by Susan Barnes | 20 Jul 2023 | Short Devotion
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 Jesus distinguishes friends from servants, by the information...
by Susan Barnes | 17 Jul 2023 | Spiritual Lessons from Children
“Look Mum, my puppet’s waving.” “Look Mum, his mouth opens and shuts.” “Look Mum, now he’s dancing.” However, the strings soon became tangled and he grew tired of it—a puppet that was enjoyed one minute and forgotten the next....
by Susan Barnes | 22 Mar 2023 | Spiritual Lessons from Children
“Let’s go fishing, son, just you and me.” It’s good to spend time individually with each of our children. Every child is unique and we can have a unique relationship with each of them. We can go to a sporting event with one child, that’s boring to another. We can...
by Susan Barnes | 13 Mar 2023 | Short Devotion
“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.” Titus 3:9-10 Sadly some...
by Susan Barnes | 8 Mar 2023 | Spiritual Lessons from Children
He wandered into his father’s shed, hands in pockets, but said nothing. His father stopped and looked up, “What do you want son?” “Nothin’.” Children want to be with those they love. They will choose to “hang around” someone who...
by Susan Barnes | 26 Apr 2022 | Poetry
So brief our friendship Like mist, it was gone. Meeting as neighbours, Leaving as new friends. Talked of doubts and cares, Shared our hopes and dreams. We didn’t meet every day But every day, I miss you. Telling our stories Life paths crisscrossing Meeting for coffee,...
by Susan Barnes | 19 Apr 2022 | Communion Talks
John describes Jesus’ coming this way, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14 NIV). Throughout the New Testament, we see that Jesus desires to be with us. When he chose his disciples the first thing recorded is not that they...
by Susan Barnes | 13 Mar 2022 | Short Devotion
“We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.” 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 Such...
