Welcome to our service today. It is great to have you here and we would love to invite you to stay after the service and join us for tea and coffee.

Although Joseph's brothers had wanted to get rid of him, God used even their evil actions to fulfill His ultimate plan. He sent Joseph ahead to preserve their lives, save Egypt, and prepare the way for the beginning of the nation of Israel. God is sovereign. His plans are not dictated by human actions. When others intend evil toward us we need to remember that they are only God's tools. As Joseph said to his brothers, "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive" (Gen 50:20) 

A friend also pointed me to Psalm 37:1-2 this week. With the rise of evil in the world on a daily basis we are left wondering 'what next'? However these verses tell us not to fret for 'they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither...'. More than ever we need to know and remember that our treasures are in Heaven and will last forever and that God is always in control. 

Blessings, Sandra

Welcome to our service today. It is great to have you here and we would love to invite you to stay after the service and join us for tea and coffee.

We are weak human beings, but we do not need to use human plans and methods to win our battles. God's mighty weapons are available to us as we fight against Satan's "strongholds." As Christians we must choose whose methods to use, God's or the world's. In Corinthians we are assured that God's mighty weapons - prayer, faith, hope, love, God's Word and the Holy Spirit are powerful and effective. These weapons can break down the proud human arguments against God and the walls that Satan builds to keep people from finding God. When dealing with the pride that keeps people from a relationship with Christ, we may be tempted to use our own methods. But nothing can break down these barriers like God's weapons.

Sometimes we have said all we can say (especially with family members) - then we just need to keep praying and be ready for when God wants to use us again in His way. 

Blessings, Sandra

Welcome to our service today. It is great to have you here and we would love to invite you to stay after the service and join us for tea and coffee.

Peter lists five key elements that should characterise any group of believers. The first is harmony or 'being of one mind'. Next is compassion - being responsive to others' needs. The third is love - seeing and treating each other as brothers and sisters. Fourthly he names being tenderhearted - being affectionately sensitive and caring and lastly being courteous - being willing to encourage one another and rejoicing in each other's successes. These five qualities go a long way toward helping believers serve God effectively.

Peter developed the qualities of compassion, love and courtesy the hard way. In his early days walking with Jesus, these attitudes did not come naturally to his impulsive and strong willed personality! But the Holy Spirit changed Peter, molding his strong personality to God's use and teaching him tenderness and humility. What are the character traits that we need the Holy Spirit to mold in us? I know God is working on my attitude in this season of life - and I know I can't change in my own strength, but I also know that with the help of the Holy Spirit I can  :-)

Blessings,

Sandra

Welcome to our service today. It is great to have you here and we would love to invite you to stay after the service and join us for tea and coffee.

Some people see good all around them, while others see nothing but evil. What is the difference? Our souls become filters through which we perceive goodness or evil. The pure (those who have surrendered their lives to Christ) learn to see goodness and purity even in this evil world. But corrupt and unbelieving people find evil in everything because their evil minds and hearts colour even the good they see and hear. 

Whatever we choose to fill our minds with will affect the way we think and act. We must daily turn our thoughts to God, in prayer and by reading and meditating on His Word, the Bible. By doing this we will discover more and more goodness, even as this world continues to become more evil every day. A mind filled with good has little room for what is evil. With what lies ahead of us in these last days our attitude must always be one of thankfulness and gratefulness no matter what is going on around us. Let us dwell on what is pure and love in God's sight. 

Blessings,

Sandra