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Guest Postby Herman GroenewaldAs I have read some of the scripture portions below, I could not help thinking of the great need in peoples lives right now, especially amongst the needy. At my age of life one tends to spend sparingly to provide for the years we hope that lies ahead for us as aged citizens.But we see the need in others and when we pray we ask for God’s provision, ask and give thanks for our daily food. It makes one aware of our cupboards with sufficient food for our own need. I wonder how much excess there may be in them right now.And then I read the story of the Cheerful Giver in 2 Cor 9:6-10. 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;    his righteousness endures forever.”10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!The needs of the saints I think in this case refers to the church, God’s instrument in the World. It also highlights for us the prayers of the needy for us and the church. Reading the account of the calling of the disciples in Luke and the catch of fish by casting their nets into the deep, it brings a message to us. It first highlights that Jesus had first been teaching the people in Luke 5:3-4.Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” When Christ had done preaching, He told Peter to apply to the business of his calling. Time spent on week days in public exercises of religion need be but little hindrance in time, and may be great furtherance to us in attitude of mind, as to our worldly business. With what cheerfulness may we go…

by Luke KincaidWhile thinking about what to write today I really sensed God leading me to not cover any specific topic and instead ask, “What is God saying to you right now in this moment?” If you were led to this blog today all I ask of you is to take the next five minutes (or more) and listen to what God is saying to you. Spend some time in prayer listening to God asking for Him to speak to you. If you then feel led to dig into His Word ask God to lead you to a portion of Scripture then get stuck in and spend some time with our incredible Father and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in this time. Much love,Luke

by Calven CelliersI once read a chilling illustration about a man in France who was bitten by a rabid dog. This was years before a treatment had been discovered for rabies. When it was determined the dog was indeed rabid, a kind doctor told the man he had only a short time to live. Upon hearing this distressing news, the unfortunate man asked the doctor for some paper and a pencil and then commenced writing furiously. After a few minutes, the doctor interrupted. “If you are writing out your will, you have time. Think carefully about your estate; you still have a few days.” The patient replied sharply, “I’m not making out my will. I am making a list of all the people I’m going to bite before I die!”Bitterness. Some people are controlled by it. They have been treated badly and in return they wish bad things would happen to their offenders. Some brood for years, tormented by memories of the wounds they received. I once chatted to a man who had been offended by something someone said to him and openly bragged how he waited 30 years to get even. That’s a true story! Sometimes people get so angry that they make sure something bad does happen, and take revenge. But the Bible says that this is the very worst possible “solution” to resolve the hurt in our lives. Forgiveness is something all of us want to receive but most of us hesitate to give. Jesus makes it clear, however, that we can't have it without giving it.“14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6: 14 & 15NIV)These words allow no wiggle room for doubt or discussion. Forgiveness flows two ways. We cannot separate receiving forgiveness from extending forgiveness.One day the apostle Peter came up to Jesus and asked him a question:“21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”” (Matthew 18:21NIV)We’ve all asked this question at one time or another. “How many times do I have to forgive this person? I’m getting tired of it.” To be honest, forgiving someone seven times is commendable. Most of us get frustrated if we have to forgive someone twice. By human standards, what Peter said was admirable and perhaps even extravagant. It seems to me that Peter wanted Jesus to help him set some forgiveness limits. Peter wanted to know when it’s ok to say, “That’s it. You’ve messed up one too many times!” When you think about it, we all have some barriers that keep us from giving the gift of forgiveness to others. We have a threshold that we don’t want to cross, a limit we won’t go beyond. I can think of at least three barriers of an unforgiving heart: Revenge ­ “I’m going to get…

by Graham MolThis morning on the Bible App on my phone the "verse of the day" was Proverbs 4:23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. (CSB)Here is another version of the same verse:Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (NIV)These are wise words and there is a lot I could go into about this statement. But what I want to focus on is the Heart itself. When the Bible speaks about the heart its not talking about the vital organ that pumps blood around our body, and yet what it is speaking about is just as vital. The heart in Hebrew refers to one's emotions, intellect, discernment (values) and will. We often make the distinction in English too, we are heart-sore when we are saddened, we do things wholeheartedly when we put in all our effort. We speak of knowing in our heart, the right thing to do. When we receive God's word, whether it is through reading the Bible, listening to a sermon or singing it in a worship song, we need to make sure that we do not just acknowledge that word with our mind, to intellectually accept it, but that we take that word into our hearts and allow it to transform us. This is why, in my opinion, the best sermons are those that not only speak to our minds but to our hearts, messages that don't just make us think but make us feel.The psalms give us a good example of how we should engage with God's word:30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,    and their tongues speak what is just.31 The law of their God is in their hearts;    their feet do not slip.  (Psalm 37:30-31)8 "I desire to do Your will, my God; Your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)10 I seek you with all my heart;    do not let me stray from your commands.11 I have hidden your word in my heartthat I might not sin against you.(Psalm 119:10-11)I want to encourage you as you read the Bible, as you worship, as you listen to sermons, don't just acknowledge God's word but receive it into your heart. Apply that word to your life, respond to it, meditate on it, allow it to shape your actions and your values. As Proverbs 4:23 states, the heart is the source of life, everything we do flows from it, make sure that the Word of God, Jesus Himself, is at the centre of it.God BlessGraham