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  Today let us consider the story of Ruth and her loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi. Scripture tells us that Naomi, her husband Elimelek and their two sons left their home and went to live in Moab as a result of a famine in Bethlehem. Then we are told that Elimelek died and the sons married two Moabite women called Ruth and Orpah. When ten years had passed the two sons died leaving all three women widowed. When Naomi heard that the famine was over, and that the Lord had provided food in Bethlehem, she decided to return home. Both of her daughter in-laws decided to go with Naomi but while they were travelling to Bethlehem she tried to persuade them to return to Moab and find new husbands for themselves. Orpah eventually agreed to return to Moab but Ruth refused to. 'Look,' said Naomi, 'your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.' But Ruth replied, 'Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will g
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  Godly Wisdom: Scripture tells us that God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. (1 Kings 4:29) While James writes: Are there any among you who are really wise and understanding? Then you should show your wisdom by living right. You should do what is good with humility. A wise person does not boast. If you are selfish and have bitter jealousy in your hearts, you have no reason to boast. Your boasting is a lie that hides the truth. That kind of 'wisdom' does not come from God. That 'wisdom' comes from the world. It is not spiritual. It is from the devil. Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest. People
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  One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me." He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.
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The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.                                                   Galatians 5 v 22-25 (NLT) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Prayer to Produce the Fruit of the Holy Spirit Heavenly Father, how we pray that our lives would show forth the beautiful fruit of the Spirit, which is rooted and grounded in godly love, and produced in a life that is walking in spirit and truth. I pray that the life of Christ may guard my spirit and rule my life and that I may truly be submitted to the leading and guidance of Your Holy Spirit. Teach me I pray, to walk in spirit and truth, to live as unto the Lord, t
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'To hate is an easy lazy thing. But to love takes strength, everyone has, but not all are willing to practice'   - Rupi Kaur, The Sun and Her Flowers Lord, though I feel weary myself, help me to have the strength to be kind to everyone I speak to today. May the words I speak bring healing to those who are hurting and encourage those who are discouraged.                                                                                                         Amen
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  Many held high hopes that 2021 would be a better year than 2020 and while we continue to hope that it will turn out that way, due to the emergence of this new and faster spreading strain of coronavirus, we find ourselves just a few days into the new year in very similar conditions to where we were in March of last year. It is hard to avoid feeling disappointed after all that has happened and sadly for some to have the strength to bounce back from that. It is not a time for belittling or playing down how people may feel with well-meaning slogans and strap lines but rather a time for supporting one another the best we can within the guidelines that are in place. It is also a time to continue to seek help from the Lord as we pray with and for one another. The prophet Habakkuk wrote these words:                I have heard all about you, Lord.                      I am filled with awe by your amazing works.               In this time of our deep need,                    help us a

Compassion

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The lyrics of the song ‘You’ve got the love’ by Florence and the Machine go as follows: Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air, I know I can count on you. Sometimes I feel like saying ‘Lord I just don't care,’ but you've got the love I need to see me through. Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough, and things go wrong no matter what I do. Now and then it seems that life is just too much, but you've got the love I need to see me through. When food is gone you are my daily meal, when friends are gone I know my saviour's love is real You know it's real…. The Psalmist writes that 'The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.' This compassion and unfailing love of the Lord that is spoken of by the Psalmist can also be found within each of the four Gospel accounts of Jesus feeding the 5000. Mark wrote that on one occasion Jesus and his disciples got into a boat to go to find a quiet place, wh