Synonymous Message of Jesus (Humility)

 Here's some biblical synonyms for you.  They are taken from Philippians 2:2, 3 and 5 from both the ESV and NIV.  We find 'one mind,' 'same mind,' ('same love'), 'one accord' and being 'like minded'.   These 'one' and 'same' phrases extend from expressions of humility.  They are also what the Lord requires (see Micah 6:8 NKJV).

At church we rub shoulders with many people of different personalities.  They each have their own thoughts, ideas, and opinions.  If they put themselves first and insist on their way, there will be lots of unpleasant arguments and bad feelings that could fester for decades to come.

BUT, if they have 'one mind' to put Jesus first and honor Him, to nurture and encourage everyone to grow in their spiritual life, building and building up God's kingdom together, then they will be like minded.  If they have the 'same love,' they love God and love their neighbor with the love we find described in 1 Corinthians 13 (vs 4-7) about God's kind of love.  Then there will be believers together, in 'one accord.'  They have the same purpose and all aim for that one goal.

That sounds like a mouthful but here's a brief illustration that might help.  A particular church may plan a picnic outing on a holiday weekend.  They invite friends, family and neighbors.  They want to share food and fun abut also the love of Jesus.

The one goal is to share Jesus.  The one and the same mind is to do so with the picnic.  The same love is the love of Jesus in our hearts.

It can operate something as follows.  Some church members prepare food, others the fun and games, and still someone else a short message.  The youth group may provide the music and songs.  Someone scouts out a good picnic venue and so on.

In this way they each use their gifts while imitating Christ's humility in the fear of the Lord.  This is the 'one accord' and the showing of 'one love' among the saints, radiating out towards the friends, family and neighbors, drawing them to Christ.  As they observe this, it could become the loudest message of Jesus our guests ever recieve.

                                                    ~  ERC  January 2026  ~

Based on Philippians 2:2, 3 and 5 ESV/NIV.

Sing, The Love of God is Greater Far, along with Guy Penrod, Joy Gardner, and David Phelps.

Book Review - Shared Secrets For the Home Front Nurses - By Rachel Brimble - Publication Date 13 February 2026

 As most of this novel's potential readership has likely never lived through war conditions, this story can give glimpsed exposure into the state of  things during WWII in Britian.  It focuses mostly on the experiences of several nurses, namely Kathy, Freda, Sylvia and Veronica, their individual lives but also as a close supportive friend group of young working adults.  I believe some readers may envy what they had in this friendship.

The nurses' fears, sadnesses and joys of life and their commitment and sacrifice in helping one another, but also those touched by war, was evident.  I felt that the way they helped each other was rather noble.

Issues such as child abuse, LGBT relationships, inter-racial marriage, rape victims and returned veterans, and escaped POW's with their PTSD traumas, and how they deal with it all in the aftermath, are mentioned.

Of course there is added romance to season the tale.  One related caution for some potential readers would be the more intimate bedroom scenes referred to.  Generally speaking, this is light reading and can be read through fairly quickly, time permitting.

                                          ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                      5 February 2026

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Wrapped in Love (Humility)

 If you've ever experienced life in a Borneon village, you'll have most likely heard the gongs.  They can signal various messages depending on the way they are struck.  It could be a call to a community event such as a wedding; a more sober gathering such as a funeral, or one of alarm of impending danger.  But if the gongs are continuiosly struck for no particular reason, they could be irritating and annoying.

Similary, if one is in the midst of a Chinese community during Chinese New Year (CNY), the sounds of drums and cymbals can clang ad nauseam.  The cymbals of the unicorn dance is especially aggravating.  Clang! Clang!  Noise, noise, noise!

When one is trying to sleep or read a book in peace or listen to ones own preferred music, you will understand the infuriating feelings in reaction to such noise pollution.

In "The Love Chapter' (1 Corinthians 13), we learn that doing all sorts of good for people, even using our own gifts and resources, or even speaking,

"...in tongues of men and of angels but have not love" (see vs 1),

that all that presumed goodness is nothing but ...

"... a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal" (vs 1).

Love is an expression of humility.  We need to put God's love into action.  When you read 1 Corinthians 13 you'll see the characteristics of God's love.  It is patient, kind, doesn't envy or boast; it isn't arrogant or rude and so much more.

As we serve the Lord among our brothers and sisters in church, we need to do so with loving humility.  This is the one love we need to encapsulate ourselves in because it comes from God through Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  This is the more excellent way.

Let's ask ourselves,

 "Do I love those I interact with at church?"

Lord, it's true what You say in Your word.  At times we are all noise and action but we forget about action wrapped in Your kind of love.  Your kind of love is often lacking in our hearts and therefore in our actions.  I'm sorry for my bad attitude.  I do need to learn to be more attentive to this more excellent way.  Thank You for Your words of correction.  In Your name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.

                                                     ~ ERC  January 2026 ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 13:1-3 ESV.

Sing, Love Will Never Fail, along with Leslie Jordan, Integrity Music.

Book Review - Bianca's Cure - By Gigi Berardi - Pulication Date 10 February 2026

 Besides decades of romance between Bianca and the Medici prince, there were decades of meticulous experiments and documentations of her findings.  Bianca was determined to find a cure for malaria, especially for her Prince Francesco, but also for the others in the world of Florence.  The setbacks and frustrations and overt hostilitiy towards her as a woman in the 1500's, dabbling in 'brews' would have been enough to halt a person of lesser caliber, but not Bianca.  She forged through relentlessly.  I liked her strength in this aspect.

This work of historical fiction has been based on real pepole (as reflected in the main characters).  Of course as this is fictional, there are the added 'salt and pepper seasonings'.

I mostly enjoyed the narrative but did find it somewhat draggy.  Perhas there were too many descriptions.  Overall, it felt long and drawn out.  However, this could be the cleverness of the author to mirror the long years of Bianca's scientific work in progress.  If so, it surely gave me, the reader, the 'feel' for that slow pace of the whole process she had had to work through.  Either way, I felt impatient, waiting for the story to end.

This could be just me though.  Other potential readers may find it thoroughly fascinating especially with the descriptions of the plants and leaves and distellations as Bianca created her medicines.

Just so you know, for those who are adverse to initmate bedroom scenes, there are plenty of them in this book.  This is the one other caution I'd have for this narrative.

                                         ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                      January 2026

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Book Review - An Unconventional Lady - By Sarah E. Ladd - Publication Date: 10 February 2026

 

Historical fiction from the 1800's interests me very much.  And as this narrative is set in that time frame I really enjoyed this story.  The dynamics of women having to marry for convenience to set up alliances with another family or to secure an inheritance or legacy are issues explored in this book.  

Phrenology, a pseudoscience, that was discussed, dissected and explored in those days, features largely in this tale.  Repercussions, lies and deceit snarl around Ella, her father, Gabriel Rowe, Phoebe and the Society.  I'm also happy when an author addresses abuse of women, which Sarah E. Ladd has done in this book.  

Overall, I found the story to be pleasant and I was favorably satisfied with the storyline.

                                               ~  Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger  ~

                                                           November 2025

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest and completely my own.

Read review on Goodreads.

Roll Along Well (Humility)

 

Unity ... it's being together or at one with someone or something.  Like a person on a bicycle, powering it with their strong legs, turning the pedals that are attached to the crank arms that are connected to the back wheel hub.  The chain that links them engages to move the back wheel forward, setting the bicycle in motion.  There are different parts but the person and the bicycle function as one.

Similarly, the body of Christ can function.  This can relate directly to the unity of the Spirit in church.  Unity is an expression of humility.  Even though there are brothers and sisters-in-Christ with their own thoughts, ideas and opinions, when they humbly work together, they power and keep the unity of the Spirit.

This 'one body' unity is kept by the willingness of our minds and hearts.  It is not coerced.  Unity allows all the believers to use their gifts for the good and benefit of all the other believers.  It doesn't get jealous or demanding.  Humiltiy keeps the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  

Furthermore, because of the grace given us, this unity can be activated and maintained,

"But the grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift" (Ephesians 4:7 ESV).

God's grace in us, coupled with Christlike humility, can do wondrous things among the congregation of believers.  It is like being one with the Spirit like the person with the bicycle.  Like this, we can roll along well for Jesus.

Heavenly Father, our humanness often causes rifts among assembled believers.  Help us with Holy Spirit empowerment to clothe ourselves with humility and the grace you have given us through Jesus to keep the unity of the Spirit You so desire and require. I beseech You in Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                      ~ ERC  January 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 12:13-20, 27 and Ephesians 4:3-7 ESV.

Sing, Trust and Obey, along with the Vagle Brothers and We Are One Body, along with Tom Iglis.

Lord's Day Devotion - The Oil of Humility (Humility)

 

Just as a bicycle chain needs regular oiling to prevent rusting and to give a smoother ride, so too, humility can act as 'oil' to keep unity of the Spirit.

Serving in church is an expression of humility.  With this 'oil' there will be fewer arguments and disagreements that divide the saints.  Discovering ones' gift and using it among the believers is good.  We do not need to show off or toot our own horns about it.  Just quietly go about our service for the Lord and His people.

The gift of teaching or a pastor's preaching does not have the be in competition.  Some people giving generously and cheerfully doing acts of mercy are welcome especially when there is no boasting about it.  Those who tally the weekly offerings must be people of integrity and good at math and accounting.  The church office worker, a person who has a gift of administration and so much more.  There are various and sundry gifts that can be used in our Master's service.

Pastors, the shepherds who take care of the sheep, often work tirelessly and quietly all week long doing so much for the good of the congregants, unbeknowst to the general comgregation.  They are often unappreciated.  Yet, altogether with all the church members, they can work in peace and harmony, and the believers grow in their Christian life and relationship with the Lord and each other.  It keeps the unity of the Spriit in the bond of peace and faith as each humbly use their respective gift of service.

As the well-oiled bicycle runs smoothly, so too when the oil of humilty is regularly applied to the interrelations of the church members.

Father God we lift our voices up to You in praise and gladdness that Your gifts of grace have been given to Your children for the good and benefit of all in any given congregation of Your people.  Hallelujah!  You have faithfully given us all of them.  Help us to apply the 'oil' of humility as we go about our service for You among the brethren and those who are yet to know You.  

This Lord's Day, we keep this in mind as we partake of the broken bread and drink of the cup of wine, those symbols that remind us of all Jesus has done for us through His death and resurrection.  We are so thankful for it all.  In Your Son Jesus' name we give You are heartfelt thanks.  Amen.

                                                 ~  ERC  January 2026 ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, Romans 12:3-8 and Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-13 ESV.

Sing, We Fall Down, along with Chris Tomlin and Speak, O Lord, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.