Category: <span>thoughts by Terry Stead</span>


This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,“ The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” Matthew 3:3


The wonderful time of Advent is upon us. A time when we eagerly anticipate and await the birth of Jesus.  Unfortunately, it is also a time of busyness when we rush around madly trying to find just the right present for a family member or friend.   We get impatient when we have to stand in queues to pay for our purchases and often become terse with shop assistants.  Smiles don’t seem to be as prevalent and there doesn’t seem to be enough time to stop and talk.  Each year the list for presents seems to grow as our children marry and grandchildren come along and so we worry about how much money we are spending and what will happen when we have to pay the credit card bill.  And so the meaning behind “waiting” fades into the background.

We should be waiting with expectation; watching with eagerness and a focus on just what this birth will bring – a fulfilling of God’s promise in Jesus Christ.  We should be reading God’s word and exploring what this tiny baby means to us, now and will mean to us in the future.  We need to be preparing the way for Jesus in our hearts.  His birth brings with it salvation and forgiveness of sins to all who confess their wrongdoings.  He brings eternal life and a place in God’s Kingdom for each one of us when we finally leave this earth.

So — rejoice as you anticipate, prepare and await this glorious birth.

Prayer:
Loving and Gracious God, we come before you this day full of excitement and anticipation awaiting the birth of your dear Son.  It is so hard to imagine that we mean so much that You would give us this most precious gift.  Help us at this time to slow down and dwell on the meaning of this wonderful event so that we can truly give thanks and worship You with our whole hearts.  Help us, also, to separate the secular meaning of Christmas (Xmas) from the real meaning and so make it CHRISTmas in our hearts as we wait.  Amen

by Terry Stead
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Further Reading

• Advent – by Gail Rodgers

Advent – JOY by Gail Rodgers

What is the Advent Season About? by Gail Rodgers


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thoughts by Terry Stead Thoughts by Women


I love God’s sense of humor. 

The number of times it is a beautiful day outside and out I go for a walk, but within 10 minutes of leaving home it is pouring with rain and I don’t have an umbrella.  Other times I am sitting under a tree and a gumnut drops right on my head.  It could have dropped anywhere around me, but no, it lands square on my head.  Whenever these sorts of things happen to me I always smile to myself and imagine God is laughing along with me.

To laugh is so good for us. 

It changes our mood and allows us to see the world through new eyes.  We also need to laugh at ourselves as we tend to take ourselves too seriously at times.  We should allow the laughter to bubble up from our depths and so infect others with this incredible ‘medicine’.  I always thank God that we have been given this gift of laughter.

I also think the Creator must have laughed a lot when I came into being as I have done, and will do, so many silly things throughout my life.   Now I am not advocating that we go around making fun of every situation and laughing at inappropriate times. There are so many times when we are overwhelmed with what each day offers or perhaps the sadness in the world weighs heavily on our shoulders and we find ourselves bereft of even a smile.  It is at those times that we need the strength, the compassion and the incredible unconditional love that only the Lord can give us to help us through, but there are also times if we can smile or laugh the situation will be so much clearer to see.

I have always loved this verse from Genesis after Sarah had born a son, Isaac.

Genesis 21:5-6  (NIV)
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of laughter.  Show us times when we can make someone else smile and so make them feel special, just as you make us feel special.  Help us to laugh at ourselves and that in so doing we may infect others with this release of stress and pain.  Thank you, also, for your infinite patience with us.  Amen

By Terry Stead
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Further Reading

• Be a Donkey for Jesus –  by Mike Woodard

What’s In Your Heart? –  by Helen Leschied

No Pecking Order with Jesus – by Max Lucado

thoughts by Terry Stead Thoughts by Women


Fear is something that we all experience at some time in our lives. Our bodies cope by sending a surge of adrenaline rushing through us as a “flight or fight” mechanism and we feel ‘wired’.  There are so many things of which we are fearful; it may be losing our job, being in a violent relationship, or perhaps the realization of the imminent loss of a loved one.  The fear of what is happening in the world with regards to global warming is frightening to many people.  We are experiencing so many changes in our weather leading to extremes of temperature, devastating cyclones and floods.

When we are gripped by fear we are robbing ourselves of the potential to be all that God intends us to be.   I am not trivializing these fears, but I do want to emphasis one of God’s many promises to us.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7

Some translations read “self-control” instead of “a sound mind” and I relate more to those words.  I know that when I am fearful I cannot think straight, I panic and totally lose my direction. I no longer focus and forget that God has given me the power, love and self-control to overcome any stifling fear.  We need to commit these words of Timothy to our memory so that when we are faced with situations beyond our control, we can rise above our fears and know that we have been given the power and the love to overcome.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be strong and to turn to you when I am fearful.  When I am afraid help me to remember your promise of power, love and a clear mind so that I may always be what you wish me to be, an instrument of Your peace and Your love.   Amen.

By Terry Stead
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Further Reading

•  Fear God and You Need Fear Nothing Else – by Helen Lescheid

• No Fear – by Ashlea Massie

Fear or Love –  by Katherine Kehler


thoughts by Terry Stead Thoughts by Women


How often does our preoccupation with living make us forget that we are always in the presence of God?

We try and cram more and more into each of our days and often become so stressed and anxious that we don’t have enough time to fit everything in.  Sometimes it is the things that we put off doing until another day that tire us the most.  Yet it is in our everyday living that we should place God first as we continue with our work and our play.  How often do we become so caught up in the ‘everyday’ that we find we do not have enough time for God?

Our moods so often depend on how much time we have.  If we work all day and come home tired and stressed because we didn’t have time to finish all that was on our desk, or there was not enough time to finish the ironing or the gardening, or do the shopping; all these things affect the way we react to those around us.  We are often not happy in whatever we are doing.

I believe that happiness is not something for which we can search.  It is like a butterfly that is so elusive when we try to catch it, and yet when we don’t try, one may come to rest on our shoulder.  We can come to know true happiness only by living the life that the Lord would have us lead – by serving and showing unconditional love to others.  It is taking the time to slow down and listen to the still, small voice that gives us the patience and the courage to take each moment and know that we are surrounded by God’s grace.

Jesus tells us that

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  John 10:10

Is our life full in the way that this passage reveals?

I think of time as the thief, and so if we make time for God, the rest of our lives will come into perspective.

Prayer:
Lord, slow us down so that we may hear your Holy Spirit speak to us and discover our heart’s true longings and therefore recover our energy and our purpose for living.  Amen.

by Terry Stead
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Further Reading

•   God Is…

•  More than a Father

•  Salvation Explained


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thoughts by Terry Stead Thoughts by Women

“Love your neighbor as yourself”  Matthew 22:39

There is a beautiful young singer/songwriter, Georgia Germein, who lives in my home state of South Australia and she has helped with development projects in Ethiopia and the Kalahari and one of the songs that she wrote when she returned from one of her journeys was “They Matter”:

They Matter

…No matter who, they matter
No matter when, they matter
No matter where, they matter
They matter, they do

No matter how, they matter
No matter why, they matter
No matter what, they matter
They matter, they do.

When I first hear these words they had a profound effect on me.   I have always tried to be compassionate, loving and giving just as Christ has taught us, but when I see images on television of starving children in other parts of the world and read newspapers which detail civilians caught in the crossfire of war etc., I sometimes feel detached from the horror and block out these images.

Two simple words “they matter” and how much difference these words would make to so many people in a world where often there is little hope?  How much more did we matter to God that He gave his only beloved son to die on the cross just for us?  Our lives are forever changed because of this incredible act of His.  It is up to us to show everyone that they matter and in doing so we change people’s lives by showing them God’s love and making sure that they know how much more they matter to the One who loves, gives us strength and sustains us through all our trials and persecution.

When you next see an image or read a newspaper report on the plight of people around you and in other parts of the world remember “They Matter”.

By Terry Stead
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Further Reading

•  They Say I’m Nothing, but I’m Something by Londeka Zondi

•  There is Nothing Beyond Your Reach – by Mark Doyle

•   When I say… “I am a Christian” – by Carol Wimmer


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thoughts by Terry Stead Thoughts by Women


I  don’t know about you, but the things that stress me out the most are often the little things.

Things that, if you put them in the context of things you need to worry about, would be at the bottom of the list.  Small problems like burning the toast, the hot water service breaking down or the mess of leaves on the front path.  It is often the case that these little things build up in importance and we seem to be forever worrying about something.

Other times it is work that causes the most stress and we carry that worry through to our families and friends, thus causing tension.  In some cases our families are often the cause of stress and all our time seems to be taken up worrying about their lives and our eyes are taken off God and focused on others’ problems.

In our minds we know that worrying is not going to help matters, but we do it anyway. I read a story on the internet the other day where a lady was talking to her therapist and said to him, “worrying works for me as ninety-nine per cent of the things I worry about never happen”.  Another internet story on worrying is about a man who went to the dentist and left his car in a no parking zone just so he could worry about not getting a ticket, which took his mind off worrying about the dental visit.

Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew give us assurance and hope whenever we are faced with situations where we feel the need to worry.

Matthew 6:25-27
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Wonderful and understanding God, we turn to you in times of crisis and ask for strength and calm, but often not for the everyday problems that we worry about.  Help us to trust in you and in your promises and take these words of Jesus to heart.  Praise and thank you for your continued grace and your unconditional love. Amen.

By Terry Stead
Used by Permission


Do you want to stop worrying and start trusting Jesus?  You can start a relationship with our loving and trusting God through a simple prayer that expresses your trust and belief in him.  If you believe these words, then say this sample prayer and HE WILL come into your life.

Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.  Be the healer of my soul.”

This is just the beginning.  We encourage you to read the links below and get connected with a good church.  Also, consider an online mentor which we can connect you to.


If you prayed this prayer we would love to hear from you . If you would like to know God deeper we can connect you with an email mentor and/or send you some great links.


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“..but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

A New Year has once again begun, which usually means we want to start afresh and hopefully do things differently this year.

We have been rushing around both before and after Christmas, enjoying the company of family and friends and stressing out about all sorts of things which have nothing to do with Christ’s birth.  As children we counted down the days until that wonderful morning when we would awaken to presents and to the fun and laughter of all that day brings. As adults we count down the days, madly baking and buying last minute presents and cards to send to our many family and friends. After the celebrations have finished we cleaned up and wondered why we went to all that trouble as we are left tired and flat.

The above passage from Isaiah points out to us that if we have faith and hope in the Lord then we are able to draw on the strength and peace that only God can give as we start this New Year.  I used to think that this passage was just for saints and those who spent all their time working for the Lord, but over the years I have come to realize that it applies to all of us, no matter the reason for our tiredness and listlessness.  It could be that we have become weary from the days of endless stress at work or at home and all we feel like doing is crawling into our own shells and shutting the rest of the world out. Illness or family tensions leave us exhausted.  It could be through a feeling of loneliness or perhaps the opposite “ too many people crowding in and making demands on us, that we simply want to stand up and say “enough is enough”.  That is when God wraps us in His loving arms and lifts up our heads so we can face another day.

Prayer:
Loving One, we awake to this new year, knowing that You will be beside us and alive in us each moment of every day.  As this year unfolds give us the strength and the peace that we need to keep going so that we may live a life of joy as You so wish us to have. Thank you, Lord, that every moment is a new beginning, not just the start of a new year and help us to soar on wings of eagles when we become weary. Amen.

By Terry Stead
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Further Reading

•  New Year Thoughts

•  Devotional: A New Heart

•  Salvation Explained


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thoughts by Terry Stead Thoughts by Women


We often hear the expression “willing heart” when people are talking about following Jesus.

I wonder what a “willing heart” actually means. 

If you look up the word in a Thesaurus you will find that it will bring up lots of words to describe ‘willing’ – eager, keen, enthusiastic, ready, prepared, agreeable, game, helpful, cooperative, happy and many more.  When ‘willing’ is placed with ‘heart’ and applied to our journey with Christ it appears to describe in detail what God is looking for in each of us at various times in our lives.  Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could apply these words to our faith?  I would like to pose a few questions that we need to ask ourselves so that we can state that we have a “willing heart”.

Some of these words we may have often experienced as new Christians but they tend to be put on the back burner as the years pass.  They are:  ‘eager’, ‘keen’, ‘enthusiastic’ and also ‘game’.

Are we still eager to share our faith story with others?  Are we keen to read the bible every day and are we enthusiastic in our praise and in the ministries that we have been given?  And if we are then would we dare to be game and take on whatever God is showing us to do?

Next is the word ‘prepared’.   Luke states in Chapter 12:34-36 (NIV)

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

Are we prepared each day to do our Lord’s bidding?  Are we eager to answer His call at a moment’s notice?

Finally, we come to the words that should encompass all that we do when looking after God’s flock.  ‘Helpful’, ‘cooperative’, and ‘happy’.  These are gentle words and I loved it when ‘happy’ appeared and so I made it the final word because that is what we become when we help others and cooperate with those who make a difference in this world in God’s name.

Do we help those who unable to help themselves and do we work alongside others to bring about justice in God’s name?

Prayer:
Loving and Compassionate God, we can only be truly happy when we have a willing heart.  Help us to open up our hearts so that we may let your light shine through to all that we meet. May we always be willing to listen and obey your call.  We ask this knowing that you wish us to have life in abundance.  Amen.

By Terry Stead
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Further Reading

•  Stepping Into a Personal Revival

•  Keeping Yourself in God’s Love – even during painful times in your life

•  Salvation Explained


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thoughts by Terry Stead Thoughts by Women

Joy

Life is so full of joy, dear God, in the laughter of children, the smiles of strangers and the beautiful colors of flowers.  Joy can be found anywhere and yet so often we can only see the darkness of despair.  Sometimes the frowns on our faces seem to be there all day and we don’t want to look around and see the joy that surrounds us.

The Bible talks a lot about joy, particularly when we are following the way of life that Jesus wants us to follow.  We need to transfer the joy that Paul talks about for instance and carry it into our everyday workplaces and homes.  Here is what he says:

Philippians 1:24-26
But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Do we hang in there when things get tough?  Do our bad moods or our despair transfer onto others that we meet each day?  Our promise to ourselves each morning should be that we will take joy with us and so our joy will overflow and touch all we meet.  Now I do not mean to go around with a silly grin pasted to our faces, but just have that inner joy that Paul and others speak of and believe me it will embrace all those around.

Read these passages that mention joy and take on the joy they are speaking about and I’m sure your life, and the lives of those around you, will change.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Prayer: Loving Jesus, when we follow your way and love others we become animated and alive and our joy radiates from us.  We are filled with a wonderful joy and expectation which brings hope, and yet often we spend so much time living a way that is comfortable and safe that we lose our animation.  We do not want to be flat and one dimensional.  Please help us to realize our full potential so that our hearts can dance with joy. Amen.

by Terry Stead
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Are we living a spirit-filled life every day?”


Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
(1 Corinthians. 6:19-20)

How many of us take these words into our hearts and live by them? I know I certainly don’t.  Oh, I try, but I fall far short of honoring my body.  These verses tell us that our bodies are temples filled with the Holy Spirit.  If we look at just the physical and mental side of our bodies – how often do we over-indulge in our eating, stress over the smallest of problems, worry about things that we cannot change, or when we do look after our bodies do we sometimes exercise to excess?  We need to treat each part of our body as a sacred dwelling place that has been bought at a price.

But it is not only the physical and mental side of our bodies we should examine.  We need to take a hard look at ourselves and answer truthfully: “Are we living a spirit-filled life every day?”  I don’t think very many of us can answer that with a resounding “yes”.  If our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, then to me, it means being very much a part of this world, of our everyday living, sharing God’s unconditional love and showing people how the Grace of God can work in, and change, people’s lives.  So many people today live in a hopeless world, are we able to offer them hope?  Can we say to them from our spirit filled bodies that God really makes a difference?

Prayer:
Help us, Dear One, to see our bodies as you see them.  A temple filled with the Holy Spirit and made in your image.  Show us how to rest when our bodies become weary, how to replenish them with healthy food, and also how to exercise so that our bodies reflect your love and your glory.  Also remind us that it is not our outward appearances which are so important, but what lies within.  Amen

By Terry Stead
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•  Bible Studies

•   Forgiveness – Yourself and  Others

•  Salvation Explained


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How often do we beat ourselves up about some past sin or hurt that we have done in our lives?


“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 2:1-2

How often do we beat ourselves up about some past sin or hurt that we have done in our lives?  Often they even reach as far back as our childhood.  It seems that we like to pick at these sore spots in our souls just like we pick at any damaged part of our skin that we have hurt, or put our tongue in a cavity in our teeth just to get the sensation.

Why do we do this?  John tells us very clearly that Jesus has atoned for all our sins on the cross.  We need to be truly sorry for what we have done and want to repent.  Then we can hand over all our burdens to the Lord and in doing so, they become His burden, not ours, and so our lives and our souls are lighter.  The Lord will never hold a grudge against us and no matter how much we sin or hurt others we can still receive healing for ourselves just as long as we genuinely want forgiveness.  There is no sin too great that will not be forgiven.  All we need to do is offer these burdens and sins to the One who washes away all hurts.  Once we have repented and given up our burdens to the Lord there is no need for us to dwell over and over on our failures.  We have already been forgiven.  Thanks be to God!

Almighty God, thank You that You sent Your dear Son to die on the Cross to plead our case.  We come before You at this time mindful of the sins that burden us, some recent, some from long ago.  We ask that You take these burdens from us and show us how to live the life that You so want us to live, free from guilt and shame.  Thank You and Praise You for our forgiveness. Amen.

By Terry Stead
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•   How to Experience God’s Love and Forgiveness (3 parts)

•   Did You Know that You are Someone Special?

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The “listening heart” – I love the sound of these two words whether they are spoken or read.  They conjure up a quiet time, a space where you can listen to and hear what God is saying to you.  Times like these can be in the middle of storms with the thunder crashing around you or in the silence of a sunrise.  These are the times that are so very special and mean that we have taken the time to just “be” and simply nestle ourselves in the arms of God.

The listening heart, though, means so much more than that.  It requires that we need to listen to anguished hearts of others which are not heard just as we hear God’s voice in the thunder and also the sunrise.  We need to listen to the beating of another’s heart and also the silent cries of those who suffer, often in silence, and who mask their desperation from all around them.

No matter what we are doing or where we are we need to attune our “listening heart” to be aware for the need of God’s love, through us, to be shown to others.

Prayer:

Dear One, as we come to you, listening for your still, small voice, we ask that you help us also to listen for the silent voices of others so that we may bring your love and comfort to them.  May your Holy Spirit fill us with compassion so that we may develop a “listening heart”. Amen

By Terry Stead
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Further Reading

•  Prayer Series by Barbara Epp

•  In the Stillness

•  Salvation Explained

thoughts by Terry Stead Thoughts by Women


My husband and I have just been through the stressful period of moving  after 40 years in the one house.  If anyone had asked me 3 months ago if I placed store on material possessions I would have said emphatically “no”!  I have always thought that I could live anywhere and with very little.  In fact, I used to laugh and say “I could live in a tent”.  That being so, I would gloss over the passage in Matthew which talked about giving up your possessions and following Christ.

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.Matthew 19:21

All that changed when we had to give away (by nearly a half) our furniture, craft materials, work tools, recipe books etc. etc. before we moved into a much smaller home.  My tears fell as I saw more and more of my treasures going to other homes.

In light of our move and my reaction to giving away things that I loved, I returned again to this passage in Matthew and it took on a whole new meaning for me.  I believe that it is not important how many or how valuable our possessions are, but how much value we place on them.  It is not wrong to have beautiful things around us, but we must not put them before or above God.  We must not value them to the detriment of our service, our love or our devotion to God.

Prayer:

Loving Lord, help me to see my possessions as merely that – possessions – not items that I value over my love for You.  Let me use the things around me to help others so that they may come to know You and love You.  Praise and thank You that You nudge us every now and again and open our eyes to what you wish us to see when we become complacent and rely on earthly things.  Amen.

By Terry Stead
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Further Reading

•   Divine Appointments
•  Come Alongside – what it looks like to come alongside of people while Jesus draws them closer.
•  Salvation Explained

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Lord, you are to be blessed and praised;
All good things come from you:
You are in our words and in our thoughts,
And in all that we do.   Amen
St Teresa of Avila

How often do we think like St Teresa?  Knowing absolutely that everything we are saying and doing comes from God?  I know, speaking for myself  that it is not easy to praise and feel blessed when things are not going well, especially when I find myself faced with the problems and trials of everyday living.  It is very easy to count blessings and see God in everything when things are going well and going the way we wish them to, but it is so hard to feel blessed and want to praise when they aren’t.

One of the things that I have learned to do when things seem the darkest is to look around me and see the many blessings that are right there beside me.  The blessing of sunshine, the rain falling on parched land, the excited voices of small children playing, the many colors of the flowers or trees that are so close to me,  or even the food that will sustain me throughout the days that are to come.  If I am lucky enough to be near the ocean all I have to do is look far out to the horizon and realize that God is to be blessed and praised and that just as He is in midst of the tides He is also in me.  There are so many blessings around us and all we have to do is recognize them.

Blessed One, sometimes it is hard for me to see the blessings that are all around me.  Enable my eyes to be opened to the beauty and the joys that surround me.  Help me to see the blessings in every situation and respond with thanks and praise, just as St Teresa did.  Amen

Receive the blessings and guidance that God is offering you and give thanks.  Even if you don’t feel like praising, or you feel God’s presence and his blessings are far away, simply sit and feel His presence which is one of the most beautiful blessings.  He will understand.

by Terry Stead
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•  How to be fill with the Holy Spirit
•  Stepping Into a Personal Revival
•  Salvation Explained

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thoughts by Terry Stead Thoughts by Women


LOVE, what a beautiful word it is.

We use the word love in all kinds of contexts such as “I love chocolate”, “I love watching football”, “I love going to the beach”.  The love we have for our husbands, wives and families as well as our friends is another use of the word.  For many, exquisite antiques or the incredible architecture of a building brings lavish words of love.  All these things bring the word love to our lips.  But, do we ever stop and consider the true meaning of love – the unconditional love that God has for each one of us.  It is spoken about so often in the bible and yet, I think, so often we simply glance at these words and never stop to think about the true implications.

We know so well the incredible words in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13:4-8 which are often used in the celebration of marriage, but do we heed them at other times in our lives?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

When someone wrongs us do we turn to Proverbs 10:12?  These words speak for themselves.  With so many terrible acts of violence in the world today, this is the word of love that we should be speaking.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

There are so many passages speaking of love in the bible and these are just 2, but there is one more I would like to emphasize particularly as we approach the glorious resurrection morning and that is in the First Letter of John, Chapter 4:18-19:

WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.

Prayer: Loving and Compassionate Christ, help us to understand the true meaning of the word Love and so follow your teaching and your example throughout our lives.  Enable us to put your words into action every day, no matter what situation in which we find ourselves. Give us the courage to speak your words of love to all people.  Amen

By Terry Stead
Used by Permission

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FURTHER READING

•  I Corinthians 13 ~ What is Love?
•  Our Love Has Stood The Test Of Time

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thoughts by Terry Stead Thoughts by Women