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This letter gives us another secret to growth and change to those of us who are feeling a little bit complacent. Maybe we feel a little more bored than blessed when we connect with church … Perhaps we feel a lot more attached to this world than we’d like - (who doesn’t struggle with that?) and looking us straight in the eye Jesus says - “I want you to see your need as you never have before. Then I’d be able to meet your need as I never have before.” John writes this way to the church in Laodicea - “To the angel of the church of Laodicea write, ‘These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds that you’re neither cold nor hot … I wish that you were one or the other … But you don’t realise you’re wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you get from me gold refined in the fire so you can become rich and white clothes to wear so you can cover your shameful nakedness salve to put on your eyes so you can see.” (Revelation 3:14 ff) Not easy words from Jesus but they end with his remarkable promise - “Look! I am standing at the door and I'm constantly knocking. If anyone opens the door I will come in and I’ll fellowship with him; I’ll relate to him, I’ll dine with him and he’ll fellowship with me.” (Revelation 3:20 – Message)
Episodes

Tuesday May 30, 2017
28th May 2017 THRIVING - WHEN OUR BELIEFS ARE BELITTLED
Tuesday May 30, 2017
Tuesday May 30, 2017
“Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life, so guard it well.” Proverbs 4:13 (Today’s English Version)
Most people don’t care what we believe. But there are a vocal few who want to belittle our faith. Daniel gives us an example of someone who was indoctrinated against God’s teaching for three years, yet he grew in God’s wisdom and understanding. His advice was ten times better than all the king’s other advisors (see Daniel 1).
Proverbs 23:23 tells us to “invest in truth and wisdom, discipline and good sense, and don’t part with them” (Contemporary English Version). Good counsel for all God’s life long learners.

Monday May 15, 2017
14th May 2017 - SHOWING MERCY IN OUR FAMILIES
Monday May 15, 2017
Monday May 15, 2017
“Lord, I want to live a blameless life, but how I need your help Lord, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should.” Psalm 101:2 (Living Bible)
One of the hardest places to show love and mercy is within the walls of our own homes. There, we're being seen 24/7 for the person we really are. So family members can hurt, and are hurt by each other, in ways that are especially challenging.
Nevertheless, we can show love and mercy at home, by -
overlooking irritations and offences,
being kind even when others don’t deserve it,
letting go of past hurts, and
believing God is working in the lives of others.

Friday May 12, 2017
7th May 2017 - KEEPING ON - No Matter What
Friday May 12, 2017
Friday May 12, 2017
“… all the foundations of society are being shaken to the core.” Psalm 82:5 (Living Bible)
Sometimes our world feels like it’s being turned upside down as we encounter injustice, idolatry, and immorality. Of course none of it is new! Scripture shows us that these kinds of situations happened to God’s people many times throughout history.
Nevertheless, in a rapidly changing world God wants us to “keep on” – not just surviving, but thriving.
So we shouldn’t be surprised by adversity, but instead look at how God could use it for good, and trust God for the situations we don’t understand.

Monday May 01, 2017
30th April 2017 - IS IT RIGHT OR WRONG TO BE AMBITIOUS?
Monday May 01, 2017
Monday May 01, 2017
We live in a world in which the winner takes all. Consider the Olympic swimming. As little as one hundredth of a second can separate gold from silver in the final.
But we only value the gold medal. We only remember the gold medalist.
Yep, it’s definitely a winner–takes–all world we live in, because the one thing that this world values above everything else, is success.
And who doesn’t want to succeed at whatever you turn your hand to. You start a business, you embark on a career, you enter into a marriage relationship, you bring children into this world. Is there anyone amongst us who doesn’t want to succeed at those important things?
Of course not!
And yet there’s something about ambition that can get real ugly, real quick. There’s something in each one of us that wants to shy away from ambitious people.
Think about it, how much do you value the quality of “ambition” in other people. It’s not up there in your top ten is it? Even in your top 20?!
In any case, didn’t Jesus say that “if you want to be first, you have to be last?”
So now, we have a dilemma. We all value success, yet we don’t much like that “ambition” label. But don’t you, at least to some extent, need to be ambitious in order to be successful?
Well, this Sunday, we’re going to take a look at the rights and wrongs of ambition.
From a different perspective. From the Bible’s perspective. From God’s perspective.

Wednesday Apr 26, 2017
Sunday 23rd April MERCY - YOU, AN AGENT OF MERCY
Wednesday Apr 26, 2017
Wednesday Apr 26, 2017
“You will be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8 (New International Version)
God’s mercy towards us is never-ending. However, the world is becoming more unkind, less loving.
In a mean world, our greatest witness is to show mercy.
As Christians, we’re called to be agents of mercy. We don’t have to convince everyone, just tell people about the many times God has helped us.

Wednesday Apr 19, 2017
Sunday 16th April 2017 - A NEW DAY OF MERCY
Wednesday Apr 19, 2017
Wednesday Apr 19, 2017
“A new day will dawn on us because our God is loving and merciful.” Luke 1:78 (God’s Word)
Easter means it’s a new day of mercy “because our God is loving and merciful”.
Two questions we’re going to explore today are -
when do we need God’s mercy, and
what happens when we accept it?
(1) Ashamed:
we need God’s mercy when we’ve messed up. God’s mercy forgives and frees us from guilt.
(2) Angry:
we need God’s mercy when we don’t have what we need. God’s mercy makes the impossible possible.
(3) Afraid:
we need God’s mercy when we’re facing death. God’s mercy will save us for eternity.

Tuesday Apr 11, 2017
Sunday 9th April 2017 - PALM SUNDAY
Tuesday Apr 11, 2017
Tuesday Apr 11, 2017
There’s a lot going on when Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
He knows what He’s getting into, and we know He’s not exactly thrilled about it (“My Father, if there is any way get Me out of this” - Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane). But He’s determined to go there.
When He arrives, He’ll disappoint His followers. They’re ready for a military/political victory.
Jesus, on the other hand, was ready to take up His cross. And die.
He was a great disappointment to many who laid so many expectations on Him.
He went anyway.

Monday Apr 03, 2017
Sunday 2nd April 2017 MERCY - OUR MINISTRY
Monday Apr 03, 2017
Monday Apr 03, 2017
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (New International Version)
Jesus showed us love in action by giving mercy to a leper and willingly entering into his pain and suffering. He told us to do the same to outcast, lost and broken people today.
God promises to bless those who are compassionate to others who need it most.
As followers of Christ, we are His body here on earth and if we’re willing to be used, He will pour out His love, mercy and kindness through us.

Thursday Mar 30, 2017
Sunday 26th March 2017 MERCY - YOU MATTER TO GOD
Thursday Mar 30, 2017
Thursday Mar 30, 2017
“Jesus saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy.
He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5
The miracle of mercy is how much we matter to God. God gives us new life in Christ through the Holy Spirit not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy.
When we’re spiritually lost, we lose our direction, God’s protection, our potential, our happiness and our home in heaven, but we don’t lose our value!
God’s mercy in salvation rescues us from ourselves, recovers our value, and reconnects us to God. We connect to God’s mercy when we get fed up with our lives, own up to our sin, and offer up ourselves to God.

Thursday Mar 30, 2017
Sunday 19th March 2017 MERCY FORGIVES
Thursday Mar 30, 2017
Thursday Mar 30, 2017