Imagine walking by the sea of Galilee and witnessing the following…
Jesus meets some fishermen and says, ‘Leave your nets, guys, and follow me.’ Then He gathers them with ten others to talk about something He’s going to start called ‘church’ and you overhear the first meeting—
First Disciples’ Meeting? ‘Meeting to order, please!’ Jesus declares adding, ‘I’ve called you gentlemen here today to assist me launch a new enterprise. Of course, you must realise how difficult it is to get a new commodity on the market. Competition in our field is rather stiff these days and it’s going to take the best of our resources if we’re to be successful.’
(November 14, 2024) Mama Lava shares another precious insight…
Hello there, my smart, intelligent, and wise friends! How are you all today?
What has been on your mind lately?To be honest, my brain has been a jumble. I have so many things on my mind that there is, essentially, nothing on my mind. Can you relate to this?
This morning, I’m in a rabbit hole of thought around those words above: ‘smart’, ‘intelligent’ and ‘wise.’ What do they mean to me? Do I decipher between them correctly? Read on and let me know if you agree with my assessment.
(November 08, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…
It was in the early days of charismatic renewal way back in the early 1970s that I (Norman) awoke one Saturday morning to find that I had lost the sight in one eye. Consequently with both eyes open all my brain was registering was grey mist.
Bad News Margaret drove me to A & E. There I was examined by two doctors who peered into my eye while holding a fascinated conversation with each other. At the end of it one of them slapped me on the back and said, ‘Bad luck old chap. You’ve lost the sight of that eye— you won’t get it back’ and immediately left the room followed by his colleague. Margaret and I were left sitting dumbfounded in the grey painted room!
(November 07, 2024) Carol Round shares how to overcome the blues in these ongoing troubled times…
We all need encouraging and the apostle Paul wrote gave great advice to the Philippians … which we can apply to ourselves!
Philippians 2:1-4 says, ‘Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.’
(October 11, 2024) Carol Round encourages trusting in Jesus in these ongoing troubled times…
Right now, the aftermath of a devastating hurricane that hit the southeastern part of the United States dominates the news. Amid the hurricane’s destruction, the current presidential election season leaves us reeling with concern about the outcome.
Adding to the chaos, we hear constant updates of wars around the world — and the damage and fear war causes mentally, destruction, negativity.
Trouble fills our world. We can’t escape it! Besides avoiding social media and the 24/7 news cycle, how can we find peace in a broken world?
October 04, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…
Do you remember waiting for examination results? Year after year Britain’s BBC gives time to the anxiety, agony and ecstasy of the day when the results are posted.
In our day, which was when the Royal Mail was the main source of communication, we were on holiday and I (Norman) was waiting for the letter to arrive which would give the results of my second degree. We lived in a small English town back then and as we looked from the window we could see the postman coming down the street.
Not only did he move slowly, but he would actually pause, look at the address on a letter and go back to the other side of the street to deliver it. So his progress was a zigzag journey.
After a couple of frustrating days, my beloved Margaret rang up a friend in London and asked her to go to the university building where the results were displayed. After all what’s a bridesmaid for? So she kindly set our minds at rest and all was well. She had the word we were waiting for and it was good!
Carry God’s Word in Your Heart We were meditating on 2Kings 3:12,‘Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him”’ and we felt the Lord was saying—
‘Every true servant of mine carries my word in their heart and mind. My Holy Spirit dwells within you and will speak my words through you.
‘Just as Elisha needed to quieten his heart and to wait on me for my word, so you need to be in the secret place if you would bring prophetic words in time of need.
‘Do not despise prophecy but heed the words that are spoken either by others or by yourself. Yet weigh all things and walk in humility before me.
‘To have my word with you is the best thing that you could have.For my word—
Brings peace and contentment.
Conveys blessings and fruitfulness.
Shall be given and those who ask for it.
Is altogether the very best that you could ask for.
Gives grace and enables those who otherwise would be near to giving up.
‘For my word brings clarity to a situation, it brings understanding and peace for those who are anxious and worried. It brings comfort and solace to those in despair and brings life to those who are in exhaustion.
‘My word is everything and brings increase. Only believe with all your heart and it shall be done — most certainly!’
Dear readers — seek God’s word that will bless the discouraged. Have it in your heart, carry it straight to the needy one and deliver it. And don’t zigzag enroute!
___________________________________________________ Norman and Margaret Moss — Link: charlesnmoss@gmail.com— pastored Queen’s Road Baptist Church, Wimbledon for over 30 years, experiencing charismatic renewal since the 1960s. Desiring still to encourage ministers, churches and groups hungry for more of the Holy Spirit, although ‘retired’ they preach and teach by Zoom, and contribute to Dr. Ayodele Afuye’s Vessels of Virtues Fire Ministries. They recommend Vessels of Virtues’ YouTube weekly presentations. __________________________________________________
(September 20, 2024) Mama Lava shares some precious insights…
Are you familiar with the origins of pearls? I admit I was a bit mistaken in what I thought I knew.
Did you know it’s nota scratchy bit of sand which typically begins the process? A pearl is more commonly a mollusc’s defensive reaction to a parasite.
Natural History Museum informs us that — ‘Pearls are made by marine oysters and freshwater mussels as a natural defence against an irritant such as a parasite entering their shell or damage to their fragile body. The oyster or mussel slowly secretes layers of aragonite and conchiolin, materials that also make up its shell. This creates a material called nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, which encases the irritant and protects the mollusc from it. When pearls are cultured commercially an irritant is manually inserted into a mollusc to promote the production of mother-of-pearl. Nacre can form naturally around almost any irritant that gets inside the shell, creating some very unique and precious pearls.’
(September 12, 2024) Sam Selva Raj shares concerns and strongly challenges readers…
Deuteronomy 30:19-20a is a very clear declaration by God: ‘I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days!’
‘Set before you’ indicates the choice is ours regarding enjoying the blessings of God. Blessing is Hebrew berakah — ‘valley of blessings.’
Even the Oxford Dictionary defines ‘blessing’ as God’s favour and protection. And ‘curse’ as something that causes harm or evil. In other words a cause of trouble and unhappiness.
Verse 19 clearly presents the challenge of two ways in which to live — the right way and the wrong.
Going God’s way bringsblessings; the wrong waydisaster… curses!
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus issued this warning: ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’
(September 04, 2024) Carol Round encourages us to be at peace in God…
Isaiah 40:31 is one of my favourite Bible verses: ‘But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’
When I read or recall this scripture, my heart soars as I imagine a magnificent eagle gliding in the wind. My hope is renewed and whatever negative thoughts are plaguing me scatter with Isaiah’s words
Allowing our negative thoughts to lead us down a path of hopelessness is easy when we are overwhelmed with life’s trials. But God never promised His children an easy life.
(September 3, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…
If you reside in Rowley Green please excuse my reference to where you live. Of course I think the majority of those who read this meditation will not have heard of Rowley Green.
It was well known to my family because it was there that my grandparents picked blackberries each year. Consequently it was to Rowley Green that my mother and my cousins and myself went each year to pick blackberries.
In those days it was I guess at least an hour including a bus ride to get there from where we lived. But the point was that once we had gone down a country lane and entered the Green, we could find blackberries in abundance and such large, beautiful refreshing blackberries! The taste remains as a memory in my mouth even after all these years.
Connecting with You! 
