Who Are You Defending?
When Kathleen’s teacher called her to the front of the grammar class to analyze a sentence, she panicked. As a recent transfer student, she hadn’t learned that aspect of grammar. The class laughed derisively.
Instantly the teacher sprang to her defense. “She can out-write any of you any day of the week!” he explained. Many years later, Kathleen gratefully recalled the moment: “I started that day to try to write as well as he said I could.” Eventually, Kathleen Parker would win a Pulitzer Prize for her writing.
As did Kathleen’s teacher, Jesus identified with the defenseless and vulnerable. When His disciples…
Chin Up
Emil was a homeless man who spent a whole year looking down at the pavement as he plodded around the city day after day. He was ashamed to meet the eyes of others in case they recognized him, for his life had not always been lived out on the streets. Even more than that, he was intent on finding a coin that had been dropped or a half-smoked cigarette. His downward focus became such a habit that the bones of his spine began to become fixed in that position so that he had great difficulty in straightening up at all.
…
Ladies Conference 2016
ODB Ladies' Conference 2016
Are you feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, and burdened by the pressures of life? Join us at the Ladies Conference to be refreshed by God’s Word. There is no admission charge. All are welcome.
Theme: Thriving in Tough Times
Date: Tuesday 27 August 2016
Time: 9:00 am to 11:30 am
Venue: Colombo Gospel Tabernacle 80, Manning Place Colombo – 06
Jesus is Lord and Master of all
Have you ever wondered if Peter, the fisherman, wondered why Jesus the carpenter, was telling him how to catch fish? Today on Discover the Word, we’ll discuss how God uses our doubts and fears to reveal who He really is. He’s not just a good teacher, but Lord and Master of all! That’s today on Discover the […]
Editor’s Picks: Top 3 Articles | Success
Success. We crave it. We want it. We love it. We all desire to be successful in all aspects of our lives. Whether in school, in church, or in the workplace, there’s always a higher level we can work towards.
Who’s Watching You?
No matter where the athletes of the 2016 Olympics go in the city of Rio de Janeiro, they can see Jesus. Standing high above this Brazilian city and anchored to a 2,310-foot-high mountain called Corcovado is a 100-foot-tall sculpture called Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). With arms spread wide, this massive figure is visible day and night from almost anywhere in the sprawling city.
As comforting as this iconic concrete and soapstone sculpture may be to all who can look up and see it, there is much greater comfort from this reality: The real Jesus sees us. In Psalm 34, David explained…
Sharing the ministry of Jesus with others
Is God more interested in what He’s doing through you or what He’s doing in you? Today on Discover the Word, we will discuss the symbiotic relationship between Jesus’s personal ministry to us and our willingness to share the fruits of that work with others, even when our hearts aren’t always in it!
I Was Jealous of My Best Friend
I have something to confess: I was once jealous of my best friend. I didn’t mean to feel this way, and I’m not quite sure how it happened. We’d grown up and shared everything since we were young: our joys and tears, our secrets and dreams.
Not Perfect
In his book Jumping Through Fires, David Nasser tells the story of his spiritual journey. Before he began a relationship with Jesus, he was befriended by a group of Christian teens. Although most of the time his buddies were generous, winsome, and nonjudgmental, David witnessed one of them lie to his girlfriend. Feeling convicted, the young man later confessed and asked for her forgiveness. Reflecting on this, David said that the incident drew him closer to his Christian friends. He realized that they needed grace, just as he did.
We don’t have to act like we’re perfect with the people we…
Being ready when Jesus shows up
Everyone has tasks they don’t like. And there’s usually not much to marvel at in the mundane. Or is there? Today on Discover the Word, we examine the idea that even in boring, everyday activities, like Peter cleaning his fishing nets, Jesus shows up. We may not know when or how but we need to be ready! Learn how […]
3 Lessons I Learned as a Pokemon Trainer
If you haven’t heard by now, Pokemon Go is the latest craze in town—it’s all over the Internet and media, and is dominating many of our conversations. Basically, this mobile game involves the trainer (that’s what the player is called) going around his neighborhood or city to hunt for Pokemon (short for pocket monster) using his mobile device.
Today like many days before I stood at the brim of the ocean amazed at its secrets. We watch dolphins dance through waves and seagulls spiral into them. Suddenly, my dad scooped something small out of the sand and handed it to me. "Here, it's an oyster shell. Open it---does it have a pearl!?" I turned the opal shell over in fingers a few times and looked--"No pearl." "Shucks," he said. "Maybe next time." Peals are of great value, aren't they? Not necessarily something you're lucky to scoop out of the grey tide without a search. I learned once a long time ago that pearls are formed through trial. Something unexpected seeps in--the oyster fights back, layer upon layer. It's defenses persevere and produce something beautiful, through the process was painful. Again, I'm reminded how God flips the world upside down, reassuring all things that happen to us happens for us: "We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trails, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment". (Rom.5:3-5).
AnneRyanDempsey
More Than We Can Imagine
What are the five best toys of all time? Jonathan H. Liu suggested the following: A stick, a box, string, a cardboard tube, and dirt (GeekDad column at wired.com). All are readily available, versatile, appropriate for all ages, fit every budget, and are powered by imagination. No batteries required.
Imagination plays a powerful role in our lives, so it’s not unusual that the apostle Paul mentioned it in his prayer for the followers of Jesus in Ephesus (Eph. 3:14–21). After asking God to strengthen them with His power through His Spirit (v. 16), Paul prayed that they would be able…
A fresh revelation
What, or who, is in your boat? Today on Discover the Word, we will discuss how Jesus commandeered Peter’s fishing boat to deliver a message to people hungry to hear a word from God. Could God use something in your everyday life to bring a fresh revelation of His love? Because when Jesus is on board, […]
What Would Jesus Post?
Most millennials (myself included) take immense pride in sharing their daily lives on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram to display or articulate who they are and what they stand for.
