Isaiah 55:8-9

PRAYERS— FOUR ESSENTIAL ATTITUDES!

(February 17, 2025) Dr Richard Winter, having shared great points on prayer last month, shares more…

I heard a story about a young girl who wrote a prayer letter to a missionary. She was trying to lend her support to him. But, evidently, she’d been told not to request a response because the missionaries were very busy and her letter began— ‘Dear Mr Missionary, we’re praying for you. But we’re not expecting an answer.’

What she wrote summarises the prayer life of most Christians! We do a lot of praying… but we don’t expect an answer.

We need  to look at four attitudes we must have when praying to our God— all based on the little word ‘willing.’ Small word maybe, but huge in meaning! Dictionaries explain that it’s an active word indicating that one is happy to do something if it’s needed eg ‘A willing person does their work energetically and enthusiastally.’ Such attitude and action is regarded as approved… it’s a settled way of thinking about something.

Let’s look then at the willingness that you must have when praying to our God. You must be willing to let Him answer according to His own—

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HOW MANY TWEAKS BEFORE A RECIPE IS MINE?

(January 15, 2025) Mama Lava challenges…

Can a recipe be tweaked and still considered authentic?

How many tweaks do you think I need to make to a recipe before I call it mine? If I change a few things, is it still the originator’s creation, or is it now my own? Have you ever thought about this?

Tweaking Online Recipes
When I read online recipes, I often read the comments also. Most of them say something along the lines of ‘Great recipe! I substituted this for that, or used this other kind of pan, or adjusted the cooking time this way.’ And I often think those comments are unfair to the author, who was gifting the community with their original recipe.

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A ROAD UNTRAVELLED

(January 07, 2024) Dr Jim McClure encourages Christians to confidently follow the Lord this new year… 

Welcome to 2024! Where did last year go?

I was reflecting on how much the world has changed in my lifetime. I was born when German bombs were being dropped on Belfast. But following the end of the war, despite various hardships, life was pretty good. I have come to the conclusion that I have been privileged to live in a time of unparalleled discovery and achievement in the world.

Following the Second World War who would have guessed that someone would walk on the moon? Who would have speculated that our old radio would be largely replaced by a colour television? Who would have considered that one day you could carry a phone in your pocket without trailing a telephone wire? Who would have anticipated that something called a computer would be invented that would give you instant answers to many of your questions on many subjects? Who would have predicted the amazing advances in medicine and surgery?

Of course, not everything over the years has been good or positive – I do not need to list some of the negatives and tragedies that have also been part of those years… although the Covid pandemic which, directly or indirectly, wreaked havoc in the lives of countless millions of people throughout the world, was one of those stressful times.

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WE DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING – BUT WHY WORRY?

(August 11), 2020) Life Focus Ministries’ Robert and Maureen McQuillan remind us that God has his mysterious ways…

It’s only natural to wonder what’s going on, not just regarding this pandemic time but about other life issues and incidents. We’re human after all! Our July article I Don’t Know About Tomorrow led to some folk asking, ‘Well, what do you really think about all that’s going on in the world? And win the future of the church – a cleansing time? And what about…?’

Hey… we’re like our state and federal’s leaders: we don’t know everything… but like them we’re concentrating on living one day at a time! With thanks to the Lord for each new God-given day, we commit it to him, asking his blessing and protection – and then get on with it, however the day works out.

But… a question: You ever asked the Lord, ‘Why?’ or ‘What’s going on?’ and didn’t get an answer… or the answer you expected?

And did you ever come to the conclusion that it’s better to appreciate and enjoy the benefits God gives us daily rather than query him about how he works things out? Hmmm?

Worrying? Relax and trust God
Jesus told us (Matthew 6:25NLT), ‘…I tell you not to worry about everyday life.’ And, verse 29, he asked a question, ‘Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?’ Of course not!

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