Archived in: Christian Reads

Psalm 32:8 – I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 

Seeking wisdom should be a part of life. Wisdom should be sought when making decisions for a lifetime partner, parenting wisdom (from newborns through school days) teens, their wedding plans, etc. Wisdom is so important for guidance. Of course, there’s an assortment of classes, counseling, and generational pass-downs of valuable experience. Wisdom is also needed during times of crisis and when under financial pressure.

Where do we find such wisdom?

James 1:5 says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” 

So why do we allow ourselves to stress out, panic, or worry in times like this? How often do we seek wisdom from the Lord?

In the early years of my marriage, I used to stress over every minor crisis, especially when my husband was interstate with work or on a course where I couldn’t contact him. When it came to a serious dilemma, I was panic-stricken. It took sheer willpower to seek wisdom through His word and be strengthened by His truths. By seeking wisdom when a situation arose, I could take my concerns immediately to the Lord in prayer.

The next time there’s a crisis or situation that requires wisdom, pray and seek out God’s wisdom in your circumstances. Through His Word and prayer, He will guide you through.

Father, show us wisdom in all situations that arise in our day-to-day lives. Teach us to trust you, seek out insights through your word, and prompt us to pray through every crisis. Strengthen us so we may stand firm when things happen that need your wisdom to see us through.  Amen.

 © Chrissy Siggee 

Scripture Verses used are from the New International Version of the Bible

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him Psalm 37:7a 

When an answer to prayer is not quick in coming, we often find ourselves focusing on the prayer itself and on the answer we desire to that prayer. While we know it’s well to be positive, and we know God will answer in His time, we need to wait on Him, the one who meets all our needs—and He’s never late.

It’s while we wait that we need to keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, study His Word, and find instruction, comfort, and encouragement. We need to trust Him and know that He can and will do what He considers best for His children.

There’s one thing I have learned through waiting; it gives me the opportunity to give God the glory for an unwavering assurance that He has all things under control. Everything is in His hands and there is a time for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Verse 11 – He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (NIV)

Wait in hope, perseverance, patience, and joy because His grace is sufficient for me.

Father, help us to be patient with answers to prayer. Keep our eyes fixed on You knowing all things will come to pass in Your perfect timing. Amen

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the New International Version of the Bible

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

silence captures a moment in time—

                  an owl sounds the close of day,

a hush falls over the darkening sky

                  and the world closes its eyes to sleep.

© Chrissy Siggee

From my book:   Glimpses of His Glory

Under Copyright: https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/4537869

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Archived in: Christian Reads

Isaiah 41:10 says: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Are you afraid of anything or someone? I’m afraid of answering machines. You know, when you are all ready to speak to someone over the phone and suddenly you’re listening to a recorded voice that says something like: Please leave a short message and we’ll get back to you.

Your fear may be going to the dentist, speaking in front of an audience, or even the fear of spiders. Mmm…I have to admit I don’t like spiders. Whatever your fear is, we all have experienced times in our lives when we are afraid.

Today’s Bible verse gives us some hope when it comes to fear. It tells us to “not be afraid”. We don’t have to be afraid because we have a hope that others do not have. We know that God will strengthen us and help us in each situation that we face.

Our Father knows the future and the past and has boundless amounts of wisdom to help us in even the most difficult of times. God is on our side and He is always walking with us and through any situation that we might face we can see why He tells us to not be afraid. God won’t let us down, so we have no reason to be afraid.

Simple? No not at all but when you come face to face with your fear, remember that our Father is always with us.

 Father, we thank you that you are with us even in times we have to face our fears. Help us to remember the words of promise that You are our God and that You will strengthen us and help us. Amen

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the New International Version of the Bible

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

There isn’t time to change her mind 
They told my mother lies,
Restricted by these clamps that bind 
I hear her inward cries. 

There isn’t room to shift and squirm 
Please take that thing away,
I was made to grow full-term
My hope you did betray. 

Before I formed you in the womb, 
I knew you…

There isn’t time to understand 
No time to move aside,
Save me from this glove-swathed hand
I need a place to hide. 

There’s no time to shun the tomb 
This fear has taken hold,
My heart beats strong within her womb 
I’ve never felt so cold. 

I will never leave nor forsake you, 
Don’t be afraid… 

There isn’t time to know my name
My face she will not see,
All I feel is my mother’s shame 
My life will never be. 

There isn’t even time to cry 
All I can do is pray, 
No! I do not want to die
Please just go away. 

When you walk through the valley,
Fear no evil… 

There isn’t time to hug you, Mum 
Or look upon your face,
Listen to you sing or hum 
And know your true embrace. 

I’ll never walk upon the earth 
It’s time to say goodbye,
This wasn’t meant to be my birth
Mother…it’s time for me to die. 

I have called you by name,
Take my hand…

© Chrissy Siggee

Archived in: Christian Reads

Archived in: Christian Reads

Matthew 18:4 –  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (NIV)

Humility speaks to me of meekness and being humble. I often think I’m not as humble as I ought, yet humility is a requirement of our faith.

I have seen the way the Lord works in the lives of those who show humility in what they do and say and, quite often, how they demonstrate their kindness to those around them. I see the rewards of their actions and the gentleness they demonstrate in their everyday lives. In whatever they do, their actions speak the humility they possess.

I’ve also witnessed the fall of the arrogant and proud.  Too many successful leaders fall because of pride. They allow success to be their ambition rather than Christ their goal.  They begin to believe in their own ability rather than Christ’s through them.

So how do we keep a balance?

Without Christ we are nothing and because we have Christ in our lives, we have worth and purpose. There is nothing wrong with feeling good about what Christ has done for us but we need to realize he doesn’t make us great.

Be willing to live the success that God has given us through humble acknowledgment of the source.

Father, show us how humility can speak through us by our actions. Help us to live humbly and to your purpose and keep from being proud and haughty, but demonstrate the true source of our abilities. Amen.

© Chrissy Siggee  

Scripture Verses used are from the New International Version of the Bible

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Psalm 27:14 says: “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Philippians 4:12: “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

Are there times in your life when you have felt overwhelmed by pain, tiredness or just with the busyness of life itself? 

There have been times in my life when I felt overwhelmed. My health issues often cause physical pain and tiredness. I also feel the pain family and dear friends go through. It’s something that’s part of me and I can’t change it. 

Father, I am weak but you are strong. Through the struggles of day-to-day busyness, pain, and weariness, I look to you for the courage to go on. Help me to do what I need to do in your strength. Amen

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the New International Version of the Bible

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Breathe in.
Breathe in His presence.
The Holy Spirit is here.

Seek now.
Seek now and listen.
Holy blessings are given.

Be still.
Be still in the now.
Receive all that He gives you.

Submit.
Submit fully.
His grace will sustain – always.

Chrissy Siggee

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Archived in: Christian Reads

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

1 Corinthians 15:14-22 “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (NIV)

Christians worldwide celebrate the resurrection of their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, on Easter Sunday. Christianity teaches that the author and creator of the faith are alive today. No other religion in the world makes such an amazing claim. Other religions may claim that the “spirit” of their founder lives in his religious teachings, but Christians declare that Jesus Christ lives today — bodily.

True biblical Christianity teaches that Jesus really died AND really rose from the dead – physically. Jesus rose bodily as well as spiritually from the grave. He then appeared alive to a variety of people at many different times over a period of forty days. Christianity further teaches that after these indisputable “physical” appearances, Jesus Christ “physically” left this earth and promised to return “physically” one day.

John 14:1-3 says, “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God; believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Acts 1:9-12 describes what the disciples saw on the Mount of Olives: “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ^“Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.” (NIV)

If there was no foundation for the Christian faith, if Jesus Christ did not die on the cross, if He didn’t rise from the dead, then the whole basis of the Christian faith would be — empty.

The Christian faith holds that Jesus was resurrected from the dead bodily, ascended into heaven bodily, lives today in glory in a body, and will someday return to this earth bodily.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen by James; then of all the apostles. And last of all, he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”

Father, thank you for dying on the cross for us so that we may be saved from eternal death. We praise you this Resurrection day for the faith of the Christian church and the hope of your return. Amen

© Chrissy Siggee 2011

Scripture Verses used are from the New International Version of the Bible

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Both Matthew and Mark recorded these words cried out by Jesus on the cross. These same words occur interestingly enough in the opening verse of the Twenty Second Psalm. Yet neither Matthew nor Mark referred to them as a fulfilment of prophecy and after six hours of agony in body and soul on the cross, this cry escapes from our Saviours lips.

There were not many words spoken by Jesus while he was on the cross. The words He did say are recorded specifically.

His first words were “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”—-a prayer for pardon.

His second proclamation made was a promise of peace.

“Today you shall be with me in Paradise”

His third decree was one of kindness to and for his mother.

“Woman behold thy son….Son behold thy mother.” 

When the darkness had fallen, three last announcements where uttered. They followed in rapid succession.

“I thirst”

“It is finished”

“Father into thy hands I commend my spirit”–

Then, there was this cry of sorrow.

“My God, my God, why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?

There is something of extraordinary power and feeling in these words of Jesus on the Cross. This is obvious from the fact that both Matthew and Mark have diligently given the words in the language our Lord used.

“Eli Eli, lama Sa-bach-thani”

Nowhere else in Scripture do we find recurrence of these words except in the Twenty Second Psalm. When Jesus cried these words, he was expressing suffering that was never at any other time felt in this world and I believe, never will again.

To the historian, to the poet or to the theologian, the description and the language of these words in Psalms 22 might suggest it could have been either history or prophecy.  However, the context of Psalm 22 is not clear either way.

Matthew and Mark may not have recognised the connection.  However, Jesus, a learned scholar of the Scriptures from a very young age, would have known the Psalms well.  He said many times through out His ministry “it is written”.

To the believer, nevertheless, this cry is a revelation of the deep suffering and anguishes our Saviour bore, and a proof of His infinite love for sinners.

It challenges us, with all the saints, to be strong to understand what is:

“..the length and breadth and height and depth of the love of God”…

Ephesians 3 verses 18 & 19 KJV

If the cross is the fundamental Truth of the New Testament, this cry is the heart of this truth and its inmost expression.  This is the Holy of Holys to the reverent reader of the story of the passion.

© Chrissy Siggee

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Beaten and humiliated,
they led my Lord away
to the mount of death—
He was nailed and hung
on a wooden cross—
Naked and shamed
like a common thief.

They mocked.
They cursed.
They laughed.

Bleeding head hung low,
nails ripped hands and feet
A body slashed and torn—
Blood flowed down
onto the rugged ground—
Pain and dread
etched on His face.

Shame.
Sorrow.
Shunned.

Blamed and disgraced,
all purity discredited
Guilt and sin He bore—
My beautiful Jesus,
You did this for me—
You bled and died
So I could live.

They seized His clothes.
They pierced His side.
They crucified my Lord!

© Chrissy Siggee

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. Mark 15:24

This stripping of Jesus was so appalling that it was referred to in all four Gospels.

Matthew observed that this occurrence was a fulfillment of Psalm 22:18 “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”

Mark also fled naked from the mob in the garden.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots.

John also refers to the Psalm, as Matthew did, but also gives the most detailed and accurate description of the whole agony of the crucifixion.

The Christ lived in purity and dignity of manhood. Almost all pictures of the crucifixion give us the view of a dignified Jesus. But one gospel records the scene — “They stripped Him,” John said. Naked He came from His mother’s womb, and naked He hangs from a tree.

Adam experienced the shame of nakedness in Eden because of his transgression. So too, the Son of God took our sinful flesh and the shame of our nakedness upon Himself.

I believe there were two elements to the crucifixion; one of the physical and the other of the mental suffering. Jesus was despised and rejected, even by His own friends. He was oppressed by sinners, held in contempt by the soldiers, cursed by men, and stripped of His garments.

His garments. His seamless robe. A garment fit for a king. His clothing wouldn’t have been a beggar’s rags.

But when I read Psalm 93:1 “The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved.” It puts a put a whole new perspective and horror into the story. They parted His garments and cast lots…

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Mark 15:25-28: And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him, they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, and he was numbered with the transgressors.

We have read about the cruelty of inhuman treatment of Jesus by the soldiers, servants, and the people, who assembled to witness his beating. Much can be said again about the unwarranted punishment our Lord received prior to His crucifixion. We have also read and heard repeatedly of the death of Christ. Many of us have seen the “Passion of the Christ” movie. Without playing down the significance of the crucifixion itself in any way, let’s move on to the mysteries of His death.

The message of the cross is indeed a mystery. The message can be learned through the Scriptures, movies, and witnessing. Prophecies and teachings were recorded throughout the Old Testament; including the Psalms.

‘I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.’ 1 Corinthians 1:4-10

Yet…it’s not only that we see in the death of Jesus the highest demonstration of God’s love, but also of His infinite sorrow and compassion. “But as far as the east is from the west, so shall he remove our sin”. (paraphrased) Not even an earthly father can pay the penalty of his child’s transgression, nor can any man pay the price of the sin of another.

When Paul speaks of the suffering of Jesus on the cross, he deals with facts so awe-inspiring that he calls them: “the depths of God”. (1 Corinthians 2:10) These mysteries are so deep that they are unfathomable of all human thinking – even more unfathomable as the deepest, unreachable, bottomless ocean. This act of love is beyond measure. But, by His Holy Spirit, God reveals it to even the youngest of children, the simplest-minded, and the uneducated. His love for us is infinite. Although we cannot understand these mysteries, we thank Him with absolute gratefulness and humility.

My hope, my strength, my redeemer, my God, my King, and my all…they crucified my Lord.

© Chrissy Siggee

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads

Archived in: 🦋 Christian Reads