MARMALADE
When heat is applied to marmalade oranges, pectin is released. Likewise, as the heat of painful memories occur today, we need to release our own setting agent. Paul says: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1 – 3)
THE WEDDING CLOTHES
I am sure all of us have, at some point, been invited to a wedding service and reception. As the service is rather special for the couple concerned, we take care what we wear, ensuring we put on our “Sunday best” and look good for any family and friends’ group photos.
CHANGING OUR PERCEPTION
Before the Suez Canal was completed in 1869, ships needing to sail between Europe and the Far East would need to round the Southern tip of Africa. The problem with that route lay in having to negotiate the Cape where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. Due to the severity of the seas at the Cape, it was originally named the Cape of Storms (literally in Portuguese, Cape of Torments) by Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Dias in 1488. But a few years later, it was renamed by King John II of Portugal as the Cape of Good Hope.
RUNNING A MARATHON
How about you? Do you feel like the Christian life is all too much, and you fall so often and miss the mark? You won when you met Jesus; you received salvation as a robe of righteousness, just like a trophy. Like Dorando, you may not achieve your personal goals in life: that qualification/ that job/ that spouse/ those children/ that car/ that house/ that salary/ that fame/ that degree of health and strength, but……………
Hope As An Anchor
A ship that is left loose to the mercy of a storm will be caught by surging waves that can inundate and ultimately throw over the ship. Likewise, the issues of life can seem like a sea: one minute calm and tranquil, and the next like a great heaving tempest that rises and falls, with uncertainties and unknown difficulties with no certainty as to the final outcome. It is without doubt that everyone of us needs an anchor in his or her life!
Spiritual Warfare Lessons From The Life of Moses
Being in the place of prayer helps us to see things differently. Moses found a place where he can connect with God, a place he can see things in a better perspective. In the valley you see the enemy face to face and the enemy looks bigger. From the hill you see the whole picture of the battlefield and the enemy will look much smaller. When we are in prayer gazing on the greatness of God, we will see things in a better perspective. It will help us to see how God sees things.
THE REAL YOU
Our attitudes and feelings vary depending on the circumstances we experience on a day-by-day basis, but lasting joy comes when we remain in the love Jesus has for each of us. In Christ’s own words: Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:10, 11)
GO FLY A KITE
Ellet announced a kite-flying contest with a prize of $5 (worth about £200 today) to anyone who could secure a single cord to both sides of the river. A 16-year-old named Homan Walsh responded, and unlike all the other contestants, he decided to fly his kite from the Canadian side to the US side of the river. He succeeded, and the vital link was established.
Do You Truly Love Him?
May this be our prayer today - that we will endeavour to love God wholeheartedly with all that we are and all that we do. Ironically, although we are called to love God with all our strength, we can't do this in our own strength; we can only do it in God's strength.
Can You Hear The Rain?
The 'normal' hearing frequency range of a healthy young person is about 20 to 20,000Hz. Several animal species are able to hear frequencies well beyond the human hearing range. Some dolphins and bats, such as, can hear frequencies up to 100,000 Hz. Elephants can hear sounds at 14–16 Hz, while some whales can hear infrasonic sounds as low as 7 Hz. Similarly, there are sounds coming from heavenly realm which can be received by those whose spiritual senses are active.
THE VOICE OF THE LORD
Scientists say that our voice is as unique as a fingerprint. That's why companies like high street banks and HMRC like to hear our voice when we ring up and are required to say, "my voice is my password" when attempting to access our accounts…If our voice is unique, the same must be the case for God.
Rejoice, Praise & Thankfulness
Lord God, we give You thanks and praise for all that You have done and continue to do in our lives. We rejoice in Your goodness and faithfulness. We love how You are working in and through Your church and that You have greater things planned for us than we can possibly imagine. Thank You that You also have great things in store for our city and nation. We give You all the honour and glory. Amen!
God Makes Room For Us
What about us on a personal level? God has invested spiritual gifts in each one of us, as well as natural talents and abilities. We can pray that God will make room for us to use those gifts and abilities to a greater extent, and that we will be more and more fruitful in the land. We are to 'stir up the gift of God' which is in us (2 Timothy 1v6).
Making Room For Others
Many years ago, when I was in Sunday School, I was taught the secret to having joy – Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. We know we should put Jesus first, but how often do we put the needs of others ahead of self-interest?lov
DIG THOSE OLD WELLS
Whether we are a church leader, or someone who has only recently found Jesus as their Saviour, we are all in the ministry of digging and re-opening old wells, wherever they exist, and seeing the living water flow again:
Give God 1st Place
We were given a rather fun game at Christmas. The players each have a selection of smooth shiny playing pieces that are strongly magnetic. The object of the game is to take turns placing your piece in a circle of string in a way that doesn't make them attract the other magnets in the circle. The more magnets that are in the circle, the closer they are to each other until suddenly the magnetic force causes a whole group of them to suddenly connect together, and the player has to take them all.
Break Down The Walls Of All My Religion
God doesn't look on the outward appearance – He looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). He saw the people in the Church of Laodicea as being "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" (Rev 3:17). God saw the reality, that Jesus had been shown the door. Jesus begins His analysis of the Laodiceans' spiritual life by saying that "He is about to spit them out of His mouth" (Rev 3:16).
UPSIZING
On muddy roads, the first vehicle that passes creates a track (or rut), and subsequent vehicles will follow along the same track. And because of repeated travel along the same route, the ruts become deeper and deeper and at some point in time, vehicles will get stuck in the rut. Only another vehicle equipped with a tow line will be able to extricate the vehicle stuck in the mud.
From Pain to Prosperity
Jabez' mother had a painful labour when she gave birth to Jabez, so she named him 'Jabez', which means 'pain', or 'one who brings sorrow'. What a name to be given! His name forever reminds him that he's a pain to people!