Womens’s Page

April 13, 2012 at 1:29 pm (Womens page)

Jackie Williams

FRIDAY THE 13TH?

Do you suffer from Paraskevidekatriaphobia?

You might if you knew what it was – or even if you were able to pronounce it!!!

Here goes —it is a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th!!!

Friday the 13th! “Superstitious nonsense” – I can hear you splutter – That’s as maybe but some people are actually filled with dread when this day jumps out at them from the calendar, to the extent that they refuse to get out of bed for the very real, albeit irrational, fear of something AWFUL happening! So the best way for them to manage the dreaded day is to avoid it!

1 John 4 v 17/18makes the following statements of Truth:

  “Fear is crippling”

  “There is no room in love for fear”

  “Well formed love banishes fear”

  “God is love”

When we place our lives in the Hands of God we are not governed by the superstition of our world but by the Truth of The Word of God and therefore are able to live Life in all its Fullness – free from fear and filled with love.

So “This is the day (Friday the 13th) that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!”

Enjoy the Gift of Today that God has given!

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Focus

April 13, 2012 at 1:25 pm (Focus)

Rev. E. Anderson

Change Is Coming

“Restore our fortunes, 0 LORD. . . . Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” – Psalm126:4-5

Life is a series of crests and troughs. It has ebbs and flows, ups and downs. Seasons change. And as followers of Christ, we have to be adept at change. Our walk with Him is initiated by the most significant change in our lives. In fact, we exchange our lives completely for the new one that He gives us.

If we walk with Him long, we will see this at work over and over again. Life will not always work out as we planned. A project will turn south. A business will fail. Our health will decline. Life seemingly deteriorates right before our eyes.

But we follow a God Who is in the business of restoration. He’s like a builder who looks at an old run-down house and sees the potential, not the need to con­demn. God sees beyond our circumstances to the day of His deliverance. He sees our restoration and brings it to pass.

Many of us will face, have faced, or are facing dark days—days of tears that seemingly will never end. But they do and they will. Our Deliverer is faithful. Just as the seasons hearken change in the world around us, the Holy Spirit hearkens change in the hearts of men. Just beyond the cold, dormant winter lie the new life of spring and the long warm days of summer when God will, as He promises, restore our fortunes.

Are you in down time in your life right now? How are you responding? Are you blaming God and complaining about your difficulties? Or are you trusting that He knows exactly why you’re going through the valley, even if you don’t? It’s easy to focus on circumstances and lose sight of the big picture. Don’t do it. Remember, if you sow in tears, you’ll reap with songs of joy.

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Message by the late David Wilkerson

April 13, 2012 at 1:22 pm (David Wilkerson)

 

Rev. David Wilkerson

THE COMFORTER HAS COME

Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “the Comforter.” It is one thing to know the Holy Spirit as our comforter, but we must also know how he comforts us, so we can distinguish what comfort is of flesh and what is from the Spirit.

Consider the brother who is overcome with loneliness. He prays for the comfort of the Holy Spirit and expects that comfort to come as a feeling. In fact, he imagines it as a kind of sudden breath from heaven, like a spiritual sedative to his soul.

This feeling of peace may actually come to him but the next morning it is gone. As a result, he starts to believe the Holy Spirit has refused his request. No, never! The Holy Spirit doesn’t comfort us by manipulating our feelings. His way of comforting is vastly different and is outlined clearly in Scripture. No matter what the problem, trial or need, his ministry of comfort is accomplished by bringing truth: “When he [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

The fact is, our comfort springs from what we know, not what we feel. Only truth overrules feelings! And the comforting ministry of the Holy Spirit begins with this foundational truth: God is not mad at you. He loves you.

“Hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5). The Greek meaning here is even stronger than the translation suggests, saying that the love of God is caused to “gush forth” into our hearts by the Holy Spirit”.

An unbearable burden may be caused by fear, shame, sorrow, afflictions, temptations, or discouragement. Yet, no matter what the cause, comfort is needed.

Suddenly a voice is heard, echoing through every corridor of the soul—the voice of the Holy Spirit—declaring to the soul, “Nothing can separate you from the love of God.”

This truth—once you believe it—quickly becomes a gusher of living water, sweeping away every stumbling block. “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26, my italics).

 

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ChristianTestimony

April 13, 2012 at 1:18 pm (Christian Testimony)

Lilieth Wade and Family

FAITH HELPED WOMAN AFTER HUSBAND DIED

WIDOW TELLS OF BOXING DAY TRAGEDY IN BOOK

A WOMAN whose husband suddenly died on Boxing Day two years ago has written a book about how her Christian faith helped her overcome grief.

Lilieth Wade’s life was shat­tered when her 45-year-old husband, John, died of a heart attack, leaving her to raise their son John Neal, 14; on her own.

But where many would have crumbled following such a tragedy, Lilieth’s strong Chris­tian beliefs has brought her through.

She now runs Bedfordshire Bereavement Support to help others who have lost loved ones. She has also put her experience into print with the launch of her book Until Death Do Us Part.

She told New Life: “I couldn’t have made it through the past few months without my faith. Whatever God does, he knows what he is doing.

‘It still doesn’t lessen the pain, but just knowing that there’s someone there who is looking over you and is there with you always – that helps a whole lot.

“I questioned God when John first died. I told him, ‘We were good together, we were happy together; how could you take him away from me?’

“But I still believe that God is sovereign. He is in control no matter what. I’ve always be­lieved in the Christian message – that all things work together for good to those who love God. I know that we are called ac­cording to his purpose.”

PAIN

John, a gospel singer, was preparing for a quiet Christ­mas with the family when he complained of pain.

“John sat down with the re­mote and said he was going to watch TV,” Lilieth recalled.

“Then he touched his head and started groaning. At first my son thought he was mess­ing around but then we rang an ambulance.

We came back and started to pray for him and cuddled each other. By the time the ambu­lance came we thought he’d be fine, but he stopped breathing so they started resuscitating him.

They rushed him to the hospital, but when I got there they showed me to the relative’s room before telling me that he’d died.”

• Lilieth’s book is available from www.liliethwade.co.uk

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