Calvary's cross

TURN CURSES INTO BLESSINGS!

(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 brings blessings; the wrong way disaster… 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.’
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GOD’S RELIABILITY

(July 08, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…

I (Norman) was suddenly taken by surprise at church on Sunday when a couple of young men trained a movie camera on me and asked, ‘What one word would you use to describe your father?’

‘Reliability’ I found myself answering.

Now I would have liked to have had more opportunity to say other things as well.  After all, how can you describe a beloved Dad in one word? My father had many other qualities for which I honour him.

However it was a good answer in that it also describes our Father in heaven.

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AMOS THE LORD’S MESSENGER (Part 3)

(July 29, 2023) Brian Bell continues sharing his meditation in Amos… 

When I began looking at Amos it was for my own ‘personal’ study and I did not expect the Holy Spirit to lead my thoughts into what is now the third article and which is meant to be the ‘final’ in a short if unexpected series!

In this meditation I bring your attention to Amos 8:11 and 9:9-15 and encourage you to consider the –

Famine of God’s word
Chapter 8:11 reads ‘I will send a famine … not a famine of bread … but of hearing the words of the Lord.’

In writing his gospel account, Luke records the Lord Jesus as saying the following words in response to the temptation to turn a stone into bread… ‘The scriptures say people need more than bread to live.’

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PROBLEMS!

(September 24, 2022) Robert McQuillan shares a recent incident… er…problem.

Problem – situation, person, or thing that needs attention and needs to be dealt with or solved (Cambridge Dictionary).

A few weeks back I had a problem, to me a big problem!

Don’t exactly know how it happened, exactly what happened… but suddenly it had and I was rocked for a moment! Blood was flowing unstopped from the long slice in my middle right finger. No pain but unstoppable bleeding!

Peace
I had been feeling so relaxed after encouraging a friend on the phone. My mobile had buzzed when I upstairs about to change into my pyjamas and intending to return to Maureen to enjoy some old (Yes, those who know me have guessed it!) John Wayne DVD before retiring for the night. (No doubt Maureen would sighingly comment, ‘Not John Wayne… again.’ But, bless her, agree to watch).

Anyway, I took the call, sitting on the edge of the bed to relax as I listened to my friend’s concerns… and to drink from a cold glass of juice that I had with me, as our conversation went on.

I spent some time encouraging the caller, giving wise advice and counsel – and biblical explanations and examples. Then I prayed and he had felt becalmed and released and we’d said goodnight. And I stepped into the ensuite to place the now empty, heavy glass on the vanity bench top.

Panic
I was feeling quite at ease – maybe I was feeling too at ease with myself having been used by the Holy Spirit to help someone at a late hour and wasn’t watching what I was really doing– I don’t know. But suddenly I was aware of the noise of breaking glass – a resounding racket to me – and that I was only placing half a glass on the benchtop, that broken glass was ‘everywhere’ on the floor at my feet and blood was running from my finger!

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HONOURING JESUS

(December 16, 2021) Dr Robert McQuillan responds to this concerned believer…

Dear Dr Robert

You mentioned in your article this month that ‘people, especially Christians, are looking for reality, for truth, not loud music, meaningless worship and hyperfaith! Churches that are attracting followers are those proclaiming the gospel that Jesus Christ is Saviour and Lord and through him a relationship with God is now possible!’ I’m one of those Christians, looking for down-to-earth reality and am really concerned that although I regularly hear consoling messages about the blessings that God gives but never about what it costs Jesus and our responsibilities. Am I missing something or somehow confused? Kelvin.

Dear Kelvin

This reminds of ‘hammered preaching’ (that you referred to before when you expressed other concerns, and that the Acts 20:27 ‘whole counselling of God’ was not being taught).

You mentioned quite a few scriptures that are repeated regularly, highlighting what God must do for us in terms of ‘Giving to get’ such as the often-quoted Malachi 3:8 coming across as ‘You give your offerings, and you’ll get blessed. If you don’t you won’t.’ And that our responsibilities such as our being willing to give not only to our local church but to needy neighbours (whoever that pans out to be) and other worthy causes and wanting to honour Jesus are never mentioned.

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