Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst believe". — Mark 9:23 A certain man had a demoniac son, who was afflicted with a dumb spirit. The father, having seen the futility of the endeavours of the disciples to heal his child, had little or no faith in Christ, and therefore, when he was bidden to bring his son to him, he said to Jesus, “If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.”  Now there was an “if” in the question, but the poor trembling father had put the “if” in the wrong place: Jesus Christ, therefore, without commanding him to retract the “if,” kindly puts it in its legitimate position. “Nay, verily,” he seemed to say, “there should be no ‘if’ about my power, nor concerning my willingness, the ‘if’ lies somewhere else.” “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” The man’s trust was strengthened, he offered a humble prayer for an increase of faith, and instantly Jesus spoke the word, and the devil was cast out, with an injunct...

A vision statement is a concise, inspirational declaration that outlines what an organization ultimately aspires to become or achieve in the long term. Think of it as your North Star—it guides strategic decisions, energizes teams, and communicates your future impact to stakeholders. But what is the "vision statement" for our (Christian Lives)? As a Christian, our vision statement can serve as a powerful guide for our life, aligning our actions with our faith.  Our personal Christian vision statement can take many forms., depending on our focus.  A few examples are given here   ​ Service-Oriented ​ To humbly reflect Christ's love by serving others and working for justice, so that all may experience God's grace and goodness. This statement emphasizes living out our faith through action, focusing on both personal service and broader social issues like justice. ​ Relationship-Focused ​Another one is relationship focused.  To grow in my relationship with God and to b...

Question: Do your words stir up discord or bring peace? Scripture: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1 (NIV) Fact:   "Violent language often is as deadly as a lethal weapon.” Every word we speak carries weight. It can either be a spark that ignites conflict or a balm that brings healing. In moments of tension, our instinct may be to defend, correct, or retaliate—but Scripture calls us to something higher: peace. Ask yourself: Do my words stir up discord or bring peace? Do they reflect frustration or faith? Judgment or gentleness? In the words of Tom Hanks in Life, Hope and Truth - "When I was a little boy, my mother taught me: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” I’ve thought about that many times, but it just isn’t true. As well-intentioned as the statement may be, words do hurt! Words are incredibly potent. Wise King Solomon knew that, writing, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”...

Today's interesting post is taken from the Blog Life, Hope and Truth by Tom Clark.  It addresses a very common problem we have - taking correction, accepting it and implementing it. Problem is - most of us are averse to it , which is stupid. My thoughts are simple: If we don't know how to stand corrected and do a course correction in our life, how can we claim to learn from Jesus? And therefore, how can we even claim to be Christians?  Tom Clarks words ring true for every one of us so here it is: How do we course correct the Christian way:  "We can all think back to when we were children and were corrected by our parents—and it was never enjoyable! No matter how gentle, loving and even merciful they may have been, it still stung to be corrected. Does it get any easier to accept correction as an adult? If you can honestly answer “yes” to that question, then you are a rare individual! Most people still find it quite distasteful to be corrected, and yet virtually everyone is...

  When the Heavens Declare Gods Glory

  “The Lord trieth the righteous.” — Psalm 11:5 (KJV) Have you ever been down into the depths of loss or heartbreak, suffering or complete disaster? When the only question in your head is "why me" ? When you feel like you are being threshed literally with no escape? It can be a heartbreaking thought - "I never hurt anyone, I tried to follow our Lord, I tried to do all the right things and I never hurt anyone knowingly. Then why? Why did it have to be me?" Well, it had to be you for the very reasons you feel it should not have been: Your belief, faith & trust in the Lord. This is not a dichotomy. This is the reality of our faith. We are entrusted with a mission because God sees our strength and faith in Him & knows we can see it through with His help. Here is a lesson we can learn from wheat! Wheat, while nestled safely in its husk, is of no use to the one who planted it. Only through threshing—through the shaking, beating, and separating—does its true value...

"Worry is a conversation with self about things we cannot change. Prayer is a conversation with God about things He can change." ​Have you ever found yourself replaying a difficult conversation in your mind, agonizing over a decision you can't undo, or losing sleep over a future event that's completely out of your control? That's worry. It's a relentless loop of mental chatter, a conversation we have with ourselves about all the things we can't fix, control, or change. And it's exhausting. ​Worry drains our energy, steals our peace, and can even take a toll on our physical health. It's the enemy of rest, the opposite of trust. When we worry, we're essentially telling God, "I've got this. I'll handle it myself." We're trying to carry a weight that we were never meant to carry. We become so focused on the "what ifs" that we forget the "what is" and, more importantly, the "Who is." ​ Now, consi...

  And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren . Genesis 29:31 (KJV) Leah was the woman no one chose.  Her father used deception to marry her off. Her husband, Jacob, loved her sister more. And in a world that prized beauty and favor, Leah felt invisible. But God saw her . Look at her history - In Genesis 29, Leah names her sons with aching hope—“Now my husband will love me,” she says. Yet it’s not until her fourth son, Judah, that her focus shifts: “This time I will praise the Lord.” In her pain, Leah found purpose. In rejection, she discovered worship. And God saw her . Leah kept trying to earn love by seeking “more.” More children, more effort, more hope that maybe this time, someone would truly choose her. She was caught in a cycle many perfectionists know—chasing worth through what we can do. But God saw her, not for her role but for her heart . And He honored her. From Leah came the priestly tribe of Levi and the royal line of Juda...

  The two major villains of Christianity are Lucifer and Judas. We imagine their sin and shudder, never imagining we could act like them.  But, within each of us, a complex and often contradictory landscape of loyalties and betrayals does exist. This internal conflict is what we might call "the Judas in you." This isn't about committing a grand, historical betrayal, but rather about the subtle, everyday moments where we turn against our own values, our truest selves, or those we claim to love. It's the part of us that whispers for the easy way out, even if it means compromising our integrity. A part that indulges in hate, criticism, gossip, slander, lies, compromising integrity at work or at home, backbiting, and the list goes on. The Judas in us manifests in various ways. It's the voice that convinces us to stay silent when we should speak up for what is right, prioritizing our comfort over justice. It's the impulse to gossip about a friend to feel more inc...