Search Results

Good morning. Welcome to Friday, the last day of the work week for most people. For some it has been a good week, while for others it has been an uphill grind. Bill Gaither penned a wonderful song, the chorus of which is both well known and encouraging. "Because He lives I can face tomorrow Because He lives All fear is gone Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living Just because He lives" Paul puts it like this. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16‭-‬18) Bill Gaither and Paul have a common focus: we focus on the unseen because He lives. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can face the future with confidence, no matter what our circumstances may be. As we go through today and into the weekend, let us do so with confidence, knowing that He has everything under control. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. So often our focus is on our circumstances, life's problems as well as those of our family and friends. Paul's encouragement for us is that we should "Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (Colossians 3:16 NLT) With the ascension of Jesus (which we celebrate today) the presence of Holy Spirit with us was made possible. Having Holy Spirit with us is important as He is our advocate. Jesus said: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:26‭-‬27) A good advocate will bring reassurance and peace of mind. He will remind us of our victorious position. Holy Spirit helps us shift our focus from our circunstances to Jesus Christ, our hope of glory. So do not let your hearts be troubled. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. As we go through life we'll face lots of pain. We'll be unfairly criticized for reasons we don’t quite understand. That, however, is not an excuse to become bitter. Just ask Job! "His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong." (Job 2:9‭-‬10 NLT) Pastors.com (Saddleback Church) shares three steps of refocusing, when bitterness threatens to take over, that we learn from Job. 1. Put your heart right. That means you forgive. Only Jesus can give you that power. 2. Reach out to God. Ask him to heal those wounds and give you strength and power for tomorrow, next week, and next month. 3. Face the world again, being firm and courageous. Resume your life; don’t retire from it. Get back out there in the world. There’s a happy ending to Job’s life. "The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part." (Job 42:12) The lesson of Job’s life is this: It doesn’t matter who’s hurt you or how long you’ve been hurt or how deeply you’ve been hurt, God can make the rest of your life the best of your life if you’re willing to forgive, let go of resentment, and release the offender. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Despite our desire to see revival breaking out around us, we face days when revival seems like something that is impossible in our personal circumstances. How do we react when everything seems to be going wrong? The children are playing up; just heard retrenchment is on the cards; your spouse has been diagnosed with what the insurance industry calls a dreaded disease. The words of the song "Raise a Hallelujah" give us a hint. "I raise a hallelujah In the presence of my enemies I raise a hallelujah Louder than the unbelief I raise a hallelujah My weapon is a melody I raise a hallelujah Heaven comes to fight for me I'm gonna sing in the middle of the storm Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar Up from the ashes hope will arise Death is defeated, the King is alive" Job has this to say: "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!" (Job 13:15‭-‬16) David reminds us: "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." (Psalms 42:5) He is with us all the way, in every situation. Look to Him. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Many followers of Christ are praying and longing for a revival. In doing a little research one will find pockets of revival in a number of places in the world. This year alone revival has broken out in 22 locations across America. It is not restricted to America with revival taking place in Iran, Thailand, Myanmar, Algeria, India and various countries in Africa. God is on the move. Hallmarks of these revivals are prayer and worship resulting in personal repentance. Revival truly revitalizes the church of God. It is a reawakening of the people of God by the Spirit of God. The consequence of revival is new life and power in the Body of Christ. The church receives the power of the Holy Spirit and takes the Great Commission seriously. Individuals, groups, and churches are renewed and revitalized with new life infused by the Spirit. Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts which enable us to be effective in carrying out the mandate to make disciples. Paul reminds us: "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6) And again: "Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you." (1 Timothy 4:14) As we go into the new week, let's do our part in making disciples in the power of Holy Spirit. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. It is with expectation that we join with fellow followers of Christ to worship our sovereign Lord. It is when we meet together in worshipping Him that the Body is built up. "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) Here's the challenge for us today. Will we, you and I, be ready to help build up fellow followers of Christ today? We can do this as we respond to the prompting of Holy Spirit. Let us serve Him by building each other up as we meet today. It is about the King and His kingdom. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. As I(Mike) sit here pondering what the subject of today's thought for the day should be, 3 events of this past week keep coming to mind: a memorial service of a departed friend, a 3 minute encounter with a stranger from Phoenix (Durban) and a Life Group meeting. The momorial service was a tribute to a life lived to the full. Science, music, family, pastoring God's flock, what ever he did, he did with passion. Philip lived Pauls words "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Colossians 3:23) Stopping to give an elderly Indian gentleman a lift for 1 kilometer was a God-engineered moment. In the space of 3 minutes I learned where he was from, where he is staying while visiting family in Centurion and I had the opportunity to share God's love. Paul says we must "be prepared in season and out of season ..." (2 Timothy 4:2) Take and make time to share God's love. A Life Group meeting with a question to be answered by each individual. "What am I withholding from God?" Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12) All 3 events point to the same thing. Living to fulfill the Great Commision:"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations ..." (Matthew 28:19) Have a wonderful day going about fulfilling the Great Commision. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. "The old has gone, the new is here!" If we were to take this quote at face value us "ou toppies" (old folk) would put it down to wishful thinking or hoping. No more aches and pains! But alas, it's not so. There is a lesson to be learned here. Get the whole picture and understand the context in which a statement is made. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) What a difference it makes when Christ is in the picture. He does indeed make the difference. He makes everything about us new. It is as if we were re-created, made afresh. Do our aches and pains go away? Not necessarily. But now we focus on Jesus Christ and no longer on our circumstances, our aches and pains. Our past is dealt with. What glory that is. This is the good news: Christ has come; the old has gone, the new is here! We can, no, we should, shout this good news from our rooftops. Have a great day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Followers of Christ are called to share their faith in Christ. Many, however have difficulty in doing so. One of the reasons people find it difficult to share their faith is they are mostly living their lives for themselves and not living to please God. Self-centered people care more about themselves than others. They go after what makes them happy. Christ-centered people care more about helping others than themselves. They want to do things they know will make God happy. To share our faith well, we need to become Christ-centered. Jesus said: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19) This verse from Matthew in its original language, starts off “As you are going ...” What this means for us is as we’re living our lives, we should be sharing our faith with others. We don’t have to stand on a street corner preaching. All we have to do is just live our lives and be intentional about sharing what God’s done for us. As we go out and doing the things we do, be a Christian first, and let people see it. "Have I not commanded you? 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) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. This past Monday I, Mike, wrote about the gentleman who reached out to me concerning my wellbeing. Yesterday I wrote about Philip reaching out to the Ethiopian eunuch. Both these gents responded to the prompting of Holy Spirit. My friend, Paul, has a word for us followers of Christ: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25) This is what the Christian lifestyle is all about. Keeping in step with Him. When we do so, we enter into the liberty of life in Christ. But with this, Paul, has some stern words for us. "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ..." (Galatians 5:14a) in other words, the focus of our lives is not to be on ourselves and our wants. Paul continues: "rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Galatians 5:13b, 14, 16) This is our challenge. Put the flesh to death and keep in step with Holy Spirit. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. It has been said to connect with hearts, use your ears. This is what Philip did when he met up with the Ethiopian eunuch on the road to Gaza from Jerusalem. At the eunuch's request Philip took the portion that the eunuch was reading (Isaiah 53: 7-8) and shared the good news of the gospel with him. Paul writing to Timothy tells him that he should be ready at all times to preach the word. (2 Timothy 4:2) It is good for us, as followers of Christ, to be ready to share the good news of the gospel when the opportunity arises. All it takes is for us to be sensitive to the prompting of Holy Spirit. Philip responded to Holy Spirit and then used his ears to reach the eunuch's heart. "The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked." (Acts 8:29‭-‬30) If you are not already doing so, start making a habit of using your ears to reach the hearts of those you come in contact with. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. After our church service yesterday, I (Mike) was talking to a fellow follower of Christ who was enquiring about my health. This gentleman was doing what my friend Paul said we should do. "Be kind and compassionate to one another" (Ephesians 4:32a) This behaviour flows out of an understanding of the simplicity of the Christian life. It is a life: • Surrendered to God • Lived according to His Word. Jesus said: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) We do this by following the example of the early Church and by being devoted to the Apostles' teaching. As we enter the new week, let's focus on caring for and encouraging each other. Blessings. Mike and Daphne