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Good morning. The parable of the great banquet recorded in Luke 14:16-24 shows us how fickle the heart of man can be. No doubt each person invited to the banquet had some form of relationship with the man who had invited them. Yet each in his turn had an excuse as to why he wouldn't be attending. In today's equivalent of the excuses used would be like this: • I can't come as I'm going to view the property I've just bought. Mmm? Buying property without first viewing it? • I can't come as I need to test drive my new car. Mmm? Buying a car before you've taken it for a test drive? This parable demonstrates not so much the weak excuses, rather it shows us that we prioritize personal preference over relationship. Each one of us is invited to the banquet within our relationship with our Lord. Our priorities will determine whether we take the time to enjoy it. In our business of life let us not neglect feasting at the banquet with our awesome Lord and Saviour. Have a good weekend. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Recently I (Mike) read about how God responds to us. • When we pray - God listens • When we listen- God talks • When we believe - God works When we stop and think about this, it helps us understand the importance of our relationship with God being bilateral. Too often the relationship between God and ourselves becomes one-sided. We tend to slip into thinking that we initiate the cause and effect i.e. God responds to us, to our prayers etc, as if He is at our beck and call. Let us remind ourselves that God is sovereign. He is the one who initiated the relationship with us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our stead, so that we may enter into the relationship He has planned to have with each of us. "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1) We are all blessed to be chosen by God. Have a wonderful day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. As our relationship with God strengthens and we become more aware of Him - His nature, His presence and His works. This leads to different responses from us as followers of Christ. • Praise is our response to His nature. "For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord." (Psalm 117:2) • Worship is our response to His presence. "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness." (Psalm 29:2) • Thanksgiving is our response to His works. "I will give thanks to you, Lord , with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds." (Psalm 9:1) Our prayer for you this morning is that as you go about your daily routine, you will be reminded of something for which to praise Him, to worship Him and to give thanks to Him. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning to you. Yesterday we were reminded that no matter what our circumstances may be, we are to remind ourselves that God has not abandoned us. Rather, He is with us and is in control. The song "No longer a Slave" (Bethal Music) reminds us that because of Christ we have been set free - no longer slaves to fear. "You unravel me with a melody You surround me with a song Of deliverance from my enemies 'Til all my fears are gone" (Chorus) "I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God" "From my mother's womb You have chosen me Love has called my name I've been born again to a family Your blood flows through my veins" (Chorus) "I am surrounded By the arms of the Father I am surrounded By songs of deliverance" "We've been liberated From our bondage We're the sons and the daughters Let us sing our freedom" "You split the sea So I could walk right through it My fears are drowned in perfect love You rescued me And I will stand and sing I am a child of God" "I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God" Jesus has this to say to us: "Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:35‭-‬36) We have been set free. We are children of God. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. It is so comforting to know our sovereign God is in control. Job is a great example of someone who recognized that even when the chips are down, God is in control. In the story of Job and his suffering, satan was not permitted to touch Job's life. Satan's goal was not to make Job suffer. His goal was to see Job sin in his suffering. Satan's tactics have not changed. He is not so much interested in our circumstances. Rather he is only interested in distracting us by enticing us to forget about God in our circumstances, whether they be difficult or pleasing. That is why Paul, talking of Christ, reminds us that "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." ( Colossians 1:17) No matter what our circumstances may be, we must constantly and consciously, remind ourselves that God has not abandoned us. Rather, He is with us and is in control. With that in mind, have a good day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. "Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the world" "Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning Born of the one light, Eden saw play Praise with elation, praise every morning God's recreation of the new day" It is interesting that when we focus on God, life's issues/problems fade. Worshipping God helps us focus on Him and see that He is bigger than our problems/circumstances. Do you remember the chorus we used to sing? "Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full, in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace" Let us remember that God understands what we are going through and that we too, like David, will declare, "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness" (Psalms 30:11) Have a good day remembering His goodness. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Song has played an important part in worshipping our sovereign Lord. The psalmist says: "I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." (Psalm104:33) The hymn penned by Robert Grant, brings out the attributes of God. "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 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" As we worship together, today, we focus on our majestic King. Enjoy His presence as you worship Him. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. The weekend is upon us. Time to relax and be restored after a week's hard work. Choose joy! Joy is one of the most exhilarating emotions. Somehow joy energizes us. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90:14) "for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10) As we enjoy the weekend, let us plug into Holy Spirit and let Him fill us with the joy that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as our Saviour and sovereign Lord. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. As we get on in years it becomes harder to memorise scripture. We remember singing scripture as youngsters at YPF. (young people's fellowship) It is a great way to memorise scripture. "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17 KJV) "This is the day which the LORD hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24 KJV) "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy," (Jude 1:24 KJV) From the writings of Paul there is evidence of the significant role of Christian song as both an instrument of praise and as a tool for teaching: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16) As you read the Word, ask God to place in you a spiritual song based on what you are reading. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. And then? There is so much more to being a follower of Christ than salvation. God has our walk with Him mapped out for us. He takes us from death to life. Here's what Josh Groban has to say in his song: "You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your shoulders You raise me up to more than I can be." "When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary When troubles come and my heart burdened be Then, I am still and wait here in the silence Until You come and sit awhile with me." "You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas I am strong, when I am on your shoulders You raise me up to more than I can be." When we yield our lives to God and live our lives for Him, then we too will be able to say, "You raise me up to more than I can be." We will be "like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers." (Psalm 1:3) God bless you today. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. In his message this past Sunday, Craig began by asking 2 questions. • What does Jesus want to do in us? • And then? Reflecting on this causes us think about everything that He has done for us. The words of the hymn by Isaac Watts says it all. "When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride" "Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood." "See from His head His hands His feet Sorrow and love flow mingled down Did e'er such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown" "Were the whole realm of nature mine That were and offering far too small Love so amazing so divine Demands my soul my life my all" It is all about Him! He has done it all for us. The "And then?" is in His hands. "Love so amazing so divine, demands my soul my life my all." As we yield to and apply His Word in our lives, more and more His light shines through us, impacting those around us - at work, at home and our friendships. Enjoy your "And then" moments today. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Stillness is a discipline that takes continual, conscious practice. The act of stillness sharpens our senses and makes us more aware of God’s presence in our present circumstances. It is important to fix our minds on what matters by focusing on God’s truths. As we do so, our minds are renewed. Paul writing to his true son in the Lord says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16) "For the word of God is alive and active... it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) As we take time to meditate on the Word, Holy Spirit teaches us. As we apply the Word we will find our behaviour being corrected leading to a life of righteousness. David, the psalmist, knew this when he said to God: "Show me your ways, Lord , teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long." (Psalms 25:4‭-‬5) "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalms 46:10) Blessings. Mike and Daphne