(November 29, 2022) Robert and Maureen McQuillan share …
It seems so obvious to many that we live in dark times, depressing days because again and again we hear of the latest sad news. And not just more about war between Russia and Ukraine, uncertainty about China and north Korea’s intentions, covid and other health threats, rising anti-Semitism, increasing crime… but now we learn more and more that kids – mere teenagers – are hitting the headlines as the cause of serious crimes, and that youngsters are longing for help from someone from a Peer Chat type group.
Yes, some good news does come through that we’re glad to hear… huge drug bust, some new medicine breakthrough, our favourite footy team or other sports star winning. Or something that makes us smile like cute new born babies, or a happy well-presented TV show such as Better Homes and Gardens.
But… there is a darkness hanging aroundmany individuals and it is so evident that many people need encouragement, even a meaningful thank you!
Even some in ministry will openly admit they’re troubled, that although they’ll readily confess God is still on the throne, something has happened that has ‘got to them.’ Some uncertainty, lack of assurance, disappointment, illness, something they can’t put their finger on… and they’re feeling low in spirit.
Everyoneneeds encouragement at times! Our blog is called Encouragement and we would encourage every Christian to be an encourager!
Friendship Proverbs 12:25NLT reads, ‘Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.’
(November 27, 2022) Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, reflects on God’s light…
Ministering in England years ago, I was teaching about Jewish faith and practice. To help give my church members a better understanding, I asked a nearby rabbi if he would kindly give us a tour of his synagogue and explain various things done during their worship services.
Very pleased to do so, when we arrived on a suitable date, he was most welcoming, telling us to ask as many questions as we wished. We had a great time!
Later, a week or two before Christmas, he called saying that they were celebrating the Jewish Festival of Hanukkah and invited my church along. I readily accepted. The Jewish congregation sang some Hanukkah songs, and then the rabbi invited us to sing some Christmas carols which we did – with much enthusiasm!
A wonderful meal followed that contained many delicacies that are traditionally eaten at Hanukkah. It was a memorable experience.
Hanukkah This is celebrated about three months after the Feast of Tabernacles, and lasts for eight days. Another name is the ‘Festival of Lights’ and this year will be between December 18 and 26.
Although not mentioned in the Old Testament, a reference is in John 10:22, where it is called the ‘Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem.’
(November 27, 2022) America’s Mercy Health releases good info monthly as part of their concern for everyone in showing the compassion of Jesus, such as these (excerpted) thankful stories featuring team members, patients and the wonderful communities they feel blessed to serve…
1). Teamwork saves mushroom poisoning patient’s life A family group came to Mercy Health – West Hospital, sick from eating wild mushrooms foraged in nearby woods. While most were able to recover with minimal treatment and return home, one remained extremely ill.
‘The patient was admitted and liver tests kept getting worse,’ shares Dr Kevin Cronley, one of our gastroenterologists, and director of endoscopy.
There were no other health issues that could explain the worsening numbers. The relatively young patient’s health got so bad that Dr Cronley was exploring placement on the liver transplant list.
Dangerous mushrooms From what the patient said, Dr Cronley knew what the family had foraged was the likely cause of the illness. About the same time the family came to the hospital, local media started reporting cases of people sick from eating highly toxic wild mushrooms.
(November 23, 2022) Mama Lava shares from her heart… about heavy hearts!
Hello, my precious readers, how are you going today?
Me? Okay… but I can recall sometime back feeling heavyhearted. I think I encountered too many little things without taking the time to process them with the Lord. And it occurs to me that I might not be the only one and maybe we can encourage each other to work through our little things before they grow any more burdensome.
When something big happens, most of us know we need to stop and pray and proceed with care. When it is a little thing, it doesn’t seem as necessary.
But… too many little things can end up weighing more than a big thing and we end up with a heavy heart.
What are these little things? What kind of little things are we talking about? Any small grievance or irritation can hang around if we don’t deal with it.
Think about a grain of sand, or a kernel of rice. They are so small and insignificant that carrying them takes no effort. But when they pile up they are heavy!
Here’s a few examples from a beach trip that my husband, Michael, and I enjoyed some time back. It was a wonderful time… except for a handful of little things. They would hardly be noticeable, except that they were added to an already heavy pile I had growing in my heart!
(November 22, 2022) Robert McQuillan shares encouragingly…
There’s an old joke about ‘Joe’… he’s strolling along a cliff edge one dark night. Suddenly he slips and falls over hurtling down towards the ocean way below. Somehow he manages to grab a thinnish tree branch jutting out from the cliff side… but although his plunge is halted, that branch begins to loosen ever so slowly.
‘Help’ Joe yells, hoping that someone else is coming along the clifftop. No response and he calls again, louder and more panicky. Silence. The branch loosens more. Yet another ‘Help’ but weaker this time. In desperation Joe somehow screams, ‘Is anybody there?’ carelessly adding, ‘OMG!’
About to give into certain death, Joe hears a soft voice say gently, ‘Yes? I’m here, Joe. What can I do?’ and although he can’t see up over the clifftop, calls, ‘Help me… please!’
‘Okay, Joe’ hears. ‘Just let go and trust me. You’ll be okay. I’ll catch you, Joe.’ The endangered, bewildered Joe is amazed! How does this stranger know my name?Let go and he’ll catch me? He’s crazy… how could he possibly save me when he’s up there? Hesitantly he mutters, ‘Er… let go and you’ll catch me?’ The response is a quiet ‘Yes, Joe.’ The branch loosens further and Joe, panicking more, asks, ‘Who is that? I can’t see you!’
Astounded, Joe hears the soft voice reply, ‘Why, it’s me… God. You did call me, didn’t you, Joe? Now let go and I’ll catch you in my arms.’
(November 20, 2022) David McGuire, missionary to Romania, again uses his camera to ‘write’ reports and share some updates…
We’re called to share the good news about the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of the world. The world is in terrible trouble these days and we believe that James’ teaching of James 2:17 must be active if we’re to reach lost souls with the gospel!
And what did the apostle say? The Message Bible pulls no punches – ‘Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?’
Consequently, we endeavour to act as Christians should, meeting practical needs as well as sharing our faith. Hence we join with others here in Romania to reach out however we can expressing the love of God, whether it’s…
Kids ministry – sharing Jesus with children
Buying and transporting needed food to troubled Ukraine
Supporting refugee Ukrainians
Reaching local people
Building homes for the homeless
Praying for needs, not just preaching, or
Training sessions on divine healing, spiritual warfare, and overcoming Satan
1. Children’s ministry Many kids here have never heard of Jesus or His gospel message of love and forgiveness of sin, and we continue to reach such with the good news, using biblical cartoon movies. Praise God that they’re attentive and that several have accepted Jesus.
As well as regular gatherings, we treat them with special meals and outings… below Left: Tigmandru summer kids on a trip to the zoo Centre: happy kids. Right: Summer outreach camp (our daughter Sabrina, in black, top right).
2. Helping Ukrainians (i) Needs We don’t work alone but continue to associate with other Christians and teams reaching out to this troubled nation… getting badly needed items and transporting these up to Ukraine.
Left: Food and clothing Centre1: Needed stoves Centre 2: YWAM Cluj’s Nieck (He comes from Holland) buying food Right: Packing potatoes
Have Trailer: Will Travel! Queuing up at Ukraine border…
(ii) Sheltering refugees Encouraging those who have made it to Romania to settle peacefully, even supplying Ukrainian food!
3. Local outreaches lead to salvations and baptisms Tigmandru outreach with seven churches attending. Blessing some new converts ready for baptism.
4. Building homes for the needy This aspect of our ministry continues. As many know, I delight to use my building skills and with others we bless homeless people, especially for gypsies… and take the opportunity to share Jesus as we build.
Right: 77-year-old Phil France from Sheffield, England came here to help build this house in Danes.
5. Prayer opportunities Team members take every opportunity not only to tell of Jesus but to pray for the sick showing His love of all.
Most times we stand and pray.
Sometimes we really have to get down to business as it were! 30 minutes of sincere prayer, then healing came to this person’s foot, praise God.
6. Teaching and training Below: Equipping leaders conference, Tigmandru. Michael Cantrell teaching on biblical use of finance. Marcel and team teaching on worship. Norman Patterson teaching on Today’s Church. Me, David, teaching on divine healing. YWAM group that was taught spiritual warfare by me.
7. Yoked partnership As James went on to teach in verse 22 – ‘Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”?’
We appreciate your prayers. This really supports us in our ministry here for the Lord. May God use you too whether you are to reach out to needy people, especially to witness Jesus.
With my wife Rodica (my gifted fellow-minister) and Sabrina (See Sabrina’s challenging October article – What is the True Christian Lifestyle). We can be contacted/supported via link below.
_______________________________________________ David and Rodica McGuire are missionaries in Sighișoara and have built many homes for the poor in that area, especially among the gypsy communities, as well as outreaching to children who have never heard of Jesus, using cartoon DVDs. Link: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com. Recommended: David’s own story A Work in Progress (Amazon) ________________________________________________
(November 18, 2022) S. Sam Selva Raj encourages troubled hearts…
During times of adversity, when we ask friends or doctors for counsel, they may console us by saying, ‘Don’t worry, everything will be all right.’ Comforting words… but we can receive even greater comfort from God!
But, when we experience times of sorrow, pain and affliction, and our problems multiply, we can lose hope.
We shouldn’t… but it can happen.
If we’re not clear about God’s leading in our lives, we can worry much.
Contemplating some sorrowful event, we could wrongly think, ‘Has this happened without God’s knowledge?’
We must remember that nothing happens in our lives without God knowing!If we trust Him, our present sorrow will surely be turned into joy!
So don’t be afraid! Jesus spoke about sorrow and weeping in John 16, adding in verse 20, ‘… your sorrow will be turned into joy.’ He also promised in Matthew 5:4, ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.’
We might think that blessed people are those who enjoy all sorts of material comforts. But the Lord says that even those who mourn are blessed! He who knows everything, knows that He can turn our mourning into joy!
Sorrows may arise due to unemployment, sickness, lack of money, problems at work or in the family, worries about the future, and so on. Whatever our sorrow, the Lord says that all of us who pass through such difficult times are blessed and that we shall be comforted, difficult situations being turn into joyful ones.
Although promised this a long time ago, this is still relevant today! Henceforth be happy and rejoice. ‘Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time’ declares 1 Peter 5:6.
(November 15, 2022) Richard Winter suggests we reflect on some numbers…
Numbers? Why numbers, you wonder? Well, numbers come up in life in general, don’t they? –
Grades at school.
Dollars in the bank.
Your FICO score.
KPL in your car.
Your age.
Numbers are even important to us in our relationships. Relationships with people and institutions; who loves us, cares for us; who we can rely on and trust; how many really ‘follow’ us on Facebook, Instagram, and such.
In reflecting about numbers, think also of these ones – the world population is now about8 billion and is still growing year by year. Of this number, sadly not even 10% are saved, Bible-believing Christians!
Andamong those millions of true Christians, here’s another sad reflection… the varying degrees of intimacy and closeness with the Lord!
The number of Christians who have failed to develop an intimate relationship with their Lord, read their Bibles, know and trust God’s word, and to reach out to unsaved friends, neighbours and contacts sharing their testimony and the gospel is shameful!
(November 10, 2022) Carol Round reflects on Psalm 46:8-10…
‘Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth . . .”Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God . . . above everything”’ – challenges the Message version.
Traffic in the community where I live continues to grow. When one of the many trains travelling here daily passes through, traffic comes to a halt. Complaints abound because we experience two different railroad lines interrupting our daily lives.
However, I’ve let go of the need to complain about those interruptions. I leave early enough for appointments, and I always have a book in my car to read. Exploring the scenery and noticing the people around me also makes the train seem to pass by faster. If I see a homeless person, I pray. I also pray for the individuals in the car next to me, especially if they appear impatient.
November 11, 2022) Elizabeth Kendal requests urgent prayer for Ethiopia…
On Saturday night October 22, gunmen believed to be from the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA – formerly known as ‘OLF-Shene’) stormed the Midre Genet St. Mariam Church in Gebre Guracha.
Inside the church – which is located around 160km north-west of Addis Ababa in North Shewa Zone, Oromia Region – were priests, deacons and a church administrator who had gathered for an all-night prayer service.
Murder and abductions One deacon was killed in the attack and 11 others were abducted. By November 4, one priest and the church administrator had been ransomed. To date, the whereabouts and condition of the other nine captives remain unknown. North of the capital, Addis Ababa, with three sides adjoining Amhara Region, North Shewa Zone (Oromia) is 84 percent Oromo, 15 percent Amhara, 5.3 percent Muslim and 94 percent Christian.
Connecting with You! 
