Features

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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HAPPY AS A HOT DOG… AND MORE!

 (June 23, 2023) Carol Round challenges us to bless others.

‘I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live’ declares Ecclesiastes 3:12.

Standing on my deck, my five-year-old granddaughter sang a popular song released in the year 2000. At the top of her lungs, she sang, ‘Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who, who, who? Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who, who, who?’

As she belted out the lyrics, several neighbourhood dogs started barking and howling. Ruby stopped long enough to hear the dogs’ response before she continued singing. However, in a fit of giggles, she couldn’t continue when I said, ‘Ruby, I think they are singing along with you. What do you think?’

The rest of our day was filled with more happy moments as I experienced the joy life brings when you’re spending time with a child. Maybe that’s why Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these’ (Matthew 19:14).

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GET CLOSE TO GOD — NOW!

(May 31, 2023) The late Dr Andrew Evans’ 1997 Heart to Heart challenge is still very relevant today! [See footnote]

Where are you in relation to God? James 4:8NKJV is a powerful scripture: ‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.’

Not even close? If you’re not a Christian, Ephesians 2:1-3 describes you well –

  • Doomed forever for your sins,
  • Going along with the crowd,
  • Obeying Satan,
  • A heart against God, and
  • Doing wicked things stemming from evil thoughts.

Strong words from the apostle Paul, yet that’s how you stand in your relation to God! The good news is in verses 4-6. In His mercy God loves you and wants to bring you into His family so that you can be close to Him.

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DESPERATE? DON’T PANIC!

(May 13, 2023) Mama Lava caringly shares a great truth…

Desperation will cause us to do crazy things! I have an embarrassing, but poignant, case in point.

Remember when Covid first hit? I saw an opportunity to do something I’d been wanting to do for a long time. I would begin baking my own bread. Not only would it be healthier than the alternative, but it would also save money and trips to the grocer. If you remember, the lines outside stores were long and cold, as they allowed only a few people in at a time.

I already had the ingredients I needed. Well, all except one. I needed yeast.

But… my grocery store didn’t have any. I realised many people were thinking like I was, spurred by the fact that bread had become difficult to find. The shelf was completely bare, and there was no assurance it would be restocked any time soon.

I went to Amazon for yeast. Also sold out? Interesting! I looked at my Sam’s Club (warehouse club for wholesale prices on top brands) app. They didn’t have any either. I started to panic a bit.

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ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER TO GROW STRONGER IN FAITH

(May 07, 2023) Carol Round encourages us to bless others.

Meeting over lunch with a Christian friend, I wanted to encourage her during her time of uncertainty and need.

She’d lost her job and was now working at our church as the senior pastor’s administrative assistant. However, the pay was much less than her previous job.

1 Thessalonians 5:11ERV tells us to ‘… encourage each other and help each other grow stronger in faith, just as you are already doing.’

My faith grew through tough times
So, since I could relate, I shared stories of how God had provided for me after I retired almost 20 years ago. After taxes and health insurance, I could barely meet my needs.

I’d obeyed God’s leading when I left my 30-year teaching career to write full-time. But He provided not only for my needs but opened doors of opportunity. Those doors led to ways to supplement my retirement income.

As I continued to share the stories of God’s miraculous provision at just the right times in my life, my friend was amazed. I also knew, without a doubt, that my friend was in the right place, serving in our church. (And I’m also not the only church member who believes our friend is right where God wants her).

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LIVING LIFE – IN A LAND OF HILLS AND VALLEYS

(May 07, 2023) Richard Winter challenges…

Life is a journey – you will go somewhere!

When you were born you started your journey wherever your parents were and began to take you.

My parents never owned a car and so my family never travelled far. But as a boy I loved to read and was fascinated with geography… vicariously I travelled the world, at first with boy books and Indiana Jones type adventures. I guess I was a sort of Short Round.

Then real geography books, as school set the pace. My life would have some new journeys… not just reading those geography books and maps but living life!

Bibles often have maps as the last pages… full of place names, rivers, seas, and mountains. God has an interest in geography and in time.

The Lord told Israel that He would give them a Promised Land, and then described it as – ‘… a land of hills and valleys’ (Deuteronomy 11:11ESV).

When I think about the physical land of Israel, this is an apt description. But it is also of the life Christians live… we will face a land of hills and valleys!

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EVEN BEFORE CREATION, GOD LOVED US

(April 18, 2023) Carol Round encourages us to reflect on the depth of God’s love…

In a recent devotional I read – Billy Graham’s book Hope for Each Day: Words of Wisdom and Faith – Dr Graham opened one day’s devotional with the following words: ‘God’s love did not begin at Calvary.’

The opening paragraph continued. ‘Before the morning stars sang together, before the world was baptised with the first light, before the first blades of tender grass peeped out, God was love.’

God loved us before the creation of the universe! How do we know? Because God is love! Ephesians 1:4NLT tells us ‘Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.’

He chose us before creation
Do you ever think about how much God loves you? Have you ever considered you don’t deserve the fullness of His love? Sometimes, I do.

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‘… MY KING FROM OF OLD!’

(April 18, 2023) Stuart Reynolds reminds us of a coming royal event – and challenges our loyalty to our coming King of kings…

A patient in an asylum was standing on the stool in his room and shouting over and over, ‘I am the king of the universe!… I am the king of the universe!’

A nurse came by and tried to calm him down. ‘Who told you, you were the king of the universe?’ she asked. He answered: ‘God did!’ To which another voice from the next room shouted: ‘I did not!’

It’s not just the mentally insane who believe themselves to be ‘masters’ and ‘monarchs,’ but also the morally insane!

However, there is one, for whom becoming ‘King’ is not a delusion but a destiny!

In speaking of that King, I firstly remind you that come May 6 next month at Westminster Abbey in London, King Charles III will be crowned ‘king’ of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth – not ‘king of the universe’ as the patient above, and neither a king without predecessor nor ultimately successor.

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HOW ARE YOU HANDLING HOLY WEEK?

(April 05, 2023) Mama Lava caringly asks a question…

Hi again! How are you all?

I’m honoured that you’ve joined me on the Back Porch today! And I have a sincere question for you… How are you handling Holy Week?

I don’t mean your plans, agendas, and schedules. I am not asking about church services, egg hunts, and family gatherings. I am referring to your inner wellbeing.

Are you conflicted? Do you recognise the joyous meaning of Easter, but find it difficult to overcome the lofty burdens you are currently carrying?

Me too! It can be challenging to focus on victory when we feel threatened by defeat. But God is ministering to me through an unlikely character in the Easter story, the stone.

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