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Good morning. Paul tells us to "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  (1 Thessalonians 5:18) When we read these words we may well feel that this is easier said than done, especially when we are going through a tough time. Looking at the life of Joseph (of technicolour dream coat fame) we can learn a lot about gratitude, how to give thanks for all things. He had known only love and security until he was a teenager. His troubles began when his jealous older brothers threw him into a pit. Later he was imprisoned, robbed of everything but his faith. He must have endured some dark nights of the soul. When Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers in Egypt and told them, “God sent me ahead of you to save lives” (Genesis 45:5). Those words reveal that when he looked back at every hardship, Joseph understood how the Lord had been at work. His response was not one of bitterness but of gratitude. We do not know what our future holds, what God will use our "tough times" for. We do know that through it all He is with us and has a plan to use us to bring honour to Him. Hang in there. He is with you. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. When it comes to choices, we are wise if we take the time to pray and consider the consequences. Even the unremarkable choices we make each day are able to impact our life. We all have need of things like food, companionship, and sleep. While our desires for them are natural and God-given, they can become the driving force in our life if we aren’t careful. The Lord’s priorities are contrary to what the world considers important. Unless we guard our heart (Proverbs 4:23), we can easily be lured by pursuits with no lasting worth. It is easy to make a rash decision because the immediate return seems good. Eve didn’t contemplate what might happen if she ate the forbidden fruit; she focused on the short-term benefit. Samson didn't think about repercussions from interactions with Delilah. We need to pause and pray about the possible outcomes of our choices and actions. "Commit your way to the Lord ; trust in him and he will do this"  (Psalms 37:5) Let your prayer be the same as that of Moses. "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.”  (Exodus 33:13) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Decisions! Decisions! Life is full of decisions. We all face choices that require decisions. Some choices are easily made while with others we allow ourselves to be pressurized into making a snap decision. I (Mike) am reminded of the account of Jacob and his twin brother Esau. Famished, Esau returned from hunting and requested some of the stew his brother made. Seizing upon the opportunity, Jacob agreed in exchange for his twin’s birthright. Esau, deciding that food was more of a necessity, traded his birthright for dinner. He later grieved when he realized what was lost, due to a hasty decision, but at that point, it was too late. Like Esau, we all face critical choices. And though God forgives, the consequences remain. So we must learn how to choose wisely. To be able to determine our best options, we should wait until we’re physically, emotionally, and spiritually stable. Often it is necessary to delay gratification before making a decision. Think about the longings that you have. Pray for wisdom and patience so that you can make godly decisions. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  (James 1:5) Have a wonderful Wednesday. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Many things can be mass produced; cars, furniture, plastic bottles, etc. Disciples / followers of Christ, however, can’t be mass produced. One-size-fits-all simply doesn’t work when trying to help people become more like Jesus. Each of us has been uniquely wired by God. The Bible says, "You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb" (Psalm 139:13 MSG). A number of years ago our church presented a course, "SHAPE", written by Saddleback Church. SHAPE is an acrostic that describes our uniqueness: • Spiritual gifts • Heart (passions) • Abilities • Personality • Experiences. No one else in the world has the same mix of those five attributes as you do. Our God-given SHAPE helps us identify where we can best serve the body of Christ, as well as how we worship, fellowship, how we reach out to our neighbours and community and how we grow. Each of us is uniquely formed. God doesn't make cookie-cutter disciples. We all grow in different ways and at different rates. Look for opportunities to grow in the unique way God has SHAPED you. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. One of our deepest needs is to feel secure. We want to be valued; to know that our lives matter. We’re searching for significance. The problem is, many of us search for significance in all the wrong places. We’re constantly comparing ourselves to other people. Inevitably, this leads to insecurity. God wants all of us to be secure in His love. We need a fresh understanding of how much we matter to God; if how much He loves us. The truth is: • No matter how small we are, God notices us. From the moment we took our first breath He had His eye on us. • No matter who ignores us, Jesus knows us. Sometimes we feel like no one is listening to us. God hears us. To Him we are unforgettable. “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." (Isaiah 49:15‭-‬16) • No matter what we've done, God wants us. Because of things in our past we feel God won't accept us. Jesus is interested in changing us, not condemning us. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17) May we always remember how much we matter to God and how much He wants to use us for His glory. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. When Jesus was born, His mother knew His identity and she treasured the things she knew about Him, “pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). It wasn’t until He became a public figure at age 30 that Jesus began to fulfill some of what she already believed to be true. The great mystery of God becoming man was that the King was coming. Even during the last week of His life, when the marks of His ministry took on a fully messianic character, Jesus was still holding off on the full explanation of who He was. The irony of all this secrecy, though, was that those who met Jesus told everyone about Him. And the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) makes that the norm for all followers of Christ. Because we have experienced the salvation and freedom that comes from trusting Jesus, we’re called to tell everyone the now-known secret that the King has come and is coming again. Let's make Jesus known in our circles of influence. Enjoy worshipping Him, today, together with other followers of Christ. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. God intended prayer to be a blessing for His children. Followers of Christ know that we should pray, but for many it remains a struggle and/or frustration. Sometimes when it’s unclear what to pray, some people choose not to pray at all. Many believers settle into a lifeless form of praying that leaves them feeling empty and disconnected from God. Both situations lead to discontentment and frustration. When we communicate with God, there’s no measuring stick or scorecard. A fumbling yet heartfelt attempt pleases Him far more than a well-worded litany that lacks sincerity. If we find ourselves not knowing what to pray or how to pray, praying the prayer Jesus  taught His disciples (Matthew 6:9-13), can help us find our way back into praying. We have much to gain by praying, including peace, comfort, wisdom, and God’s very presence. Start with the Lord’s Prayer today and return to it as often as needed. You may eventually find your own words flowing freely as a result. Don’t give up. Just keep talking to the Lord. He always welcomes us, just as we are. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. A Roman centurion approached Jesus with an appeal on behalf of a servant who was “suffering terribly”. The Lord offered to go with the officer and heal the servant. This was an incredible gesture, as Jews considered a Roman’s house off-limits. But the centurion’s response was incredible too. “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.  (Matthew 8:8) This is the essence of faith - to trust what the Lord says. In some situations, we must believe what He says despite evidence to the contrary; at other times we must trust while still waiting to know anything at all. Could we have this kind of faith - the kind that  “amazed” Jesus (Matt. 8:10)? It’s what He wants for all His followers.  Jesus' reply to the centurion was  encouraging. “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.”  (v. 13) We often want proof; some sign that the Lord will do as we ask. But the loving God we serve is true to His word. Faith empowers us to pay attention to Jesus and trust that He will make good on His word, no matter what we see now. Let's exercise our faith and trust the Lord's word. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. I, Mike, am so thankful for all the men and women who have invested in me over the years; those who helped mr meet Jesus and grow in my faith. I wonder where I would be without their love and influence? Having recently completed a series "Plus 1", we were reminded to become that person to someone else. After all, as Christians, we each have a responsibility to spread the good news and then to invest in the lives of other believers by sharing our understanding and experience. To do this we need to: • Spend time with the Lord so that we grow and keep in tune with His Spirit. • Be prepared with a plan. New followers of Christ need to understand the basics of the Christian lifestyle as well as where to find fellowship and encouragement. • Help others know what to expect as they embark on the Christian journey. It isn’t always a straight line, is it? Most of us learned (and struggled) until we understood the basics of life in Christ. That’s why godly mentors are so important. We all need advice and encouragement from those farther along in their walk of faith. Let us not forget the commission Jesus gave each of us. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19‭-‬20) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. It is likely that you, like us, are carrying burdens. Some of those burdens are our own  while others are for the people we care about. The good news is that we don’t have to carry those burdens one day longer. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  (Matthew 11:28-29) When Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you", He is not giving us something else to deal with. He is saying, “Come to me. Team up with me. Then, learn how I do it. Take on a lighter load.This is going to reduce your stress. This is going to make it easier for you to navigate.” Jesus doesn’t have any problems! He’s saying he’s going to share our problems. He’s going to share our load. He’s going to take your stress on himself and bear it with you. When we are yoked with Christ, we move together with him. We move in the same direction and at the same speed. We move in the right direction and at the right speed. The invitation is there. Come to Jesus today and experience the relief of finding rest for your souls. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Simon and Andrew were ordinary people when they responded to Jesus' call to follow Him. They were fishermen. What set them apart was their faith to leave behind their old life for a new way of living. In his gospel, Matthew writes that "at once they left their nets and followed him." (Matthew 4:20) We might miss the enormity of this decision. They left their businesses, their source of income. That was only the beginning. More than three years of discipleship took them far from family, home, comfort, and safety. They answered Jesus’ call with faith, not only to believe but also to leave. When Jesus invites us to follow Him, we are  to set aside everything that competes for our trust in Him. In other words, we must be willing to leave our own “nets”—jobs and homes, or perhaps comfort and success—when the Lord calls us to do so. We may not receive such a radical call, but we aren’t all that different from the disciples. The question is; will we like them respond in absolute faith in God to whatever He calls us to do? Have a faith-filled day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. When we look at the life of David we see that he faced troubles; probably more so than most of us. The psalms he wrote express the struggles and disappointments he faced, yet in the end, he always turned his focus back to God. The key to his victorious attitude was strong faith in the Lord. • David was confident in God’s purpose. That’s why he could say, "The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord , endures forever."  (Psalms 138:8 NLT) By keeping our focus on the Lord and His purpose, we can stay strong when we go through troubled waters. • He relied on the Lord’s power. In times of difficulty, we can trust God to deliver us too—though the outcome may not be what we expect. Remember, our Father will sustain us through the trial, walking with us every step of the way. • David believed the promises of God. We also need some specific promises from Scripture that will anchor us in times of trouble. The truths of the Bible are our most valuable possession when we are confronted with the storms of life. God assumes responsibility for accomplishing what concerns us in times of trouble. Our job is to believe that the Lord will fulfill His purpose, and will keep every promise He has made. Blessings. Mike and Daphne