John Woodward
Christ, Our Sanctification
Greetings from saint John. No, I’m not referring to the apostle, just your friend who writes these devotional articles. ” A saint?!” you say. Yes, that’s correct. Now you may be thinking that I’ve gotten a big head and is claiming sinless perfection or something. No, I’m still “forgetting those things which are behind, and…
Read MoreChrist, Our Righteousness
We continue our meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:30: “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God –and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” Jesus is our righteousness! I recall that growing up we celebrated Easter by getting some chocolate and new clothes. As a youngster, the candy was the…
Read MoreRenewing Your Affections
“Martin Lindstrom, an author and speaker, thinks that cellphones have become akin to a best friend for many owners. Lindstrom’s experiment using an MRI helped him discover why. When the subjects saw or heard their phone ringing, their brains fired off neurons in the area associated with feelings of love and compassion. Lindstrom said, ‘It…
Read MoreYour Daily Walk
Walking has becoming a popular form of exercise these days. What was once a necessity is now a creative fitness adventure! Most enjoy teaming up with a friend for the benefits of conversation, encouragement and safety. It is no coincidence that the Bible frequently describes the Christian life in terms of walking. For example…
Read MoreBalancing Our Walk
Our daughters enjoyed some gymnastics when they were growing up. The balance beam looked pretty easy from a distance, but when you try to walk, turn and tumble on that narrow beam, balance is a real challenge! No wonder there are mats are around it. Our perspective on the abundant Christian living requires balance too.…
Read MoreWork Out Your Own Salvation
I remember seeing a couple walking to the shore of Lake Ontario with ice skates, eager to enjoy some skating. I was surprised at the sight because I didn’t think there had been enough freezing weather for the ice to be thick enough to skate on. Confidence in the strength of the ice is vital…
Read MoreThe Selfer’s Prayer
My son was delighted to get a Dodge Viper as one of his Christmas gifts. No, not a full scale $75,000 sports car, but a 1/25th scale model! It reminds me of my modeling hobby as a boy. I enjoyed assembling plastic car and airplane models. (It was a good way to learn about cars…
Read MoreGod’s Dwelling Place
The nativity account features this prophetic birth announcement. An angel announced to Joseph, “‘…you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child,…
Read MoreThe Main Person
An athletic coach advised his team, “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing!” In sports the main thing is sticking to the game plan to win. In the Christian life we need also to continually refocus on the basics. In discipleship we discover that the main thing is not a…
Read MoreBroken to Be Fixed
Dr. Jack R. Taylor recorded a message entitled “The Strength of Weakness.” It is an honest, insightful exposition of the passage that was instrumental in launching Grace Notes 1998. God relplied to Paul’s earnest prayer to remove his “thorn in the flesh”: “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My…
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