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Good morning. As we continue on our walk through life, we will be faced with challenges. Moses wasn’t eloquent, and his inability to speak well left him feeling inadequate. So God reassured him by saying, "I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:12) Remember, the Lord looks at the heart, not human qualifications (1 Sam. 16:7) There are times when the people God chooses to carry out His plan often seem unlikely. Remember, God can also overcome all our inadequacies, just like He did by calling Moses’ brother Aaron to go along and proclaim the God-given message. (Exodus 4:14-17). The Lord had an answer for each one of Moses’ concerns, and He will likewise help us overcome obstacles as we follow Him. As we step out in obedience, our trust in God grows, and we are able to leave the outcome, whatever it may be, to Him. As the faith barriers in our life are demolished, we’ll see the evidence of God’s presence and power. Not only that, but we will also experience the joy of submitting to His perfect will. Have a super day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Do you ever wonder why you’re here? God’s purpose for every believer is to have a righteous impact on others. We can be vessels through which Christ flows, touching those who hurt and desperately need a Saviour. We do this by: • Loving others. This is one of the two greatest commandments (Matt. 22:36-40). In fact, we love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) The Bible teaches that it’s impossible to love God if we do not love others. (1 John 4:20) • Serving. We do this by lifting others in prayer, helping people in need, and sharing our resources. Jesus perfectly modeled all three. His life was marked by caring for others, not only those who loved Him but also those who didn’t. Jesus cared so much, in fact, that He gave His life for our salvation. There is no greater love or act of service than laying down one’s life, especially for undeserving people. Acts of love and service are a way to share the good news about Jesus. Our purpose is to love and serve others, and when we do, we’ll shine Jesus’ light so brightly that people will want to know Him. Let's go and shine brightly for our King. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. There is an ad on TV for coffee. The young lady asks, "Does it matter it?" Now, when it comes to life, that is a question that requires careful consideration. As we prepare ourselves to worship our Lord today, let each one take a few moments to reflect on our life. As the gent on the coffee ad reminds us, "Yes, it matters." The words penned by Jim Cowan is a good reminder: "When it's all been said and done There is just one thing that matters Did I do my best to live for truth Did I live my life for You? Lord I'll live my life for you." "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace." (Acts 20:24) Have a contemplative day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Have you noticed that people come and go in our lives, like each season turns into the next. Notwithstanding this, we all need a good friend or 2. Friends who will build us up, not break us down, who will keep us "warm" when we need it most. Change is normal in our life. Thankfully, this is not the case with God, who is “the same yesterday and today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). We can completely depend on the Lord’s steadfastness. "The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." (Proverbs 18:10) As we do our best to keep ourselves warm in the freezing cold weather, remember, "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24) A relationship with Jesus Christ will warm our hearts, no matter the weather. Have a good day and keep warm in Him. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Getting what we want doesn't always bring the happiness we thought it would. Having desires is good. They often set the direction for our life. But unless our objectives match God’s, the longings we have are likely to prove empty and disappointing. One way we align our goals with God’s by spending time in His Word which reveals His values. However, many things we yearn for are not specifically addressed in the Bible as “thou shalt” or “thou shalt not.” Thankfully, believers have access to God’s wisdom and discernment through His Holy Spirit, who Jesus promised would counsel us (John 14:26). Another way to evaluate our desires is through honest prayer. “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him” (Psalm 145:18-19). When we authentically share our heart with God, He will respond with the guidance we need. Ultimately, genuine love and respect for God ensures that we’re following His lead. If you don’t have this kind of connection with God, take a moment to ask Him for help. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. If there was ever a time for wisdom, it is now; with interest rates on the up and the cost of living soaring. We need to take heed of the old phrase, “If you want to soar with the eagles, you can’t run with the turkeys”? We don’t need a lot of friends in life. We just need a few good friends who understand your unique needs. We need people who can build us up, not tear us down; people who are wise, not fools. So here's the thing, you cannot grow in wisdom by yourself, because wisdom is all about love. Wisdom shows up primarily in relationships. It is easier for somebody to pull one down than to pull you up. People who pull us down are not friends. Friends pull us up. Friends encourage us in our pursuit of godly wisdom by offering their own. Let's align our walk with Proverbs 13:20: "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." Have a good day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. What we need most comes only through Jesus. When He became man, He left behind His divinity and took on the limitations of humanity, all for our benefit. As a result, we are: • Chosen: God chose us from the beginning to belong to Him (2 Thess. 2:13), even though we do not deserve His kindness. • Redeemed: We are no longer held in bondage to sin, because Jesus paid the penalty we owed (1 Pet. 1:18-19). • Justified:All of us have sinned, but in God’s eyes, followers of Christ are “not guilty.” (See Rom. 3:23, Rom. 3:28.) • Reconciled: Sin put us at odds with God, but through Christ, our relationship with Him is restored (2 Cor. 5:18). • Forgiven: God has forgiven all our past, present, and future sins (Heb. 10:10). • Freed from condemnation:We could never have kept the Law perfectly. That’s why Jesus came to fulfill it. As a result, we can pursue holiness without fear of punishment when we fail (Rom. 8:1-2). God sees us in thoese terms because He loves us. Let's together with Paul, let’s praise "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. In making daily decisions are we led by our thoughts, by feelings, by another person? These motivations are all common, but God wants us to live according to the relationship we have with Him. He is the One who gives us strength, clarity, and guidance. There are things we should do to live according to God’s guidance each day. • Meditate on the Word of God. "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105) • Remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth." (John 16:13) • Wait for God’s timing. "From days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear… a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of one who waits for Him.” (Isaiah 64:4) • Follow Him even when you don’t understand. "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) • Be strong and courageous. To walk in the Spirit of God requires deep conviction and courage to resist other pressures. Remember what He said to Joshua: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) Let's resolve to walk joyfully with our Saviour, obeying Him and following His lead. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Recently I (Mike) read this statement. "God's faithfulness has never depended on the faithfulness of his children. He is faithful even when we are not." (Andrew Coles) This prompted me to once again meditate on God's faithfulness. One of God's attributes is faithfulness. Throughout the ages God has demonstrated His faithfulness. The amazing thing is that we are the beneficiaries of God's faithfulness. "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) "The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." (2 Thessalonians 3:3) "For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." (Psalm 33:4) As we face the coming week let us once again focus on Him and "let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) An ongoing attitude of gratefulness is medicine for the soul. It keeps us aware of God’s place in our life and reminds us to look for His purpose in every situation. A mind full of gratitude brings us into alignment with the Lord’s will and frees us from relying on ourselves instead of Him. Gratitude replaces our anxiety with peace, which helps us trust God even when we don’t understand why something difficult is happening. it is possible for followers of Christ to maintain an attitude of thanksgiving regardless of the circumstances. Today as we gather together with other followers of Christ let's "enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100:4) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning . If you’ve ever had a splinter in your finger you know how bothersome the pain can be. Not all our problems are that little or so easily removed. Sometimes they accompany us for years and can seem unbearable. Paul had a “splinter” in his life. We’re not told what (or who) the painful aggravation was, but it tormented and humbled him. He prayed three times for it to be removed, but God promised only grace, explaining that His power is perfected in weakness. When our strength is lacking, we begin to discover God is enough. We can brave hardship and sorrow because the He is with us, promising “our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17). James reminds us to "let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:4) Paul embraced that response. Whether in feast or famine and even when insulted and persecuted for the sake of Christ, the apostle rejoiced in his weakness because he’d learned the secret of contentment: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:12-13). Circumstances may not be in our control, but our response is. We can become anxious and walk away from God, or we can lean on Him and trust Him to help us. In walking with Him for over 50 years, He has always been by our side; been there for us. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. When life gets tough, we may wonder why and ask, "has God forgotten me?" Sometimes we know we’re facing the consequences of sin or foolish choices, but other times the reason is not so clear. And when illness, death, or some other profound adversity enters our life, it’s even more difficult to understand God’s purpose in allowing it, especially if we’re faithfully following Him. God uses hardship in our lives. It may be to get our attention, help us conquer pride, or teach us to hate sin. It may be to remind us of our dependence on Him, demonstrate His faithfulness, or give us tools for comforting and serving others. Sometimes, God wants to mature our view of Him or deepen our faith. Paul reminds us of the truth that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him." (Romans 8:28) God always works things out for the good of those who love Him. Does this lessen the hurt and doubt that accompany trials? Not always, but Psalm 23 promises that God is with us, comforting us in the midst of the valley. He may not always calm the storm around us. This we know; He calms our heart when we cry out to Him. Blessings. Mike and Daphne