The tests of life reveal how well you take instruction, what you've learned, and what you'll do in any given set of circumstances. What you've been taught is only theory, until it's been tested on real fire. Chuck Swindoll tells the story of a bird named Chippy: 'Chippy the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage singing, the next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. His problem began when his owner decided to clean his cage with a vacuum. She stuck the nozzle in to suck up the seeds and feathers at the bottom of the cage. Then the phone rang. Instinctively she turned to pick it up. She'd barely said 'hello' and then ‘sswwwwPPPPP!’ Chippy got sucked in. The owner gasped, dropped the phone and snapped off the vacuum. She unzipped the bag and there was Chippy alive, but stunned; covered with heavy black dust. She grabbed Chippy and rushed to the bathtub, turned on the faucet full blast and held Chippy u

Scripture References:  John 5:39-44; Nehemiah 4 The Jews considered that eternal life was revealed to them in their Scriptures, and that they had it, because they had the word of God in their hands. Jesus urged them to search those Scriptures with more diligence and attention. “You search the Scriptures,” and you do well to do so. They did indeed search the Scriptures, but it was with a view to their own glory. It is possible for men to be very studious in the letter of the Scriptures, yet to be strangers to its power. You profess to receive and believe the Scripture, let that be the judge. It is spoken to us as advising or commanding all Christians to search the Scriptures. Not only read them, and hear them, but search them; with diligence in examining and studying them. We must search the Scriptures for heaven as our great end; eternal life For in them you think ye have eternal life. We must search the Scriptures for Christ, as the new and living Way, that leads to this end. T

Bible References:  Nehemiah Chapter 1, Book of Acts Nehemiah was a cup bearer to the King.  He was in a position of power.  But Nehemiah was concerned about his fellow Jews who had gone back to Jerusalem.  He found out that the walls had not been rebuilt and this left the inhabitants in a vulnerable position of no security.  They were exposed to be attacked and taken by the local peoples surrounding them. Ezra taught the people about their spiritual state and what God required of them.  Nehemiah was a practical man.  He first went to God so that he could then go to the King. He prayed a fervent prayer to God asking for his help.  He entrusted his concerns to God.  He set us an altar. The book of Nehemiah shows us practically how God cares for his people.  This book focuses on the “how to”, being practical in everyday life.  Nehemiah also teaches us about being humble and not promote our position. God gave Nehemiah as-surety that he was called to rebuilt the wall - he was call

Bible References:   Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Chronicles 26:4-16; James 1:7 In the early Christian Church there were some noticeable practices: ·          Prayed for the Emperor ·          Prayed for the people around them ·          Sacrificed and helped the less fortunate – widows, orphans, poor, destitute ·          They witnessed to the world around them by their life and service to God. Today: ·          Christians are generally known for opposing abortion ·          Christians should be known more as those who love and care for orphans and seeing orphans adopted into loving families ·          Christians are to be imitators of God who has adopted us into his family ·          Take care of people and love them as God loves them ·          Christians need to be careful to live properly among unbelieving neighbouts ·          Christians should and could care for those in prisons and coming out of prisons by being there with them on release (having s

John 17:20-25 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  -o0o- Bible references:  John 17:20-25; Acts 4:34-5:11; 1 John 1:10; Psalm 63; Luke 14:27; Luke 14;33; Luke 9:23; John 8:31-32; James 1:22; Psalm 143:5; 1 Cori