(April 03, 2025) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…
It could be argued that Rudyard Kipling’s Just So stories should be called ‘Just not so.’
The rhinoceros, for instance, did not get his wrinkled skin because long ago he took off his skin and left it on the beach while he went swimming, and someone put cake crumbs inside to make it itchy. However Rudyard Kipling’s little daughter wanted the stories told just so which is how they got their name.
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(December 02, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…
Throughout my (Norman’s) childhood my grandparent’s house was without electricity. There was an incandescent gas light fitted in the ceiling. Even the early days of my ministry a few of the homes I visited still had oil lamps.
Both of our childhood homes had electricity and ‘Fairy Lights’ always adorned the Christmas tree. However these had their frustrations, because they were so wired that if one lamp went out, they all went out and each had to be tested in turn until the culprit was discovered and replaced. The cheap bulbs (oh the days of ‘Woolworths the local Sixpenny Stores’) seldom lasted more than a few days.
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(September 3, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…
If you reside in Rowley Green please excuse my reference to where you live. Of course I think the majority of those who read this meditation will not have heard of Rowley Green.
It was well known to my family because it was there that my grandparents picked blackberries each year. Consequently it was to Rowley Green that my mother and my cousins and myself went each year to pick blackberries.
In those days it was I guess at least an hour including a bus ride to get there from where we lived. But the point was that once we had gone down a country lane and entered the Green, we could find blackberries in abundance and such large, beautiful refreshing blackberries! The taste remains as a memory in my mouth even after all these years.
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(June 03, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share a precious valuable meditation…
There was a room in the Russian Catherine Palace called by some to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. It was known as the Amber Room. Looted by the Nazis in 1941, it has become a lost treasure that may never be found.
Amber is an interesting and valuable gemstone. Yet not quite a gemstone as it comes from a kind of resin found in ancient trees which became fossils. We get the name electricity from it because it has static electrical qualities.
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(May 28, 2024) Richard Winter shares…
When God told Moses that he was the one chosen to bring Israel out of their darkness in Egypt, the astounded and uncertain shepherd had said, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is His name?” Then what shall I tell them?’
God’s reply was ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you”’ (Exodus 3:9-10).
No doubt you can image Moses thinking ‘“I AM” has sent me? They’ll probably say, “And who’s this I AM?”’ But… dear reader, do you know who the ‘I AM’ of scripture is?
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(December 02, 2023) Norman and Margaret Moss reflect…
During my (Norman‘s) childhood we had two harmoniums in our home.
Longing to play them
Unfortunately, both were far gone playing-wise! The smaller one suffered from a pair of bellows which often leaked very badly requiring my grandfather to repair them with an abundance of glue which came strongly smelling and piping hot out of a glue pot.
When repaired the organ made quite a good sound, but the repairs didn’t last very long.
The other instrument had two keyboards and more stops. The main fault of this one was that if I pulled out one of the stops it would disable the instrument, requiring my father to drag the organ out of the alcove in which it was placed, so that he could struggle into the alcove in order to remove the back and repair it.
Needless to say, sometimes I forgot and pulled the stop out!
My father who was an accomplished organist could extract a wheezy music from both organs. I longed to play them… but the sounds I produced were execrable!
Witnesses
These instruments were witnesses to me of the great family celebrations at Christmas when we would get together round an instrument and sing in glorious harmonies at the top of their voices.
How generous it was of God to give us music. Tastes may vary and times change, but most of us enjoy singing… and just wait till we hear what heaven can do!
Whatever else you do at Christmas this year, be sure to sing His praises… and to enjoy doing so.
Christmas meditation
We were meditating on Revelation 4:11, ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being.’
We felt the Lord was saying –
‘It is by my will that you were created, created for my glory and blessing. Created to tell of me and of my kingdom. Created to bring about my kingdom on earth. What better use for your tongue than that your lips should sound forth my name and my honour. Therefore open your mouth and show forth my praise and my people will hear and come into my kingdom.
‘Fear not, for I am with you. There is no pride or insecurity in me that has need to be praised, nor is there any doubt that I am to receive glory, honour, and praise. Creation brings me praise because worship is declaring ultimate truth and bringing the worshippers into the harmony of heavens symphony. The truth is that I AM worthy, and that is unassailable and unthreatened truth. All that denies this is lie and deception. I AM perfect light, perfect holiness, perfect righteousness, justice and purity. I AM perfect love, kindness, compassion and mercy.
‘All my blessed attributes meet in the cross and resurrection. All were manifested in my incarnation, and shall be declared in my glorious return to the planet and the people whom I love. So rejoice and live in spontaneous praise and delightsome worship, for in this way you also come into the reality, which is filling all things,the glory and wonder of my magnificence and my worthiness of honour and majesty.’
The Lord bless and keep you this Christmas – and through the coming year! Praise His name!
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Norman and Margaret Moss pastored Queen’s Road Baptist Church, Wimbledon for over 30 years, experiencing charismatic renewal since the 1960s and bringing the congregation into renewal in the 70s when the church grew significantly. Their desire is still to encourage ministers, churches and groups that are hungry for more of the Holy Spirit and although ‘retired’ they preach and teach by Zoom, and also contribute to Dr. Ayodele Afuye’s Vessels of Virtues Fire Ministries. Link: charlesnmoss@gmail.com
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(April 26, 2017) Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, begins a series on selected Greek words…Many of the words we use end in ‘ology,’ for example, theology, psychology, geology, etc. That suffix comes from the Greek word logos which means ‘word’ and it is one of the most theologically significant words in the Bible. To our way of thinking a ‘word’ is merely a building block which, when combined with others, becomes a means of communication. However in biblical understanding a word is so much more than that.
The noun logos is related to the verb laleo which means ‘to speak.’ It is significant that in the New Testament logos is used over 300 times: the KJV normally translates it as ‘word’ although it also uses other expressions such as ‘account’ and ‘speech.’ (Another Greek word that is translated ‘word’ is rhema but we shall not examine that here). (more…)
Christians are so familiar with Psalm 23 – the Shepherd’s Song, that best known psalm of David.
Genuine shepherds care so much. Here’s a powerful reminder of our relationship with Jesus, the greatest shepherd. It gives Christians a secure hope in our God and encourages us to trust every aspect of life to our Lord built on a meaningful and powerful relationship.
Even countless non-Christians are aware of this precious psalm. Decades ago when purchasing a used car on learning of our ministry involvements, the salesman remarked, ‘I don’t go to church myself but I ensure my kids do – they know more about the Bible that I can do. But I do remember one thing from my own Sunday school days … the Shepherd’s Song!’ (more…)
(May 3, 2015) Maureen McQuillan recalls a memorable believers’ water baptism service:Ali, a converted Muslim from Iran, had expressed his desire to follow his Saviour Jesus through the waters of baptism.
A humble and most sincere man who loves Jesus and doesn’t hesitate to share his faith in Christ, he had his wish fulfilled in a heart-touching baptism service at last month at the Highton campus of Moolap and Barrabool Hills Baptist Church, Geelong, Victoria, last March.
The service meaningfully centred on Ali’s baptism and quite a few of his converted Muslim friends from Melbourne and Hoppers Crossing attended to celebrate the occasion. Moein, a delightful young Iranian friend I know, was among the visitors and kindly supplied photos for this article.
Barrabool Baptist’s teaching pastor Matt Jacoby conducted the baptismal segment along with Reza – who only likes to known as ‘a servant of Jesus.’ Matt Jacoby highlighted the meaning of adult believers’ water baptism and Reza interpreted for Ali as he shared his testimony in Farsi. (more…)
Maureen McQuillan recalls last month’s memorable baptism of a converted Muslim:Ali, a converted Muslim from Iran, had recently expressed his desire to follow his Saviour Jesus through the waters of baptism.
A humble and most sincere man who loves the Lord Jesus and doesn’t hesitate to share his faith in Christ, Ali had this wish fulfilled in a most magnificent, heart-touching water baptism service last month at the Barrabool Hills, Highton congregation of Moolap and Barrabool Hills Baptist Church, Geelong, Victoria. (more…)
Connecting with You! 