STAY DELIVERED!

It is said that a seasoned criminal does not know how to handle freedom and so would do anything to get back into jail. Could it be that for such persons jail is the only form of freedom that they know? But let’s not be too quick to judge such persons as fools, weak or having a twisted inner moral compass. Not everybody who has tasted the extremes of both freedom and bondage find it easy to make what we would consider the obvious and better choice between the two – freedom – not bondage. Yet if we’re not vigilant we too can find ourselves drawn back from experiencing a life of freedom to one of being in bondage; from being delivered to being re-captured. So for our FF today the Lord is saying to us to STAY DELIVERED. Continue reading "STAY DELIVERED!"

When Rite is Not Right

Isaiah 58: 7 “Share your bread with the hungry”
A first reading of this verse displays an expected action on the part of all GodÂ’s people. When we know Christ as our Lord and Savior, there is a great concern laid on our hearts for others, and it becomes impossible to have and not share with those who do not have. TodayÂ’s text however speaks to much more than that. It challenges us to question what motivates our actions. Do we do what is rite, or what is right?
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God In The Burning Hut

The Lord has done great things for us. Ps.126:3

Surely this verse is one to which you (and you and you!) can relate. Is there anyone out there for whom the Lord has not done great things? Not likely! One man survived a shipwreck and was washed ashore on a small island. He prayed fervently for God to rescue him, but no help seemed forthcoming. Finally he built a small hut to shelter himself and his few possessions. One day when he returned from scavenging food he found the hut ablaze. All his possessions were destroyed. He quarrelled with God, wondering why he hadn’t rescued him in the first place and why he had allowed his shelter and few possessions to be destroyed. “God, how could you do this to me?” he cried. The next morning he was awakened by a noise, which he later discovered to be an approaching ship. When the sailors came ashore the man asked them, “How did you know I was here?” They replied, “We saw your smoke signal.”

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JUST LAUGH

When was the last time you laughed? I donÂ’t mean just a quiet passing chuckle or quick giggle thatÂ’s over before you know it. The laughter that IÂ’m referring to is full, coming all the way from down inside your being; the type that rocks your whole body so much that you feel as if youÂ’re going to die laughing. ItÂ’s the kind of laughter that leaves you crying and out of breath. Well then for todayÂ’s FF, I want to encourage you to JUST LAUGH.
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Return to Holiness

" 'Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.'" Leviticus 19: 11

In Leviticus chapter 9, the first twenty-five verses have different laws for the conduct of the children of God. A variety of social duties are inculcated in this passage, mainly as it refers to common and little-thought-of vices to which we as human beings fall ever so easily. The premise to these laws is the Holiness of God. Why should we obey these laws? Because the God we serve is a Holy God and his servants too must live to be Holy. These laws then are for the everyday conduct of GodÂ’s people, and obedience to them does a lot to build up our relationship with God, and with each other. So then the Lord God commands Moses his servant, in verse 2 of Leviticus 19 "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. There is therefore a call for holiness among GodÂ’s people, a holiness that should mirror or reflect the holiness of God.



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Service Is Greatness

For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Jesus said, “Whoever would be great … must be servant and whoever would be first … must be slave.” (Mark 10:44) This came in response to the request from two of his disciples to be given places of honour with him. He then went on to point out that even he must serve. When Jesus was recognised as the Son of God, and his consequent greatness was noted, it was naturally expected that such greatness would be reflected in his habits and habitation. But instead of princely habitation his place of birth was a stable. And now, instead of putting up his feet and being served ‘breakfast in bed’, he declared that, to the contrary, he would be serving others.

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IN TIME

There something special and unique about TIME. We all have the same amount of TIME each day to do what we want to do. We make TIME for the things and people who we consider important. We find TIME to do the things we enjoy. But thereÂ’s a certain mystery to TIME, if mystery is the right word. On the one hand TIME is a gift that God has given each of us. What we do with that gift is our choice. Yet on the other we can sometimes feel as though we are prisoners of TIME. We always seemed pressed for TIME. We are short on TIME. TIME seems to be running away from us. This and that must be done by a certain TIME or else. TIME in some ways could be a blessing or a disaster depending on what happens IN TIME. ThatÂ’s our FF for today: IN TIME. Continue reading "IN TIME"

Endure to be Restored

My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Ezekiel 37: 27

TodayÂ’s text comes to us from the background of GodÂ’s promise through the prophet Ezekiel, to His people, that the time will come when he will remove the dividing walls from them. The walls established by their division into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. With two kingdoms the people had been divided in a number of ways. They were divided along political lines with separate kings for both kingdoms who were not always friendly towards each other. They were divided along social lines as they now operated under different governmental systems, and the prosperity of one kingdom did not mean that both kingdoms would benefit. They were divided along religious lines. Another High Priestly system had to be established for the other kingdom as the temple in Jerusalem served only one kingdom. The division then was not a good thing and in fact reflected one of the worst periods in IsraelÂ’s history. It was during this time that the Kingdom of Israel, consisting of ten of the tribes, were destroyed by the Assyrians and lost forever to history.



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What Is The Basis Of Your Faith?

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession. Heb.4:14

As Christians, we are expected to exercise faith. This text gives us a challenge to maintain this faith in God. With the challenge there are many declared reasons to support it – proof that it is valid.
1. We have a great high priest, whose priestly function would have been to atone on our behalf. In this case the high priest went beyond the task and duty of offering a sacrifice. He actually became the sacrifice for us. As this perfect sacrifice he inspires faith in us.
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DON'T HOLD BACK

Not all of us are on the same page when it comes to worshipping God whether publicly or privately. Some of us are in Church every Sunday and other days of the week when it is time for worship. Some go at special occasions: weddings, funerals, Easter, Christmas etc. Some may go only when invited. Wherever you may be on the spectrum have you ever wondered how exactly should God be worshipped? I mean has it ever crossed your mind as to what hymns or songs are suitable - fast or slow; old or contemporary? Continue reading "DON'T HOLD BACK"

Fullness of Joy

Psalm 16: 11, You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

The entire Psalm is seen as referring to the Messiah. As we look at the Psalm there are some valuable lessons to be learnt from it.

Firstly – THERE IS NOTHING GOOD IN BEING SEPARATED FROM GOD.

The Psalmist is dependent on God for his very sustenance. He recognizes that everything good is to be gained in remaining in GodÂ’s presence. There is refuge in the presence of God. He decides to remain there with cheerful, believing confidence. As the call of Christ, it is the call for preservation to the one who is his only refuge. Christ found His all sufficiency in God the Father [my goodness is nothing apart from you]. This is similar to the PsalmistÂ’s declaration in Ps. 73: 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Continue reading "Fullness of Joy"

A Call To Witness And Worship

I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. Heb.2:12


This quote is from the Psalmist David. (Ps.22:22) Interestingly it comes in the midst of a Psalm which begins with the questions: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?” In spite of the fact that the Psalmist started out by indicating a sense of feeling rejected or neglected he was able to reach a place where he could call on God to come to his rescue since he recognized God’s ability to do so. It is out of this recognition that the Psalmist makes a two-fold commitment: to tell others about the goodness and the power of the Lord, and to honour and worship him for the same.

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KEEP ON WALKING

Have you ever set out to run from point A to point B and somewhere in between your feet just get so tired that you want to stop. Or for those who take their early morning walks, you start off at a brisk pace and you have your destination in mind even though it may not be in view. But somewhere in the process either because of a cramp or just being down right dead tired you feel like if you want to stop. IÂ’ve been there and IÂ’m sure you have to. ItÂ’s at that point that I have to tell myself just two words KEEP ON WALKING.

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