You're A Poet And Didn't Know It!

Poetry is easy,

Even if it's cheesy.

Unclog your brain.

Don't puff and strain.

Take some time

And form a rhyme.

Think a bit.

Find words that fit.

Have a go.

Just let it flow.

That's right, don't fight,

Keep it nice and light.

You're nearly there.

Now take some air.

Breathe in deep.

Don't fall asleep!

You're closing fast...

A poem! At last!

By Dawn Ferrett

A New Year's Acrostic

Here's another little rhyme

As happy as can be.

Perhaps you'll see a message

Purpose-built for you from me.

Yesterday has come and gone.

Now is a brand new start.

Everyone's wished great happiness,

With love straight from the heart.

You're always in my thoughts and prayers

Each day when I awake,

And I hope you all can stick to the

Resolutions that you make! 

May 2026 be a blessed year for all my friends and family,

With love and huge hugs from me!

Don't Be a Grinch This Christmas

Don't be a Grinch this Christmas.

Don't be a mean old Scrooge.

Live life with glee,

And deck out your tree.

The blessings, you'll find, will be huge!

Stretch out your arms this Christmas.

Show friends how much you care.

Deep down inside

The angel you hide

Is drowning and scrabbling for air!

Take time to give this Christmas,

To help someone who's in need.

Shine like a star;

Be more than you are.

Don't yield to those feelings of greed.

Make someone's day this Christmas.

It's easy! Just spread some good cheer.

Start with a smile,

Or chat for a while.

Good feelings dispel all the fear!

You'll be surprised this Christmas

At how love can alter your view.

You'll find when you care,

The warmth that you share

Will come back in spadefuls to you.

It's time to say "Yes" to Christmas.

Step up and be counted here.

When all's said and done

You'll have so much fun!

So keep Christmas all through the year!

An Ode to Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve and it's early to bed

For every girl and boy.

They're wondering what St Nick will bring

To fill their hearts with joy.

The adults are busy, making plans

To make sure all goes right.

They're in preparation frenzy.

They'll be working half the night.

The turkey's stuffed and seasoned

And in the oven, roasting.

The presents are waiting under the tree.

There's eggnog for Christmas toasting.

They double-check that nothing's missed,

Before they collapse in a heap,

Making sure that all is in place.

Then off to bed they creep.

But before you retire, it's good to take time

To remember that stable forlorn,

Where Mary and Joseph took shelter one night,

And our Lord, Jesus Christ, was born.

If not for that night, and this gift from God,

I shudder to think where we'd be.

Remember that Christmas begins with Christ,

And He died to save you and me!

Happy birthday, Lord Jesus! The true reason for the season! 

Amen!

I Wish I Was a Poet

I wish I was a poet.

I'd sit and rhyme all day.

I'd never tire of dreaming up

Such clever things to say.

I'd be an inspiration

To the folk who read my verse,

And maybe make some dreams come true

In this lonely universe.

Maybe I'd write a saga

About heroes on a quest,

Battling monsters and the like

To rescue those who are distressed.

I might try penning limericks

Which end in bawdy fashion.

Or sonnets for a love-starved youth

To stir a maiden's passion.

Alas, I've not the talent

To compose such works of art.

All I have is the mess in my head

And the fervour in my heart!

My Prayer for You

My prayer is that you will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and understand His deep and abiding love for you. That though you were lost, God will find you and lift you onto His mighty shoulders to bring you Home.

Know that you are not alone and His Grace is enough to overcome any situation you may find yourself in. Do not give in to despair for He sees your pain and anguish. All He wants is to guide you out of the darkness and into His glorious light.

Believe in your heart that God is more powerful than satan and all his minions so that your enemies will have no claim on your soul, because you are in the loving hands of the Lord Almighty. He is a firm foundation; the rock and cornerstone of our faith. Trust in Him.

You need not fear, because He has overcome the world. The enemy's weapons are ineffective and will fall short of their target because you are protected and upheld by the precious blood of Jesus, who died on our behalf to bring us back to righteousness. He is our strength and our shield.

Accept this precious gift of Grace that was given to you through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who died in our place to save us and not to condemn us. Let His blood wash you clean and purify you so that you may be blessed and have an abundant life. 

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the one true God, Amen.

John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1 John 4:4 (NKJV) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

John 16:33(NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.

Ministry of Hugs!

A hug shows you're cared for,

That there's someone who knows

All the things that have plagued you,

Your highs and your lows.

It speaks understanding:

That you're not alone,

And you're not going through all

These trials on your own.

A hug says "I hear you!

I'm here in your lack!

When you're feeling burdened,

I've got your back!"

A hug is a gesture

Saying you have a friend

That you can count on

When at your wit's end.

A hug is important

For both body and soul.

It heals and it comforts

Until you feel whole.

But the thing about hugs,

(And you'll find this is true)

When you give one away

It comes back to you!

You'll feel all the cares

Of the world disappear,

And your heart will be lighter,

Your mind be more clear.

So next time you see

Someone down or depressed,

Just give them a hug

And you both will be blessed!

The whole world needs a hug!

It's a hard, scary place.

But God gave us hugs

So we'd feel His good Grace!

Resolution Revolution

My New Year's resolution

Is not to lose some weight.

It's not to get more healthy, 

Or to get my head on straight.

It's not to kick some habit, 

Or to get a new one started, 

Nor be less absent-minded, 

Nor even less half-hearted.

My New Year's resolution

Needs a bit more inspiration, 

So it won't be 'give up chocolate'

Or some such abnegation.

I've thought of all the years gone by, 

And resolutions shattered, 

And decided that sincerity

Was the only thing that mattered.

So considering the past few years

I won't make the same mistakes.

It's got to last me fifty-two weeks, 

And I've got to up the stakes.

So here's my resolution, 

Though it may seem strange to you.

I resolve on being a better me, 

And trust the Lord to get me through.

Happy Heavenly Christmas

It's Christmas once again, mum,

And I'm missing you no end.

I know you're in a better place

But you were my best friend.

I treasure all our memories,

And the happy thoughts they bring,

But I'd dearly love to see your face

And hear you laugh and sing.

Throughout the year I find myself

Thinking of things we've done.

The times we shared together.

Not all great, but mostly fun!

But this season is the toughest time,

And hardest on the heart!

We lose a little of ourselves

When our cherished ones depart.

They say that time can heal all wounds,

But is that really true?

Or are we accustomed to the pain?

Do we smile and push on through?

Oh, mostly I'm okay, mum,

But sometimes it still pains.

The grief just catches in my throat

And I'm crying once again.

No need to be concerned, mum!

It's just the time of year!

I'll still enjoy this Christmas

And I'll drink a cup of cheer!

I'll sing our favourite carols!

Binge on turkey and mince pies!

I'll watch our favourite movies!

Pull the crackers! Claim the prize!

So have a wonderful time, mum,

With the angels up above.

Wish Jesus Happy Birthday

And give Him all my love!

Happy heavenly Christmas, mum, with love from me!

Glad Tidings

My friends, it's nearly Christmas.

A wonderful time of year,

To celebrate with those you love

And spread some festive cheer.

The fairy lights on decked-out trees

Are twinkling and bright,

And all because a certain child

Was sent to us this night.

To bring glad tidings to us all,

Of love and peace hereafter.

A message meant for all mankind.

A time of joy and laughter.

These wishes come straight from my heart.

May your lives be full of cheer!

May you all be blessed with God's good grace,

Now and throughout the year.

May you get all that you wish for

And the year ahead bring more:

And may prosperity, health and happiness

Be ever knocking at your door.

Merry Christmas, everybody, and may 2025 be an amazing year for you all! 

A Visit from Saint Nicholas by C C Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas

And all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring:

Not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung

By the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas

Soon would be there.

The children were nestled

All snug in their beds,

While visions of sugarplums

Danced in their heads,

And mamma in her kerchief,

And I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains

For a long winter's nap -

When out on the lawn

There arose such a clatter!

I sprang from my bed

To see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew

Like a flash:

Tore open the shutter

And threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast

Of a new-fallen snow

Gave a lustre of midday

To objects below.

When, what to my wondering

Eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh

And eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver,

So lively and quick,

I knew in a moment

It must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles

His coursers they came

And he whistled and shouted

And called them by name.

"Now Dasher! Now Dancer!

Now Prancer and Vixen!

On Comet! On Cupid!

On Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch,

To the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away!

Dash away, all!"

As dry leaves that before

The wild hurricane fly

When they meet with an obstacle

Mount to the sky,

So up to the housetop

His coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of toys

And St Nicholas, too.

And then, in a twinkling,

I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing

Of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head

And was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas

Came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur

From his head to his foot

And his clothes were all tarnished

With ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had

Flung on his back

And he looked like a peddler

Just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled.

His dimples, how merry.

His cheeks were like roses,

His nose like a cherry.

His droll little mouth

Was drawn up like a bow

And the beard on his chin

Was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held

Tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled

His head like a wreath.

He had a broad face

And a little round belly

That shook when he laughed

Like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump

A right jolly old elf

And I laughed when I saw him

In spite of myself.

A wink of his eye

And a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know

I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word

But went straight to his work

And filled all the stockings,

Then turned with a jerk

And laying a finger

Aside of his nose

And giving a nod,

Up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh,

To his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew

Like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim

Ere he rode out of sight 

"Merry Christmas to all,

And to all a goodnight!"

Random Limericks by Yours Truly

1

A very wise person once said

The wrong partner can mess with your head.

I'd rather be lonely,

And live for God only,

Than be most unhappily wed!

2

I hate going shopping for shoes!

I never know which ones to choose.

Would comfort be best,

Or good looks? I'm so stressed!

It's enough to drive you to booze!

3

Choose computer passwords with care,

For hackers abound everywhere!

Make sure that it's long,

And don't be like the song,

Logging in on a wing and a prayer!

4

I thought a new hobby I'd try

So I bought fabric paints and some dye

The clothes I design

Would outdo Calvin Klein

If viewed from afar - with one eye!

The Wanderer

When sun's last rays have westward fled
And gibbous moon shines overhead,

Within the shadows, dark and dread,

A figure moves with silent tread;

A creature of the night.

While weary world is fast asleep,

This nightmare beast doth softly creep.

He wends his way through darkness deep

Some fearsome rendezvous to keep

And shuns each shaft of light.

He tests the ground with snuffling snout

And crouching low he casts about,

His pointed ears a-twitch throughout.

What purpose draws this creature out

From his accustomed lair?

Close-by he hears a hooting owl.

The snarling fiend emits a growl,

Baring fangs in grimace foul.

Then, gingerly, resumes his prowl

With a mistrustful air.

Too soon the moonlight will be gone.

Blackness thrives where light once shone.

He knows his quest is almost done

And quickens pace to carry on

Toward his journey's end.

At last he sees bright lights, a street.

A shining path before his feet,

And sensing home and hearth and meat

He runs, his master for to greet,

Who welcomes him with tasty treat

And pets him, his relief complete!

Come home is man's best friend!

Loaves and Fishes

I've just watched a YouTube post from Dallas Jenkins, creator and director of the series The Chosen, where he tells of a message he was given by someone he hardly knew, which gave him comfort and strength in a time when he couldn't see his way forward. Thank you, Dallas, for sharing this testimony with us.

The message he received was that it wasn't his job to feed the 5000, but to just provide the loaves and the fish, as the disciples did! (Matthew 14:13-21 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass.Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.)

This is a powerful and humbling message because sometimes we overreach ourselves, in our jobs, in our relationships, and in our daily lives in general, thinking that we have to do it all on our own. We forget that we aren't on this journey alone. 

It isn't up to us to do every little thing, otherwise there would be nothing left for anyone else to do. We are only expected to do so much - use our individual skills, yes, but also to employ the appropriate co-workers, provide the necessary tools, resources and equipment - to complete the business in hand. We should not forget that we are small, albeit important, cogs in a much larger machine. 

This applies to all of us, but most especially to those of us that are journeying with God and are co-labourers with Him, for without Him we can do nothing. All of our efforts will fail if God is not at the centre of it all. We don't know the whole of God's plan, but we each have a vital part to play in its fruition.

I know that we all want to do the best the we can in all aspects of our lives but we need to know that God doesn't expect us to do everything. We only need to do as much as we can, to the best of our ability, and He will do the rest. If we only trust in Him all will be well.

Just give the Lord all that He is due - your faith, your love, your heart, soul and mind - and leave the miracles to Him.

All glory to God in Heaven. Let our praises ring out to show the world that God is a wonderful Father and that we are His chosen children!

Amen

The Peace of God, Which Surpasses All Understanding.

In these turbulent times, with storms - both physical and emotional - raging at us, trying to unsettle us, we need to understand that Jesus is alive in us and if He is with us and for us, who or what can be against us? 

When storms seemed to be about to capsize the little boat that the disciples and Jesus were in, did He go into a panic and shout out that they were all going to die? No! Just remember that Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat - they had to wake Him up - so if He wasn't concerned or worried about the storm, why should we worry?

Mark 4:35-39 "On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm."

Jesus knew that He wasn't in any danger. The disciples were in a state of panic, but He was so completely at peace that He was sleeping like a baby! The disciples' faith clearly wasn't strong enough, but then, at this point they had no Holy Spirit to guide them! We have this advantage over them.

Psalm 46:1-5 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn."

I love this passage! It tells us that God will overcome every storm the world or the enemy sends against us if we just give it all up to Him. We have the Holy Spirit flowing through our veins and He will give us the peace that we need to barricade ourselves against the howling winds and torrential rains that buffet us throughout our lives, trying to bring us down! We are so blessed!

Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

When storms come, and come they will, we need to rest on God's promise that He will always be there for us, will listen to our prayers and answer them. I have faith that when I cry out "God help me!" He will hear and he will act on my behalf. I know He has my best interests at heart and that He wants me to know that I can call on Him whenever I am under spiritual, emotional or physical attack. 

James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Know Jesus, know peace! No Jesus, no peace! It's a no-brainer!

So take heart, friends! Peace, be still! God's got this!

Amen

"Take My Yoke Upon You"

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Pastor Steuart Payne used this passage as the basis for his lesson today and while I was listening I saw pictures in my mind of, firstly, what a yoke is and, secondly, how powerful that image is.

The yoke Pastor Steu was talking about  is a wooden beam normally used between a pair of oxen to enable them to pull together when working in pairs and looks something like this:

The pairing needs to be equal in order to be efficient so you need to yoke two animals of similar size and strength like this:

You can see that the yoke falls across the shoulders of both oxen so that they share the load.

That is what it looks like to be yoked to Jesus. He told us to take on His yoke for His yoke is easy. This means that for us to yoke ourselves to Him we are working alongside Him and being led by Him. He will help us to carry our burdens and fears so that we are not overwhelmed by them. We can only gain strength from this, but we must make sure that we are always walking alongside Him throughout our daily lives.

Many of us carry our burdens all by ourselves like this:

Isn't it great to know that we don't have to - that there is someone who is not only able but willing to help with the load? Thank you, Jesus!

Others turn to the wrong kind of help - to those who will in fact only increase the weight we carry. This is what the enemy wants us to do. He wants us to turn from God as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden and follow the ways of this world, which are not God's ways. He wants to separate us from God's love and light!

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Here is an example of what an unequal yoking looks like:

The yoke isn't even touching the mule's shoulders! Which means that the ox is not only carrying the whole load but the weight of the yoke as well! The ways of the world are like that mule - no help to you whatsoever - because the world in general doesn't really care, and in some cases will add to your burdens and bring you down further. Yes there are good people out there who don't believe in God, but they are merely human and will fail you eventually.

The yoke of Jesus, who is both fully human (so understands human frailty) and fully God (at one with the Father) - this is the only yoke you can rely on!

I'm reminded of the yoke that Jesus had to bear for our sins - the cross!

He had to carry this through the streets of Jerusalem being jeered at, spat upon and reviled by all those He passed - and all this after being beaten and whipped till His flesh was torn so badly that He was almost unrecognisable! He had objects and insults hurled at Him all along the route and was finally nailed to that awful burden to die a horrible death at the end of His long and arduous walk. 

This was His yoke! All of our sins were laid upon that cross. He literally carried the whole weight of our sin with Him to His death. And when He died, all our sins died with Him so that we can choose to live free and be back in relationship with the Father.

Since He did that for us, why wouldn't we choose to take up our cross and follow Him? This man, this Son of God, the Word made flesh showed us how to live in love and peace and harmony. He taught us that there is no other way to the Father but through Him. Yes, it's a narrow path but a sound one and He will be with us throughout our journey, helping and guiding us, through the Holy Spirit whom He sent to be our constant partner, friend amd companion. 

John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."

John 16:13-14 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."

Hallelujah!

He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Salvation! Ever present, ever faithful, always approachable! Wherever you are, He will be with you! Just call on His name and He will hear! Don't struggle alone - give yourself to Jesus and He will help you with whatever it is that is weighing you down. 

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

All I can say to that is,

Amen!

Outside the Box!

Pastor Andy Elmes spoke today about seeing Jesus for who He actually is, not for what we think He is, and having a childlike faith - innocent, trusting and vulnerable. Children see Him clearly as someone who loves and cares for them. They don't have to see Him with their eyes, they trust Him because they "see" Him with their hearts. We need to make sure that we don't lose that simple faith in Jesus. 

Children don't see the world the same way we do as adults. Younger children in particular see with much more clarity of vision. They haven't yet learned to filter what they see. As adults we do this far too much. Consider what we see on social media these days, where you can take a photo of someone and completely transform it into something more acceptable to the world's eyes. Filtering out what the world considers to be blemishes and imperfections until it becomes a total lie! 

I looked up synonyms of the word "childlike" and came up with words such as guileless, naive, unsophisticated and unworldy! That last word - unworldy - struck a chord with me because as Christians, though we live in the world, we should not be conformed to the world! So taking that a little further, we are called to be unworldy - ergo childlike!

Matthew 19:13-14 "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:1-5 "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."

Pastor Andy also brought up another aspect of what it is to see for yourself who Jesus really is rather than just seeing what we want Him to do for us. Throughout Jesus' time on this Earth there were people who had preconceived ideas of who or what He should be. Those people were happy to put the Messiah into a box that fit in with their plans and wants and desires, not realising, or perhaps forgetting, that while He was fully human, He was also fully God! So when He didn't "tick all the boxes" of their preconceptions because they had been expecting some great warrior or charismatic religious leader who would smite their enemies and free them from Roman rule, they spurned and condemned Him.

Colossians 2:9 "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily"

John 10:30-33 "I and My Father are one." Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

Now let's talk about boxes! 

The problem with boxes is that, no matter how big they are, they all have set limitations! If we say that Jesus is this way or that way we are putting Him into a box - which is not only wrong, it's ridiculous! God doesn't have any limits! He doesn't fit into a box! 

The Jesus that I serve is working "outside the box!" Just look at those He chose as His disciples. These 12 people were not religious or political leaders, they weren't influential, weren't even teachers or speakers. They were just ordinary, run-of-the-mill, human, fallible people. Some would say the dregs of the Earth! He said they were the salt of the Earth and the light of the world! 

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

God works in mysterious ways and chooses the unlikeliest of people to do His bidding because He sees who we truly are and brings out our true potential.

So, the message is - remain childlike, joyful, innocent, and don't put Jesus into a box! Instead we should put the world, it's views, it's religious dogma, prejudices, fears - anything that's negative and doesn't come from God - into a huge box and lock it away out of sight and mind! 

All we really need to know about Jesus is His kindness, His mercy and His great and abiding love for us! Of course that shouldn't stop you from digging deeper into His word and finding out for yourself what kind of person He is!

John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

He is the Word made flesh, the Son of God, Saviour of the world! My best friend! I have felt Him move in my life and the lives of those I love! 

Oh, how I love you, Jesus! Thank you for always being there, working inside me and through me! You are my guiding light, my heart's delight and my protector! 

I am Yours forever!

Amen

Repentance - What It Really Means!

Another great inspirational word this week from Pastor Andy Elmes, who spoke about repentance. He pointed out that that word can have a negative and judgmental aspect but that our loving and gentle Father only wants good for us. He just wants us to turn away from the purgatory, pain and anguish that the devil has in store and to bring us into forgiveness, mercy and grace.

While Pastor Andy was speaking about repentance and ultimate forgiveness, he said that when God has foriven our sins and we accept Him as our Lord we turn from our old ways, but we don't always do a full 180° turn. For some just turning away is enough, you've seen the error of your ways but carry on your life in much the same way, aware of the sins of your past and resisting them but still not giving yourself over, surrendering 100% to the Lord's will. 

That's all well and good for some of us but others, like me, want more than that for their lives. To experience the fullness of God's plan for us we have to turn fully towards Him, follow His plans, do His bidding, knowing that this is the way to truly honour Jesus's sacrifice. A half-turn won't do! We need to seek God's countenance and His guidance and experience His great love for us all.

We need to see that repentance isn't a negative; it's a positive start to our journey in Christ. When we fully repent, we are saying that we realise that we were living for our own selfish wants and desires but that now we see how empty and meaningless those desires were and want something richer and more fulfilling. By turning from our old lives and turning towards God we are seeking a new life in Him. A life in abundance!

And when we have repented, turned and have seen the light we start to think and feel differently. Ezekiel 36:26 says "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." We start to see that while we live here on this world we are no longer a part of it, that we are now part of God's Kingdom. Romans 12:2 says "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

We will find ourselves re-evaluating everithing and every one around us, but we must not judge others. That is not our responsibility and not what God wants. Jesus has instructed us to love not only ourselves and our neighbours but also our enemies. Those that have harmed us or given offence in some way. We are called to forgive them, pray for them, love them.

I speak from experience when I say that this is not an easy thing to do, but when you do, it will lift a tremendous weight from your heart. I have had cause to forgive others that have caused me pain and anxiety, and when I did, I felt so much better and happier! However there is one enemy that it is the hardest of all to forgive - ourselves! This is probably because we are very often our own worst enemy! Take heart people! Remember that when we came to Christ we said a prayer of redemption and salvation - so if He can forgive us, then we definitely need to do so, too. Micah 7:18-19 "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." 

Our sins, the chains that bound us and held us captive, are gone. Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

Repentance, therefore, is giving yourself a chance for something much better for your mind, your heart and your soul! I think we can all give that a huge...

AMEN!

No Middle Ground!

I have just heard a great message from our Senior Pastor's daughter, Olivia Elmes! The question she posed today is "What do we believe about the Gospel?" She was asking what we truly believe - not what we think, or what we may have heard or been told, but what we believe in our hearts and souls to be the truth! 

To understand the question we first need to understand the meaning of belief! The dictionary gives this description:

1. 1.

   an acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.
2. 2.

   trust, faith, or confidence in (someone or something).

It's something that comes from the very core of your being and is not just a passing thought. Thoughts and feelings can be easily changed but belief is not so easily persuaded. It comes from knowing the truth which starts in your head and then travels to your heart and deep into your very soul.

I BELIEVE THAT GOD LOVES ME, CHERISHES ME AND WANTS ME AS A COMPANION AND FRIEND!

I remember when I finally came to see the light of God's truth, that Sunday morning when I raised my hand in response to the prayer of salvation. It hit me like a lightning bolt! Suddenly my heart had hope and an immense weight was lifted from my soul! I cried tears of pure joy that day!

Before that day I had thought I would go to Heaven just because I was a good person, kind to children and animals, and involved in charitable works. I had thought myself a believer - but now I see that I really didn't know God and His heart for me! I didn't truly believe!

Now I see that there is no middle ground. You are either all in or all out! Olivia said that she pictured a great chasm opening up in the ground and I really like this image. You have to be on one side of it or the other because if you are straddling that chasm you are going to fall into the pit! There is literally no middle ground!

Come on people! Open your eyes! Look at what's happening in the world around you. It's collapsing in on itself and spiralling out of control. There is so much negativity along with wars, persecution, prejudice, sickness, famine, floods. droughts, starvation and death all over this world. You see it everywhere you turn!

The good news is that the Gospel is true! You can find salvation, peace and eternal life, but only in Jesus Christ, our Saviour! He who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

In the Old Testament people would need to offer up a sacrifice to have their sins forgiven, but would have to do that over and over again because this was only a temporary measure - rather like sticking a plaster on a gaping wound that will never heal - all because of the fall of Adam which had given mankind a nature of sin. 

Then Jesus came to Earth, lived alongside us as a mortal man and eventually died on the cross, as the Final Sacrifice, to wash away all sin and shame, and to defeat death through His resurrection. Because of Him we now have the Holy Spirit living inside us and all our sins are not just temporarily covered over but completely obliterated as though they never happened.

We are healed from that sinful nature we once had and have been resurrected along with Jesus. He has brought us out of the darkness of sin and shame into His glorious light and we need Him now more than ever. So I declare this in His mighty name:

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (gentile).

Believe this! Repent of your sins and turn to the only one who truly loves you with an all-consuming passion - without question, unconditionally and eternally! Experience God's agapē love for yourself!

If you want to know more about our church please go to the website at www.family.church or to the Family Church page on Facebook where you can also find and download our app. Check it out! It turned my life around and it could do the same for you!

God bless you all!