Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,1 Peter 1:3We were at the dentists and the kids were one by one getting their teeth check and cleaned. I was reading a book while one of the kids was on the chair when someone said - there’s something wrong with the secreta...  Read More

Q. 103. What do we pray for in the third petition?A. In the third petition, which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, we pray, that God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.Westminster Shorter CatechismThe idea of someone getting their own way in everything is a concerning thought. We think of t...  Read More

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,“Never will I leave you;    never will I forsake you.”Hebrews 13:5As I write the front cover of the Sydney Morning Herald is dominated by the conversation around poker machines. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that in any given month approx. 40% of Australians will participa...  Read More

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earthAnd in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our LordWho was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin MarySuffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hellThe third day he rose again from the deadHe ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father AlmightyFrom thence he shall...  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 sisters. Romans 8:28-29Many have memorised that God works all things for the good of those who love him. But many forget the next bit. Ho...  Read More

The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law ...  Read More

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earthAnd in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our LordWho was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin MarySuffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hellThe third day he rose again from the deadHe ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father AlmightyApostles CreedWhen y...  Read More

You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this… “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to ...  Read More

Q. 102. What do we pray for in the second petition?A. In the second petition, which is, Thy kingdom come, we pray, that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.Westminster Shorter CatechismAre you frustrated with the evil you see in the world? Do you read, he...  Read More

For you created my inmost being;    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;    your works are wonderful,    I know that full well.My frame was not hidden from you    when I was made in the secret place,    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.Your eyes saw my unformed body;    all the days ordained for me were written in y...  Read More

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earthAnd in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our LordWho was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin MarySuffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hellThe third day he rose again from the deadApostles CreedI’ll never forget. I was at university. Just hanging out, having lunch with a few ot...  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. Romans 8:28When things go wrong, or we do wrong, we ask questions. Questions like, why? Or, what will the consequence be?For the Christian, there is comfort in the knowledge that our sufferings are a part of God’s good plan. Just as there is peace in knowing that even our sin...  Read More