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Good morning. We get together on the Lord’s day to worship God as a sign of obedience to the 1st and 2nd Commandments. "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." (Exodus 20:3‭-‬4) We do this not as a religious activity, rather to follow what God's Word teaches us. Three times, in three separate instances and temptations, Jesus exposed Satan’s lie and engaged the truth of God’s Word that He had been memorizing since He was a young boy. Jesus applied what is called the "Replacement Principle" - remove the lies, replace with truth. Once you grasp this tool, this weapon, you can begin to use it regularly to change your mind and your life. Jesus’ example is why it is important for us, as followers of Christ, to prioritize reading the Bible and get God’s Word into our hearts. It is how we have our minds renewed and our lives transformed. "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. The weekend is upon us. What is on your mind? What are you thinking of doing today? These familiar questions give us a clue concerning our behaviour. Proverbs 23:7 in the NKJV tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” This may not necessarily be wrong or inappropriate. We need to check our thoughts as to the motivation for our actions. Paul says, "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV) What we fill our minds with will determine our actions. Paul reinforces this when He says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2) With this in mind (excuse the pun), have a wonderful weekend, guided by your thoughts. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. When it comes to daily decisions we are often tempted to just wing it. At work often little thought is given to what we do - it becomes routine. In family life we are often rushed and we make decisions, hoping for the best. We need wisdom! The story of Solomon is a great example of how valuable and necessary wisdom is. A king who ruled an entire nation could have asked God for anything, and the one thing he chose was wisdom. He saw that wisdom would enrich not only his life, but the lives of the people he led. In a world where good and bad seem to be mixed up, walking in the wisdom of God helps us make decisions that will protect and sustain us. Let's stop for a moment and think about our lives and what we consider important. Is it the treasures of this world, or is it having godly wisdom so that you can live a victorious life here on earth? Perhaps we need to respond to God as Solomon did. "So give your servant a discerning heart to ... distinguish between right and wrong." (1 Kings 3:9) When we walk in obedience to God and keep His decrees and commands, He will give us far more than we can ever hope for, as He did with Solomon Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Each one of us has built our lives on a foundation. Some build on the hopes and dreams of others. Pleasing them becomes our foundation. This is dangerous, because people change, and when they do, our foundation crumbles. If our hope is in material pleasures and physical appearance, then we will most assuredly be disappointed. On any given day, our money and our appearances can change. If we place our trust in what the world offers us, then our foundation will always be shifting, changing, depending on the latest trends, fads and fancies. If we are grounded in God’s truth and seek to make Jesus our entire life, then when hardship and heartbreak come, we have a foundation that won’t move. Jesus said: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24) As long as we have breath in our lungs, there’s always an opportunity to change our lives and live fully for Him. "On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand." Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. If you are anything like us, you face challenges almost every day. The psalmist reminds us that God is with us. He brings a sence of security when we feel insecure. "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7) "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word." (Psalm 119:114) "You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress" (Psalm 59:9) As you face life's challenges today, remember Him. He is with you. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. There is no better time than now to remind ourselves of who the God we serve is. • Our Sovereign Lord - (Acts 4:24) We bow before Him. He alone is worthy of our allegiance. • Our Provider - (Genesis 22:14) He knows and meets every need that we have. • Our Healer - (Exodus 15:26) “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees ... for I am the Lord , who heals you.” • Our Peace - (Judges 6:24) In times of confusion, trouble and when everything seems to be in a state of turmoil, we turn to the One who brings us peace, fir He is peace. • Wonderful Counselor - (Isaiah 9:6) We can take our problems to Him. Through His Word we are able to find the counsel needed to help us through. We serve an awesome God who lavishes us with His Love and care. Gave a good day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Over the years we have come to enjoy and appreciate being in a Life Group. We have found that nothing this world has to offer can compare with the wisdom we can receive from God and others. In Proverbs 16:16 we read, "How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!" This happens when we connect with other followers of Christ. We should never stop seeking to gain wisdom. We must never get to the place where we think, “I’ve got all the wisdom I need!” Life will continue to change, and we’ll have to learn to maneuver in new ways. One of the ways we do this successfully is to prioritize meeting together with fellow followers of Christ in our Life Groups. Gaining and walking in wisdom actually protects and guards us. It’s not that our lives will be problem free, but when we seek to walk in wisdom, our choices will actually prevent a lot of unnecessary (and sometimes painful) hardship. Throughout our lives, seeking godly wisdom should be a top priority for us. Possessing it will help us navigate every aspect of our lives. "The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper." (Proverbs 19:8) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

We join together with fellow followers of Christ on Sundays to worship our Sovereign Lord. It is also time of input into our lives. Learning and growing as followers of Jesus is what will transform our old self to the redeemed person God is calling us to become. Growing in wisdom with God won’t always make sense to people around us. But, as we learn insights from God, we can put them into practice and influence those around us. This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24 NKJV) Enjoy a wonderful day of worshipping together. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. God knows that we struggle with fears, worries and anxiety. He knows we are often subject to circumstances beyond our control. He understands when our over-stimulated brains won’t shut down, when our minds rehash an upsetting incident over and over. Most of us put on a brave face, doing our best to cope with what life throws at us. We attempt to be brave but then the "what if game" surfaces and knocks us off balance. That's when we need to hear the words of Jesus - "don’t be afraid; just believe." (Mark 5:36 NIV) The Lord invites us to resist fear and believe Him over all the anxiety-producing events we’re experiencing. He is a steadfast anchor who is greater than our storms. He is right there in the wind and waves with us. Jesus is our Prince of Peace. Today, choose to leave fear and anxiety behind and trust Him. Choose to say in faith, Lord, I will not be afraid. I will believe. Have a blessed day. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. We can rely on our Father at all times. As a matter of fact He wants us to. The Lord invites us to pour out our hearts to Him. God understands us and wants us to feel confident in His love for us. Those anxious feelings that threaten to overwhelm us - they’re no match for the Lord. He is our awesome high tower, and our hearts are secure, protected, and filled with His peace when we run to Him. The Lord is gracious and compassionate. He is kind and holy and all powerful. We can entrust everything to Him and experience freedom from all that troubles us. Instead of holding on to all that troubles us, let’s cling tightly to His goodness, His love, His hope, His joy, and His peace. The psalmist says, "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalms 62:8) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12) What we see, the issues right in front of us, are typically what we think about and consider most. Yet the things upon which we fixate, the real matters causing angst and discouragement, are only temporary What we see is like looking into a foggy mirror. Our perception is distorted and incomplete. we don't see the complete picture, God does. Our understanding is limited and what we see isn’t always an accurate reflection. We must learn to fix our eyes on unseen things, such as faith, hope and love. Through faith we believe that God is at work behind the scenes (Romans 8:28) in spite of how things appear. Through hope we resist discouragement and stand with persevering hearts. Through love our hearts are softened and we are transformed into His image. "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 4:18) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Isn’t it encouraging and comforting to know that God Himself personally goes before us. Nothing takes Him by surprise. That when we’re uncertain or confused He is consistently steady and near, ever aware of the specifics of our lives. Nothing in life remains constant and course changes inevitably happen. When our closest friend moves away, or when our job description changes extensively, and on days when tears sting our eyes more than once, we don’t have to allow anxiety to get the best of us. Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us that "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” It is reassuring to know that the Lord is with us and for us, clearing the way ahead of us. He knows every turn and all the details ahead of us, and in His kindness and goodness He orchestrates the specifics that deeply concern us. Through each disappointment or setback, He never fails us or abandons us. The writer in Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Have a wonderful day, reassured by the knowledge that our sovereign, unchanging God is with you. Blessings. Mike and Daphne