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Good morning. When reading the accounts of persecution of Christians in different parts of the world, one can quite easily be gripped by fear. Yet these followers of Christ demonstrate an amazing fearlessness in the face of potential death for their faith. When the Lord was transfigured, Peter, James, and John saw Him in the company of the greatest prophets. They heard the Father affirm Jesus as His “beloved Son” (Matthew 17:5). What they witnessed was an incredible gift of hope, but it was also overwhelming. Jesus comforted the disciples by saying, “Get up, and do not be afraid” (v. 7). We may not face the same persecution some Christians are facing in some parts of the world, but no matter our struggles, we can have hope and overcome fear because Jesus promised to be with us—always. "I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. In the era of unlimited information, it’s easy to take the Bible for granted; to forget how rich it is with spiritual insight and understanding. Scripture teaches, convicts, and encourages us. In Scripture, we are given the revelation of who God is, leading us to worship Him in His splendour. The gospels introduce us to Jesus Christ and His love for us. We learn to repent of sin and ask for and receive forgiveness. In the Bible we have a a practical guide for how to live today and prepare for eternity. It is so important to take the time to spend time in the Word. When we do so, we encounter God Himself. Between the lines of chapter and verse, we meet with Him and are transformed by His presence. "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword ... it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Have a good day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Life is busy, so prayer often gets squeezed out of our schedules. And when we do pray it is often about ourselves; our needs and desires. We must remember that praying for our loved ones is also important. Paul gives us a good example of praying for others in Colossians 1:10-14. He prays that they would: • Bear fruit in every good work (v. 10) What matters is that the things we do must bear fruit for the Kingdom. • Grow in the knowledge of God (v. 10) Paul’s request is not merely for them to gain facts regarding Christ. He speaks of a deeper understanding in the heart. • Be strengthened according to His power (v. 11) Having endurance and focus in the midst of life’s trials requires God’s strength. Our own sttength simply isn’t enough. • Walk in gratitude (v. 12) Contentment and joy come from a grateful heart, not our circumstances. We must not let life's busyness distract us from the important work of interceding for others. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. "O worship the King, all glorious above O gratefully sing HIs wonderful love Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days Paviolioned in splendor, and girded with praise O tell of His might, O sing of His grace Whose robe is the light and canopy space His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form And dark is His path on the wings of the storm O measureless might, ineffable love While angels delight to worship above Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend" The words of this great hymn by Charles Wesley help us to focus our thoughts as we prepare our hearts to join with fellow followers of Christ to worship our Lord and Saviour today. May your time of worship today be uplifting. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Has the pain of your past become a prison in your present? Bitterness is something we often carefully nurture and grow over the years. When someone hurts us, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and we begin to think of ways to get payback, all we are doing is destroying our own heart and mind. Bitterness is a poison that we prepare for someone else but then drink ourselves. For followers of Christ, our faith presents a better way to live. Rather than nurture hate, we can “turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14). Everything within us rebels against this and we can, out of frustration and anger, ask God as Peter did: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:21‭-‬22) Living in forgiveness is so much better than living with bitterness. "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13) Let us resolve to put Paul's words into practice. God bless you. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. When last did you pray for someone - your spouse, family member or friend? I (Mike) mean really pray for them. One of the greatest things we can do is lift a person up in prayer. A great way to do this is to speak Scripture on his or her behalf. Mike's friend Paul wrote, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:9‭-‬10) This portion of scripture is a wonderful example of what to pray as we bring loved ones before God’s throne. • Paul asked for the believers to understand God’s will/plan for their lives. • Paul prayed that the believers in Colossae would conduct themselves in a manner worthy of Christ, bearing spiritual fruit. (See Galatians 5:22-23). When we begin to pray as Paul does here, our intercessions will change, and so will we. Enjoy a wonderful day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. In this day and age, with all of life's challenges, it is no easy task to live a life of sacrifice. (Romans 12:1) When we stop and think about it, surrendering to God and His will is in our best interest. Following our Father leads to hope and an established future: • David observed that goodness is abundant for anyone who defers to God "How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you." (Psalm 31:19). • To Jeremiah, the Lord promised that prosperity, hope, and a future are a by-product of seeking Him wholeheartedly. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." (Jeremiah 29:11-12) • Solomon noticed our paths are straight when we trust the Lord completely. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs. 3:5-6). God's way is best, and it offers hope, joy, and peace. While we may not like everything He chooses, He promises to work all things for our good. "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) Have a good day in His care. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Do you feel awkward when someone compliments you? Think about a time when you received praise from a parent, a teacher, or an employer. How did you feel? Did it make you glad or uncomfortable? For many people, praise is nearly as difficult to handle as criticism. Because God’s Word instructs us to be humble we may sometimes feel confused about how to receive compliments. However, "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24) So how should we respond? • Acknowledge the comment by thanking the person.Resist explaining why you are unworthy of praise or try to deflect such kindness. The Lord is using that person to bless you. • Identify and acknowledge the character quality that led the other person to commend you. Perhaps he or she sees something you’ve missed and that God wants you to be aware of. • Tell them what the encouragement means to you personally. Tell the other person how much you’ve been blessed by his or her attention and care. After all, praise can go both ways. Enjoy a blessed day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs us to love our adversaries and to pray for them. “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27‭-‬28) When Jesus said this, He was referring to unconditional love. This love isn’t a superficial affection or feeling of goodwill, and it’s not based on the nature or appearance of the other person. This is the deepest kind of love we can display. Loving our enemies seems counterintuitive, but actually it is the perfect solution. When we choose to love, our emotions follow the decision of our mind. When we pray for our enemies, it changes our heart—not all at once but over time. And when we ask God to help us express genuine Christlike love towards our enemies, those requests mold us. A bitter response toward an enemy will yield only negativity, but a gracious response can have profound results. God has a redemptive plan in mind for every person, and we have an opportunity to participate in that plan when we display the unconditional love of the Lord Let us walk in God's love and give it away to all we come in contact with. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. God's grace is available to all who want it—no one has sinned beyond His ability to love, forgive, and heal. Imagine what the apostle Paul must have felt at the time of his conversion. Do you think people trusted him immediately after his experience with Jesus? What must the reaction have been from the followers of Christ who knew him only as a murderer? No doubt Paul was forced to suffer their stares and questions. And yet God moved in a mighty way through this former persecutor. Despite Paul’s past, God had a specific plan for him, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostle was used mightily to spread the gospel. Perhaps you know someone who is hostile to the faith. Can you “preach” to him or her through kind and loving actions? Perhaps you’re the one who’s hesitating, thinking you’re too far gone to be saved. There is no one beyond God’s loving grace. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) Ask Him to speak to your heart today, and follow Him. You’ll be so glad you did. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Today as we meet with fellow followers of Christ we have the opportunity to build up, lift up and cheer up each other. Paul puts it like this in 1 Corinthians 14:3, " But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort." (1 Corinthians 14:3) We are all uniquely created and given abilities to uplift others. If you’re a follower of Christ, then He’s given you a gift. We have different gifts, and that’s the beauty of the body of Christ. Our differences can work together in unity. It is possible for our gifts and talents to work together. In fact, that’s exactly what God wants for us. "What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up." (1 Corinthians 14:26) As we join together today, let's open ourselves to be used by Holy Spirit to build up, lift up and cheer up the Body of Christ. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Has there ever been a time in history when we’ve had access to so much knowledge? Whether you want to fix your car, get dating advice, or make sense of a political issue, someone somewhere is willing to give advice. Books, TV shows, websites, podcasts, and social media all claim to have the answers we need. So why does life at times feel so empty? Why aren’t we more fulfilled? We often come up empty because those sources lack ultimate, eternal knowledge. The guidance and peace we desperately seek remain elusive. We need something better—we need truth. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. " (John 14:6) The Lord can and does use people and resources to help us grapple with life’s complexities, yet the wisdom we receive from them should always line up with God's Word. The Bible, from beginning to end, it reveals God to us, assures us of His love, leads us to salvation, and shows us how to live. The Bible is much more than a history text or story book. It’s more than a collection of poetry and wisdom. It is the inspired and living Word of God—timeless, infallible, trustworthy. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17) Let God reveal how to deal with life's issues as we (you) spend time with Him in His Word. Have a peace-filled weekend. Blessings. Mike and Daphne