Something to Ponder...

Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” We will all experience disappointment at times in our lives. There are a few thoughts I would like to share on the subject, and truth be told, one could write a book, if not books, on Christian disappointment. So, how do we define disappointment? Disappointment is the feeling of loss, sadness and/or dissatisfaction that arises when dreams, hopes or expectations are not fulfilled. The process of cultivating faith starts with a vision, a word, a spiritual seed, as the Scripture indicates. The seed leaves one with an expectation, because the promise remains, “Trees bearing fruit with seed in them, according to their kind.” (Genesis 1:12) The seed then takes substance and grows into hope. And hope in the Christian sense is the sure and confident expectation or anticipation of receiving what God has promised us in the future, and it is always positive in its final outcome (Jeremiah 29:11). Hope then materialises as we exercise faith, trusting completely in the Lord as the one who will bring the vision, dream, or word to fulfilment. And therein lie most of the issues. The take-home crucial point is: “Don’t fight the battles God did not call you to fight.” So, the key is the adage: “Prevention is better than cure”. First question would be, “Is my dream my own, the expectations of others or that of the world?” We live in a postmodernist society that will test us on every side, and it would be useful to remember that we must live in an authentic, loving, dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit continuously in dialogue, watchful and prayerful all the time. Then we must realise that every decision is made from a position of faith, fear or past experiences (positive or negative). Assumption and presumption are both equal enemies to our walk in Christ. If the dream is self-imposed and fails, then, through the loss and sadness, we need to repent and pray for keener discernment. Evaluate the disappointment - where did it come from? Many cultural pressures, religious pressures, and even social pressures will only leave us disappointed in our “failed” circumstances. We must remember Job, who suffered catastrophe upon catastrophe, and his three “friends” who were ardent, authentic believers in God, all three operating freely in spiritual matters as would many ministers or pastors of today. They tried to find the cause of Job’s failure in his conduct. And Job fell into the trap, considering himself faultless in his own sight. The three friends' self-righteous attitudes cultivated a self-righteous attitude in Job. When we look at people outside of mercy, we will always invoke a judgment call, for them or for ourselves. The Lord then opened Job’s eyes, and Job realised that no righteousness can exist outside of God. And we must learn from that. The amount of hurt and disappointment we endure because of friends, prophets, so-called prophetic people, or even people in the world is not only numerous but inevitable. Job not only had to forgive them but also pray for them. We must keep the eyes of mercy as we rely on Holy Spirit when we look at people who have disappointed us. Secondly, we must determine whether God was part of the hopes and dreams, as Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:18, “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight.” This is also profound, because there might be a timing issue, a delay, or difficult circumstance. If God is in it, and you hold on in faith, it will come to pass, unless He has another word for you. Paul wrote, “Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” (Ephesians 5:15-17). The key here is to dream with God . I can’t stress that strongly enough. David would be a perfect example here. He wanted to build the Temple, but God said no, prepare it for Solomon to do. His dream was curtailed, but he was sensible enough to prepare adequately for Solomon. When a true prophecy is at stake, listen to Holy Spirit, enquire of Him, nurture the hope or dream through disappointment if God is still in it. Timing and people are always issues. Even the Lord has to rely on people's free will to obey to bring some dreams into being. And allow God to assemble the puzzle of joy in His time. We might even dream or fight with God and still fail, because we do it in our own timing and our own way, rather than building with the Master-builder. In 1 Samuel 15, God told Saul what He desired, but Saul took the initiative, believing he was still on the right track. As a result, he was not only rejected but also had the kingdom torn from him and his family. We cannot always expect God to align with our desires, hopes, and dreams if they are not from Him. A difficult truth is that God might at times grant us the desires of our hearts, but it will result in leanness in our souls, leaving us unfulfilled. So, how do we then handle disappointment when it comes? There are two aspects here, one is being disciplined for overstepping the line, and the other is the trial and testing of our faith. And the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive. (James 1:2) The answer for both lies in finding God; it is not a coincidence that after Jeremiah 29:11, verse 12-13 follows! “In those days, when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” These are but a few pointers to try and help us all cope with disappointment. Above it all, remember, “See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18) 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

Have you ever had the heartache so deep or hardship so difficult that it’s almost impossible to stand? Like a giant wave crashing on the shore, some trials threaten to overwhelm us. We all experience valleys in life. They might be of our own making – for instance, when we choose to disobey God and our fellowship with Him grows cold. Or perhaps other people cause our suffering in situations such as job termination, marital infidelity, or betrayal by a friend. And sometimes our heavenly Father Himself leads us into the valley. Although He could steer us around suffering, He chooses not to because He has a specific purpose in mind. So, when life breaks you, it is because you are ready to be put back together differently. Every piece of you that feels shattered is a piece that will find a new place, a new purpose, a new meaning. Trust that the cracks are where the light gets in. And sometimes, in our brokenness, we find our greatest wholeness. We find the courage to rebuild, to reimagine, to redefine what it means to be strong. You are not broken; you are breaking through. Psalm 23 uses four words to describe these valley experiences: shadow , death , fear and evil . These terms evoke images of oppressive circumstances, grievous affliction, and deep discomfort, and there is no way to hurry through them. That’s because both the depth and length of the trial are determined by the Lord. Thankfully, God promises to be with us and to use every valley, even those of our own making, for our benefit ( Romans 8:28 ). It is our job to walk steadily, attuned to His presence and trusting in His promises. ”And, we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Psalm 23:1–6 “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want, he makes me to lie down in green pasture; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the day of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Prayer Thank you, God, that You are my Shepherd who cares for me and gives me rest. Thank you that You restore me, provide for me and lead me in the way of righteousness and hope. I have nothing to fear so help me to see You with me in every situation. Comfort me, protect me and anoint me I pray. I give You praise for You are the One who pursues me every day of my life as I dwell with You and seek Your face. 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

I have often wondered why we keep asking our Lord for so much, when we have been given everything we need to live for Him. In 2 Peter 1:3 we read, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (NIV). I then discovered a Prayer, taken from Mark Bubeck’s book The Adversary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1975) and was written by Dr Victor Matthews and lightly edited by Dr Neil T Anderson. The closing portion of the Prayer reads as such: " Again, I now cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and pray that You, blessed Holy Spirit, would bring all the work of the Crucifixion, all the work of the Resurrection, all the work of the Glorification, and all the work of Pentecost into my life today. I yield my life to You. I refuse to be discouraged. You are the God of all hope. You have proven Your power by resurrecting Jesus Christ from the dead, and I claim in every way Your victory over all satanic forces active in my life, and I reject these forces; and I pray all this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving. Amen." I reworded this prayer for my daily devotions, which I read aloud each morning: Again, I now cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and thanking You, blessed Holy Spirit, for bringing the full effects of the finished the work of the Jesus’ Crucifixion, the full effects of the finished work of Jesus’ Resurrection, the full effects of the finished work Jesus’ Ascension and Glorification, and all the finished work of Pentecost into my life today. I yield my life to You. I refuse to be discouraged. You are the God of all hope. You have proven Your power by resurrecting Jesus Christ from the dead, and I claim in every way Your victory over all satanic forces active in my life, and I reject these forces; and I pray all this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving. Amen. As I have prayed this prayer I have seen/experienced changes in my life. This brought me to the writings of A B Simpson (1844 – 1919) , and a chapter on “What is it to Walk in the Spirit?” Here is what he wrote: “Generally, it may be said, it is to maintain the habit of dependence upon the Holy Spirit for our entire life; spirit, soul and body. We know what it is at times to enjoy His conscious presence. We live in the Spirit, we have felt the touch of His quickening life, now let us walk in the Spirit. Let us abide in this fellowship. Let us lean continually upon His strength, and drink unceasingly from His life, a babe from its mother's breast. But more particularly: 1. To walk in the Spirit is to recognize the Spirit as present and abiding in us. How often, after we have asked His presence, we treat Him as if He had deceived us, and cry to Him as if He were afar off! Let us recognize Him as having come and address Him as a present and indwelling friend. He will always meet our recognition, and speak to us as the ancient presence, not from the mount, or the pillar of fire, but from the tabernacle, and from the holy of holies in our inmost heart. 2. It means to trust Him and count upon Him in the emergencies of life, to regard Him as one who has undertaken our cause and expects to be called upon in every time of need and will unfailingly be found faithful and all-sufficient in every crisis. The very name Paraclete means one that we can always call upon and find at our side. We must trust the Holy Spirit and expect Him to respond to our need as implicitly as we expect the air to answer the opening of our lungs, and the sunrise to meet us in the morning. And yet how many treat the Holy Spirit as if He were an unpredictable and most unreliable friend! How many of our prayers are despairing groans or scolding reflections on His love and faithfulness! It was for this that Moses lost the Promised Land; instead of quietly speaking to the rock and expecting its waters to flow forth to meet his call, he struck it with hasty and unbelieving violence and spoke as one who did not fully trust the love and faithfulness of God. There is no need that we should strike the rock, or cry, like Baal's priests to the distant heavens for help. Let us gently and implicitly claim the love that is always in advance even of our prayer. Let us speak in the whisper of childlike trust to that bosom which is ever ready to pour its fullness into our empty hearts, and lo! the waters will gush forth, and the desert of our sorrows, doubts, and fears will blossom as the rose.” Out of these words, I have discovered that we do not spend enough time just thanking the Holy Spirit, each moment, each day, for bringing the full effects of the finished work of our Lord Jesus and Pentecost into our daily living - acknowledging the reality His presence (the presence of the Holy Spirit) in our lives in the here and now, thanking Him in faith that He is present in us, and living out this REALITY in our daily lives. Blessings Jono Our thanks to Jono for this month’s Blog contribution If you were blessed by this article, please do share it with others

The most important thing is to keep the most important thing the most important thing! Reflecting regularly on the basics of our relationship with the Lord is healthy. So, my aim is for us to create a healthy platform from which we can enjoy a loving and dynamic relationship with God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord through Holy Spirit’s facilitating our communication and intimacy. As we become partakers of God’s nature and be transformed, we present not only our bodies, but also our spirits and souls as living, dedicated burnt offerings to the Lord, so that we can undergo that metamorphosis – absorbing the mind and will of God, becoming more and more like Him. And as we embark on this wonderful journey, we must cast aside all subtle prejudices and traditions that seem godly, but become hindrances to obtaining the maximal transformation. The key is twofold: to fulfil all the promises and, secondly, to escape the world and its allure, but especially its seemingly kosher religious methods. Peter wrote in his second epistle, “Because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” An excellent practical example of this would be Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 , “As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.” As the Lamb’s Bride and Wife, we are to be subject to Him in all things. Our collaboration must surely come from the Head, even though in time we gain the wisdom, insight, truth and discernment to act entirely on His behalf as Holy Spirit guides us (1 John 2:27). That beautiful paradigm that Hosea spoke of concerning the new covenant, “And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’” that is, referring to the mystery where Christ and the Church become one. And it’s really simple, as nothing impure can persist into eternity after the Day of the Lord. Only that which has been conformed and transformed into His holiness can persist. A change that Holy Spirit brings about as we remain in His Presence and abide in His Person. The process is simple, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 , “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” Let’s consider this from a very real Scriptural account. Making food for at least 13 people on what seems to have been an impromptu visit in Jesus’ day was quite an effort. Enough water had to be drawn from the well and carried back to the house; the fire had to be stoked; enough mutton, venison, or poultry (probably for a broth) had to be bought from the market, killed, and properly prepared. And if any herbs were amiss, they had to be acquired as well. Were there enough vegetables? And who would peel, cut, or prepare them? Bread had to be baked for all involved. Did they have enough barley or wheat, and did the recipe for baking it have to be made? There had to be enough bowls, cutlery, and the table had to be set, while the cooking utensils needed washing up as things went along. So maybe we can understand a little better why Martha was literally up in arms about the whole situation, as her sister didn’t care for anything or helping out at all. All she desired was to absorb as much as possible from Jesus’s words, the bread of life feeding her perfectly, cocooned in the reality of encountering the Presence and the words of eternity – love and truth poured out for her and the disciples. Perhaps as we now read the account, we can see our own frustrations as we try to navigate our way in our daily tasks and even believe we are doing it for the Lord, while those who know that the most important thing is to keep the most important thing as the most important thing benefit most. Luke 10:38-42 , “As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.’ But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.’” (ESV) Love and divinity are not always “fair”, but they are always filled with mercy, grace and beauty. 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

(This Blog is an extract from a Sermon Toby recently preached). In both the Old Testament (Hebrew) and the New Testament (Greek), “breath,” “spirit,” and sometimes even “wind” are closely linked—often by the same word. Some Key Biblical Words are: Hebrew: ruach – breath, wind, spirit Greek: pneuma – breath, wind, spirit Scripture uses physical breath to point to God’s life-giving presence. Breath = Life from God. In Creation we see that human life begins only when God breathes. Dust alone is lifeless. God’s breath transforms matter into life. This shows that life is received, not self-generated. Genesis 2:7 “The Lord God… breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” In Job we see that we have ongoing life and Job understands that every moment of life depends on God’s Spirit continuing to sustain him. Job 33:4: “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 27:3: “The breath of God is in my nostrils” Isaiah reminds us that God’s breath can give life—or remove it and so we see that God’s breath is powerful - it creates, sustains, judge or humble. Isaiah 40:7 “The grass withers… when the breath of the Lord blows upon it” Ezekiel 37:1-10 (Valley of Dry Bones) shows that God’s breath does more than animate bodies—it restores a people spiritually. This passage powerfully shows that: - Structure without God’s Spirit is still death. - We cannot live physically without God’s breath, - and we cannot live spiritually without God’s Spirit. Breath in Scripture symbolizes God’s creative power, God’s indwelling presence, God’s sustaining grace, Humanity’s complete dependence on Him. When the Bible speaks of breath leaving and returning to God, it is not poetic exaggeration—it is a declaration that life itself belongs to Him. Just as the Old Testament uses ruach (breath/spirit), the New Testament uses pneuma, carrying the same meaning. Jesus and the Breath of New Creation J ohn 20:22, “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.” This moment with Jesus and the Disciples is intentional and powerful and it echoes Genesis 2:7, which signals a new creation. Just as Adam became alive through God’s breath, believers receive new spiritual life through Christ’s Spirit. At Pentecost, we see Breath as Power. Acts 2:2 “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven…” Wind = breath = Spirit. The Church is not born through human effort, but through God’s breath filling His people. It is the Spirit who gives life. Romans 8:10–11 “The Spirit gives life… He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies.” Breath and New Life 2 Corinthians 5:17 “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” New creation requires new breath, so as the Holy Spirit comes to live within the believer, we are new creations in Jesus. From the first page of Scripture to the birth of the Church, God reveals a profound truth: life begins, continues, and is restored by His breath. When God formed humanity from dust, He did not simply create a body—He breathed His life into it. That same divine breath reappears throughout Scripture, reviving dry bones, sustaining the faithful, and ultimately breathing new life into believers through Jesus Christ. When Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” He was declaring the beginning of a new humanity—people no longer animated merely by physical breath, but by the Spirit of God Himself. Without God’s breath, bodies are lifeless. Without God’s Spirit, souls are barren. But when His Spirit fills us, we move from survival to true life. The Christian life is not about striving harder—it is about remaining filled with the breath of God. How does this apply to a Christian’s Spiritual Life Today? 1. Dependence, Not Self-Sufficiency . Every breath reminds us: We are not self-made. Spiritual life cannot be manufactured. We must receive, not perform. John 15:5 “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” 2. Prayer as Spiritual Breathing. Prayer becomes more than words—it is inhaling God’s presence and exhaling trust. Inhale: receiving the Spirit’s guidance Exhale: surrender, repentance, praise 3. The Holy Spirit as Daily Sustainer. The Spirit is not only for salvation moments but for: Wisdom, Comfort, Conviction, Strength to live faithfully. Galatians 5:25 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” 4. Hope for Dry Places. Ezekiel’s vision reminds believers: God specializes in reviving what seems dead. Spiritual dryness is not final. God’s breath can restore joy, faith, and purpose. As long as the breath of God is in us, life—true life—is possible. As Breath is God. He breathed within us to give us life and life in abundance. What are you doing with that breathe… are you praising and glorifying Him with it or not? 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

What does ‘ Loyalty ’ mean to you? Has it, over your lifetime, changed in meaning or even how you now live within your understanding of the word? It is my opinion that the true meaning of ‘Loyalty’ is a word that is ‘going out of fashion’. We no longer seem to be loyal to anything - other than ourselves, our own needs and desires. Even within marriage loyalty to each other seems to have diminished. Loyalty among friends seems to now rely on ‘whether you are doing what meets my needs’. Many shops and supermarkets have ‘Loyalty Schemes’, but they want us to be loyal to them so that they can continue to make a profit and keep trading, all the while it’s disguised as their ‘rewarding loyal customers’. I feel that I have become quite cynical about loyalty. But is it because it’s been so watered-down that we no longer understand ‘Loyalty’. Or have I become caught up in the ways of the world? How about you? But more important than our loyalty to each other, how is it with your relationship with God? Has the world’s understanding of loyalty affected your understanding of what being loyal to God looks like? The Bible is quite clear that loyalty is one of God’s attributes. God remains loyal (faithful) to us, so there is an expectation that we should remain loyal to God. The loyalty we express should be a reflection of God’s loyalty to us. What does it mean to be loyal as a Christian? The website GotQuestions.org is quite helpful. “The word loyalty brings to mind a powerful sense of belonging and solidarity. With it comes the idea of wholehearted fidelity coupled with unswerving devotion and duty. In the Bible, the concept of loyalty is purely relational. This means our whole being is thoroughly committed to someone (Joshua 24:15). Such loyalty is expressed to us in both the divine and human realms as given to us in the first two commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:29-31; cf. John 15:13; 1 John 3:16). God established the very essence of loyalty through His covenant relationship with His people: “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9).” https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-loyalty.html It should therefore stand to reason that if we sow disloyalty, we will reap disloyalty. If we sow loyalty, we will reap loyalty. Not only is God completely loyal to us, and this is expressed through His covenant with us and the promise of never being separated from the love God (Romans 8:38-39), but we see how loyalty has shown itself throughout the Bible. The story of Ruth shows the loyalty of a daughter-in-law to a mother-in-law. Jonathan showed loyalty to David – the loyalty of a friend to a friend. Joseph showed loyalty to his brothers, in spite of what they did to him. Esther showed loyalty to her Nation Moses showed loyalty to the people of Israel – even when they turned against him. Lydia showed loyalty to Paul and Timothy by being a good host to them. Timothy and Paul remained loyal to each other in Ministry Luke remained loyal to Paul as he served Paul Paul speaks of his ‘loyal companion’ in requesting that person helps the women who laboured with him in the Gospel. Daniel remained loyal to his God, even when it meant persecution and possible death. And then there is the ultimate demonstration of loyalty – that of Jesus showing loyalty not just to us, but to His Father too. GotQuestions.Org continues “As Jesus’ disciples, we demonstrate our loyalty and self-sacrificing allegiance to Him by following His command: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). But even when we fail to be completely loyal and steadfast to Him, we have His assurance that He will be loyal to us: “And surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).” As I’ve been seeking God for 2026 in these past few weeks, the word ‘ LOYALTY ’ keeps coming back to me. I have such a deep sense that God is asking us to consider what that word means to us and how we are going to pursue loyalty, not just to each other, but to God. So I leave you, at the start of 2026, to consider this:- • What does loyalty mean to you? Do you receive it from the people around you? Do you show it to those in your life? • How loyal are you to God? How is your relationship with Him going? Can you echo what Psalm 119:33-34 says - “ 33 Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart . ” Loyalty is following God’s ways and being obedient to Him. Being loyal to God also means loving Him with all of our being, living for Him alone, seeking His Face and bringing praise and adoration to Him. Our gaze should be fixed on God and we will be transformed into His likeness. We need to, every day, study the Scriptures to build ourselves up in the faith, pray and where possible pray in the Spirit so that we will be guided into the truth, keep ourselves in God’s love and staying close to Him, receive mercy from Jesus and show mercy to others. Then we will become more like Him in every part of our lives, especially in the area of loyalty. May we remain loyal to God and to each other throughout 2026. Let us allow Holy Spirit to teach us afresh about the meaning of Godly loyalty. And may our prayer this year be: ' God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way— the path that brings me back to you.' Psalms 139:23-24 [TPT] Have an amazing 2026. Be blessed Jean If you were blessed by this article, please do share it with others

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