Thoughts

Psalm 23

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

During these troubled times, when the COVID-19 pandemic creates anxiety, chaos, and stress, may this version of Psalm 23 remind us that God is still with us – He will lead us through this valley and we are never, ever alone.

Passion Translation:

1 The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd.
I always have more than enough.
2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love.
His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.
3 That’s where he restores and revives my life.
He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure
and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness
so that I can bring honor to his name.
4 Lord, even when your path takes me through
the valley of deepest darkness,
fear will never conquer me, for you already have!
You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way.
Your authority is my strength and my peace.
The comfort of your love takes away my fear.
I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.
5 You become my delicious feast
even when my enemies dare to fight.
You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit;
you give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows.
6 So why would I fear the future?
For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life.
Then afterward, when my life is through,
I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!

What motivates you?

in Thoughts  by Ben 0 comments

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33

I grew up on this verse. It was referenced in the children’s songs at Sabbath School, the Memory Verses at Pathfinders and frequently brought up throughout the week during my school’s Bible classes. I think I even heard my father quote it, which is a (very) rare occurrence.

Now, I mean to take nothing away from this verse, but I always struggled with it. Maybe it was because heaven, the Kingdom of God, was a very abstract thing to me. I couldn’t, and if I’m honest, still can’t really imagine it.

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Prayer and Trust

in Thoughts  by Nyarai 0 comments

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Prayer and trust go hand and hand. If we trust God enough to pray to him, shouldn’t we trust him enough to believe he will answer our prayers the best way he sees fit? Remember that God sees what we cannot. If we truly think about some of the things we have prayed for over the course of our lives we should be grateful God did not say yes to everything we asked.

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7 ways to creatively uplift your prayer life

in Thoughts  by Bronwyn 0 comments

Prayer and devotional life doesn’t have to be on your knees next to your bed at given times in the day. This is definitely an important habit to have but to limit prayer life to these confines could be limiting the depths to which God can reach you and change your life. 

Recently I attended a women’s conference for prayer. We practiced several different and creative methods for meditating on God’s word and speaking to Him. It was illuminating, restful and invigorating to commune with God in these different avenues. I want to share some things I have picked up along my Christian sojourn.

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If You Had $1 Million….

in Thoughts / Uncategorized  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

If you had $1 million, what would you do?

What if you had more?

If you had as much money as you wanted, what would you do with that money?

When Roy and I first moved to Melbourne in 2012, we walked through the streets of Melbourne CBD and looked up at the buildings and dreamed – wouldn’t it be incredible, we said, if one day we could point to all the buildings in the CBD where we knew there was a bible study taking place, a prayer meeting being held, or a person being encouraged through our ministries?

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Look Up

in Thoughts  by Shane 0 comments

I came across a very inspiring testimony by an African-American lady. She shared the story of how her grandfather grew up in America’s south under the Jim Crow laws which enforced racial segregation. He experienced having the KKK regularly harass his family by shooting bullets at their house. In spite of the adversities that took place, he chose not to hold a gripe against the white man and never taught his family to view themselves as victims because of their heritage.

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Cast Your Worries Away

in Thoughts  by Nyarai 0 comments

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ NLT.

We naturally worry.  But worry does not bring about change – especially worries over things we cannot change.

When we worry, we begin to worship our problem. A worry is a care that has not been “cast” to God.

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A Summer of Flames

in Thoughts  by Bronwyn 0 comments

This month has seen a lot of horrors. Bushfires ravaging the land, towns, homes, livelihoods and too many lives. Smoke descending like gloom over cities in a way we have never experienced before. The ripple effects to unaffected parts on the other side of the country causing financial difficulties. The feeling that the fires will never stop. Storms and floods causing destruction but not relieving the devastating drought of the past few years. While this goes on I have had some friends face terrible medical news. Broken health. Hospital admissions.

What a broken world we live in! How we went from the most live-able city in the world to worst air quality in the world. It shows how fleeting things are. It is easy to fool ourselves into thinking that we make our own destiny. But little do we realise how much grace holds up our lives.

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God’s Plans

in Thoughts  by Nyarai 0 comments

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”Philippians 1:6 NLT

When you were in school you would have to take regular tests. These tests let the teacher know where you stood on the material you needed to learn. If you were unable to pass these tests, then more assignments and more tests would have to be given.

God also gives tests. His tests show where we are on the road of our personal development. In his mercy, God does not take us where we are not ready to go.  He prepares us first to ensure we can handle it spiritually, emotionally, physically and the like.

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A Breath of Fresh Air: Let the Spirit In

in Thoughts  by Bronwyn 0 comments

At the moment I have a cold. It’s the third virus I have had this season so I am no stranger to a blocked nose and all that goes along with it. Sleeping is difficult when you can’t breathe. Added to that I am pregnant and my large belly is making breathing difficult. (And unable to take decongestant!)

“Blessed are those who can breathe freely…” are words I would not usually think to say. However when something so vital, so ingrained, so normally ubiquitous and under-recognised suddenly disappears we are rendered helpless.

There is another sort of ‘breath’ that is so vital, ingrained, ubiquitous and under-recognised. The Spirit.

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