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2025 Whatever Comes Your Way 1 7 25 2022 God’s Hands On Earth 12 28 22 |
2021 Wait On The Lord 3 17 21 2020 Don’t Lose Hope 12 14 20 |
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Christmastide - Tuesday, January 7, 2025 |
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Scriptures: Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Jeremiah 29:11 (TLB) – “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18a (ESV) – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;” Message: My grandson came home from Sunday, School singing “I am in the Lord’s army, yes sir!” and I loved it. We all go through challenges of varying degrees and walking with God gives strength and purpose. We need to stand up and let people know the God we serve is always there, loves us unconditionally and is always by our side, even when it doesn’t seem like it. In little ways we can do this – if someone says they are not well, tell them you will pray for them. I have a written prayer list so I don’t forget to pray for someone if I say I will. It is important to surround ourselves with people who will build us up when we are weak and falter. I find belonging to a fellowship/Bible study group helps, in addition to being a member of our church family. Let’s try to be bolder, to shine and give God the glory, so others want to know this mighty God we serve. We say grace at home, so don’t be shy to say it in restaurants too, and also when we have staff or customer lunches and dinners. We all face many challenges in our lives and will continue to, yet through all this we must never forget God is there, waiting for us to turn to him. We must stand strong, and keep on praying and focusing on God. He keeps His promise, He is always faithful. Trust Him, even when days are dark. I am reminded of what I learned many years ago – rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in all ways give Him thanks. Prayer: Lord help us to never forget You are there for us in the difficult times. Help us to shine for You and for others to know You through us. Thank You for loving us with all our flaws. We pray for peace in the world, and that we can each be Your love reaching out to others through us. Please help us to bring glory to Your name. Amen.
Kevin
Chaplin |
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Christmastide - Wednesday, December 28, 2022 |
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Scriptures: Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) – “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) – “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms” Message: We are all so busy in our daily lives, but for many people we are the only Bible they will ever read. We need to ask God every day to use us for His will. We are God’s hands, His mouth, His feet on earth. He cannot wipe away a tear, or put a hand of encouragement on someone’s shoulder, BUT through each of us He can. Let us always be willing to stop for a minute and reassure someone or show them that someone cares. When we ask – “How are you?” and the reply is – “Fine!” – did we really listen to the tone of the “Fine!” Many times if we stop to listen we will pick up in the tone that the person is not really fine. Most times we are too busy to actually listen. So, let us pray every day for God to use us. Let our hands and mouth be an extension of God and let’s make a difference in everything we do. Sometimes just a smile, can make someone feel better. Too many times people say Christians go to church on a Sunday, and in between they are hypocrites. Let each one show that this is not true and let’s shine for God in everything we do. We can make a difference and bring people to know God by simply behaving in a way that other people also want to know the Lord we serve. Let’s unite as the body of Christ and be a powerful force of love, compassion and caring always. Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving us unconditionally. Help us to be an extension of You on earth. Let Your will be done through us. Help us to be Your servant on earth, Your hands, Your mouth and Your feet. We give You all the glory and ask that You help us shine for You. Amen.
Kevin Chaplin |
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Wednesday, March 17, 2021 |
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Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) - "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Message: We have experienced a terrible pandemic, a test to our democracy, many have lost jobs and loved ones along with much pain. Never before in many of our lives has there been such a test to our faith. I am sure there are many who have lost hope and think that God has abandoned us. It is a time such as this that we must be patient and know that God is still in control. He is a loving Father who will never abandon us. Sometimes it is not for us to question, but just to be still and know that He is God; to trust and obey, to wait on the Lord. Let each one of us look to Him to renew our strength. When Jesus was walking on the water to the disciples on the boat and Peter got out to walk to Jesus, as soon as Peter looked away from Jesus he began to sink. So, let's constantly keep our focus on the Lord; to love, to praise and to worship Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Prayer: Lord, help us to patiently wait on You, to focus on You and know that You will renew our strength. We thank You that You love each one of us so much and we can turn to You always. Please continue to guide, protect and bless each one of us. Amen.
Kevin Chaplin |
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Monday, December 14, 2020 |
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Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NIV) – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’” Message: If ever there was a time that we need to turn to the Lord, be quiet and pray, it is now. The world is in a turmoil and wherever we turn we find people who are in despair, or who have lost hope in the future. It reminds me of the song “Father I place into your hands the things I cannot do”. Such powerful words! Our God is a mighty God and we can turn to Him always and in every situation. This verse from the Bible has always helped me and is a reminder that God is in control and never fails us. It doesn’t mean we always get what we ask for, or what we want and that things will go smoothly all the time; but it does mean that we must put our faith in the Lord always. It pains our Lord to see what is going on in the world, how man has destroyed His creation and turned away from Him, but he is there waiting for us to turn to Him. Many times I have thought “That is God’s plan for me” only to find out it wasn’t. Eventually, I realize what, in actual fact, His plan was for me. One door opens and another closes. So, during these challenging and difficult times, let us not lose hope but turn to Him and especially help others not to lose hope. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu says, “God cannot wipe away a tear, or put a hand of encouragement on someone’s shoulder, but through you and me he can.” We are God’s hands and eyes and mouth on earth. Prayer: Father God, forgive us when we don’t focus enough on You, or turn to You in every situation. We place into Your hands the things we cannot do and ask that You hear our prayers, guide us, protect and bless each of us, our families, our businesses, and our nation. Help us to remember that together we can change lives! Amen.
Kevin Chaplin Cape Town, South Africa. |
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