Caribbean Moravian Devotions

When I first got my driver’s license, one day I was driving with my uncle as the passenger. Thinking that I was now a big man and wanting to show that I could drive like how all real men drive, I had one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the window. The car was going at a moderate speed. Out of nowhere, my uncle instructed me ‘put both hands on the wheel.’ It wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command and so I immediately complied. Then he said ‘when you’re moving this fast, you need both hands just in case something happens you can control the car.’ That has stayed with me ever since and it’s a principle that I’ve applied to other things in life. So our FF for today, as we come to the end of January is this: as we face the next 11 months of this year and what may be a roller coaster of a ride USE BOTH HANDS.

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Words are powerful whether spoken, written or read. We use words and we respond to words. We’re moved by poetry. We compose prose. Although words used in combination are effective there’s something unique about certain words that can stand on their own. They don’t need any other words to complete their meaning. We immediately respond to them and we know how to use them to express exactly how we feel. So a child who’s running will hear a parent shout out ‘stop’. A toddler who’s playing with her food will hear a single word, ‘eat’. A man struggling with temptation to sin will look at the source of the temptation and say ‘no’. So here’s what I invite to reflect on for our FF: JUST ONE WORD.

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The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so. Deut. 18: 14

The people of God, the Israelites, were forbidden by God to get mixed up, or involve themselves in any way, with persons claiming to have contact with the unseen world. Between verses 9 and 14 of Deuteronomy 18, eight ways in which these occult practices are carried out are given. The Lord refers to them as abominations, that is, things that are repulsive to God. What are they?



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Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord. 1 Cor.12:4,5

The book of Corinthians addressed many challenges and controversies in the church. In our text Paul deals with the matter of spiritual gifts and personal talents. He notes that whilst there may be a variety of these, they are provided by the same Lord, who has called his followers to be his body. Later in the chapter he goes on to liken this ‘body of Christ’ to the human body, dependent on each member for its effectiveness. No part of the body can function in isolation from another part. Indeed, so is the body of Christ! Its structure and system is such that the various members must function interdependently.
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I find it absolutely amazing how other creatures that God has created can teach us so much about our walk with God. A few months ago I heard a statement which at first I doubted. In answer to a question this person responded “Well sharks can only swim in one direction – forward – in order to stay alive.” “So how do they sleep,” someone asked. The answer amazed me even more. “In some cases their swimming patterns have been wired in their brains so that even when they’re sleeping they are still moving forward.” That last statement left me even more dumbstruck. But at that moment the Holy Spirit whispered in my ears what I want to share with you today for FF. It is this, be like the shark in your walk with God KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

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Our text for today comes from Ezra 3: 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD : "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever." It is set in the beginning of another year [the civil year, which began in the 7th month], many years ago, when the Children of Israel who had been repatriated gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. An altar was built and burnt offering was offered according to the Law of Moses. The people believed that by honoring the Lord with their obedience in sacrifice, He would protect them from their enemies. They then moved ahead with their plans to rebuild the temple of the Lord.
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God says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isa. 43:1

An assurance like this would surely receive a welcome at the beginning of any new era such as the new year! What a solace to hear from God the words, “You are mine”! Can you imagine the comfort of knowing you belong to God?! That sense of belonging is something everyone cherishes. And belonging to God is a good place for anyone. Further, the knowledge that he really knows you gives added comfort. He says, “I have called you by name”! Yes, He knows even your name. This thought is refreshing. But even greater reassurance comes when God continues to speak in the following verse.
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Sometimes I wonder which is more difficult: getting something started or completing that which you started. Some may say that getting started is a greater challenge. Others may argue that finishing is more difficult. Then of course some may reply that getting started is equally as challenging as finishing. Wherever we may fall on the scale I can testify that both starting and finishing are often victims of procrastination. We always tell ourselves we have tomorrow; there’ll be another time for that. First we say tomorrow. Then it goes to next week. Eventually, we hear ourselves saying next month, next year or worse yet – whenever. In this new year, the Holy Spirit is giving all of us a gentle nudge to ponder the FF for today: IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

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(God) does great things that we cannot comprehend.
Job 37:5

As you continue to reflect over the past year, just worship your God for WHO HE IS and for the truth that HE HAS DONE GREAT THINGS!!

Sing with me, then
What a Mighty God we serve
Angels bow before Him,
Heaven and earth adore Him
What a Mighty God we serve.

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To God be the glory! Great things he hath done!
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son;
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
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On this first Tuesday of the new year, let me wish for all a happy new year. Thanks for allowing me to ‘disturb’ your Tuesdays with this reflection. Your responses have been encouraging and my prayer for this new year is that you will allow me to continue sharing with you as we reflect on the watchword. My you have a wonderful, spirit filled and highly blessed year in the Lord. I continue to be blessed to be a blessing to others.

TodayÂ’s watchword comes to us from Psalm 50: 1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. The Psalm is set out to portray a court in session. God Himself is the Judge, Israel is the defendant, and heaven and earth are the witnesses. Such a scenario would seem to suggest that God is finally ready to judge the evil people on the earth. This however is far from the truth. So just what is happening here?



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God has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he has set forth in Christ. Eph.1:9

This verse of scripture can adequately fit into the Christmas scenario, and, following the Christmas season, it readily does so. It aptly describes the whole significance of Christmas in that God sent Jesus into the world in response to his recognition of our human depravity. So great was the sinfulness of the world that the ‘culprit’ was not adequate to his own punishment – it would take someone far greater, and less contaminated. And so God turned to his son and sent him to be the propitiation for our sin – to substitute on our behalf. He therefore prepared him a human body to take our place in the matter of satisfying the requirement and penalty for sin. Thus two great truths are revealed in this scenario.
Continue reading "New YearÂ’s Gift"

Welcome to 2010! Today we thank God for not just a new day but the dawn of a new year. During 2009, we have received GodÂ’s mercy, grace, love and untold blessings. As we think about how God has worked in our lives in so many ways during 2009, we wonder how can we say thanks for the things God has done for us? A fitting response would be to God be the glory, great things He has done. As we start 2010 with our first FF, IÂ’m excited as I anticipate all that God will do in our lives throughout this new year. So our first FF for 2010 is a call to be SYNCHRONIZED WITH GOD.

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