John Woodward
Dealing With Loss (Part 2)
Sometimes God uses bereavement to bring us to the end of our own resources. When a loved one dies or we grieve a different kind of loss, we discover our need for support and comfort. God designed us to experience abundant life by having our ultimate needs met in Him. As Augustine said, “You have…
Read MoreDealing With Loss
How does abiding in Christ equip the believer to deal with loss? When we suffer personal bereavement, it reveals not only the value we place on who (or what) was taken away, but also the adequacy of the resources we are depending upon during our time of grief. We all face various kinds of loss…
Read MoreCooperating With Grace
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3). “Ignace Jan Paderewski, the famous Polish…
Read MoreGrace For Living
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”(2 Peter 3:18a). The grace of God is the wonderful agency whereby He expresses His life to and through the believer. Paul’s amazing missionary work was accomplished because he was energized by God’s grace: “But by the grace of God I am what…
Read MoreAmazing Grace
The grace of God that saves us is amazing. The grace of God that enables Christian living is also amazing! Grace is the modus operandi of the Christian life. Grace has been defined as “the desire and power to do God’s will with joy.” And where does it come from? Grace comes from the Holy…
Read MorePrayer and Abiding
The spiritual perspective that missionary Hudson Taylor referred to as “The Exchanged Life” reveals our personal inadequacy while also affirming our sufficiency in Christ (Gal. 2:20). Knowing that apart from Christ we can do nothing of God’s will, we rely upon abiding in Christ moment by moment. As Christ said to His disciples, “I am…
Read MoreWatchman Nee’s Discovery
“I want nothing for myself; I want everything for the Lord.” These words of Watchman Nee can be regarded as the motto of his life and ministry. The Local Church movement which he founded also spread overseas, especially after the establishment of the Communist regime in 1949. Through his itinerant preaching and voluminous literature work,…
Read MoreThe Secret of Christlikeness
My last attempt to grow some vegetables was not a successful one. I planted some tomato plants and did some weeding and watering when I “got around to it.” When harvest time came, I had nothing to show for my healf-hearted gesture at veggie-growing. I heard about another fellow who is tomato-challenged. He confessed, “I’m…
Read MoreChrist Our Pattern
A frustrated gardener quipped, I’m not much of a gardener. Once I took a seed catalog and started out the door. ‘Where are you going with that?’ my wife asked. ‘I’m going to show it to my tomatoes,’ I explained.” This reminds me that we need more than an ideal; we need an activated life.…
Read MoreHow Christ Lived
We continue our theme of Jesus Christ as our perfect example. Jesus not only exemplified the ideal standards of motive, words and deeds, He also exemplified the dynamic of HOW God intends for His people to live. As Ian Thomas has written, “Now if it is true that he Lord Jesus Christ will live His…
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