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Good morning. Fellowship is a supernatural grace that causes Christians to love one another deeply. It is a manifestation of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Just as the Spirit’s dunamis power enables us to heal the sick or work miracles, His koinonia (fellowship) knits our hearts and binds us together. After the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 2, koinonia caused the early disciples to share their possessions unselfishly (vv. 44–45) and to share meals often (v. 46). Many people decided to become Christians when they witnessed this loving community (v. 47). Koinonia (fellowship) held the early Christians together in the face of persecution and caused them to lay down their lives for one another. It is still essential in the church today. But we can’t download it or fake it. To have the relational Christianity of the Book of Acts, we have to invite the Holy Spirit to do His work of connecting us with our brothers and sisters in Christ with His supernatural bond of koinonia. "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42) We are looking forward to being with other followers of Christ at our Life Group this evening. It's a wonderful opportunity to experience Holy Spirit koinonia. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Holy Spirit has limitless power and wisdom, yet He willingly comes to live inside any person who believes in Jesus Christ. And that means we have access to His amazing power. When the Holy Spirit enters the life of a repentant believer, He literally breathes new life into the dead! Just as the prophet Ezekiel watched dry skeletons stand up, grow new flesh, and breathe again (Ezek. 37), people who are dead in sin are resurrected to a new life when they believe in Jesus Christ for the first time. Jesus told His early followers that when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they would be “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). That sounds noisy and disruptive. It sounds like something that would shake the world! Wherever the Spirit goes, He changes people into radicals. He gives them the power to preach boldly, heal sick people, even raise the dead. Yet the promise remains for us: any Christian daring enough to invite the Spirit to empower him can experience all the manifestations of power that operated in the early church. Our prayer is that we will all live in the power that Holy Spirit brings into our lives. (Acts 1:8) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Isn't it good to sence the presence of God when we worship together? It is also good to witness Holy Spirit moving when we are together. Holy Spirit draws us into God's presence. It is as if Holy Spirit shines a spotlight on God when we worship Him together. As we join together (online and onsite) let us declare: "Holy Spirit You are welcome here Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere Your Glory God is what our hearts long for To be overcome by Your Presence Lord" Have a blessed Sunday. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. As followers of Christ we so easily get caught up with discussing peripheral issues which seem more important than the main issue. This is not a new phenomenon. Jesus' disciples fell into this trap as well. "Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) Jesus responds by telling them to focus on the matter at hand - wait for God's gift, the baptism with Holy Spirit. When this happens 2 things will result: • You will receive power • You will be my witnesses "He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:7‭-‬8) Our prayer should be: "Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on me Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on me Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on me" Let us keep the main thing, the main thing, today. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. I, Mike, am always struck by the account of Paul arriving in Ephesus and finding a group of disciples. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:2) I suspect that that is how many folk live - unaware of Holy Spirit in their lives. So, how important is Holy Spirit to us? Do we recognize His presence and activity in our lives? Does Holy Spirit have the liberty to direct us as we go about our daily lives? When we yield our lives totally to Him, we should not be surprised when Holy Spirit moves in power. Daily we should pray the words of the song written by Bill and Gloria Gaither: "Come Holy Spirit, I need Thee Come sweet Spirit, I pray Come in Thy strength and Thy power Come in Thine own gentle way" Have a Holy Spirit filled day. Blessings Mike and Daphne

Good morning. We constantly find ourselves being confronted with the prospect of change. It is said that change is the new normal. Paul, however, says that we can live better than normal in Romans 12:2 when he says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." When we keep in step with Holy Spirit we will find that: • Normal conforms to the world, but better than normal renews the mind. • Normal gives into temptation, but better than normal trusts God for a way out. • Normal gratifies fleshly desires, but better than normal walks by God’s Spirit. • Normal gives in to worry, but better than normal prays for strength and guidance. • Normal ignores sin, but better than normal repents and receives forgiveness. A better than normal life will be the result of a life lived for Him. Never lose sight of this fact: "if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." (Romans 8:11) "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. We trust you had a good night's sleep last night. God watches over us whether we are asleep or awake. Take heart from what the psalmist says. "He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." (Psalm 121:3‭-‬8) In everything we do, He is with us. Our amazing, awesome God is able, He is mighty, He is faithful. And He never sleeps, He never slumbers. He watches over us 24/7. He cares for you. In all you plan to do, commit your activities to Him today. He cares about you. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. When looking ahead to 2022, laying plans and setting goals, it is important to look back and recognize God's hand over us - where He has led us, carried us and brought us to at this juncture. 2020 and 2021 have been difficult years for many. Some have faced really tough times. Some have experienced God's amazing provision. No matter what we have faced and experienced, God has been with us every step of the way. Our testimony is summed up in Psalm 126:1-3. "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." We can say together with Samuel, "Ebenezer, - thus far the Lord has helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12) With this in mind, we can have confidence to fully rely on God when planning ahead for 2022. We must also remember in all our planning, to hold our plans lightly. Proverbs reminds us "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." (Proverbs 16:9) Remember to "commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." (Proverbs 16:3) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. At an All Leaders meeting yesterday a question was posed. "What are you dreaming about?" With just less than 7 weeks left before we enter 2022, what are your dreams for next year and beyond? We can just imagine folk saying, "2022 already!" Dreaming is important. We need to dream big. In our dreaming we need to listen for God's prompting which frequently come through people around us. As Daphne frequently asks, "What is God saying?" The answer matters because most people fill their plans with do goals: “I want to do more with my family, I will do random acts of kindness for my family, I will do more to empower people at work.” More importantly we need to make who goals: “I will be a patient mom who loves deeply, I will be a husband who supports my wife and loves her well, I will be a manager who leads by example.” When you know who you are, you’ll know what to do. Ask yourself, “what would the person who God wants me to be, do?” Jesus, the greatest example of one who hears the Father, had no doubts about who He was. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Have a good start to the week. Dream big. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. David reminds us why we worship God today. "He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge" (Psalm 144:2) Have a great day in His presence today. Revel in His love and know that His hand of protection is on you. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. One of the reasons I, Mike, appreciate Paul, is that he doesn't merely tell us desist from living a worldly lifestyle, he points out how to stop it. For example, in Ephesians 4:25 he says we must stop telling lies - how, speak the truth. In verse 28 he says stop stealing - work, do something useful. In Galatians 5:13 Paul says: "... do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. In verse 16 he says, "walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Therefore to live a life that is better than normal we must take to heart what Paul says in Galatians 5:25 "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Have a good day walking in sync with Holy Spirit today. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. A better than normal life is what we all desire. Yesterday we saw that for us to enjoy a better than nornal life we need to "stay true to what we have already attained by living according to God's ways." In a life that is better than normal • rejoicing in the Lord will be a daily lifestyle • gentleness will be evident • anxiety levels will be mostly nonexistent • God's peace will guard our hearts and minds When we live better than normal we will be able to say with Paul: "... I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11‭-‬13) Enjoy a good Friday. Blessings. Mike and Daphne