(March 16, 2025) Mama Lava, sharing from her heart, reminds us of a great truth…
Sometimes I feel like a puddle of emotions, but then I remember that a puddle reflects what is above it and at my lowest, I can showcase almighty God on high!
God is Able!
There has been a fantastic song on repeat in my head as I’ve been contemplating my theme this month— God is Able. In fact, the lyrics come from the verse that was on this month’s first Assurance Card.
(March 14, 2025) Angeline Selvakumari reflects on a particular scripture and encourages…
I was reading Isaiah 11, a chapter well-known for its prophecy concerning Jesus’ ministry.
However, I found myself particularly drawn to verse one which, in my Holman Christian Standard Bible, says: ‘Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.’
Five words intrigued me— stump, shoot, branch, bearing fruit!
Stump
A stump represents a life cut short, the abrupt end of a once-thriving existence. It symbolises decline, a remnant of something that once flourished— what remains when prosperity has ceased. It’s a picture of finality: lifeless, left over, and seemingly without a future. A stump marks the end of what was, destined to rot and eventually disappear.
This verse refers to the royal line of David, reduced to a remnant— a stump. Remnants are the survivors, those who have endured trials, faced adversity, and remained steadfast. Isaiah 11:1 is a precious promise of what God intends for His faithful remnant: those who have clung to Him through every storm, standing firm on the foundation of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
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(March 12, 2025) Dr Richard Winter shares encouragingly…
Some of you may remember Art Linkletter hosting Kids Say the Darndest Things TV program. It had excerpts of kids sharing experiences on different issues one of which was prayer.
For instance, a little girl talking to God prayed, ‘Dear God, thanks for my little brother. But what I prayed for was a puppy.’ How’s that for an honest prayer.
A little boy prayed, ‘Hey God, could you just stick another holiday between Christmas and Easter because nothing is good there right now.’ Kids can live for holidays, can’t they?
Kids grow up and their prayers become much more profound! Adults who don’t believe in God often struggle with the question: ‘How can an all-loving, all-powerful God allow evil and suffering to exist?’
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(March 08, 2025) Brian Bell encourages…
On January 1 this year I moved another year further into my seventieth decade of life— and the inspiration for this short meditation is drawn from my recent reflections on one of my favourite verses: ‘Once I was young and now I am old yet I have never seen the godly forsaken nor seen their children begging for bread’ (Psalm 37:25NLT).
This verse from David’s psalm speaks to me about three basic experiences—
1) David’s Experience of Life
The general experiences of life are common to every man and woman. While our specific individual experiences may differ, they come to us as we progress through life from young to old.
(March 05, 2025) Carol Round sincerely shares a relevant challenge…
Pushing my shopping cart into the corral, I noticed an older gentleman wandering around the parking lot of the big box store. He was carrying two sacks of groceries and appeared lost. Immediately, I knew he couldn’t find his vehicle.
Because I’d previously seen others doing the same and had experienced it myself, my heart went out to him.
Approaching the lost shopper, I asked if he needed help. Declining my assistance, he replied, ‘I’ll find it. Eventually.’
‘Are you sure? I don’t mind helping’ I said.
He refused again and I shared my secret of finding my vehicle in a large parking area. ‘I always park in the same area of the lot.’
Valuing Others
Driving home, I prayed for the man who’d refused my help. I also was reminded of the parable of the lost sheep. In Luke 15:1-2, Jesus overhears the Pharisees and teachers of the law muttering, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
(March 06, 2025) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…
As most of our friends are aware we send out short videos each week in collaboration with Vessels of Virtues Ministries. These days we are using some pictures in the background and are always grateful for the help friends give in sending us favourite landscapes of their own that we can use.
Seeking an Image
However, just occasionally when desperate I involve the help of AI. Recently I was in search of a picture representing the baptism of our Lord. AI supplied one… but I had to point out that it was immersion not sprinkling, and the water being poured on the head of Jesus had to be removed.
I also pointed out that I’d discovered on close inspection that John the Baptist was not only gracefully robed in garments deemed appropriate by the artist, but was also wearing glasses!
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(March 03, 2025) Dr Jim McClure shares— and challenges…
Sixty-two years ago Dr Who stepped out of a telephone kiosk that was actually a fictional time machine called Tardis. Since then multiple episodes of the science-fiction TV series have been broadcast with many different characters portraying Dr Who.
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to travel through time? There are no time-travel machines in existence so we have no opportunity to take a trip 100 years into the future or 1000 years into the past, however we are all actually ‘time-travellers’!
In fact, we are travelling through time right now! From one day to the next we travel through time! From one Christmas to the next we travel through time!
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(February 28, 2025) Robert McQuillan challenges…
Matthew 7:21-23 is pretty scary — or ought to be if you’re half-hearted about following Jesus! Message Bible hits hard!—
‘Knowing the correct password – saying, “Master, Master,” for instance – isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience – doing what my Father wills. I can see it now – at the final judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, “Master, we preached the message, we bashed demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.” And do you know what I’m going to say? “You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You didn’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.”’
A graphic reminder that while God loves me unconditionally, my part is to honour His Son Jesus by serving Him not for my own ends but for His glory and the extension of His kingdom… however He wants to involve me.
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(February 26, 2025) David McGuire, Missionary With The Camera, reports from Romania and Ukraine with his camera.
Ukrainians Blessed
Our thanks to everyone praying for our missions-centred trips up into the embattled Ukraine! You have backed us in continuing to bless troubled people up there.
(February 25, 2025) Daniel Corado shares…
Nadalla Alrajo grew up in a strict Muslim family; his father is a sheik. As a three-year-old, he went to the mosque to learn about his religion. At age six, he asked if Jesus was God because he heard about his resurrection and ascension to heaven. (The Koran affirms Jesus’s resurrection but holds Him to be only a prophet, not the Son of God).
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Connecting with You! 