How many of you are familiar with this word ‘Shalom’. Those who do know it consider it to mean ‘peace’. Yes, that is one of its meanings. However it is one of those beautiful words in Hebrew which cannot be translated into a single word in English, but has a series of meanings: Hello, goodbye, security, completion, soundness of mind, well -being, wholeness, health, nothing missing, nothing broken, nothing lacking. How wonderful to have just one word to describe so many wonderful benefits. In Jeremiah 29 v 11 God uses the word Shalom......
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Do you have days when you feel dried up, lacking inspiration, empty, in a desert place? I think we all do from time to time. But this morning as we (TLC) worshipped the words of the song ‘Set a Fire’ lifted me up and as I listened to the words, and sang, I realised how true they are. ‘Set a fire within my soul, that I can’t contain, that I can’t control, – I want more of you God’. You know God understands when we feel like that and He has already provided......
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I was reading an article the other day about a group of 6000 young people in Salzburg cathedral, filled with the Holy Spirit and worshipping God in that place. What an awesome sight that must have been when we look around and see many of our young people today living in spiritual darkness, most seeking and searching for the answer which they think they will find in drugs, alcohol, sexual exploits etc. How awesome to see so many young people worshipping God and sending out a beacon of light into the spiritual darkness......
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I was brought up in the Catholic church and I never forget the occasion of my Confirmation when I was about 11. All the girls wore white dresses and veils on our heads and took on another name – our confirmation name – mine was Helen. It was a very special time but then I don’t think I realised the significance of it. I learned a prayer which I have never forgotten: – ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love……….’ A beautiful......
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How many of us have made New Year Resolutions.? And how often have we broken those promises? I reckon a good one to make this year is to stop worrying. You know I’ve heard it said that a mother worries about her children to show that she loves them. But you know I think that is a lie of the enemy. If the devil can clutter up your mind with unnecessary cares, thoughts, worries then it makes less space for the Word of God or the good things we need to focus on.......
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In Psalm 37 David says on 3 occasions ‘Do Not Fret’. In many places in the bible we are told ‘be anxious about nothing’ ‘Do not worry’. Over and over again we are told this in Old and New Testament. I think God is trying to tell us something. If He is telling us not to worry, it’s to put our trust completely in Him. David went through so much turmoil in his life that he had good reason to worry but at the end of the day he put his trust in......
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I believe it is very important that we seek to help your people to respond with faith and not out of fear. I believe the Lord wants to speak to us concerning the present coronavirus pandemic, through the occasion of the storm on the Lake, recorded in Mark 4 v.35 – 41. Like the coronavirus “storm”, the storm on the Sea of Galilee was a serious crisis which came without warning (Matt.8 v.24) and Jesus’ disciples were overwhelmed and nearly swamped by it (Mark 4 v.37), but the Lord was with them (in......
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