grate...  Read More

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.James 1:2-4When we think of thanksgiving we typically (and understandably) turn to things that make us the happiest. We thank God for good times, go...  Read More

The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.Psalm 9:16As many know by now, I’m a sucker for a good reality doco. I’m not talking about MAFS or The Bachelor. Our family loves Lego Masters (and more recently, Survivor). But mainly I’m talking about documentaries that shed light on places and events, particularly injustices that would otherwise never b...  Read More

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.James 1:23-25Do you ever wonde...  Read More

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.Hebrews 13:7It’s a tricky time to be a leader. High profile failures have (rightly) placed leaders under increased scrutiny. After all, leadership is power. Power to lead people toward evil or power to lead people toward good. Added to this is a lack of trust in authority and ...  Read More

Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.Romans 10:4It’s hard to imagine being an Old Covenant Israelite. To keep the law of God/Moses is almost inconceivable to us. The first thing that comes to mind is trivial. No bacon! But then there’s the other stuff. The unclean/clean rules that meant separating yourself for periods of time (particular...  Read More

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.2 Corinthians 5:14-15 What does it mean to show thankfulness? I reckon it depends a bit on the context. Someone takes your plate to wash up. Saying thanks seems proporti...  Read More

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.Ephesians 2:8-9On weekday mornings at the Canosa household we do family breakfast. On Mondays, we memorise something from the Bible. Tuesday-Thursday, it’s working through ‘Exploring the Bible Together’ by David Murray. On Fridays, we spend time givin...  Read More

Shouts of joy and victoryresound in the tents of the righteous:“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”I will not die but live,and will proclaim what the Lord has done.The Lord has chastened me severely,but he has not given me over to death.Open for me the gates of the righteous;I will enter and give thanks to...  Read More