Encouragement

RECOILING DARK ‘ICEBERG’ EXPERIENCES

(April 08, 2024) Robert McQuillan shares…

Last month’s news about Australian billionaire Clive Palmer refloating his dream to build a replica of the Titanic caught my attention.

His company, the Blue Star Line, intends the replica – Titanic II – to set sail in June 2027, the billionaire claiming that this ship would be ‘far, far superior to the original.’ 

Although the replica will have four funnels as had the original, this 21st century ship will be powered by a diesel engine. Modernisations will include upgrades to navigation technology and modern safety procedures – including sufficient lifeboats!

Recalling
My mind immediately recalled a little romantic 19th century novella. It’s by Morgan Robertson and I found myself digging it out to reread. Originally called Futility, it was renamed The Wreck of the Titan.

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IT WAS HIS LIFE FOR YOUR LIFE!

(March 19, 2024) Wayne Swift calls it as it is, challenging us to reflect on a great truth…

Good Friday next week!

The day Christians remember the life of a great man who lived some two thousand years ago, and recalling His deeds and with affection and gratitude we extend Him our appreciation for the gracious way He gave up His life for us!

But… what was the background here? Let me share a eulogy to this great individual…

1. Beginning
Two young people, Mary and Joseph, were betrothed to be married – Joseph, an honourable man and his fiancée Mary, a young virgin with an outstanding reputation. Out-of-the-blue Mary claimed to have had a dream about falling pregnant to God Himself (Luke 1:35). Joseph must have thought she’d lost the plot! But then an angel appeared to him confirming Mary’ story (Matthew 1:20).

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A POWERFUL PRAYER! YET ONLY A FEW WORDS

(March 17, 2024) Brian Bell encourages…

This article is a little different from those I usually write, but it is still my aim that it will be an encouragement to us as we are getting close to Easter.

In the last week, I have been drawn to the scene recorded in Luke 18:9-14, and in particular those words in verse 13(NKJV): ‘God be merciful to me a sinner’ or as rendered in the slightly longer NLT version ‘O God be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’

If you are not familiar with this incident, the Lord Jesus tells the story of a proud Pharisee and a dishonest tax collector who go to the temple to pray.

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UNCERTAIN TIMES JOURNEYED WITH THE CERTAINTY OF GOD!

(March 13, 2024) Angeline Selvakumari shares scripture-based encouragements…

We’ve almost completed three months of 2024. Soon we’ll be celebrating Resurrection Sunday and praising God for all that’s been done for us though His Son Jesus, our Saviour!

Time really seems to fly by so quickly! And as we journey on following and serving our God, I would draw our attention to Psalm 77:14NKJV, ‘You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.’ 

The psalmist is declaring that the God we believe in performs wonders, and is delighted to display His strength among His people. God eagerly waits to do the impossible and delights in our unwavering trust in Him throughout this journey. 

Uncertainties on Life’s Journey
Our life’s journey is filled with numerous unexpected twists and turns, such as speed bumps, blind spots, curves, sudden dips, and more, making it highly uncertain at times. Navigating through unknown roads, filled with constant changes, poses a significant challenge.

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TEMPTATIONS – THEY HAPPEN!

(February 26, 2024) Robert McQuillan challenges…

Easter eggs have been around for several weeks now! Christians will soon be really thinking of Easter celebration weekend, especially rejoicing regarding Resurrection Sunday, not eggs!

While kids, even adults, will be ‘tempted’ to enjoy Easter eggs – and will, of course – the coming season reminds Christians not only of our risen Saviour but of the temptations Judas and Peter yielded to… and for that matter others who succumbed to deserting Jesus (Matthew 26:56).

Remorse and Regret
Regarding Judas and Peter’s yielding to temptations (Judas – Matthew 26:14-16,47-50; Peter – Matthew 26:35,69-74), let’s grasp that the title above… Temptations – They Happen!… applies to all of us in various ways!

From among His closest ranks, that elite twelve, it happened that these two were tempted to wrongdoing regarding their Lord, their friend, the one who came to earth to be their Saviour. Judas deliberately, Peter rather sheepishly, lacking confidence.

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ENCOURAGEMENT IS PRECIOUS – AND NEEDED!

(February 20, 2024) Wayne Swift calls it as it is – and challenges…

We live in increasingly difficult times. Let me qualify that…

I’m saying that it is different today than it was 20, 40 or 60 years ago. The economy is different, in some ways our standard of living is better, our expectations are higher, people are generally wealthier, even the poor are better off than those from 50 years ago.

Why then am I saying we live in difficult times? Several factors –

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GOD’S HAND IS ON YOU – FOR GOOD!

(February 06, 2024) Angeline Selvakumari shares scripture-based encouragement…

Nehemiah declared to his hearersthat ‘The hand of my God had been favorable to me (Nehemiah 2:18NASB).

The concept of the hand of God is intriguing. In the King James Version, the phrase ‘hand of the Lord’ appears 39 times, with 36 occurrences in the Old Testament and three in the New Testament. Additionally, the phrase ‘Hand of God’ is found 16 times in the Bible, seven times in the Old Testament, and nine in the New Testament.

Not only in biblical times did this phrase hold great significance but does so even today for our lives! These three scriptures alone tell us why…

  • Our times are in His hand (Psalm 31:15).
  • We are God’s handiwork (Psalm 138:8).
  • Our life’s breath is in His hand (Daniel 5:23).
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DOESN’T JESUS CARE?

(January 28, 2024) Maureen McQuillan shares encouragement…

Oh yes, Jesus cares!

And yes, there are times in life when Christians may wonder if He has heard our prayers, our cries regarding some serious matter, something that’s gone wrong. We just have to keep trusting Him, believing that He has heard us, knows what’s amiss and that the answers we need will come our way. And knowing that He cares!

The reality is, and I’ll be honest here, being a Christian doesn’t mean we will always live an unchallenged, carefree life. Yes, we will have a good life, sins forgiven and an assurance that we’re heaven-bound. But… presently we’re still here and things can go wrong, even to God’s spiritual children! Accidents, sicknesses, disappointments, marriage and family troubles, sudden loss of loved ones, even disasters.

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THE NEED TO FORGIVE – AND FORGET!

(January 21, 2024) Robert McQuillan shares sincerely…

Don’t know about you, but in my early Sunday school days one the first things I was encouraged to memorise was The Lord’s Prayer.

In The Debt Trap Dr Richard Winter writes about Jesus teaching this prayer in Matthew 6:9-11, and  particularly highlights verses 14-15: ‘For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.’ He makes it very clear that not forgiving leads to being trapped by the emotional and spiritual debt of non-forgiveness.

I highly recommend you read Dr Richard’s article… especially if, like myself and others, you intend moving ahead in 2024 free from restraints that so easily waylay, a major one being not forgiving others who have offended us!

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DEALING WITH DISAPPOINTMENT

(January 15, 2024) Wayne Swift calls it as it really is regarding disappointments…

Every one of us has to deal with disappointment of one sort or another throughout our life! 

Take a simple example… disappointment could be the result of a birthday party that –

  • Clashes with other important things.
  • Clashes with preferable things or
  • Clashes with some people simply because they don’t want to go to!

1. Disappointments vary
It can depend on our circumstances, our self-esteem, our supportive relationships and our level of stability.  What’s at stakes is also a very large contributing factor.

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