Her Sides

  The story of Christmas is as uplifting as the season itself. It’s filled with joy and hope amid the busyness of closing the year and spending time with family and friends. But at the heart of it all stands a central truth: Christmas represents an undeniable gift of love and redemption—grace freely offered to all.   While the celebration of Jesus’ birth is a joyful occasion, it also serves as a call to reflect on its deeper meaning. It reminds us of God’s boundless love and the hope we have through the birth of Jesus. However, we must remember that the gift of Christmas foreshadows a greater sacrifice to come. The virgin-born baby would one day lay down His life as an atonement for the sins of all humanity. It’s a beautiful story of love and grace, but a solemn caution lies between the gift and the sacrifice.   In Romans 6:23 (NIV), we find a warning worth heeding, even during this festive season: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of...

When I write, I often weave messages through narratives, but today I feel led to share a profound truth that the Holy Spirit revealed to me during one of my quiet moments with God. When life’s storms swirl around me, I seek refuge in the pages of Scripture, which is where I discovered a simple yet transformative promise for those who choose to trust in God’s faithfulness. "Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones." —Isaiah 54:11-12 (NIV)   Early one morning, as I sat at my kitchen table, basking in the stillness before the busyness of the day, I found myself drawn to this passage from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah is one of my favorite prophets, and chapter 54 holds promises that have always resonated deeply with me. But this time, verses 11 and 12 stood out like nev...

I am God's Masterpiece, created to display the glory of God, and so are you. We are made in his image, formed in his likeness and equipped with gifts and resources for his purpose. Each person you see walking around the surface of this earth is a part of that purpose, a unique piece designed by an expert craftsman. Each is uniquely chiselled, hammered and hewed for a reason. And it's not the reason we sometimes think it may be - it's a purpose aligned to his will.   In the bible story of Jeremiah, reading through chapter 18, God tells Jeremiah to go on a little field trip to a Potter's house and observe this craftsman at work. Jeremiah watches as this craftsman presses, rolls, moulds, breaks and transforms this clay lump into something beautiful, something uniquely made for use.   "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)   ...

Have you ever walked along a familiar path and suddenly noticed something you hadn’t seen before? Perhaps it was a new road sign, a freshly repainted house, or a newly opened store in your neighbourhood. Your first reaction might be, "Wait, when did that happen?" New things have a way of stopping us in our tracks and making us pay attention.   This is the essence of Isaiah 43:19, which invites us to pause, take notice, and see what God is doing—something new.   "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"(Isaiah 43:19)   God is calling us into a new season in our walk with Him, one marked by righteousness and truth. He longs to refresh our souls, which have often been left parched by pursuing goals and desires that can never truly satisfy. He offers rest, healing, and wholeness to our weary hearts. But to experience this newness, we must let go of the old.   Here’s how:         Silence the...

One evening, I sat down with my family to read the second chapter of the Book of Joel from the NLT translation. As we made our way through the verses, we paused at verse 25, where we found ourselves caught up by the play on words:  “The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.   It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.” The reason we got stuck on this verse was, admittedly, because of a cheeky question from one of my kids: “Just how many locusts are there?” We laughed at the detailed descriptions: swarming, hopping, stripping, and cutting locusts. Each type seemed to add to the gravity of the destruction described. But beyond the humor, the verse resonated with me on a deeper level. It reminded me of how challenges can come at us relentlessly, often in different forms but with the same destructive intent.   After our brief sidetra...

Most of us recite the Lord's Prayer, but how often do we pause to consider the true meaning of this line, ' your will be done ,' and its impact on our lives?   For some, surrendering to God's will comes naturally; for others, especially those who prefer to be in control, it can be a challenge. Yet, God's unwavering desire for each of us is to trust Him and welcome Him into every aspect of our lives, providing a comforting presence in our journey.   In all things, we must learn to plan, work towards our plans and surrender the outcomes to His will. When we keep our minds set on making things happen according to our plans or strength, somewhere between reason and reality, we lose sight of our reliance on God's incredible power.   So, take a few minutes to meditate on this line from the Lord's prayer:   Take a deep breath and say, ' Your will be done '. Now exhale.   Do this a few times, and as you do, allow the words to float a...