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Good morning to you on this fine Saturday. Having spoken with some folk over the past few days, it is apparent that some people are facing a few challenges. Without minimizing what folk are going through, our relationship with God will help us shift our focus from our circumstances onto Him. We are reminded of what the prophet Habakkuk had to say. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord , I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Habakkuk 3:17‭-‬18) The psalmist reminds us, "But you, Lord , are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high." (Psalms 3:3) Today, let's remind ourselves who God is. Words from the song "Way Maker " say it all. "Way maker, Miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God, That is who you are." Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. According to Paul there are 2 ingredients which enable us to live a life of love as portrayed in 1 Corinthians 13. Firstly, we must be strengthened with power through Holy Spirit so that Christ may dwell in our hearts. Once again we see the significance of Holy Spirit in our lives. He is our helper, our strength-giver. Secondly, we need to be rooted and established in love - Christ's love. The combination of these 2 ingredients results in the measure of the fullness of God In our lives. Consequently, as we go about our daily activities, love will overflow to those around us. Our prayer for you today is "that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge." (Ephesians 3:17-‬19) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning to you. Love is a hallmark of being a follower of Christ. Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) Looking at what Paul says about love, it is clear that in our own strength, we cannot love as we should. We need a helper. Today is Ascension Day - a day set aside to remember that Christ ascended to be with the Father. Jesus said, "But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:7) Not unexpectedly, Jesus was true to His word. Shortly after He ascended, Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. As followers of Christ we too have Holy Spirit, who is our helper. Ah, there it is. We have a helper to to assist us to love as Paul says we should. Let us continue to put 1 Corinthians 14:1 into practice. "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit" Enjoy passing His love to all those around you today. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. When we look at what Paul says about love in 1 Corinthians 13, we are challenged as far as our behaviour is concerned. When Paul says love is patient, he doesn't mean hang in there, he/she will change. Rather we should slow down, stop being pushy. If love is kind, then we our actions, the way we speak to each other will focus on helping others rather than on convenience. Let us continue to put 1 Corinthians 14:1 into practice. "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit" Enjoy your day walking in His love. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good day to you. When reading Paul's letters, one can be be lulled into seeing what is written and missing the corollary. Paul has a knack of talking of one thing to apply, which requires a secondary, yet equally significant action. In his discourse on love in 1 Corinthians he tells us that love keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:5) For this to be true in our life, we need to live ready to forgive, forgive and forgive again. In the same verse when Paul says love is not self-seeking, the implication is that the view of "What's in it for Me?" no longer should enter our minds. Today let us endeavour to put 1 Corinthians 14:1 into practice. "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit" We will do this by keeping in step with the Spirit. Have a good day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning on this chilly morning. One of the lessons we have learned in life is the importance of love - love defined by God. All our actions must be wrapped in love. Paul puts it this way: "If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." (1 Corinthiand 13:3) "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:4-‬8‭, ‬13) Our prayer for you as you go into this new week is that you will experience God's love and then pass it on to all you come in contact with - at home, at work and at play. God bless you. Mike and Daphne

Good morning to you on this Mothers' Day. Over the years we have counseled with mothers who have felt that they were insignificant, merely bringing up children who often are unappreciative. We have seen these same children turn out as shining lights in their spheres of influence. In reality they are the product of a loving, caring mother. We are reminded about what Paul had to say about the impact a mother and grandmother had on a young man who would have a huge influence in the church. Paul wrote to Timothy: "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." (2 Timothy 1:5) Today we honour and celebrate the mothers in GraceCov. You are special. In the words of Luke, "... you have found favour with God." (Luke 1:30) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. On waking up this morning, I was once again confronted with the questions, "What is my view of God?" "Do I really believe that He can do more than I can hope for or imagine?" Reflecting on these questions we are reminded of God's greatness by Jeremiah, the prophet when he declared, "Ah, Sovereign Lord , you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." (Jeremiah 32:17) Our prayers reflect what we believe about God. With this in mind, when we pray we should be praying God-sized prayers i.e. our expectations should not limit what we trust God for. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:21‭-‬22) As we go into today let the words spoken to Gideon be real for you. “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12) Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Are you aware of how much you mean to the Body of Christ? "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27) When we read 1 Corinthians 12 we see that each one of us is important to the functioning of the body. Paul reminds us that as followers of Christ we are in a partnership. "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:3‭-‬6) Make time to pray for someone in GraceCov today. Have a good day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning. Reading through Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus we are reminded of 3 important actions/positions we as followers of Christ must pay attention to. 2 days ago we saw that we need to stand. (Ephesians 6:13) Yesterday we were reminded that we are seated with Christ. (Ephesians 2:6) Today we are told that while being seated with Christ and standing firm in Him, we are to walk. "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1‭-‬2) The more intimate our relationship with the Father is, the more we learn to keep in step with Holy Spirit, the easier this becomes. God, through the psalmist tells us, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." (Psalms 32:8) What an amazing promise this is. We are not alone in our circumstances. His loving eye is on us. With this in mind, follow God's example and walk in the way of love. The Lord bless you today. Mike and Daphnehttps://psalm.bible/psalm-32-8 Get Outlook for Android

Good morning to you. We trust you are well as we enter the midway mark of the working week. Yesterday we were reminded of the importance of standing. Today we see the significance of the resurrection and ascension of Christ as it pertains to our position. Paul says, "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," (Ephesians 2:6) Not only are we seated with Him, Paul tells us there is more. "And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2:22) We are reminded that we are continually being built together. The implication of this is that we are not intended to be a follower of Christ in isolation. David says in Psalm 133:1, 3 "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! ... For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." Doing life is so much better when we do it together with other followers of Christ. Enjoy your day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne

Good morning to you. We trust you are well as we enter the midway mark of the working week. Yesterday we were reminded of the importance of standing. Today we see the significance of the resurrection and ascension of Christ as it pertains to our position. Paul says, "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," (Ephesians 2:6) Not only are we seated with Him, Paul tells us there is more. "And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2:22) We are reminded that we are continually being built together. The implication of this is that we are not intended to be a follower of Christ in isolation. David says in Psalm 133:1, 3 "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! ... For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." Doing life is so much better when we do it together with other followers of Christ. Enjoy your day. Blessings. Mike and Daphne