Something to ponder...

Recently I read a Bible passage and in it God highlighted something to me which stirred me and led me to write this Blog. The Lord had been speaking to me about whether we are ‘ Gold ’ Christians or ‘ Bronze ’ Christians. So, I did a tiny bit of research, and discovered that Gold is a pure metal and is hard to mine and expensive to refine. Did you know that the visors on Astronaut’s space helmets are coated with a layer of Gold – thin enough for the astronaut to see through, but thick enough to reflect sunlight? Gold and silver do not require another metal in an alloy to prevent rust/oxidization. Gold is a very soft and malleable metal. It is also very unreactive, so it resists corrosion and stays shiny. Gold is dense and so feels heavy when you hold it. Bronze on the other hand is an alloy (a mixture of two elements where at least one element is a metal) of tin (usually 12%) and copper (usually 88%). Bronze was the first alloy to be made by humans, around 6000 years ago. ( Remember the Bronze Serpent – Numbers 21:6-9 ). When you shine Bronze, you can bring it up to look like Gold, but eventually you will wear it away. Polishing etc can produce a bright reflective surface that appears ‘golden’ at a glance. Gold plating is sometimes put over bronze objects. Jewellery – because of the high copper content of bronze, jewellery will tarnish and develop the green patina (green ring). This occurs because copper reacts to moisture and air from the body and the environment which causes oxidation. Bronze can be mistaken for gold under many realistic conditions. The two metals share some visual similarities, but do differ in colour, lustre, weight (being lighter than Gold), corrosion and physical properties. You can tell a bronze object when you put it against a gold object. This got me thinking about our own lives as Christians. Are we, and is the Church, a Gold or Bronze people? When we first accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we got the whole download from Heaven – we were refined into the finest Gold. But I wonder how many of us can take a good, hard, honest look at ourselves and see where we have become ‘Bronze’ Christians – where we’ve been corrupted by the world and are happy to stay that way. Where we want to live with an ‘alloy’ of the Kingdom and the world. Where we have substituted the Gold in us and been quite happy with being Bronze. We remember in the Old Testament that the finest Gold made so many of the items in Soloman’s temple. But after Israel was invaded and the Egyptians took all the gold items, King Rehoboam replaced the Gold with Bronze. He substituted the best for a second-best. I see the Gold representing the purest and finest of Heaven – and that’s what we actually have. But I see the Bronze representing an alloy of Heaven and the world. And the thing with Bronze is that it is difficult to separate, and you will never get it back to the original forms of Tin and Copper. I think many of us are still so attracted to the things of the world that we have mixed the world and the Kingdom and are parading it as the finest that Heaven has to offer us. We shine it up, and hope no one will see the difference. But we have to remember that no matter how much we try and shine up Bronze, it will never be Gold. No matter how much we try and convince ourselves that our ‘bronze life’ is ok, it will never be the true representation of the Kingdom of Heaven that God wants us to display. Have we kept the appearance (Bronze) that we are amazing Christians following God and doing His will, when actually we’re not because we still live sinful lives deliberately? Have we tried to keep hold of the things of the world we like and twisted the truth of Scripture to justify our decision and lifestyle? If we are doing that we are saying, in effect, that the Kingdom is NOT ENOUGH, and that we have to ADD TO IT . But eventually the truth will out and we will be exposed. Because just as Bronze Jewellery being passed off as Gold Jewellery tarnishes and develops the green patina (and I’ve had many jewellery items that have done that to me, and it’s caused problems on my skin), so our pretending to be pure Gold when we’re not will eventually be exposed. Something to ponder – is your life pure and can others see the purity of that life in you? Do you have the kind of relationship with God where you allow Him to change you more into His image? Do you have a lifestyle that cannot be corroded by the world? And a character that makes you unique and others will see Jesus in you? Are you holy and set apart to do the will of the Father? Has your heart been purified and cleansed from sin so that other will know that they have been in the presence of Jesus when they come into your company? Are you a Gold Christian? The way I see it is that if we want to become ‘Gold’ Christians, then we need to destroy the ‘Bronze’ in us and start afresh, by confessing our allegiance with the world, by repenting of wanting the ‘best of both worlds’, and by receiving Jesus’ forgiveness and allowing Holy Spirit to make us into new Creations, ‘Gold’ people. It’s our choice! As we approach the Christmas season, we think of the Christmas Story that is traditionally told at this time of the year. The Wise Men brought Jesus gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. What do we bring to Jesus – a life of Gold, or a life of Bronze? Surely God is worthy of our lives of Gold being presented to Him and shown to the world. May this Christmas be a blessing to one and all. Be blessed Jean If you were blessed by this article, please do share it with others

Hebrews 2:1-3 : “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?” Remember, this was written to believers. In a practical sense, prudence can be defined as taking a step back when confronted with an issue and asking the Lord, “ Lord, what is Your take on this? ” This step, once cultivated with the gifts of discernment, wisdom, and revelation, will lead us successfully on the path of righteousness. But the Lord also exercises prudence; He always considers our point of view, not tempting us beyond what we can endure, and endeavouring to gain His perspective, without always spelling it out for us. When we look at Solomon, called Jedidiah by the Lord, and at their very close-knit relationship, we can glean a precious truth from their encounter at the tabernacle on Mount Gibeon. Let’s read 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 “That night, God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon replied to God, “You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place. O LORD God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth! Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?” God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people properly - I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!” Like Solomon, we will all face such an encounter, where the Lord will ask, “ What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you! ” And this is crucial for us to stay focused on what is really important for us to be effective kings and priests of the Living God. We are kings of the King and priests in Him after the order of Melchizedek. So we do not come without standing and acceptance; in fact, we are encouraged to realise that we can come boldly when we do so! So bringing these two thoughts together. The writer in Hebrews exhorts us to focus, to listen very carefully, but also to discern when we encounter the truth, for we will hear many voices in our devotion to God, and then, once understood, our loving obedience is the demonstration of our sincere love for Father-God and our Lord Jesus Christ. If we lose the ability to operate simultaneously in both the spirit and the natural world, we will default to an autopilot mode. And that is what the writer is warning us about, for then we will drift away from the foundational truth of the message of salvation, not just the moment of redemption, but the call to transformation. The same writer later exhorted, Hebrews 12:1-2 , “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” in keeping with his call, in chapter 2. So, imagine the Lord asking you, sometimes daily!, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” and it comes with a subtle test or examination from the Lord, desiring to know what is really important to you. Do you truly live out of your first love? Still seeking first, above all else, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? Then what is it you would ask from Him? The one in Whom we have our life. For He will most certainly answer the prayer, as He is generous at all times. And yet, may we ask for that gift that would bring Him the most glory as we seek to enrich His Body and effectively represent Him at all times. This, while we enjoy the fullest measure of drinking in the intimate moments with Him, every moment of every day! Blessings Ben Our thanks to Ben for this month’s Blog contribution If you were blessed by this article, please do share it with others

Salvation is the foundation, while discipleship is the building process. Salvation gets us into God's family, while discipleship grows us into Christ's likeness. Both are essential aspects of the Christian life, and they complement each other in our walk with God. Salvation : - Is a free gift of God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) - Received through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16, Romans 3:24-25) - Forgives sins and reconciles us to God (Romans 5:8-10, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21) - A one-time event (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7) - Secures eternal life and justification (Romans 6:23, 8:1) Discipleship : - Is a lifelong process of following Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 9:23-24) - Involves learning from and obeying Jesus' teachings (Matthew 11:29-30, John 8:31-32) - Requires denying self, taking up the cross, and following Him (Luke 9:23-24, Matthew 16:24-26) - Aims to conform us to Christ's image (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18) - Demands a daily surrender and obedience (Luke 9:23-24, Romans 12:1-2) Contrast : - Salvation is a gift, while discipleship is a call to obedience. - Salvation is a one-time event, while discipleship is a lifelong process. - Salvation focuses on justification, while discipleship focuses on sanctification. - Salvation is received through faith, while discipleship is lived out through faithfulness. Having the gift of salvation is the most precious gift that can be given to us. Discipleship is the works of the after-works of salvation. Not working for our salvation but working after our salvation in order to learn who this Jesus is that we have given our lives to. Prayer Father God as you tell us to go out and make disciples of all the nations help us to understand the meaning of discipleship within the boundaries of salvation in Jesus Name Amen Blessings Toby Dr Marishjean Paton Dr.Div PhD Melqowsh Ministries and Melqowsh Bible College  Our thanks to Toby for this month’s Blog contribution If you were blessed by this article, please do share it with others

Galatians 5:24-25 [AMP] 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. 25 If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. Romans 6:1-2, 6 [AMPC] 6 What shall we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow? 2 Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? 6 We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. 2 Kings 14:3-4 [NLT] 3 Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash. 4 Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. (This is just one of the many verses in 1 Kings and 2 Kings that say the same thing) Why have I chosen these three passages of Scripture for this month’s Blog - because there’s an urgency on the heart of God at this time that His people need to be pure, holy and worshipping Him alone. Not following the ways of the world, or be tempted to go back to the ways of sin. ‘ But I don’t have any idols in my life! I’m serving God with my whole heart ’ I hear you cry. That’s my cry too! But let’s stop and take a moment to consider that maybe we are doing what the kings in the Books of 1 & 2 Kings did – that we are doing what is pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but there are still ‘idols’ in our lives that are tempting us back into sin. Unless we slay the giant, and CUT OFF ITS HEAD , we will leave opportunities for the giant to rise up and come and tempt us into the sin that we are supposed to have left behind. Here’s what Nicky Gumble writes in his and Pippa’s devotional ‘ The Bible in a Year ’: “’They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”’ (2 Kings v.15). The result of not listening was that the people of Israel lost the presence of God and were sent into exile in Assyria: ‘he thrust them from his presence… the LORD removed them from his presence’ (2 Kings vv.20,23). Like us, so often, they had not been ruthless enough about sin in their lives: ‘They honoured and worshiped God, but not exclusively... They don’t really worship God – they don’t take seriously what he says regarding how to behave and what to believe’ (vv.32,34 MSG). ‘They didn’t pay any attention. They kept doing what they’d always done’ (v.40, MSG). Do you sometimes find that your heart is divided between following God and following your own desires? Guard yourself against complacency or carelessness – allowing sin to creep in. Don’t let the enemy lead you into disobeying God. The truth is that God’s desire is always to bless us. His commands and instruction are given so that you might flourish (see Deuteronomy 6:1–3).” Do we see ourselves flourishing – or do we keep going back to the sin and the idols in our lives because they are our ‘comfort zone’, or because ‘it’s familiar’, or because we have an issue with addiction to the sin? When Jesus went to the cross, He took upon Himself ALL OF OUR SIN – and when He went to the depth of hell, He left our sin there and, in essence, locked the door to our sin and took the keys with Him. He did not give us a set of keys so that we could go back and claim back the bits of sin that we like doing. He cut the head off of the giant! You know how you enjoy cake, but you know you should give it up. But you think that NOTHING will EVER come close to the enjoyment you find in eating cake. And so you convince yourself that a little slice every now and again won’t do anyone any harm, especially not you. But what it will do is satisfy the craving, and give just enough of a sugar-rush that you will be able to leave it be – until the next time. But the next time that piece of cake may harm you to such an extent that your life is changed forever, and not in a good way. Well that is what it is like with the sin, the idols, the bad things that we do and convince ourselves that it’s only a ‘small sin and God won’t notice’. Eventually it is going to harm us, bring us down, destroy us and our ministry. When God says in Scripture ‘ CRUCIFY THOSE SINFUL PASSIONS ’ He means it!! Let the old man – that is the carnal, worldly, ungodly man – the man that can still rise up from time to time, be crucified, because the new man – the spiritual man, the man that is one with Jesus – has been raised to life in Christ. We can’t serve two gods – the god of sin AND Jesus. God is a jealous God, He’s jealous for us and wants all of us. God intends that we should live in a right relationship with Him. God has committed Himself to us totally – therefore we should commit ourselves to Him totally, and be sanctified, guard our hearts and flourish. The Holy Spirit has been given to us so that we can walk in a restored relationship with God. So each day wake up and resolve to “walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]” {Galatians 5:25}. Be blessed Jean If you were blessed by this months’ article, please share it with others.

A Reflection on Character and Attitude in Our Walk of Faith The many references to Scripture will make the beautiful aspect of character and attitude clearer. As we explore the beautiful facets of character and attitude within our faith journey, it becomes clear that our judgment will be based on these critical elements, symbolised by gold, silver, and precious stones. These precious materials represent how thoroughly God's image and character have been woven into our very identity. Gold signifies the divine purity of our character, while silver illustrates our capacity to graciously receive and cultivate the gifts and anointing that God has graciously bestowed upon us. Precious stones, meanwhile, reflect the integrity and patience we develop under pressure; it is through life's challenges that our character is refined and crystallised into something truly valuable. Jesus frequently emphasised the importance of our inner attitudes. He taught that a transformed heart inevitably leads to lives that reflect His nature. In the Sermon on the Mount, He addressed the significance of attitude, highlighting that mere adherence to the Law is insufficient—what truly matters is the spirit behind our actions. Jesus sought to identify incorrect attitudes and to illuminate the characteristics of godly character. Before we delve deeper into the commendations from Jesus, we must recognise the distinction between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant from God's perspective. For both John and Paul, the transition from the Law to grace is fundamental—redemption frees us from the constraints of the Law, allowing us to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Law and grace. However, the Lord declared, “For this is the covenant that I will make… I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:33) . This new covenant is profoundly personal, as it emphasises an intimate relationship with God, where all, regardless of status, come to know Him directly, i.e., personally. This is an exhilarating revelation, as Paul noted: “Nothing outwardly avails, but faith which works by love!” (Galatians 5:6) . While obedience is important, it is the identity of sonship—or, more deeply, espousal—that fosters a loving relationship capable of nurturing true, devoted obedience. Here lies the importance of having the right attitude and walking in prudence. Jesus illustrated this vividly in Matthew 25 when He spoke about those welcomed into the kingdom. He said, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” (Matthew 25:34) . Not only did He target physical acts of service, but He also urged us to see beyond the surface—to feed the spiritually hungry, welcome those into the kingdom with love, quench the thirst for truth, and clothe those exposed to shame, to set people free who are imprisoned by strongholds. In this teaching, we see that every act of kindness we engage in for the least among us is indeed an act done because of Christ Himself. The righteous will respond, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You...?” and He will affirm, “Assuredly, I say to you, since you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:37-40) Jesus also warned that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of the Father. Genuine actions of faith arise from a deep and intimate loving relationship with Him— “whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock…” (Matthew 7:21-26) . Ultimately, we uncover a key truth: love and prudence draw us toward a sincere loving relationship with our Saviour. When we know Him intimately and become one with Him, our transformation unfolds as we behold Him and His glory. This deep connection empowers us to fulfil His will effortlessly, with our actions reflecting that intimacy. Rather than striving for power and influence, we find strength in walking in love and sincerity, abiding in Him, while seeking only His face and His purpose in all we do. Blessings Ben Our thanks to Ben for this month’s Blog contribution If you were blessed by this article, please do share it with others

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you. Psalm 55: 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Letting go and letting God lead can be one of the hardest things to do. We hold on tightly to our worries, plans and expectations, trying to control the outcome. But 1 Peter 5:7 calls us to cast our anxieties on God. He cares for us and is capable of handling everything we face. Surrendering control to God doesn’t mean abandoning responsibility; it means trusting Him to guide us through life’s challenges. When we let go, we create space for God to work in our lives. Trusting in His leadership brings peace, as we stop carrying the weight of our worries. Letting God lead means following His direction, even when we can’t see the full picture. In the midst of life’s hardest battles, there are moments when the weight of our struggles seems unbearable. The world feels dark, our hearts feel heavy, and hope seems so distant. But in these very moments, we are often reminded of one undeniable truth: God provides. Even when it feels like we’re walking alone in the wilderness, He is right there, with us, providing in ways we might not always see but will always feel. There are times when we are overwhelmed by pain, when the road ahead seems uncertain, and when we wonder how we will make it through. But God in His infinite love and grace shows up in the smallest, yet most significant ways. He provides us with unexpected strength to take the next step, even when we don’t know where it will lead. He sends people to lift us up when we are too weak to stand, and He whispers His love in the quiet of our hearts when the world is to loud. It’s often in our deepest moments of despair that we find His presence the most. He doesn’t promise that the storms will never come, but He promises that we won’t face them alone. Like a parent who sacrifices everything for their child, God doesn’t hesitate to carry us when we can no longer walk. In the darkness, He is the light. In the grief, He is the comfort. In the silence, He is the peace. We may not always understand the reason for our suffering, but God’s provision is never absent. Sometime, it’s the simple things like a word of encouragement, a quiet moment of peace, a gentle hand reaching out, that remind us that He is always with us, filling the gaps where we feel empty. And slowly, over time, we see that very hardships we faced have shaped us, strengthened us, and brought us closer to Him. God provides, not only with material things but with the most important gifts: love, peace, strength, and hope. In our pain, He whispers that He is with us, and His provision is more than enough. Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that I often hold on to my worries and fears, thinking that I can handle them on my own. But today, I choose to let go and trust You. I cast all my anxiety on You because I know You care for me. Help me to stop trying to control everything and surrender to Your will. Lead me, guide me and show me the way. Fill me with peace as I release my fears to You. I trust that Your plan for me is better than anything I can imagine. Thank you for Your constant care and guidance. In Jesus Name. Amen Blessings Toby Dr Marishjean Paton Dr.Div PhD Melqowsh Ministries and Melqowsh Bible College Our thanks to Toby for this month’s Blog contribution If you were blessed by this article, please do share it with others

There is a story that I’ve heard before, and you probably have too. “ There once lived a water carrier. Every morning, as soon as the sun rose, she walked from her home to collect water in two earthen pots that hung from a long pole that she carried across her shoulders. One pot was perfectly formed, the other, although the same shape and size as its counterpart, had a crack in its side. So, whenever they returned to the water carrier’s house it was only ever half full. For years, the water carrier repeated her journey to and from her house collecting water from the river. As the years passed by, the cracked pot created a story in its head about its level of worthiness and inability to properly perform the job for which it had been created. Eventually, the pain and shame that it felt about its own perceived imperfections, became too much for it to bear. So, one day as the water carrier knelt beside the river and began her usual task of filling the pots with water, the cracked pot found its voice and said; “I am so sorry. For years and years, I have watched you fill me with water and I can only imagine what a fruitless task it must be for you. As whenever we return to home, I am only ever half full. While in comparison, the other pot is perfect, rarely does it lose a drop of water on our long walk back to our home, but me, I am far from perfect. This crack in my side, not only does it cause me so much hurt and shame, but it must also cause you to want to get rid of me. Surely, I am only making this long, arduous job that you do each day, that much more difficult? I can understand if you are thinking of getting rid of me and replacing me with another perfectly formed pot.” The water carrier listened to these words with both care and compassion. The cracked pot’s story of unworthiness and shame was not one that she recognised. For this was not what she thought of the pot. She knew about the crack, but did not see it as an imperfection, or as something that made it less worthy than the other pot that hung from her shoulder. Gently she turned to the pot and said, “On our return walk home, I want you to look up and to the side of you. For too long, it would seem you have been looking down, comparing yourself to others and not noticing how you and the crack that you have in your side has brought untold beauty into my life” Puzzled, the Cracked pot wondered what on-earth her words meant. She seemed to be suggesting that its story of lack, unworthiness and shame, was in some way faulty. As to how this could be, it could not comprehend. However, the Cracked Pot trusted the water carrier. It occurred to it that in all the time that it had journeyed with her, she had never said a harsh word, never scorned or ridiculed it, but had always shown a sense of gratefulness and care when filling it with water. So, on the return journey it heeded the water carrier’s words. It looked up and it looked out. In its former depressed state, it had not noticed that along the path that they travelled there was a dazzling array of beauty, colour and life. The water carrier in her wisdom, knowing of the crack in the pot’s side, had sprinkled seeds along the path. These seeds were duly watered every day as a result of the crack in the pot’s side and the path that had once been barren and devoid of life was now resplendent with an array of beautiful wild flowers. Now, the cracked pot understood. Now the cracked pot began to see itself in a new light. Now it understood that indeed it had been telling itself a faulty story. If its experience of being a ‘cracked pot’ was going to change then it would have to change the story that it was telling itself. ” I wonder how many of us have to ‘change the story that [we] are telling [ourselves]? How many of us are a ‘cracked pot’, but have been so focussed on our faults and issues that we have never given ourselves the opportunity to see the beauty that comes from us? 2 Corinthians 4:7-8 AMPC “7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. 8 We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;” In spite of us not yet being ‘perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect’ (Matthew 5:48) but working at our sanctification daily (Hebrews 10:14 AMP “For by the one offering He has perfected forever and completely cleansed those who are being sanctified [bringing each believer to spiritual completion and maturity]".), we are still able to demonstrate - through our love and actions, generosity and kindness, etc. – the beauty of the Kingdom of God. Just as a pot is designed to hold something, so we are created and designed by God to hold His glory – something very valuable. So when we understand that, and in spite of all our ‘stuff’, we will realise just how special we are to God, and also how much of a purpose we have here on this earth. God has filled us in order that we overflow, and it’s really ok if we ‘leak out’ all the Godly stuff on our journey through this life. Because God is making everything beautiful in its time – and He uses you and me to do that. Romans 8:28 TPT “So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.” Everyday decide to be a ‘Cracked Pot’ sharing the love of God with all you meet. ACTIVATION Spend time with God asking Him to show you where you have been focussing on the wrong things, where you have been stopping yourself from seeing the beauty that you are spreading because you are so inward focussed. Ask God for forgiveness. Then go out and be a lover of God who has been called to fulfil His designed purpose for you. Be blessed Jean If you were blessed by this article, please do share it with others

Let us first remember that Jesus said, “My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations” Or, as NKJV reads, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” [Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46] Then Paul and Peter affirm that each one of us hosts the Holy Spirit, personally being “the temple of God.” “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” [1 Corinthians 3:16]. “For you are the temple of the living God.” [2 Corinthians 6:16]. “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” [1 Peter 2:5-6]. Let’s take a fresh look at Luke 11:1-13 where Jesus teaches on prayer. “Once, Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, ’Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ Jesus said, ‘This is how you should pray: ’Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.’ Then, teaching them more about prayer, He used this story: ‘Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this - though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. ‘And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.’ ‘You fathers - if your children ask for bread, do you give them a stone? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.’” The key portion that I would like to highlight is the paragraph where the intercessor has a friend with a real issue or problem, i.e., needing divine food (three loaves of bread at midnight). He or she is struggling to survive in the darkest moment of their life. The intercessor, fully fed and at peace, first of all, reacts when he or she becomes aware of their friend’s plight. The intercessor then goes to the One who can resolve the issue, and in the allegory, he represents God and the angels and/or fellow believers (i.e., the children). Then Jesus interjects an extraordinary expression, “I say unto you”, or “Let me tell you”! When Jesus emphasises a truth, we need to sit up and take a second look at what He conveyed. Jesus gives us not only the guarantee that God will respond and step into the situation to minister to the one in need, He will supply above and beyond what the intercessor is praying for (as much as the person in need needs will be supplied)! This is incredible! This whole teaching has deep spiritual truths and implications for us, but here Jesus guarantees us that when we intercede or pray or minister to another person in His Name, i.e., in an authentic, dynamic, continuous dialogue and relationship with Him, He will always come through with more than what we can anticipate or expect. We can be bold and assured of God’s provision every - yes, every - time we pray, minister or intercede for another person we care about and/or minister to. Have the eagerness, zeal, and desire to come alongside all who need God’s provision in their life. What a guarantee of God’s abundant blessings that rests upon our role as “a house of prayer”, as kings and priests of our God, to bring heaven down to earth and distribute His unfailing love to those who ask and who are in need. Blessings Ben Our thanks to Ben for this month’s Blog contribution If you were blessed by this article, please do share it with others

We are always amazed of the incredible love God has for us, that Jesus died for us while we were sinners, then God raised us up and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 2: 4 – 6 In preparing to write this blog I, Kevin, felt the Lord give me the following word: "The Lord is calling us back, back to His plan, back to the narrow way. He is wooing us. He says, “Come my lovely ones, my precious bride. Come close that you can feel my heartbeat, hear my voice and feel my breath when I speak to you. Come let us run together. At the moment you are out of sync, out of step with my plans. My body, my bride needs to realign with me and my plans, so you are synchronised with me, moving as one in the direction I have for you. At this time my body is in disarray. You must think in military terms. You are my beautiful bride, but you are also soldiers in my army, the army of the Lord and I am your Commander in Chief. You must align yourself and be trained for battle. For you are my precious ones, but you are not ready for what is coming. There are many who will be taken out by the enemy because they are not trained and aligned with me and my plans. Know the times you are living in, see the darkness all around you. Precious ones, you must wake up and realise who you are, what your true identity is, and what I have saved you for. We are in the end times, and you are part of my end time army. You are familiar with passages in my word about your armour and weapons of warfare but you, my bride, my precious ones, are ignorant of how to use them. You are dishevelled and in disarray and doing your own thing. You must come close and learn to hear my voice, only do the things that I tell you to do and not your own plans and ideas. I will give you the strategy for warfare. Without listening to me you are just ‘shadow boxing,’ waving your weapons around in the air and trying to hit a target you cannot see. I love you my bride and more than anything I want relationship with you, but you must come close to hear what I am saying.” Kevin Luck 20/03/25 As Christians we are on a journey and our goal should be to become more like Christ and reflect Him to those around us. In the great commission we are called to go and make disciples, which ought to include not only teaching but also training & equipping. Unfortunately many churches are paralysed as they are full of immature Christians who have not moved on from spiritual milk to meat. True discipleship builds maturity by dealing with the roots of issues and healing the core pain within our life, allowing us to grow and develop an intimate relationship with God. Matt 28: 19 – 20; 1 Cor 3: 1 – 3; Heb 5: 12 – 14. In the word above, the Lord said we must think in military terms. We are all familiar with ranks in the army, well, it is the same in the spiritual realm. In Ephesians we read about the ranks within the enemy’s kingdom. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Eph 6: 12 NKJV (see also verses 10 – 17) When it comes to spiritual warfare, many of us have a wrong mindset of God and how powerful He is. In the mid 90’s there was a popular song by Rob Critchley which begins with the line, “Great big God, little bitty devil,” but so many of us have it the other way around, “Great big devil, little bitty God!” Jesus defeated Satan on the cross, and we are assured of victory! We are spiritual beings but so often we live unaware of what is happening in the spirit realm. Remember in 2 Kings when the servant was fearful of the opposition and Elisha said, “Do not be afraid… those with us are more than those with them.” Elisha prayed that the Lord would open his eyes that he may see. The Lord opened his eyes, and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6: 15 – 17 We need to recognise the incredible love that God has for us, that He sent Jesus to die on the cross. In the above word, He has emphasised that He loves us and desires relationship with us. In the scriptures He tells us that, He created us; He knit us together in our mother’s womb; He knew us before the foundation of the world; He has a plan and a destiny for our life; He watches over our going out and our coming in; He rejoices over us with singing; we are the apple of His eye; His thoughts for us outnumber the grains of sand; He knows the number of hairs on our head. God knows us intimately and has said He wants us to know Him intimately. So let us draw close to Him and let Him heal our wounds with the healing balm of His love, align our lives with the truth of His word and follow Him. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. " Rom 8: 14 NKJV Blessings Kevin & Anne Our thanks to Kevin & Anne for this month’s Blog contribution If you were blessed by this article, please do share it with others