Living Today
Articles from Christian teachers and leaders. Designed to help you as you follow Jesus here in Solomon Islands
Seeing God’s Calling in our work
Here is a testimony from Lepani about seeing God's calling in his work and how God opened the right doors for him to be connected with a local Church in the Solomon Islands. Greetings in Jesus' Name from the Hapi (Happy) Isles, Solomon Islands. It is with great...
Reflecting on God’s goodness
Here is a testimony from Lepani reflecting on God's goodness and faithfulness in the past... With Pentecost Sunday 2023 around the corner to be celebrated on 28 May, 2023, I wish to reflect on an event that took place on Pentecost Sunday here in the Solomon Islands...
God is Always at Work – We’re not Always Seeing It
Did you know that God is not waiting for us to pray before He starts to work? It’s not like He’s saying, “Hey church, if you don’t pray, I can’t do anything.” The fact is that God is always “up to something”. He’s purposely been out-working His redemptive plan, a plan that’s been underway since day one, way back in the garden. In fact, before the garden. He’s busy wooing people back to Him. He’s already working on your neighbour, or friend, or lost family member. He’s actively in the...
How To Read and Study the Bible
Can you imagine being surrounded by the freshest produce, in the best kitchen with the best utensils, but not knowing how to prepare a meal? For many Christians, that’s exactly what reading the Bible feels like. Simply put, we just don’t know how to utilise it effectively. Ben Windle says you can attend church for many years, listen to a lot of teaching and still not learn how to read the Bible for yourself. Yet there is no better way to fuel our growth than personally engaging with the Bible....
God is Always Speaking
“Hello God, are you there? Why don’t you answer me?” I’m sure that has come out of our mouths at least once in our lifetime. Sometimes the idea is that God has turned off or gone quiet. It’s not like He’s keeping silent to teach us a lesson in faith. The reality is, “God is always speaking; we’re not always listening.” Ezekiel 12:25 For I the Lord will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. Genesis 35:13 Then God went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him. Psalm...
Be of Good Courage
Seeing in the midst of life's challenges From one day to the next, major events and occurrences change the way we see and live our lives. Daily we hear of: • Another major disaster; • Another hourly murder, rape or life ending behaviour; • Another greedy and injustice business deal; • An unsteady fragile stock market; • Another unexpected price rise; It seems harder to find the “Feel Good” stories in the midst of so much destruction, despair and hopelessness. Jesus said in the gospel of John...
Love in Action
How do we respond to someone’s need? Love is experienced in what we say…. But love becomes extravagant in “what we DO”
The Value of Relationships – Part 1
Relationships are such a part of our lives that at times we forget how important and necessary they are. Every part of our day is revolved around different forms of relationships.
Conquering Stress
During the course of our life, we encounter stress. Some in high levels, and some in low. Emails, global linking, social media… it seems that over-night everything has impacted our modern life, creating overwhelming deadlines, frustrations, and demands. How can we be conquering stress in our lives? In 2008, Australian Heathcare company Medibank Private released their research results into “STRESS”. Without the 'per year' hidden costs of re-staffing and re-skilling where there is stress related...
Your Financial Health
Wouldn’t it be nice if having a relationship with God meant we never have to worry or stress about money again? Well... actually, that is possible. Not because God fills our bank accounts supernaturally with money whenever we need it (though we have heard stories about that), rather, when we align the posture of our hearts with the fact that: God IS OUR SOURCE and HE HAS HIS WAY to do finances. In the Bible, God lays out basic principles about how we are to manage our money. Jesus talked about...
Rethinking How We Resolve Conflict
Have you ever been caught off guard and said something you regret? Have you ever been offended or offended someone else and been surprised by the reaction? Some conflicts are minor, but in the worst-case scenario, they can lead to assaults, lawsuits, and even murder. Wayne Forward, from PeaceWise Australia, thinks it’s time for a radical rethink on how we deal with conflict. He says when we find ourselves at the beginning of a dispute, whether it be at home, work or even at church, we often...
Christianity and the Problem of Evil
Why do Christians walk away from their faith? It’s hard to imagine how anyone could turn their back on the grace that God has given us. But sadly it does happen, an often one of the reasons is the inability to reconcile a good God with the bad things that happen. Many Christians grapple with issues around evil. One of the most commonly asked questions about God is, why is there evil in the first place? If God is all good and all powerful, then why doesn’t He do something about it? Dr. Andrew...
Getting the most out of your Bible (2)
‘The unfolding of your words gives light …’ Psalm 11 9:130 NIV
American President Woodrow Wilson said: ‘I am sorry for men who do not read the Bible every day; I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and of the pleasure. It is one of the most singular books in the world, for every time you open it, some old text that you have read a score of times suddenly beams with a new meaning. There is no other book that I know of, of which this is true; there is no other book that yields its meaning so personally, that seems to fit itself so intimately to the very spirit that is seeking its guidance.’
If you want to get the most out of your Bible, ask these questions:
1) Is there a warning to heed?
2) Is there a promise to claim?
3) Is there a sin to forsake?
4) Is there a command to obey?
5) Is there a lesson to learn?
6) Is there a principle to apply?
7) Is there an example to follow?
As you ask yourself these seven questions, keep a journal to write down the answers God gives you, and you will be amazed at the wisdom you glean. You will be thrilled by the success principles you learn. Your anxieties will begin to lift, your mind will clear, and you will experience peace.
John writes, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’ (John 1:1 NIV). Notice the phrase ‘the Word was God’. The more you read your Bible, the more of God’s presence and power you will experience. You might even adopt the old advertising slogan: ‘Don’t leave home without it.’
SoulFood: Exo 22-24, John 3:1-21, Ps 89:1-14, Pro 26:17-19
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©