(May 21, 2025) Dr Richard Winter continues his vital challenge that Christians should grow in Christ, maturing in their faith. In this Part 2, he shares on some marks of Christian maturity…
1. Participant not Spectator!
This a self-revealing truth! When you join any branch of the military— army, navy, air force, marines, space force— the day you take the oath of allegiance to serve, the day you put your uniform on, you are no longer a civilian or spectator.
(January 23, 2025) Dr Richard Winter encouragingly hits home…
If I told you that you were going to have the opportunity to talk with Jesus for fifteen minutes today and could make one request of Him, what would be your request? If you could ask Him anything, would you ask for protection, a new job, money… or just what would you ask?
The disciples got this opportunity one time. Luke 11:1 tells of them caming to Jesus with a specific request— ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’
Desire
Why, of all the things they could have asked of Jesus, did they ask that?
(August 17, 2024) Wayne Swift again calls it as it is…
Focus—
Now that’s a word meaning ‘the main or central point of something, especially of interest or attention.’
Did you ever realise that your salvation depended on Jesus’ focused resolution to suffer the cross and all that that entailed? That before Christ even went to the cross He had to focus on His commitment to the task ahead.
Jesus’ Origins
It’s amazing really that Almighty God had made the incredible decision to come to this world in human form as Jesus Christ for our sakes!
(October 08, 2023) Robert McQuillan shares a breakthrough experience to encourage others, especially young believers feeling inadequate in serving Jesus…
According to Dr Fred Luskin, Stanford University, we have approximately 60,000 thoughts per day – 90% being repetitive!
Well, I woke up with one repetitive thought going round and round in my mind… and couldn’t switch it off! A simple but so meaningful eight-word scripture that’s had my back for decades. Then I started recalling the time some 50 years ago when that verse’s reality hit me, becoming an inner strength that I’ve never forgotten.
‘Which scripture?’ you ask, probably thinking everyone has some Bible verse that’s so meaningful to them.
(September 13, 2022) Brian Bell shares comforting words to those troubled in these uncertain times…
Think for a moment on Psalm 107:23NASB, ‘Those who go down to the sea in ships…’ What one natural element of creation did Jonah, Jesus’ disciples, and Paul experience in their lives?
The Lord had called him to go to Nineveh, but Jonah had other plans and took a to go in the opposite direction. A fierce storm beset the ship and caused him to end up in the belly of a great fish.
They were quite familiar with the Sea of Galilee, yet while crossing the sea in their boatone day a great storm blew up causing even those hardened fishermen to fear for their lives.
The apostle was on his way to Rome under Roman guard when the ship in which they were sailingwas caught in a severe storm and they were shipwrecked on the shores of the island of Malta.
Yes… storms! Contemplating vessels and storms, makes me think about sea and other disasters…
(more…)
(August 8, 2021) Carol Round challenges us to ask God’s will for our lives…
Our pastor often asks the congregation the following question: ‘Do you know who you are and to whom you belong?’
In other words, do we belong to the world, or do we belong to Jesus Christ?
Belonging to the world means we’re not following the example of our Saviour and Lord. If we claim to be a Christian, yet let ourselves be swayed by the world’s values, we can’t walk the talk. While none of us is perfect, it requires us to walk in love to follow Jesus’s example.
In 2020, contemporary Christian artist, Josh Wilson released a song called Revolutionary. I love the lyrics. In part, he sings about our differences and that we don’t always agree on everything. He says that doesn’t mean we have to be enemies. Maybe we need be brave, take a leap of faith, call a truce, and find a better way, he adds.
(more…)
(October 22, 2019) Carol Round encourages us to let our Christianity shine forth in a needy world round us…My neighbours were excited to show me the photos and video of the ten tiny turtles they’d rescued. They’d observed the mother turtle laying her eggs in their yard sometime in mid-summer.
To prevent predators from digging up the eggs, the couple placed an old metal crate over the site and marked it with a fake flower. When I enquired about their new yard ornament on one of my daily walks, I learned about the eggs and was excited about the approaching due date.
Days, weeks and months passed until the couple decided they would dig up the nest. They knew the eggs should have already hatched.
Digging in the darkness
Using a trowel, the couple began digging up the dirt. Roots impeded their progress, but eventually they rescued the hatchlings. As dusk gave away to early darkness, they needed a flashlight to wash the small reptiles.
After removing the dirt from the tiny bodies, the couple placed each turtle into a plastic container. Walking to the nearby lake, they lowered the container into the water to allow the turtles to swim out on their own. The couple thought their rescue mission was over.
However, the turtles kept swimming to the shore where the couple’s wife was shining a flashlight. Then, it dawned on her that the turtles were attracted to the light. Turning the flashlight’s beam toward the lake and moving it gradually away from the shore did the trick. The ten siblings swam away.
The creation of light
Hearing the story of the baby turtles following the light, I was reminded of the many times ‘light is mentioned in scripture. In John 8:12, Jesus tells the Pharisees, ‘I am the light of the world.’ (more…)
GLEANINGS:
WORLD – Global craziness! A call not to be silent!
______________________________________________________________________
IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD INDEED!
The title of that old 1963 movie is so appropriate today! Again and again it’s observed that so many people – and the world itself – are dashing madly somewhere but where? (more…)
GLEANINGS:
___________________________________________________________________________
PENNSYLVANIA
Boldness for ministry
Author Hope Flinchbaugh shares how the Holy Spirit changed ministries …
In the book of Acts we read how the Holy Spirit came in wonderful power and filled his people with boldness – enabling them to minister the gospel ‘with signs following.’
Connecting with You! 