Author: Life Focus Ministries

Who are we? Dr Robert McQuillan is recognised as an inspiring encourager, counsellor, mentor to ministries and Bible teacher ministering meaningfully on the prophetic edge. Robert and Maureen, a gifted communicator with an uncanny insight into knowing 'where people are at', delight to bless and encourage God's people and ministries... and touch the hearts of the unchurched in the marketplace. Contact: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com

JULY RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PRAYER BULLETIN UPDATE

(July 27, 2023) Elizabeth Kendal, RLPB, updates July news, and requests prayer for…

VIETNAM [RLPB 700 (July 5)]
After the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam deployed massive military force into the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak in response to the deadly June 11 attack on two government offices in Dak Lak’s Cu Kuin district. We prayed specifically for the Central Highlands’ indigenous predominantly Christian hills tribes who feared the deployment could herald an escalation in ethno-religious persecution and displacement.

We also prayed for imprisoned Protestant minister and religious liberty advocate Pastor Nguyen Trung Ton (51), whose health continues to deteriorate as the authorities continue to withhold medical care. On July 21 the Director of Dak Lak’s provincial police announced that all six suspected ringleaders of the June 11 attacks had been arrested. In total, more than 90 people have been arrested on multiple charges including terrorism.

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PASTOR ONCE BLINDED BY SHOTGUN BLAST

(July 27, 2023) Michael Ashcraft shares a good news testimony…

A shotgun blast to his face left Leonard Williams blind! He was only 19 and the gun blast should have blown his head completely off.

‘It was the grace of God that kept me alive,’ says Leonard who grew up in Yuma, Arizona, at a time when the only economic activity revolved around the military base and agriculture.

Looking for excitement… falling into drugs
For a young man looking for excitement, there was little besides playing shuffleboard at the county centre, so Leonard fell into drugs and the streets just like his eight older brothers and four sisters in the 1960s.

Leonard met Patricia, the girl who is now his wife, in high school and they had a child, moving in together when he was 17. He dropped out of high school because of one assignment that involved an oral report. Terrified of public speaking, since an oral report was required to pass the class, Lionel dropped the entire shebang.

In 1977, gang culture hadn’t developed too much. Mostly, kids fought by neighbourhoods. Somebody from a rival neighbourhood had stolen his Chevy Impala and burned it.

Along with his buddies Lionel went out looking for revenge. His head was sticking out of the window as he looked for the culprits. Before he could see or do anything, the culprits fired a shotgun at him! ‘My head should have been taken off at the shoulders,’ he says.

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PEOPLE EVERYWHERE NEED THE LORD!

(July 25, 2023… some remembered thoughts by the late George Forbes, missionary spokesperson)…

Over the centuries many Christians have responded to God’s calling to be missionaries and I praise God for this!

But… in doing so I remember that Matthew 22:14 says, ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’

Necessary preparation
‘Called’ (klētos) means ‘invited’, ‘appointed’, ‘selected’, or ‘favoured.’ Words to be fully considered by every person dedicating themselves to the fulfilling of the call of God in their lives.

Matthew 22:14 has been interpreted in different ways; here I would write about the fact that though God calls those whom He has chosen, many are unprepared to activate their full response to His call because they have yet to complete the essential preparations for cross-cultural ministry!

Such preparation is to do with personal growth in Christ and learning how to walk in the Spirit.

Equipping essential!
Over many years, I interviewed hundreds of mission applicants and must say that too many were novices. 

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SATISFYING SLEEP

(July 22, 2023) Mama Lava caringly seeks to help sleepless readers…

Hi precious readers!

If I were to give you a cushy reclining chair, a pillow, and a soft blanket, would you be likely to fall asleep?

As much as I’d love to provide a nap for you, I’d rather talk to you about why you could not be having satisfying sleep .

I’ve had some sleep issues myself and in working to resolve them, I’ve discovered a few tricks. But first things first…

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JESUS REVOLUTION MOVIE LEADS TO MASS BAPTISMS

(July 20, 2023) Steve Rees’ GodReports article shares about a recent huge inspirational one-day baptism service…

After hosting what may be the largest, one-day baptism in American history, Harvest Christian Fellowship‘s pastor Greg Laurie and Jesus Revolution movie director Jon Erwin announced the popular film is headed to Mexico and Brazil, where they expect record numbers of baptisms will continue.

4500 baptised!
‘I can tell you right now, we’ve never had anything like what we saw. It’s never happened before,’ said Laurie (baptising photo below) of the 4,500 people who were baptised in the Pacific Ocean on July 8th after travelling from across the nation and around the world.

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WHEN YOU NEED REST, SEEK JESUS

(July 23, 2023) Carol Round shares great advice.

Badly needing rest
Although fireworks ended around July 6 where I live, thunderstorms have intensified in our area, leaving me tired because they’ve been striking at night while I’m trying to sleep.

My eight-year-old Chiweenie, Harley, has suffered, too. His restless nights, due to the loud cacophony of both noisemakers, have interrupted my sleep as well. Swaddling him in a vet-recommended anxiety jacket and dosing him with prescription medication hasn’t helped. After research, I recently began playing classical music, hoping it would help. It hasn’t.

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EXPECT – AND OVERCOME TEMPTATION!

(July 18, 2023) Richard Winter shares great encouragements with us…

I sense to begin this article with an important prayer…

‘Father, you know the needs, you know the hearts,
You know the deepest thoughts of every one of us. 
Father, we acknowledge your lordship over us,
And we believe you desire to do a work in us.
We want to learn; we want to be challenged!
I pray for my Christian brothers and sisters that you will lift their spirits.
Encourage them wherever they are worldwide, whatever their needs!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.’

Temptation!
Ever been tempted by the devil? Jesus was!

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FACING GIANT PROBLEMS

(June 30, 2023) Richard Winter shares encouragement…

Our world continues to  face giant challenges! Yes, these are real giant issues even affecting we Christians – but we will overcome them as we trust our God!

The Bible has a famous story of a giant – Goliath, and a little shepherd boy, David, who trusted God. Goliath was 9 feet (2.74m) tall, a champion wearing heavy armour, who stood shouting and defying the people of God. (1 Samuel 17:1–11). To Israel he seemed to be unbeatable.

As well as physical giants, there are metaphorical ones that can shout at us! In short, a ‘giant’ is a big, seemingly insurmountable problem or issue.

Personal giants
These could include giant challenges in relation to –

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TRUSTING GOD – TODAY’S MAJOR CHALLENGE

(June 30, 2023) With concern Robert and Maureen McQuillan ask…

Question: ‘Which four words should be remembered if we’re doubting God’s word?’ Genesis 3:1!

Here’s how various Bible versions read about Eve being deceived about God’s word… and that fruit (whatever kind it was!)–

  • GNB – ‘Did God really tell you…?’
  • Mge – ‘Do I understand that God told you…?’
  • NET – ‘Is it really true that God said…?’
  • NIV – ‘Did God really say…?’
  • TLB expands a little – ‘Really?… None of the fruit…? God says you mustn’t eat any of it?’ 

Subtle challenge
Eden’s wily serpent represents that most cunning, subtle Satan. ‘Serpent’ is nachash, hissingly pronounced naw-khawash after a snake’s ‘hiss.’

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AMOS THE LORD’S MESSENGER (Part 2)

(June 29, 2023) Brian Bell continues sharing his mediation in Amos… 

What lessons we can learn from the prophet Amos!

In this article I turn our attention to Amos 7:10-17. As I read these verses I see three ‘lessons’ from which we may profit.

1) The challenge Amos faced
In verse 10 we find the challenge to Amos comes from Amaziah who is identified as the priest of Bethel. At this time in Israel’s divided history Bethel in the northern kingdom was a ‘false’ centre of worship, as distinct from Jerusalem which was situated in the southern kingdom of Judah.

 Amaziah brought false accusations against Amos, including –

  • Plotting against king Jeroboam, then ruler of the northern kingdom
  • Inciting rebellion
  • Speaking for personal or financial gain

It is never easy to face accusations or allegations against us and it can be particularly difficult when they come from people who like Amaziah claim to have a ‘spiritual standing.’

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