by Susan Barnes | 7 Dec 2023 | Short Devotion
“I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’” Revelation 6:1 John wept when he thought there was no one worthy to open the scroll (5:4). If the scrolls aren’t opened,...
by Susan Barnes | 26 Apr 2023 | Devotions
Many doubt that Jesus was both fully God and fully human. Yet if we’re honest we realise that Jesus was more than a good teacher. The practical implications of Jesus becoming human means we’re included in God’s family and become Jesus’ brothers and sisters by faith....
by Susan Barnes | 29 Mar 2023 | Devotions
He became one of us, fully human, ordinary, common, an everyday human being. Jesus brings us face to face with God who demonstrates his intimate involvement with us and his intense desire to be in relationship with us. God answers Isaiah’s cry to tear heaven apart and...
by Susan Barnes | 13 Oct 2022 | Devotions
We can take comfort that God’s plans cannot be thwarted, not by Satan, not by wicked people and not by the apathy or the overreaction of his own people. God will bring about his plans and purposes. Furthermore, God has plans for our lives but these are often not what...
by Susan Barnes | 29 Sep 2022 | Devotions
He has a plan, it is a vast plan, an amazing, all-encompassing, eternal plan where all the pieces finally come together and make perfect sense. A plan that started before time began and will continue for all time. 2 Cor 6:16Ephesians 3:10Hebrews 3:10Hebrews 1:1-2John...
by Susan Barnes | 2 Sep 2022 | Devotions
As I was thinking about hope this week, I came across this verse: “Let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIV). The hope of salvation is a helmet that protects our minds from...
by Susan Barnes | 4 Jul 2022 | Short Devotion
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:10-11 God’s eternal plan...
by Susan Barnes | 20 Jun 2022 | Short Devotion
“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 1:22-23 I love Peterson’s paraphrase of these verses, “At the center of all...