Blog – Page 2 – Peniel | Face To Face With God

Presence. Encounter. Transformation. Part 2 of 3

by Ramesh Naraine | Sep 12, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

As we begin a new cycle of life, with summer holidays behind us and a new school year ahead of us, it is time to revisit the theme of “Encountering God’s Transforming Presence.” This week we speak about Encounter … The chief goal for my life, and for those who choose to be under my […]

Presence. Encounter. Transformation. Part 1 of 3

by Ramesh Naraine | Sep 5, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

As we begin a new season of life, with summer holidays behind us and a new school year ahead of us, it is time to revisit the theme of, “Encountering God’s Transforming Presence.” This week we speak about Presence … In the Old Testament, the same word that is translated “presence” is translated “face”; it’s […]

Knowing Our Identity and It’s Fruit

by Ramesh Naraine | Jul 25, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

Lately, I have been meditating on the topic of Identity. I see the theme everywhere I look these days. I’m speaking specifically about understanding more clearly, and living more deeply, from the revelation that we have been made sons and daughters of the Most High God. What does it look like for me to truly […]

Why Don’t I Pray… More?

by Ramesh Naraine | Jul 18, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

I’ve yet to meet a follower of Jesus who feels like they pray enough! A survey was done asking committed Christians why they don’t pray, or pray more. The number one reason stated was that it doesn’t seem like prayer really changes things. As someone who struggles with my prayer life, I have a couple […]

Pentecost – the Indispensable Spirit!

by Ramesh Naraine | Jun 6, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

Unless the Holy Spirit fills, the human spirit fails. – E. Stanley Jones This coming Sunday we celebrate the glorious giving of the Holy Spirit by the Father and the Son to birth the Church. A game changing moment in history. Pentecost ushered in a New Era: the dispensation of God, the Holy Spirit. God […]

My Three Conversions (part 2 of 2)

by Ramesh Naraine | Apr 25, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

(This blog carries on from last week’s blog about my first two conversions on my journey of faith in God.) 3. God, my Father If my first two conversions can be traced to specific moments or decisions, my third conversion has been more of a process. It has been an ongoing discovery, at a heart […]

My Three Conversions (part 1 of 2)

by Ramesh Naraine | Apr 24, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

As I reflect on my life, there have been three significant shifts in my experience and understanding of God. I use the word, “conversion” not only to grab your attention, but also to express the radicalness of the change that these conversions represent. I want to summarize my journey for you in the hope that […]

Happy Resurrection!!!

by Ramesh Naraine | Apr 20, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. – (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NIV) When I was at university, though I was studying business, […]

Jesus’ Love Language is Obedience

by Ramesh Naraine | Apr 11, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

There is a passage in the Sermon on the Mount that I find both startling and challenging. Jesus says this in Matthew 7:21-23: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say […]

God, the Hyper-Vigilant Watchman!

by Ramesh Naraine | Apr 4, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

Elsie and I woke up this morning to two unexpected changes to our upcoming calendar. One was minor, requiring only small course corrections. The other was more convoluted, requiring significant rearrangements to our plans, which are going to include calls to airlines and hotels to cancel – hopefully without penalties! We were disappointed too; we […]

How is your devotional life with God?

by Ramesh Naraine | Mar 21, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

A short while ago someone posed this question to me. I began to happily tell him all about my read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan that I was faithfully following. I also mentioned that I was doing some “extra” reading in the New Testament. I was pretty pleased with my success at sticking to my goals. Further, I was […]

Delight yourself in Jesus!

by Ramesh Naraine | Jan 17, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalms 37:4 (ESV) It’s a simple but powerful thought. To delight is to find enjoyment in, to celebrate, to find satisfaction in someone or something. There is intentionality in this verb. The outcome of delighting, celebrating and finding satisfaction […]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

by Ramesh Naraine | Dec 20, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

There was a period in my life when the Christmas/Yearend season was a time to dread, or at best, endure. Life wasn’t unfolding as I had imagined. I was lonely, dissatisfied and mad at God as a result. I only saw what was missing and I concluded that he was a withholding God. Getting anything […]

Will You Be A Father Like God Is?

by Ramesh Naraine | Dec 13, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

Paul starts his second prayer for the Ephesians with a fascinating statement: For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. The Greek word translated “father” (pater) has the same root as the word translated “family” (patria). This is Paul’s play on words which, […]

The Father Has Warm Affection For You!

by Ramesh Naraine | Dec 6, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

I love rice and curry. I love my wife. I use the word “love” in both sentences but the connotation is radically different, isn’t it? … It is. Trust me. In English, as in other languages, we do this often. We use a word that might have many nuanced definitions but our meaning when using […]

The Secret to Moving God’s heart

by Ramesh Naraine | Nov 29, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

There is a fascinating story of the friendship between Jesus, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus found in Luke 10 and John 11. In Luke, Jesus and his disciples are invited to the home of Martha and Mary. Martha gets distracted preparing for her guests. Mary on the other hand is sitting at the […]

Two Main Blockages to Intimacy with God

by Ramesh Naraine | Nov 20, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. – Hebrews 11:6-7 (ESV) The Bible gives us a standing invitation to draw near to God, to love him with everything within us, to seek his […]

Intimacy – Being Attentive To His Voice

by Ramesh Naraine | Nov 14, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. – Jesus (John 10:27 NIV) Unless you’ve learned something about shepherds and sheep you mightn’t think this is a verse about intimacy, but it is. I saw an incredible object lesson on this in a YouTube video: There are sheep grazing in […]

The call of the Spirit to Intimacy With God

by Ramesh Naraine | Nov 8, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

“I have many servants, but I have fewer lovers.” – God Holy Spirit whispered this to Carol, our founding pastor, years ago. It has never left my mind since she shared it. When I first got involved in ministry in my mid-twenties I was primarily motivated by true devotion to Jesus. He had given his […]

Processing Our Family Tree

by Ramesh Naraine | Oct 27, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

A number of years ago I had a battery of tests done on my heart. I was a little anxious because a routine ultrasound had raised some eyebrows. To my surprise, though, when we got the results, the cardiologist concluded, “Well, Mr Naraine, you are not like the rest of your family, there is nothing […]

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