Features

BE TRANSFORMED— NOT CONFORMED!

(July 09, 2025) Carol Round challenges us regarding our discerning… 

I like refinishing furniture, taking something old and making it look new. However, I haven’t had time to do that lately. My sister mentioned recently she wanted to refinish a used piece she’d found for sale into a coffee bar for her kitchen.

Like me, she bemoaned the fact of her busyness and not having time to transform the furniture into something new and useful.

Transforming the Mind
In Romans 12:2 Paul talks about a different kind of transformation. This type of transformation isn’t physical… it’s about our mind being transformed so we can ‘be able to test and approve what God’s will is for our lives— His good, pleasing and perfect will.’

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BE FULL OF GOD’S KINDNESS— BLESS OTHERS

(July 07, 2025) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…

Most pet owners know that they receive love from their pets as well as giving it.

I remember one lady describing to me how a baby had crawled too close to the fire, and her dog rushed forward and dragged the baby away to safety.

But even where there is no long-term relationship there can still be altruism and kindness. A dog was documented protecting an injured pigeon and staying with it until the bird recovered.

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WHEN ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND SUBMISSION COLLIDE

(June 20, 2025) Mama Lava challenges us as she shares from her heart…

What an amazing exhortation is Proverbs 3:5!

In fact, I know several people who claim it as their favourite verse. I’m sure several of you can quote it if I just give the address.

NASB reads: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Difference!
I’ve quoted the above from the New American Standard Bible as I memorised it when I was a child… but have emphasised two words. The Bible I use for my devotions now is the New International Version and when I came across this verse a few days ago, it stopped me in my tracks.

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JESUS HELPED SUPERSONIC PILOT SEE WORLD ANEW AT 60,000 FEET

(June 12, 2025) Charles Gardner shares…

Piloting over 800 Trans-Atlantic flights at supersonic speed is not something many of us can boast about.

But Captain Brian Walpole has it all in his logbook— and though the story of his engagement with the heavens is certainly an uplifting one, it is his flight to faith that he credits as being of far greater importance.

A former RAF officer from Surrey, England, he began flying in a two-seater Tiger Moth biplane and progressed to flying jets in aerobatic displays before switching to commercial aviation.

Captaining Concorde for British Airways, flying at 1,350mph (twice the speed of sound) and at one time being boss of the entire supersonic operation was clearly the peak of his career, as he recounts so enthusiastically in his autobiography Captain Concorde (Grace and Down Publishing, 2024).

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PEACE IS FOUND IN JESUS ALONE

(June 12, 2025) Carol Round shares comforting truths for troubled souls…

While cleaning my house recently, I listened to a talk show interview with a woman in her late 40s, maybe early 50s. The news was up next, and I didn’t want to miss the weather forecast.

What grabbed my attention was a statement made by the woman being interviewed. I put down my dust rag so I could focus on the interview.

I don’t recall her name or the name of the show, but her statement made me think. She said, ‘I don’t want to age gracefully. My idea of aging is growing peacefully.’

Aging gracefully, according to various websites, means embracing the natural process of aging while maintaining physical and mental well-being. This means adopting healthy eating habits, engaging in regular exercise, and forming positive social connections.

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REACH OUT TO THOSE WHO NEED THE LORD

(June 02, 2025) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…

As a young pastor fresh from Bible college one of the duties expected of me was that I should regularly visit not only members of our church, but also any possible friends and connections that offered opportunities of bringing comfort or Christian witness.

And so it was that ond day I found myself visiting an elderly lady in her home at about 4pm one day. On arrival I was somewhat surprised to find that her room was full of birds.

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MARKS OF MATURITY (Part 2)

(May 21, 2025) Dr Richard Winter continues his vital challenge that Christians should grow in Christ, maturing in their faith. In this Part 2, he shares on some marks of Christian maturity…

1. Participant not Spectator!
This a self-revealing truth! When you join any branch of the military— army, navy, air force, marines, space force— the day you take the oath of allegiance to serve, the day you put your uniform on, you are no longer a civilian or spectator.

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MARKS OF MATURITY (Part 1)

(May 16, 2025) Dr Richard Winter shares a vital challenge…

The Roman Catholic Church recently elected a new Pope and the eyes of the world are currently on him… Who is he really? What new changes will he bring about? Will he be backed up?

While his name is Robert from Chicago, he will be called Leo 14th. The world will be inquisitive about his family and his life before his election as Pope. For example, I wonder if his brothers ever called him Bob? No doubt many will wonder if they ever thought he would be elected Pope.

Position
Life in families is always interesting because sometimes we don’t know how our brothers will turn out. Come with me to another family from the first century… to Mary and husband Joseph’s.

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ANXIETY STEMS FROM MISPLACED TRUST!

(May 14, 2025) Mama Lava, sharing from her heart, reminds us of another great truth…

Hello again!

Trust is our theme this month, as we work on alleviating our anxiety. Specifically trust in God.

Think about this… we put our trust in many things every day. We trust that—

  • What we buy online will arrive as described.
  • The amount charged on our various bills is accurate.
  • Our cars will get us from point of origin to destination without breaking down.
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DO YOU HAVE A FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD?

(May 12, 2025) Carol Round asks a relevant and challenging question…

In his book, The Pleasure of His Company: A Journey to Intimate Friendship with God, author and pastor Dutch Sheets opens Chapter 15 with the following statement:

‘I called myself a Christian for seventeen years before I discovered I could have a truly personal relationship with God. Prior to this, I certainly knew Him as God and I definitely knew Him as my Saviour. I didn’t, however, know Him as my Father, and walking with Him as a friend wasn’t even in the field of view.’

I can relate to Sheets’ statement, except I was in my mid-40s. It took a life-changing situation to lead me to the foot of the cross. Yes, I knew of God but didn’t know Him personally, let alone have a friendship with Him.

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