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Good morning. We trust you are surviving the cold weather. One of the things that warms us and keeps us warm is being in a family that cares for you and your well being. For followers of Christ, this is what the Church is, and does, when it functions as it should under the headship of Christ. We have been chosen We have been adopted We have been redeemed "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household" (Ephesians 2:19) Being part of God's family is a mystery. We have become heirs, co-heirs with Christ. Furthermore, it is a miracle as in God's family we have equal rights. Amazingly, all mankind can be saved and added to this family. When we stop and take this in - what Christ has done for us and now being part of His family, we will say like John Wesley while describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, "I felt my heart strangely warmed." As we participate in the family of God, may we be warmed by the unfathomable love of our Father. Have a good day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning to on this the Lord’s day. We have the opportunity to join together in corporate worship, all be it online. During this past week I (Mike) read an interesting quote on joining together to worship God. "When the saints gather on God’s appointed day and worship Him in the way that He has directed, God is actually there. We literally come into His presence. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? In something that seems as mundane as a church service, we are actually given the opportunity to come before the living God, the Creator of the universe, the holy, self-sufficient, transcendent God. We meet Him, really and truly. If it weren’t for this, Christian worship would be quite meaningless. It would be, I daresay, a waste of your time—especially when the world is urging you to catch the big game that day instead. But because we meet with God, everything changes. Corporate worship becomes the greatest means of making us into what we were always meant to be: the image bearers of God. (Jonathan Landry Cruse. What Happens When We Worship. Reformation Heritage Books.) As we meet together today, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another ..." (Hebrews 10:23‭-‬25) Have a good day. Keep warm and safe. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. As we draw to end of the week of seeing the promise of the cross, the great hymn by Isaac Watts helps us focus on Christ's work on the cross and what our response should be. 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 a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. As Paul aptly reminds us, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14) Join with us as we give thanks for the completed work of Christ on the cross. Enjoy your day. Keep warm and safe. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. One of the most amazing promises of the cross is acceptance. Because of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross we find acceptance by the Father. For us that means acceptance into the body of Christ, His church. Psalm 6:9 tells us what happens when we come to the foot of the cross in repentance asking for, and receiving, foregiveness. "The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer." Two of the verses in the hymn "Just as I am" expresses well our acceptance at the cross. "Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee O Lamb of God, I come! I come" "Just as I am, Thou wilt receive Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve Because Thy promise I believe O Lamb of God, I come, I come" Also the chorus of "At Calvary". "Mercy there was great and grace was free Pardon there was multiplied to me There my burdened soul found liberty At Calvary." If you have not come to the foot of the cross to receive foregiveness and acceptance, John tells us what we should do. "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 invitation to find acceptance is open to all. Have a good day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. The different seasons of the year bring with them differing ailments and sicknesses. When Christ died on the cross He died to make us whole, in every sense of the word. That includes our healing. Peter reminds us that “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24) The healing that is found in Christ heals us physically and spiritually. He also brings emotional healing. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalms 147:3) When we are sick we should follow James says: "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14) It is important for us to fix our eyes on Jesus, our Healer. "Father, we bring all those who are sick to you today. May they experience the healing that has come through the death of Your Son on the cross. May Your will be done here on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen." Have a blessed day. Keep warm, safe and well. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Jesus Christ's completed work on the cross brings the amazing promise of hope. The hope we have is more than a guarantee for the future. While the hope we have as children of God is about our future, it is also about the here and now. The hymn, "Solid Rock" puts it this way: "My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name." "When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil." "On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand." This hope we have received liberates us. "O the love that drew salvation's plan O the grace that brought it down to man O the mighty gulf that God did span At Calvary." "Mercy there was great and grace was free Pardon there was multiplied to me There my burdened soul found liberty At Calvary." As we go into this day, "let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. We are so thankful for the forgiveness we receive through the cross. The promise of the cross brings more than foregiveness. It also brings the promise of love. We are loved deeply by God. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) The outworking of this love is found in Christ's words when He said: "I no longer call you servants ...Instead, I have called you friends." (John 15:15) Today, we give thanks for the love of God which is extravagantly lavished on us. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." (John 15:13) Have a marvelous day reveling in His love. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning to you at the start of the working week. In the series we at GraceCov are currently working through, we were reminded yesterday, that the work of Christ on the cross is enough. The cross holds a promise for each of us. There is the promise of forgiveness. "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (Hebrews 9:15) "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) "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Join us as we pray. "Father, we come to you with thanksgiving for the gift of forgiveness we have through the death of your Son on the cross. Thank you that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, so that we may receive your forgiveness. Thank you for your amazing love for us. Amen. " Have a good day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning Psalm 121 keeps playing over and over in my (Mike) mind. "I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord , the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1‭-‬2) Don Moen's song sums it up for me. "When you've prayed every prayer that you know how to pray. Just remember the Lord will hear and the answer is on it's way." "Our God is able. He is mighty. He is faithful. And He never sleeps, He never slumbers. He never tires of hearing our prayer. When we are weak He becomes stronger. So rest in His love and cast all of your cares on Him." "Do you feel that the Lord has forgotten your need. Just remember that God is always working in ways you cannot see." "Our God is able. He is mighty. He is faithful. And He never sleeps, He never slumbers. He never tires of hearing our prayer. When we are weak He becomes stronger. So rest in His love and cast all of your cares on Him." Today, rest in His love and cast all of your cares on Him. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Will you join with us in focusing on God and who He is. Below is a hymn "Be Thou My Vision". It is a translation of a medieval text attributed to St Dallan, a 6th century Celtic monk who went blind in the middle of his life. Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart Naught be all else to me, save that thou art Thou my best thought, by day or by night Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord Thou my great Father, and I thy true son Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise Thou mine inheritance, now and always Thou and thou only first in my heart High King of heaven, my treasure thou art High King of heaven, my victory won May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun Heart of my own heart, whatever befall Still be my vision, O ruler of all Our prayer today is "Father, without You we will be like sheep without a shepherd - wandering around aimlessly. As we focus on You, we ask, Lord, that You guide us. We fix our eyes on You. Amen." Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. We trust that you are all well. Today we will take time to thank our awesome God for His hand of protection over us during the turmoil of the past week . "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word." (Psalm 119:114) "For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:4) Whatever we may be facing, Haggai has a word for us. "Then Haggai, the Lord ’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord." (Haggai 1:13) "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57) "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15) So, today, together we say "Thank you, Lord. Thank you that you are our protector and that you give us peace, even in this dark time in our country. Thank you that we can come to with confidence, having the assurance that you see our hearts as we come and say thank you for your protection and provision. Thank you." Be blessed today. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. As children we were taught God's telephone number: Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ With all the violence, looting and rioting taking place in our country, we, as followers of Christ, need to call out to God on behalf of our country. I, Mike, am reminded of the account when Judah was attacked by the Cushites, Asa the king of Judah, lead out the army of Judah. But first - Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “ Lord , there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord , you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.” (2 Chronicles 14:11) Let us follow suit as the forces of evil within our country are rising up. Let us declare that their is no one like God who can help us. Now is the time for us to band together to call on God. As individuals it is so important to put Paul's words into practice. "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25) Take heart today. He reigns on high. He is the Lord. Blessings. Mike and Daphne