YOUR WORDS ARE POWERFUL

(March 08, 2022) Richard Winter challenges…

Martin Luther King wrote a speech that has stood the test of time: I will quote just a few selected lines…

‘I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”… I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!’

We know that words like these are powerful. They change lives and they change nations!

In WW2, Winston Churchill became prime minister of England and delivered a series of rousing speeches by radio which rallied the spirits of the people. His words have become legendary:

‘We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be… We shall never surrender. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, “This was their finest hour.”’

For all of us, words are powerful. Our words are powerful and when we speak each day we have the opportunity to change and shape destinies.

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THE WALL IN FRONT OF ME

(March 07, 2022) Mama Lava shares a precious meditation…                           

‘If these walls could talk, I wonder what secrets they’d tell’ – Gayle Forman.

Do you ever find yourself starring at the wall? I’ve been staring at the one in front of me for several minutes. I’m sure it could say many things if it could speak, but right now, I’m relying on its quiet strength.

My wall (right) – the wall in front of me – has witnessed many conversations marked by an array of emotions. The myriad of words do not echo in the wall like they do in my head. The sound has been absorbed and silenced.

The wall in front of me stands straight and tall, unaffected by the frenetic energy on either side. It divides the chaos and is still. It steadies me.

This wall in front of me is pierced. I’ve removed the art that has adorned it for the last few years and all that remains are a few protruding screws and some nail holes. Somehow, it is still stately.

As constructs of the mind, walls get a bad rap. They are said to represent confinement and stand in the way of progress. Yet, I find solace in mine.

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WAITING ON GOD… ‘PATIENTLY?’

(March 07, 2022) Dr Robert McQuillanhas been blessed by Dr Jim McClure’s answer to something that was troubling him recently in the midst of recovering from some illnesses. So here’s the background and Dr Jim’s  theological response…

Dear Dr Jim

In the middle of recovering I’ve been deeply troubled! And all over a verse that I sensed the Lord gave me two nights ago… Psalm 37:7a, ‘Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.’ Great verse, I thought, that sounds just right… I have to continue to be patient in patiently trusting Him for my full recovery.

But, then, strangely, I was greatly disturbed last night Why? I felt to read this verse in various other Bible versions that I have and noted that with the exception of one, they also use ‘patiently.’ I was then led to look up what the Hebrew really meant.

Frankly, when I found that my e-Sword version explains patiently as chûl  chı̂yl – twisting and whirling, writhing in pain – it really threw me! I couldn’t get back asleep right away! And not being up to reading any of my theological books to check further at this time, I ask that you, as the renowned source of theological explanation that you are, please email me your thoughts, thanks. Blessings. Yours, Robert.

Dear Robert

I have read and reflected on the verse that you quoted that both comforted you and troubled you, particularly when you read some things about the meanings of the Hebrew word translated as ‘patiently.’ I hope the following helps to give you some further understanding and peace.

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CHRIST-LIKE BEHAVIOUR: A SIGN OF YOUR IDENTITY

(March 06, 2022) Carol Round challenges us regarding our behavioural attitude…

Jesus speaks clearly in Luke 6:31 as to what our behavioural attitude towards others should be!

Here’s how the Message version reads: ‘Here is a simple rule of thumb for behaviour: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!’

Identifying behaviour
If you were to walk through the front door of my house, you’d be able to identify my favourite colour.

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JUDGING OTHERS

(March 05, 2022) Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, shares a concern about Christians’ attitudes …

These are certainly very difficult days for Christians as we seek to comply with political requirements and changing social and moral values which, at times, may appear to violate our Christian convictions.

And how Satan can use this confusion to His advantage!

Difficult decisions
During these past two years this has been brought into focus as we have considered our response to some of the political requirements and medical recommendations relating to the coronavirus.

Church leaders frequently have been faced the task of trying to determine the right course of action to take. Concerning attending worship services at church they had three main choices…

(1) Close their churches until the pandemic is over,

(2) Keep their churches open to all and possibly spread the virus, or

(3) Compromise by having a service for the vaccinated and another for the unvaccinated. 

I don’t believe that the solution to this problem is easy. Church leaders, with a good conscience, have often chosen different routes. 

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LAYING PROBLEMS AT JESUS’ FEET

(February 22, 2022) Dr Robert McQuillan encourages a wise believer…

Dear Dr Robert

Thanks for all your counsel recently. You’ve certainly helped me… although, I have to tell you, even with prayer and binding my troubles, some problems continued and I just couldn’t get my head clear. But I just have to tell you what’s happened! The other night, I felt led to not just give everything over to Jesus, but in my mind was somehow led to lay my problems at His feet! I now feel so clearheaded and spirit free! Yours, ‘Terry.’

Dear ‘Terry’

You certainly did the right thing… as your feeling of freedom now proves. Sometimes we have to a further step… in our mind, beyond accepting good prayer and counsel. What you’ve done is that! And you’ve learned something more about following Jesus and handing things over to Him.

What you’ve done reminds me of three things…

1) Similar ‘steps’ in the gospels
Search these records and you’ll find a number of people with troubles or longings coming before Jesus, either dropping at His feet, kneeling before Him, or clasping His feet. For example…

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TRUSTING GOD IN ‘EVERYTHING’

(February 20, 2022) Robert McQuillan challenges:

Seems that our main theme this month is on trusting God… and how vital that is as further disasters hit our already troubled world and people, including Christians, have many concerns, such as –

  • Storm Eunice hitting the UK, Ireland, and parts of Europe, following its predecessor Storm Dudley.
  • variants of viruses including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 and can/ may change over time.
  • Strange times, as some have put it, with strange things happening.
  • Possible war between Russian and Ukraine.
  • Hospital staff shortage and other medical concerns.
  • Matthew 24:8’s ‘All these are the beginning of birth pains’ mentioned by Jesus?
  • Possibility, maybe probability of really being close to that hour (known only by Father God – Matthew 24:36) when Jesus Christ returns as THE GREATEST KING OF ALL AND THE MOST POWERFUL LORD OF ALL (to quote capitalised Revelation 19:16NIrV).But prior to this, a one-world-government and currency, and the revealing of the anti-Christ (Read Daniel’s prophecies).

Worried? Well… remember how Jesus encouraged His troubled, worried disciples.

John 14:1GNB tells us: ‘Do not be worried and upset. Believe in God and believe also in me.’

That’s what faith and hope are really all about! Trusting God!  No wonder the Message Bible puts it even more pointedly: ‘Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me.’

So let’s treat ‘this’ as ‘anything’ and not be ‘thrown’ as Jesus encourages. Why? Because it’s easy to think that Christians can’t be thrown by life’s curves – but it happens! Indeed, in life there are many things that throw us… if we let them.

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TRUE LOVE WON DURING PASTOR’S BRUTAL BATTLE WITH CANCER

(February 20, 2022) Michael Ashcraft shares a romantic-centred good news testimony…

For 13 months, Isaiah Trujillo was vomiting every day, as he battled stage 4 cancer with chemotherapy. Sometimes all his wife Amanda could do was rub his back – and stay by his side.

‘It was worth it. It’s what God had for us. I knew that God had more for us,’ she says.

Believing in their marriage vows
At a time when marriage is grounds for divorce, some Christian couples – like the Trujillos – still hold marriage as sacred. Their vows ‘to death do us part,’ they take seriously. Meanwhile worldly marriages are built on the proverbial sand that the flood waters buffet and break down.

‘We definitely questioned why we were going through that,’ says Amanda. The two-year ordeal is finally over. Isaiah just was declared cancer-free and the port in his chest is being removed. ‘You have this idea that if you serve God and do what’s right and do the will of God that you live in a bubble and nothing will touch you and you’re safe. That’s just not true.’

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BIBLE READING CONCERN

(February 19, 2022) Maureen McQuillan responds to a friend who’s feeling concerned…

Dear Pastor Maureen

I have a problem, something that is really troubling me. I’ve been a Christian for many years now and still read my Bible every day. But for weeks now, I no longer feel passionate about reading it and feeling I’m getting nothing out of it, that nothing is ‘going into me’ as if were. Yours, Henrick.

Dear Henrick

That’s a strong word you’ve used… passionate. It actually means to have very strong feelings or emotions. And that’s how you want to be feeling about God’s word as you read it but that you’re not.  Right? I’ll endeavour to help here.

Yes, one of the devil’s tricks is to have us stop reading God’s word… but let’s not think too much about that. I remember you, Hendrick, and that you love God’s word! You’ve been reading it for many years… so it’s already in your heart – and lively!

Let me go straight to the point and ask this question: Whose word have been reading?’ Why, God’s of course! Therefore even if you think nothing is ‘going in’ and that you don’t feel ‘emotional’ at times, the fact remains that it’s His word and alive! That means something must be going that’ll come back to you later. Why? Because, I repeat, it’s His word… and God’s word is life!

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KNOW AT LEAST ONE JEWISH FAMILY?

(February 17, 2022) Robert and Maureen McQuillan challenge…

Halfway through February already!

On Sunday, with great-granddaughter Avaleigh’s help, we celebrated Robert’s birthday entrance into the Octogenarian Club (Well, there must be one somewhere!).

Put this picture on FaceBook with a note that he was now officially an Octogenarian, but which one is the bub(:-)?

Seriously though, every February not only reminds us of Robert’s birthday and the usual one-year older challenges, but this thought also…

If God were to judge our proposed 2022 achievements by a row of lit candles, He’d be reminding us that one is already snuffed out and we’ve only eleven more before the year is gone.  

Book 3 of Virgil’s Georgics, line 284 explains fugit inreparabile tempus as ‘It escapes, irretrievable time.’ We usually say, ‘Time is on the wing!’– our proverbial explanation of tempus fugit.

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