miracles

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS FOR US?

(February 10, 2025) Mama Lava, sharing from her heart, challenges us to trust our loving and caring God…

February! What a great month!

And what a perfect topic we have on the Back Porch: God is for us!

Initially I didn’t chose this topic on purpose. Last year, as I sat with the Lord, planning a 2025 roadmap through the topic of overcomimg anxiety, I did not realise how appropriate it would be to talk about God being for us during this month of love. But, my friends, that is how God works! He knew what He wished me to share this month— and His timing is perfect.

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MANDATE MINISTRIES UPDATE

(December 24, 2024) Ross and Donna, Mandate Ministries, share regarding their Chiang Mai, northern Thailand and Myanmar ministry, and an update regarding Ross’ health…

Hi friends, we are back in Chiang Mai now and loving it!

We’ve had the opportunity to catch up with many of our ministry partners, as well as preaching in some of the great churches in this city.

Ross achieved a significant milestone last week as he submitted his research thesis to the examiners on Leadership Development Programs in Northern Thailand, after four years of research, blood, sweat, and tears. Woo hoo!

Christmas Programs for Karen People
We were able to provide much needed food, supplies, as well as Bibles for the Karen people at two special events last week. Our team organised Christmas programs where food parcels and gifts were distributed.

The gospel was preached and the Karen people received the word and the Christmas gifts with great appreciation.


Ross’s Health Update
Ross recently underwent a CT scan and X-ray to determine the progression of the cancer in his body. It appears that the cancerous lesion in the liver has doubled in sizeover the last 2.5 months.

In the natural this is obviously not a good sign, fortunately we are not living in the natural and believing God for divine intervention to reverse this accursed cancer. Please pray with us for the total eradication of every cancer cell in Ross’s body, for total restoration of health and wholeness, and for overflowing strength and energy levels.

Christmas Camp
Ross was invited to be the speaker at a three-day church Christmas camp recently. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and ministry. It was very much an international camp with two church members not only from Thailand but also from Argentina, Nigeria, Malaysia, Philippines, Brazil, USA, and Karen people from Myanmar.

Thanks again for your faithful prayers and support of our ministry to Asia.

Special Prayer Requests

  • Quick and total healing for Ross. ‘Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases’ (Psalm 103:2-3).
  • Peace and reconciliation in Myanmar.
  • For the Karen believers to rise up and declare the kingdom of God is here and expect to see the signs and wonders that will accompany it.
  • Finances for provisions for the Karen people and to print more Bibles: Sponsorship is code FW061; printing of Karen Bibles, relief and general ministry to the Karen people is code FW061D, and can be designated via this link https://donate.acci.org.au/form-6504140/fw061-ross-donna. Know that you can make a difference

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Ross and Donna, Mandate Ministries, have been missionaries to Asia for many years. Based in  Chiang Mai, they have worked with local pastors and church-planters, developing in-service leadership training programs that address challenges and issues unique to this area of Thailand. Link rossw@investeternal.com
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MIRACLE IN THE RUINS!

(November 26, 2023) Robert McQuillan shares a great testimony of God’s caring miracle-wise…

Interesting articles this month (links below) by Angeline Selvakumari, Mama Lava, Richard Winter and Brian Bell on firmly standing our ground – spiritual battlefield ground – against Satan’s deceptions, troubles around us, false teachings, not walking behind Jesus but in Him.

Yes, in a nutshell we must continue to hold the fort (as Brian reminded us).

Decision
Last month I recalled some of my memories regarding learning to stand firm on my battlefield back in the 70s. Those enlightening experiences were in respect of Abbots Cross Congregational Church in Northern Ireland; and now another related priceless memory comes back to me regarding standing firm…

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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A SIGN

(May 21, 2022) Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, reminds us a great truth regarding our almighty God…

There are almost 40 miracles of Jesus recorded in the four gospels and John mentions seven of them. The miracle of the feeding of the 5000 is so significant that all four gospel writers mention it… but there are some notable differences between John’s account and that of the others.

What a crowd gathered on the hillside that day. In John 6:10 we read that there about 5000 men. In his account, Matthew’s adds that there were also women and children present (Matthew 14:21).

Jesus and His disciples had gone there initially to relax and enjoy some privacy. Can you imagine, therefore, the stress the disciples would have felt when this great crowd arrived? Despite this ‘inconvenience’, we are told by Luke that Jesus preached to the crowds and healed those who were sick (Luke 9:11).

That day an amazing thing happened. With five small loaves and two small fish Jesus fed the hungry crowd and when they had eaten their fill, there was a surplus of twelve baskets of pieces of the five loaves. John wrote, ‘The people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did’ (6:14).

When Matthew, Mark and Luke referred to  miracles, they used the Greek word dunamis whichrefers to an act of power and force and it is the root of our English word ‘dynamite.’  

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I MIGHT HAVE MISSED THAT MIRACLE!

(April 02, 2022) Mama Lava shares a challenging Easter meditation…    

The very first Easter morning was unique to all that have come since in that it dawned in apparent defeat. Have you ever thought about that?

Jesus’ resurrection had happened, but nobody knew it! His family and followers awoke in grief, unaware of the glorious victory and power that had changed everything. They might have missed the miracle… if not for the faithfulness of Mary, Mary and Salome.

These three women, who had followed and served Jesus daily, woke up in despair. He was gone. They had seen Him beaten, nailed to a cross, ridiculed and confirmed dead. Because of strict Sabbath rules, He’d been buried quickly. There hadn’t been time to properly embalm His body with the customary spices.

Dedicated
But the Sabbath was over, and they would be able to do this one last thing for the One to whom they’d been devoted. So, they got up and prepared to do what they’d done every day – serve Jesus.

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MIRACLE IN THE MANGER… MIRACLE IN THE SINK

(December 12, 2021) Maureen McQuillan reflects…

Trust you’re looking forward to Christmas Day as much as we are. Once again our family will be with us, especially our great-granddaughter Avaleigh Grace for her first Christmas.

And, of course, our precious daughter, Wendy, who was born on Christmas Day… Wendy who when younger always reminded me, ‘Two pressies, Mummy; Christmas and my birthday. Not together, Mummy, but given separately.’

The real Christmas present
This is the one discovered in the Bethlehem manger by those shepherds who’d been so scared by the angelic visitation…

‘An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests”’ (Luke 2:9-14).

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NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN ENCOUNTER

(June 14, 2021) Robert McQuillan reflects on this category’s title, Reachout! …

As readers know, this category usually centres on missionary activities overseas and the need to pray for and financially support missionaries, especially in these troubled and dangerous times.

Yet contributors often include a reminder that ‘missionary’ service begins at home, through local churches, and Christians who love their Lord and desire to serve him. That the Matthew 28:18-20 great commission starts in our local Jerusalem.

Interestingly recent American blogs are encouraging churches to reach out locally. Australia’s Wayne Swift, National Leader, Acts Global Churches also wrote: ‘An encounter with God, discipleship and planting pretty much sum up the task of the church and they have for two thousand years, the only change is the impact of the church on the communities in which they dwell.’

In this connection, reaching out locally to the unsaved, a friend phoned confessing he was a little tired hearing his minister preaching about many ‘things’ but never encouraging and teaching how to reach the unchurched.

Unexpected encounter
His call must have been on my mind for I woke up this morning recalling something that happened many years ago…

I’d received a phone call inviting me to meet a Chinese pastor visiting a church nearby the office I used in the days I was editing and publishing a denominational magazine.

Admitting that I’d never heard of this pastor, I agreed… It was to be an appointment I have never forgotten… and never will!

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MARIE MONSEN – LOOSE-CANNON UNSUNG, UNSUPPORTED HERO

(May 19, 2021) In keeping with our own Encouragement article this month, we rerun ex-missionary to South America, Erica Grace’s recent challenge to remember unsung Hebrews 11 type heroes such as this ‘loose-cannon’ unsupported missionary…

Born in Sandviken, Norway in 1878, Marie Monsen became a schoolteacher. She went to China in 1901 to help the missionary couple sent there by her Lutheran church needing a teacher for their children.

But shortly after she arrived those missionaries left due to the national unrest and turn of events in China The mission agency back in Norway didn’t have the funds to send for Marie as well, so she stayed back waiting for her ticket to arrive.

Following Bible examples
Meanwhile, people kept coming to the mission home looking for help but Marie was the only one there.  She would face squalid conditions of starving, sick children and not knowing what do, felt helpless and overwhelmed… the situations she faced each day seemed insurmountable. Marie’s only solution would be to pray.

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One emergency would be followed by another, then another in a nearby town. Everywhere she went Marie (left) would just open her Bible and read especially the gospels where Jesus performed miracles. Then she would pray for people with all sorts of problems, diseases and oppressions. She hadn’t seen this being done back home in her church, but she followed the examples in the Bible.

Not quite sure where she even was, she was woken one day by pleas for help by distraught parents. When she reached their home, she saw their only son, around nine years old, lying on a mat – dead. They begged her to pray to her God.

Miracles!
With childlike faith Marie opened her Bible, read where Jesus raised a young son from the dead and prayed: ‘Lord, you are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Please raise this son from the dead.’

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THEBUZZ

GLEANINGS (October 13, 2106):

  • PENNSYLVANIA – The cross… dangerous to so many
  • MORDIALLOC, Victoria – More Trinity Products
  • UGANDA – Holocaust miracle
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PENNSYLVANIA
Is the cross dangerous?

HopeAuthor Hope Flinchbaugh asks a challenging question…

Well… is the cross of Christ dangerous?

Vladimir Lenin thought so
In November 1917, when he seized power in Russia, Lenin’s soldiers climbed steeples and pinnacles of churches and tore down the cross and replaced it with the red star of the new soviet state. Clergy were denounced as enemies of Russia and summarily executed. (more…)

DOES GOD STILL HEAL MIRACULOUSLY TODAY?

Mark Ellis new(September 14, 2016) Mark Ellis shares yet another good news report …

Jesus demonstrated he is the Son of God (and he is God) by performing powerful miracles throughout his ministry. I don’t know of any other religious figure that could walk on water, command the wind and the waves, heal people born blind, feed 5,000 with a few loaves and fishes, and raise the dead.

The miracles testified to Jesus’ authority, that he was the promised Messiah. The miracles fulfilled the prophecies about him in the Old Testament. He also healed because of his compassion and he healed in response to faith. (more…)