July- September 2020
Issue 004
Aurora Magazine The Danger of Gossip in Christian Relationships By Max Aplin
What’s your story with James George
Life By
Secondary Story - Page 5 Another Story - Page 8
Peter Inns
And Yet Another Story Title – Page 13
Prove there is God! Exclusive series by Becky Bradley
Magazine Main Story A Conversation with Irene itle Schandorf
Hand Sanitizers F Subtitle or content blurb
By Ol a w a l e O g u n s o l a
. A Ch ri sti an Lif est yl e M agazin e
w w w . a u r or am a g az i n e .n e t
Our Team Editor In Chief Adwoba Addo-Boateng
Art and design Lindagrace Publishing
Writers Adwoba Addo-Boateng Ann McDaniels Becky Bradley Jennifer Van Allen Ken Barnes Max Aplin Oluwale Ogunsola Peter Inns Sonja Mattison
Interviews Irene Schandorf James George Kofi San
Copyright Aurora Magazine for Abiding Faith Christian Ministries. A not for profit Christian media organization.
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Contents
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Aurora Magazine
Editor’s Note: Thank you for your continued reading
Miriam’s Sorrows
and your tremendous support to this magazine. For those interested in writing for us,
Life
please contact us at submissions@auroramagazine.net.
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For all enquiries, please contact us at
Christ is life. We must
info@auroramagazine.net.
see Christ as life.
Please check our website at www.auroramagazine.net for more
information. Sincerely, Adwoba Addo-Boateng Editor in Chief
30 A story of how love surpasses all things.
God is still on the throne No matter the circumstances, God is still
Love Conquers All
Tel: +233 202538050 Love your neighbour as yourself.
Interview: Irene Schandorf Prove there is God Hand Sanitizer What’s your story: James George The danger of gossips …… Carrying your cross A Name Cult or Church Hiding behind the wall
exalted.
6 12 19 21 24
29 35 37 39
“The thief comes only to steal, and kill,
First, I saw that what the Lord Jesus
and destroy; I came that they might
meant by “life” in John 10:10 was not
have life and might have it
the same as my definition. I imagined
abundantly.” John 10:10
that “abundant life” meant a better lifestyle, more peace, joy and love that
About 25 years ago, I was asking the
Christ could give me. I also discovered
Lord Jesus why the church seemed to
I was not alone in my lack of
be so weak and prone to deception. I
understanding.
received a totally unexpected answer “They know me as the Way and they know me as the Truth. They do not know me as the Life.”
“They do not know me as life.”
I imagined that “abundant life” meant a better lifestyle but that wasn’t so. As if to underscore this revelation, I heard a message on John 14:6, a most famous verse indeed. The (Baptist) preacher spent 25 minutes on Jesus
Life Peter Inns
the Way, 5 minutes on Jesus the Truth and a few seconds on Jesus the Life. So what did the Lord Jesus mean? Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
I had to confess that I was not sure that I knew Lord Jesus as my life. I knew what the Bible had to say, but that is not the same as knowing in the heart and having the experience of this tremendous truth. I began to seek the Lord to see what this meant.
Unlike English, there are three words in Greek that are translated “life”. We might say to ourselves that we are alive, we breathe, we eat, we choose, we love, we care, we get angry – surely this is proof that we live now? Yes and
no. The life the Lord Jesus speaks of is “Zoe” in Greek. This is contrasted with “Psyche”, which refers to the realm of the soul. .
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Christ is Life “All we have is our own feeble efforts” Peter Inns
“Zoe” is life that we can only receive
from God once we are born again. It is the Life that the Lord Jesus has in
church is increasingly much like the
Nee, Hudson Taylor, George Muller
world. It is adopting worldly attitudes
and Andrew Murray stand out as
to marriage, sex, homosexuality, the
servants of God. What about us? We
Bible and science.
may never be famous. That’s not important. What does matter is our
There is a lot more that could be said,
usefulness to the Master in His service
but hopefully the reader will get the
as He brings about the Kingdom of
picture.
God.
I am convinced that the Lord Jesus is
If all we have is our own feeble efforts
returning for a spotless Bride, the
to build our denomination, charity,
church that is living and working in
orphanage, school or other good
unity, humility, love and power. It is
works, we have nothing. It may even
inevitable, because the Lord Jesus is
Himself and that He gives to those who
building His church and the gates of
are born again (John 5:21).
hell will fall before her.
What does this mean for Christians? It is one of the most important truths
However, it is not automatic. God has
that we can receive. If we come to
chosen to work in and through man.
know the Lord Jesus as our Life, it will
History shows us that God is prepared
transform us. All our striving will
to wait for the right man at the right
cease. All our efforts to improve
time, culminating in the Lord Jesus.
ourselves will come to an end. We will
We know about Enoch, Noah,
no longer need to prove ourselves to
Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David, Gideon
others. We will no longer be enslaved to rules and regulations that do nothing to make us more spiritual. Some might wonder what the fuss is about. People are being saved, going to church, being blessed and so on. Yet there are also problems that seem to be entrenched. These include: Division. There is something like 30,000 or more denominations. False doctrines. Wrong teachings abound and God’s people seem easy prey to deceivers
Church structures. The church is the Body of Christ. The idea of a pastor heading up an assembly while most
Only what is of Christ will endure God’s examination.
and other true men of God. In recent years men like Ivor Marshall (unknown to all but a few), Watchman
other members keep the seats warm is not Biblical. Dead works. Faith without works is indeed dead. But works without faith is just as bad. It’s not what we do for
impress other people, but it will not
God that counts. It’s what He wants us
impress God. Only what is of Christ
to do that matters. Everything not
will endure God’s examination. It
done according to God’s will and by
would be a terrible shame if we live
His power is to be burned (1
our lives according to our own plans
Corinthians 3:12)
and miss out on God’s best. We have one life to live. Let’s be sure that we
Moral decay. Too much of the Western
God is prepared to wait for the right
fulfil our purpose. Let’s be sure that it
man at the right time.
is according to the Life of Christ who lives in everyone who is born again.
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Can you briefly share the story of who
of tongues which was beneficial to the
you are and how you came to personal
student’s union as we undertook
faith in Christ?
village evangelism during long vacations. I prayed and joined group
I grew up in a Christian home. My dad
bible studies, yet, aside doing my quiet
is a retired priest and so from infancy
time using the devotional book in the
my Christian life was all about going to
mornings, I hardly took time to study
church and playing key roles in the
the Word of God by myself.
church choir. As I grew up, I had the “in and out” relationship with God. There were times I would be so much into Him and other times I would be totally off.
As I grew up, I had the “in and out” relationship with God. Praying men and women team at Bada It was not until a couple of years after I had gotten married that I felt myself been drawn back to the Lord. I had left my church and joined my husband’s church. It was a smaller church thus, everyone had to play a role including
Interview Irene Schandorf
preaching the word of God to the congregation. When the idea came that worship time with Bada Women in ,
Ghana.
we should start a young women ministry in the church, I was happy to join and during our first meeting I met
At that time, I was just existing under
a young lady (Zubi) with so much zeal
God’s grace and most of the things God
for the word of God who had agreed to
used me for, was purely the Holy Spirit
lead us in bible studies. As I watched
coming upon me to bless others. I
her moderate our bible discussion, I
operated under the anointing to
desired in my heart to be like her.
minister songs, discernment between
After that day, I took more interest in
spirits, prophecies and interpretations
reading my bible and gradually over
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Sharing the word ofGod Bada Village, Ghana
worked on my heart and taught me to
was Loving Gods Way. Naturally I am a
love His way and not my way. Today
person who likes to share, thus when
looking back, I have experienced his
God started directing people to me
word in Romans 8:28 “all thing work
with similar issues, I saw an
together for those who love God and
opportunity to share what He had
have been called according to his
taught me. So over the years, I was
purpose�. For me it has been a journey
willing to share with close friends and
walking towards faith. I cannot not
colleagues and had no idea what God had in store for us.
I therefore took the challenge to
go. I had tasted God to a level and thus
pinpoint exactly when it started and
always share the word in our monthly
even though I was hurting and felt like
certainly it has not ended.
young women ministry meeting. Along
giving up, I could not do it. It was a
the line, God brought an old friend
real test of my faith. All that I had
back to my life ( Bernadine) and she
studied over the years was being put
helped revive my prayer life as we met
to test. How could I give up on my
An interesting one. When I started
others (marriage, family, colleagues,
in her office every Friday after work to
marriage when I had been encouraging
reaching out to others, I did not see it
friends), is what pushed me to what I
pray with other friends of hers
others to obey God? I had to trust than
that I was in ministry. In my mind I
will now agree to as Ministry.
(Francis, Prosper & Wisdom). By the
God will work it all out, even though in
had identified the keys which helped
time the enemy struck my marriage, I
the midst of it all, I did not know
me to overcome a serious challenge
was at a point which was difficult to let
whether I will survive. At the end He
that almost broke my marriage. This
So in a nutshell, I will say the burden What prompted you into ministry?
God put on my heart to help others succeed in their relationships with
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“Ifwe do nothaveto travelphysicallyto meet andwe can stillmeet onlineandpray, why not?”
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bible discussion group? ●
people were not showing up as usual and there were genuine reasons e.g. caring for kids, pressures from jobs etc. So in Jan 2019, when a colleague at
What is your view on this scripture? John 15:19 “If you belonged to the world,
work invited me to talk to another group of women on the topic of marriage
it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have
after I shared with her to encourage her, I took up the challenge. It was there
chosen you out of the world, that is why the world hates you”. ●
During the year 2018, it became very challenging to have consistent physical meeting on Thursday evenings. We were losing fire and I was weary because
Irene Schandorf ●
Your ministry is very different, why this concept of creating a virtual prayer/
that I discovered the application zoom cloud meeting. I saw this as a way to
These words of Jesus Christ encourages those who belong to Him that they will
revive Praying Women and reach out to more people. If we do not have to
be enemies of the world. This is because we cannot belong to Him and still be
travel physically to meet and can still meet on-line and pray why not. And as
friends with the world. It will be like having double standards which is not
people joined and they were blessed, they invited more friends and family to
acceptable to the Lord. Anyone who wants to follow Him must first deny
join. Although we meet face to face every quarter and also during our outreach
themselves (old patterns of life before becoming born again) pick up their
programs, most of our prayer and bible study time is online. Reflecting now, I
cross and follow Him. Salvation is by grace and once you confess and believe
believe God had a hand in all this, because if we were stuck at physical
you are saved. However there is a conscious effort that must be made by each
meetings it would have been difficult to sustain the fellowship in the COVID 19
Christian to be totally transformed by the Holy Spirit into the image of Christ
era. Now whether you are abroad or in Ghana, you can tune in at any time to
Jesus. This means, you must submit your will to God’s will. This is when people
fellowship with us. We may be locked down at the moment, however we are
of the world begin to see changes in you and then, they start mocking you.
still able to carry out the Vision God gave us which is raising “Mighty Ones of
Your desires for evil habits and behaviours will be broken and suddenly, you
Valour”. This vision is found on the scripture:
do not enjoy hanging out with people you used to walk with. Or you decide to stop evil deals and become an enemy to your friends/colleagues or even your
own family. Christ is therefore telling us to expect that, when you belong to Him, you should not be surprised when you face animosity and are pressured to choose Him over your old way of life. It is a difficult time in every Christian’s life. However, if you stay focused on His word, you will prevail over the world
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Psalm 24:3-5 New King James Version (NKJV)
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Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?
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He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an
idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and
for He has made the provision to you succeed through His grace. ●
Titus 2:11-14 New International Version (NIV)
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For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope— the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
righteousness from the God of his salvation. ●
By revealing this Vision, the Lord is seeking that the fellowship will build up strong men and women whose desires are to please God in all their
endeavours. People of strength, courage, good character, full of love and ready to serve the Lord. They will stand in the gap and pray for their families, friends, nations and churches and cause heaven to move in their favour because they have learnt to be obedient to God’s word and therefore have favour with the Lord. They will die to the flesh and live for Christ daily, because their love for God is what drives them. They trust the Lord in the good and bad times, understand that He is the lifter of their heads, believe that God makes all things beautiful in its time and is working everything out for their good because they love Him.
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A non-denominationalChristiangroup of Men and Womenwilling to know God and submit their will of Him. ●
These men and women will have access to the throne room of grace and will do great exploits for the Lord. In effect they will stand in the Holy Place of God and their intercession will be answered by He who has called them.
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Can you share your beginnings with us? How did it all start?
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It all started in 2016 with a close friend called Bernardine. We were meeting and praying on family issues in my home. Along the years the Lord added more
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help nurture new members that come on board. We are not there yet but
gradually we will. ●
9th February 2017, Stephanie, one of us created a WhatsApp platform to
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Thankfully when I got the wisdom to delegate to other members, that burden
name Praying Women with 15 members. Aside the weekly meetings we added
was lifted. Also at that time I was still seeing all this as creating an
on in 2017, all-night programs every 1st Friday of the month.
environment where people could pray, worship and grow and thus, it had not
sung in that it was a Ministry.
In these meetings we had wonderful encounters with the Lord and it was a joy to meet on Thursday evenings. There were times we did not want to go and
will close after 12am as the presence of the Holy Spirit was so strong. The group struggled over the years with consistency of members attending meetings, but the Lord kept us going. One thing for sure was that, the Lord was working on us to reach out to others, but we had no idea how and when. In Feb 2019, we started having on-line meetings using Zoom cloud meeting
application. This opened the door to have frequent prayer times as well as more opportunities for people to join and benefit from fellowshipping with the Lord via our platform. Getting to the end of 2019, God brought men on board and we gladly opened our arms to them. Thus in Jan 2020 we changed our name to Praying Men and Women. ●
What are some of the challenges you face as a group?
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One of the challenges we face is the difficulty in reaching out to all members on
Weary, yes, but not quitting. In 2018 when everything was revolving around me, I asked myself where I was going, and whether this was really God’s will.
facilitate easy communication amongst us, and that is when we decided on the
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Despite the challenges, were there thoughts of you quitting at one time? What made you hold on and be where you are today?
close friends both married and unmarried women and we met together to pray, shared the word and encouraged each other every Thursday evening. On
building up the leaders of the prayer trains so that they will grow stronger and
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Again, when we started, there were times you will get only 5 people for the allnight sessions and that was disheartening, and you wondered whether you should continue. But along the line the numbers improved. There were days
when it was only Bernadine and I online praying. But we pressed on, praying and trusting in the Lord that we were doing the right thing. What made us hold on was the fact that God always had a way of sending us a word that He was with us and so we could not just give up. We had to hold on to that word, till it came to pass. He has been faithful on this journey and remains faithful. A good example is when we had to raise funds for our last village outreach. Two weeks to time I had no idea how we were going to fund the bus and all the other purchases which we intended to send to the village as gifts. But by a week to time we had raised more than enough money to make that journey to spread the Gospel and touch lives.
the platform to ensure that everyone is engaged and is growing in the faith. As
the numbers grew, it became difficult for me to know all of them and have a personal relationship with everyone. So what we have done is concentrate on
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God always answers prayers but sometimes it is not in the way or the timing we expect.
Keep praying and rest in his promises.
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Do you have any projects you are undertaking?
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reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
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Currently we do village Evangelism, donations to orphanage and raising funds
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It is easy to live in this wicked world when you are completely sold out to
to support people’s medical bills. When we go to the village and we identify a
Christ, and you know that you are building your treasures in heaven and
need we raise funds to do it. For example last year we constructed a borehole
therefore each day you offer your body, emotions, feelings and thoughts as a
of the village we went to that has no drinking water. The main project God has
living sacrifice to Jesus. At that point you are dead to self, and thus not moved
put on our hearts to do, is to reach out to street children. This is yet to start.
by what people, say or don’t say, do or don’t do, but moved only by the Word of
Our plan was 2020, and we are trusting God to kick start that as soon as we go
God who is Christ Jesus Himself. You will love others because you know loving
out of this COVID 19 situation.
them is your act of worship to Christ who loved you first and laid down His life for you. You will choose to do the right thing even when no one is watching
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How do you blend ministry with family and work?
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That is a tough one. But I thank God for a husband that is supportive. However
because you live for Christ.
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in the last couple of months, I have made a conscious effort to be available for
What advice do you have for people who pray and do not receive the answers they desire to achieve?
family. In the beginning I used to lead most of the prayer trains. I started by developing a roster and assigning others to lead which allowed me to have free
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God always answers but sometimes it is not in the way or the timing we expect
time for family. So today we have 39 prayer train leaders who run 26 prayer
hence our conclusion that he has not answered. God is our father and He
trains in a week. Each train has two people who back up each other. This gives
knows what his duty is for every child that is His. There are so many reasons
me time to manage the other activities of the group.
why we may not get answers to our prayers in the form, or timing we wanted. But when a child of God knows deep within that you are walking in His word,
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Is living in Christ difficult in today’s world?
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If one sees everything from the world’s point of view it will be difficult.
then you would understand that your father in heaven knows what is best for you. Keep praying and rest in His promises. He is not a man that will lie and He
is faithful to the end. Many times, a “No” or a delay is what you need to grow in
However, when you understand that you have been bought with a price and
your faith. James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
you no longer live for yourself it is easy. ●
2 Corinthians 5:14-18 New International Version (NIV)
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For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
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Vision: Raising Mighty Ones of Valor (Psalm 24:3-5)
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Activities: Prayer/Intersessions, Bible Study, Worship Marathons, Village Evangelism and sharing the love of God through giving to the needy.
we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ
in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation
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Contact: +233244533514/+233202721607
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Facebook: Praying men and women fellowship
has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who
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Borehole Project Adande Village, Ghana
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Francis Kofi Demanya is a Christian songwriter and singer.
His songs are heart gripping and life changing
New Music Facebook: KOFI SAN Twitter: @kofisan28 Instagram: Kofisan
Linked In: Kofi San
Tel: +233 208830296/0249769030
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In the last issue of Aurora, I posed the
In school, when I worked with clay, I
question, “How do we, as Christians,
learned it was important to keep it
prove there is a God?” I proposed that
moist in order to prevent uneven rates
we use ancient biblical knowledge and
of drying which would result in
corresponding scientific discoveries.
cracking and shrinkage. So, here is a
The creation story in Genesis is full of
thought. Was there, also, a purpose in
such knowledge in the form of hidden
our planet’s surface being covered in
gems patiently waiting for science to
water?
prove it right. The very first paragraph alone in chapter 1 exposes secrets that could only be humanly proven with science and technology as mankind advanced, but which revealed God is
real and true to the faithful long before science even knew which questions to
“God is real and true to the faithful long before science even knew which questions to ask”
ask. To begin with, when I compared my
Torah, the Jewish account of the first 5 books of the Old Testament, I noticed a slight variant in some of the words from those written in the Bible. For example; Genesis1:1-5 says, “When
God began to create heaven and earth—the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water—God said,
“God said, let there be light.”
“Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw the light was good and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day. The image I have when reading the Torah version is of a master potter taking shapeless matter and forming it into the perfect size and shape to carry out his plans.
After all, scientists have been adamant all along about the power of water to form canyons, carve out natural monuments, etc. Was water used to help form the features of this planet on
a massive scale as a sculptor forms his masterpiece? 2 Samuel 22:16 says, “The valleys of the sea were exposed, and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord”.
Prove there is God Becky Bradley
Where were you, when I laid the foundations of the earth?
created by volcanic activity. Don’t
he does not tell us the source of the
forget, even oceans have erupting
light on the first day. He does,
volcanoes. It is how some of our
however, tell us the sun and the moon
islands were formed.
were created on the 4th day—one day after vegetation appeared on earth—
The 3rd gem in the first paragraph of
so that would seem to exclude them as
the Bible is found in the formation of
candidates for a light source. Some say
day and night. And God said, “Let
the light on the first day was the glory
there be light” and there was light.
of God, but the continuation of
God saw the light was good and God
darkness in a rotating pattern with
Ocean valleys, which of course would
separated the light from the darkness.
light makes me wonder if that was
mean underwater mountains or
God called the light Day and the
really the case. If you look at Job 38
canyons, would have been a strange
darkness he called Night. And there
concept to ancient science. In the 16th
was evening and there was morning, a
century explorers dropped lines over
first day. Have you ever wondered
the side of their ship to mark the
why God started out with the evening?
depths of the ocean beneath them. As
Psalms 104:5 says, “he established the
you can imagine the method was quite
earth on its foundations so it would
limiting. But it wasn’t until sonar was
not totter forever and ever”. Job
invented to track enemy submarines
26:10 says, “He drew a circular
during World Wars 1 and 2 that
horizon on the face of the waters, at
Becky Bradley
scientists began to grasp a better understanding of the diverse terrain in the deeper parts of our oceans. Up
Have you ever wondered why God started with the evening?
until then it was generally thought that
Genesis goes on to say there was
the ocean floor was flat.
“darkness over the surface of the deep
But to get back to Genesis’ account of a watery world, scientists have long resisted the idea of a world-wide flood. However, as recently as this year an article was published stating that scientists have found evidence in various oxygen levels left by seawater in the earth’s crust, leading them to
believe our world was once a water world without continents. Once again, the bible got it right in the very first sentence; it just took a while for science to catch up.
Scientists have now believed that the world was once a water world without continents
the boundary of light and darkness”. Could Genesis, Psalms and Job be
describing Earth rotating on its axis? Unlike God’s explanation of darkness
and a wind from God sweeping over the water”. It does not say where the darkness came from. For that, we have
to turn to a second book of gems, the book of Job. In chapter 38:4-9, it says, “Where were you when I laid the
He drew a circular horizon on the
foundation of the earth. . . when I made
face of the waters
a cloud its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band?” Some
verse 7’s wonderful verse declaring
scientists believe early earth was
(when God created Earth) “the
wrapped in a thick cloud full of gas
morning stars sang together and the
molecules consisting of carbon
angels shouted for joy”, it clearly says
dioxide, hydrogen, sulfur and water vapor which, according to them, was
Did God create the world?
the stars and angels were created before Earth.
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What if the “light” was the sun, but not completelyexposed to its present glory?
it, I have a quick elementary school
The Hebrew word for water is
question for you. What is Earth’s
“mayim”. But the Hebrew word for
largest river? The Amazon, right?
sky in verse 8 is “sha-mayim”
Wrong. The Nile? Well, that’s the
(shamayim)—meaning sky-water(s).
longest, but it doesn’t have the water
The “im” at the end of a Hebrew word
capacity of the Amazon River. So,
indicates plural.
that’s wrong, too. Here’s a hint.
Becky Bradley
Notice, I did not say, “What is the
Recently, I was watching a fascinating
largest river on Earth”; I asked, “What
documentary called, ‘River in the Sky’.
is Earth’s largest river?” For that we
The river in the sky they are talking
(In case some of you missed it in
have to go above our heads. The
about is actually above the Amazon
‘Prove There is a God, Part 1’, NASA
Earth’s largest river is in the sky
rainforest
has some amazing recordings of
flowing above the Amazon rain forest.
celestial “songs” or “hums”, including
No kidding!
Earth’s, that you might want to check out). When God began to create the
Believe it or not, Moses wrote about it,
heavens and the earth, as the Torah
or the likes of it, 4000 years ago. In
words it, he would have included stars.
Genesis 1:6-8 God said, “Let there be
So, it would not be a contradictory
an expanse in the midst of the water,
statement if the sun and moon
that it may separate water from
appeared later than the physical light
water.” God made the expanse, and it
on day 1.
The first sunrise.
That said, there may be a possible explanation that I am not sure anyone has thought about, yet. Scientists have discovered that newborn stars are not nearly as bright as they are with age. They believe our sun was only at 70% capacity when it was born. They also know that 30% of sunlight bounces off our clouds and ice and reflects into space. What if the “light” was the sun, but not completely exposed to its present glory? If it was at only 70%
when the earth was being formed and 30% of its rays were detoured back into space because of a layer of clouds,
the expanse from the water which was
Imagine God settling back after
called the expanse Sky. And there was
creating a wonderfully complexed
evening and there was morning, a
universe and earth to enjoy the first
second day.
sunrise as he watched the darkness give way to the morning light and the
clouds thin and lift as the earth turned on its axis. Lest you think I am humanizing God too much, remember,
River in the sky
we were made in his image. There is something quite wonderful in watching the beautiful colors of
That’s because its source is the 400
sunrise breaking through the darkest
billion Amazonian trees releasing 20
night.
billion tons of water into the
. The 2nd paragraph in Genesis,
try to penetrate the garment of cloud
chapter 1, holds another jewel. To find
38:4-9 talks about.
separated the water which was below
above the expanse. And it was so. God
that would leave only 40% of light to
and swaddling band of darkness Job
God said, “let there be an expanse in the midst of water, that it may separate water from water”.
atmosphere every day. The water Let there be expanse in the middle of
water
molecules wrap themselves around particles of dust, pollen, pollution, etc. and form what the narrator of the show called “seed” droplets.
15
He is a God,
through. So, imagine Adam’s world,
Next issue in Aurora Magazine; part 3
lush, full of green life-giving trees,
of ‘Prove There is a God’.
saturating the atmosphere in water, so
much so that instead of a river above his head, there quite possibly could
who has opened himself to the scrutiny of science
have been an ocean. As we understand the actual
As each “seed” is joined by literally
they can form over the oceans as well
description God voluntarily shared
countless others, they create a vast
as land, which would include Genesis’
with us of the creation story in the first
river of clouds. As a result, the nearby
account of the separation of sky-water
chapters of Genesis, it should give us
air pressure drops, creating a wind
from sea-water before any land or
more of an insight to his mind and
that steers the sky-river above the
vegetation appeared.
heart. He is a God, who has opened himself to the scrutiny of science. He
Amazon from the Atlantic all the way Modern day sky-rivers, as I like to call
has allowed us in on some of the
them, have been recorded up to 5000
mysteries and secrets of the universe;
And that is not the only sky-river.
miles long, 300 miles wide and 1 mile
as a father eagerly and lovingly shares
There are many others that the
deep, though most seem to be much
his life and accomplishments with his
scientists call “atmospheric rivers” and
thinner and allow sunlight to seep
children.
to the Andes.
16
A g
i
17
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Hand Sanitizers By Olawale Ogunsola "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitful," Psalm 24:3-4. King James Version. "Cleanliness is next to
godliness" is a common wise quote to which many people easily make reference. The above verse mentioned two important parts of man's body, "clean hands" and "pure heart". This is in reference to approach a holy God or going to His abode. This also include reaping Godly benefits. In this period of coronavirus troubles, hand washing, or applications of a hand sanitizer has become a household exercise observed worldwide. This is in line with the instruction of the World Health Organisation (W. H. O). It is believed that it will prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID) 19. This disease has made it mandatory for everyone to wash hands so that people will have clean hands. That is good. On the other hand, so far so good, no one cares about heart washing which is equally important. The Scriptures say, "As he thinketh in his heart, so he is." Pro.23:7. If hand washing is a way to prevent diseases, heart washing cannot be over - flogged. The heart of man must be clean
because "out of it comes the issues of life."(Pro4:23).Do you know that your actions are a direct content of your heart? So it is please. Your deeds cannot be better than what occupies your heart. Jesus Christ made it abundantly clear thus, "Do not ye yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth unto the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come
forth from the heart: and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, theft, false witness, blasphemis." Matthew 15:17-19 KJV Can you see from those words that your state of heart influences your thoughts,
words and actions? As at the time of reading this, how is the state of your heart? Does the content of your heat make you worthy to approach your Maker without being rebuked by Him? ? Is your heart pure? Are you sure there are no evil thoughts proceeding out of it? Are you sure there are no evil thoughts proceeding out of it? Are your words pure? Are your deeds pure?
19
There is the need to apply your heart sanitisers as at when due by personally reading, meditating, and storing the word of the Lord in your heart.
It is easy and natural for man to do wrong . Why? By nature, the thoughts of a man's heart is only evil always. Gen 6:5. How then can you sanitise your defiled or evil heart? Simple. One, be convinced that your heart is dirty, and you want to have
a pure heart. Be determined to do this. Be also convinced that you cannot do this by your own effort. Know that you need the right personality to help you out. Two, confess your state of heart to your Maker and ask for forgiveness of all evil that are occupying it. Tell the Lord Jesus Christ to plead your course before God, the Father for remission of your sins. Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come and abide in your heart for the rest of your life. Three, ask the Lord to be your Lord and Saviour for the rest of your life. Let Him be your instructor whom you will obey forever. Follow Him intimately by obtaining a copy of the Holy Bible and join an assembly of fellow Believers to share the word of God and act according to its contents. APPLY YOUR HEART SANITIZERS There is the need to apply your heart sanitisers as at when due by personally reading, meditating, and storing the word of the Lord in your heart. Psalm 119:11"
says, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. "Let His words replace all other thoughts. As you hide them in your hearts, think deeply on it regularly and do according to all that His words say. In the same way, you can apply the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse all negative and evil thoughts occupying your hearts. Invite the Holy Spirit who is the third of the Trinity, and the only
Comforter that Jesus Christ sent to replace Him when He departed this world to be with His Father in Heaven. Regularly invite the Holy Spirit to formugate your heart with Christ blood and no negative thought will be retained in your heart. Stay blessed and prepared for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Author is the set man of CTFM(WORLD OUTREACH)and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church. He is a Poet and author of many books. Visit his blogsites www.4thlink.wordpress.com and www.peacelink.wordpress.com for more quality contents.
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
20
My name is Pastor James Osayande
So I kept following others to church
George. I am from Benin City, Edo
hoping one day I’d find Him. Having
State, Nigeria. The story of my
been in the children choir and being
salvation journey is a quite interesting
devoted to church only made me
one built upon the foundation of
committed and church conscious but
personal encounter with Jesus Christ
not God conscious. I was morally
by the Holy Spirit.
sound by spiritually I was not yet there. I had answered to so many altar
I was born into a family of five, just me
calls that I lost count.
and my four sisters. I had an awesome childhood for the first six years of my life with my siblings and my dad (it was a broken home and I didn’t even
Although we attended an orthodox church, we didn’t know Jesus Christ personally.
know my mother in person nor live with her) until my father died and our
James George
world seemingly collapsed. It went from great to rough and although we attended an Orthodox Church, we
didn’t know Jesus Christ personally. My dad had taught us to pray the regular prayer rituals and attend church meetings, but we had no personal submission to the faith and
so lived the way we liked. Life was rough and so we all became. Father was dead and mum hardly stopped by, and so we kids looked out
We had no personal submission to the
for ourselves and we tried everything
faith and so lived the way we liked.
we could to stay safe and protected. Well, at the age of thirteen while still in junior secondary school, I had my first real encounter with God. Before this, I had this inner hole I yearned to have filled up and so I tried everything I could to fill it but nothing. I had a fear for doing wrong especially before the public and so I stayed away from such, but it still secret obsessions or lies or the hole in my heart.
What’s your story?
I had tasted paper cigarette to real ones, and a dry gin before age 10. By age 12, I already knew what it meant to be drunk, to approach a woman and had also polluted my mind with all
forms of sexual and immoral materials. But that encounter with God that faithful day struck a change in me. I had started thinking a lot about my life
a period of five years. Those five years
asked me to move to the southern part
deepened my root in Christ as I learnt
of Nigeria for the work He has called
to trust God for everything I needed,
me to do more specifically. Now I focus
from supplies to grace and wisdom in
on my teaching ministry through my
ministering to the people. Also, I began
writings and online ministry: The
to sharpen my writing and teaching
Fireplace Bible Study Campaign (a
abilities while I served and worked in
daily Bible study accountability and
a secondary school as principal-admin,
discussion group on WhatsApp that
school fellowship coordinator and
focuses on helping people commit to
class teacher. It wasn’t easy but I was
doing personal Bible study, taking
and had decided to just take my faith
happy and fulfilled. One prayer I
notes and discussing their insights
walk serious, at least try to live what I
prayed was that as I was offering the
with others as they cover specific
heard week in week out.
sacrifice of myself, my family would be
books of the Bible together),
“Serving in the harsh conditions of the Muslim North of Nigeria, taught me endurance, faith and clarity in service of the Kingdom of God and his pursuit of his desire for me personally”.
James George
saved too, and in a few years, God
So I spent more time meditating and
answered me. My mom found Christ
praying. Then, one morning, I was in
and came home, and my siblings all
the room alone with my Bible and just
grew up in the faith and settled as
praying and studying when I sensed
leaders in their local churches.
that “Someone” had stepped into the room. I couldn’t see anyone, but the
Serving in the harsh conditions of the
room grew cold and all the air on my
Muslim north of Nigeria taught me
body stood erect, yet there was no breeze moving the curtain nor was I
Preaching the word of God
afraid. Deep within me I sensed a powerful calm like I’ve never sensed before. Right there and then I heard voices of scriptures I had never read before and wrote them down. When j put them together, they were like sentences being out together to communicate with me. That experienced marked the beginning of my Christian journey till now. This soon became my sanctuary daily.
When I get back from school, I’d eat and freshen up and the next thing I’m off to the room and it’d look like the Lord was there waiting for me. It was from these encounters I learnt to hear
I learnt to trust God for everything I needed.
endurance, faith and clarity in service of the Kingdom of God and the pursuit
of His desire for me personally. I have God and it was from here I saw what
since worked with youth and ministry
God would have me do the rest of my
leaders through diverse local
life: preach the gospel and through
programs and sessions until God
teaching, bring people bound by sin and doctrines into a personal
experiential relationship with Jesus Christ. James George with members of his
A few years later, while in the
church
university, I was called by God into the mission. I left school almost
This Chariot Blog (my dedicated blog
immediately to the Muslim north of
and general online publications via
Nigeria where I served in a local Bible
audio, videos on YouTube and
based Pentecostal church (the church I
WhatsApp devotional broadcasts).
was groomed as a young Christian years before) as the resident Pastor for
James George and his church
members touring the zoo.
These are some of the arms of God’s Mighty Men Network, a non
22
Sharing the word -denominational network dedicated
It is still a developing work seeing I
(E-book). The title is Your Journey
It should be available on Amazon by
to teaching Jesus Christ as the light of
just recently began moving in the
with God. It’s a book that gathers 10
June 2020.
the world and engaging in online or
direction. But God has been faithful,
years of my experiences with God and
offline activities that will bind men to
sending partners and helpers and
men in my journey through life and
It’s been an amazing journey so far
God resulting in their healing,
also guiding me per course of action. I
also what I have learnt are some of
and I do believe in what lies ahead if
restoration and deliverance in
am also on the verge of releasing my
the most important elements to be
the Lord tarries.
salvation.
first book in electronic format
pursued and lived with in life.
23
The Danger of Gossip inChristian Relationships.
Even if there is no doubt that a bad
know. Or maybe a person might have
report about someone is true, great
hurt us by something they have said,
harm can still be caused by those who
and we feel that it would be helpful to
hear about it and fuel the gossip
tell someone.
engine by passing on what they hear. If
By Max Aplin
Christians learn that a person has
But unless there is a good a reason for
acted badly, far too often they just tell
passing on the negative information,
others without considering whether
then we shouldn’t.
Everyone will surely have witnessed
and his demonic followers are the
the problems that gossip can cause.
masters of deception, and at times we
Relationships can be damaged,
have all doubtless fallen into the trap
Times when we need to speak
sometimes badly, by unkind words
of believing that someone has acted
negatively
Even if we have a close relationship to
spoken about people behind their
badly, only to find out later that they
backs. And sadly, there is plenty of this
were innocent all along. Some of us
It is true that there are times when we
pass on gossip to them. Just because
that goes on among Christians too.
will also probably be able to think of
do need to speak negatively about
someone is meeting a close friend
times when we mistakenly passed on
people when they are not present. For
doesn’t mean it is acceptable to tell
false information about people.
example, there are occasions when a
them the bad report about a person
Christian acts badly in some way, and
that they have heard. Or just because
others in their church really do need to
someone is married doesn’t make it
Rumors that are untrue Worst of all is when the rumors that are spread are not even true. Satan
Fueling the gossip engine
that is the right thing to do.
Close relationships are no excuse
someone, that doesn’t make it right to
24
Love covers a multitude of sins. ●
right for them to pass on gossip to their husband or wife.
●
A little rule
●
In my own life, so as to try to avoid saying anything inappropriate about
Love is a beautiful thing.
●
I have been a Christian for over 30 years. I have a Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Edinburgh. I am a UK national and I currently live in the south of Scotland. Check out my blog, The Orthotometist, at maxaplin.blogspot.com
●
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
anyone, I have set myself a little rule. This is never to say anything negative about someone who is not present unless I can think of at least one specific reason why I believe God would want me to. If I can’t come up with a reason, then I won’t say anything. At least, this is my intention, even if perhaps I don’t succeed in following this rule all the time. ●
The Christian life, of course, is not about keeping lots of rules, but is about living in the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, living in the Spirit does not conflict with occasionally making ourselves a rule or two to try to live by, and this is one that I find helpful.
●
Acting in love
●
In our interactions with people, the top priority is always to love everyone. And this includes those who have acted badly and those who are the subject of gossip, whether that gossip is based on something true or untrue. Love will not speak negatively about a person unless there is a good reason for doing so.
●
Importantly too, there is obviously a sense in which people who are not there when others are talking about them are vulnerable. They can’t defend themselves. And Jesus certainly wants us to be careful to treat vulnerable people well.
●
Let us all strive, then, to avoid spreading rumors and gossip about people. So much damage to relationships could be avoided if every Christian made the effort to do this.
25
Unconditional Love
trait to have when we love. It is not
Sonja Mattison currently resides in Clarkston,
necessary to expect love from those
Georgia. She is an inspirational writer and the
we love. Loving without question only
author of Thoughts of Mattii40. She earned
strengthens our heart.
her Bachelor of Arts at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia.
By Sonja Mattison
To love is to honor God and receive only blessings from the act
Article
itself. God created love for us to love
Source: http://www.faithwriters.comCHRISTIAN WRITERS
Love for someone should never be
Just as God loves us without judgment,
one another channeled through him.
conditional. It should be approached
we should do the same with our
By His grace we can love “perfectly�
with integrity and wholeheartedness.
family, friends, acquaintances,
through our own imperfections. We
When we are compassionate towards
or anybody. Even when we are
should live by the standards of
others our compassion should be
betrayed by a friend or acquaintance
unconditional love and strive to create
permanent via our heart. We should
our love should remain because we are
a harmonious world.
not base our love for someone based
beings of God and should behave in the
on whether their love is reciprocal for
same manner as Him.
http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN
WRITERS
.
us. We should do otherwise. Unconditional love is a form of
unselfishness, which is an excellent
26
Emails to God A teenage girls’ communication with God. A young girl called Self gets introduced to God by her mom. She decides to follow the trend by sending emails to God as a way of communicating to him. They start a wonderful relationship. However, she faces many challenges, she loses her friends, but she finds God’s love and extends it to others. She finds her true self and her girls’ group is restored in a better way. Available at Amazon and online bookshops
27
And we know that God causes
It seems to me that people in times
everything to work together for the
like these, even Christians, tend to
good of those who love God and are
over-react or under-react. We try to
called according to his purpose for
do everything or nothing We should
them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)
do the possible and allow God to do the impossible. The possible as trying
Human nature craves certainty and
to implement good health practices
predictability, but Covid-19 has the
such as washing our hands, social
world anxious because we are uncertain and unable to predict the future. God is the only one with whom we can have absolute certainty that he holds the future.
distancing, etc.. These are necessary and good, yet we must realize God is
our only protector as He sees fit. Remember, we are told not to fear those who can kill the body but not the soul (Matthew 10:28). Whether we
He alone holds the future
are infected or not, God will never
leave us nor forsake us. When we try to do the impossible, we lose our peace and fear starts to take over. Do what you can and trust God to do what you can’t. God is not in Heaven wringing His hands over Covid-19 nor is he unconcerned. When the infections rise, the deaths increase, and there are dire predictions about
the longevity of the virus, remember, that God is still on the throne I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with
God is still on the throne
Youth With A Mission. My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada,
Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and
Ken Barnes
Ukraine. I hold a Masters of Education In times of global crisis, there is a God in heaven who is still on the throne. Human beings like to have control. We
avoid situations and circumstances where we cannot dictate the outcomes. At times God allows events to come upon us that are beyond our
in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University. kenbarnes737@gmail.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.comCHRISTIAN WRITERS
ability to constrain or avoid.
28
Carrying your Cross The cross represents shame, suffering and pain. When one carries his or her cross, it means carrying your burdens, pain, suffering
to Jesus, no matter how painful it may be and he will give you the Holy Spirit to direct you so that your cross can be absorbed by him. In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, to be his disciple, we must carry our cross daily and deny ourselves, meaning our daily activities in life should be taken to God in prayer as
we continue to abide in him and living by the spirit. Setting our minds on things above and not on earthly things. (Colossians 3). Carrying our crosses will lead us to God’s perfect will in our lives.
When Jesus was about to carry his cross, he felt it was too heavy/ difficult for him to bear, yet he was strengthened to carry out that task and he basked in God’s glory after that. (Hebrews 5:7). The same way, we also have to carry our crosses to him, no matter how difficult it
is, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29 NIV).
Adwoba Addo-Boateng
29
Miriam’s Sorrows
(This story is based on a true event recorded in Numbers, chapter 12). Becky Bradley
Did Moses have two wives? Several
Yet, Numbers, chapter 12 says he
heritage was interchangeable with a
in question was not Zipporah. For
times in the book of Exodus, Moses’
married a Cushite woman, but does
Cushite one. For me the clincher was
the story, Miriam’s Sorrows, I chose
Midianite wife, Zipporah is
not name her. Many believe she was
the line in Numbers 12:1 that says
the name Nakia for her— meaning
mentioned, along with their two sons
Zipporah and for one reason or
Moses had married a Cushite, as if it
pure and faithful.
and her father, Jethro.
another Zipporah’s Midianite
needed to be clarified that the woman
30
Miriam flinched as the graceful black
given away her almost 90 years, her
arm presented a small cup of water to
wrinkled skin, made even browner
her. She despised the way the hot sun
than it should have been from the
made her sister-in-law, Nakia’s, skin
harsh Egyptian sun, certainly did. She
glow like a starry night sky. She
glared at Nakia. Moses’ Cushite wife
despised the gold bracelets that
had no idea what it was like to be a
dangled from Nakia’s wrists, making
slave. How dare she carry herself like
them look even more delicate than they were, and she despised the richly colored scarf that covered her head and half-hid her gentle eyes—so large and beautiful like pools of dark water.
Miriam always made Nakia feel, she couldn’t do anything right. She had no idea, what it was like to be a slave. a pampered queen when up until just a few weeks before everyone around her had been slaves. But they were free now and it was only right for Nakia to
Miriam’sSorrows Becky Bradley
serve them. Cushite. Miriam snorted and looked away. Nakia looked confused. It was just a Nakia pouring Miriam , a cup of water
“Here sister, I brought a drink for your parched lips”. Nakia tried to place the cup in Miriam’s weathered hand. “Leave it on the ground next to me.” If
Miriam’s growling, aged voice hadn’t
simple cup of water, but Miriam always made her feel like she couldn’t do anything right. Miriam spat on the ground. “I said, leave it there.” Nakia slowly placed the cup next to Miriam. It hurt to be talked to like
31
●
that, but Miriam was her elder, and Moses’s sister; the one, who had watched
●
over him when he was a baby floating in a basket in the Nile. Nakia bowed her
daughter of a priest who believes in our God—the right God—well, at least he does now.” Miriam tried to excuse her ugly feelings.
head as she respectfully backed away. ● ●
Aaron, stood in silence as he surveyed the temple grounds. Miriam was right.
Miriam finally turned around when Nakia was gone. It didn’t make her feel
How could he be high priest of the Hebrew nation if their own sister-in-law’s
very good to hold such bitterness in her heart. But she couldn’t help it; she
people believed in other gods? What if she and her kind lead their Hebrew
hated Nakia so much. Besides, if God thought it was wrong, he would have
brothers and sisters back down the path to idol worshiping?!
said something to her—wouldn’t he? She grabbed a tent post for support and
●
hoisted herself to her feet. She had to find her brother, Aaron.
●
“Aaron, when was the last time God talked to you?”
As Nakia approached their tent, she could see her husband’s strained face. He
●
Aaron shrugged.
●
“Just as I thought. God used to talk to us all the time; but with that Cushite
seemed older than his 80 years. Being the leader of an entire nation of
complaining people was hard. Sometimes she wished she could go to him with
woman around, it is like the Lord has abandoned us.”
her problems as the Hebrew people did, but he had enough to handle. No, she must keep her pain to herself. She straightened her shoulders, wiped a stray tear from her eye, and began to look for ways to ease her husband’s burdens.
●
But Moses saw. Her beautiful eyes could not hide the truth from him. Quietly he wrapped his arms around her and without a word told her how much he
●
And he has only talked to us through visions and dreams.” ●
influence over the leader of God’s chosen people.”
accepted among Moses’ people, but as long as Miriam shunned her, they would
●
“Aaron,” Miriam found her and Moses’ brother instructing his sons on the duties of the Lord’s tabernacle tent—the tent where all the people met when
●
“So, we haven’t heard from God because Moses married Nakia?”
●
“Right. Nakia is not one of God’s chosen. If she were her skin would be brown like us, not midnight black.”
God called.
●
Aaron rolled his eyes. From the look on her face Miriam must have had another encounter with Nakia. “What has she done now, big sister?”
●
“Does she have to do anything? She is a Cushite!” Miriam paced the dusty desert ground. “What possessed Moses to marry a black woman, an enemy of
our people, anyway? Couldn’t he have been satisfied with his first wife, Zipporah? I mean being a Midianite is bad enough, but at least she is the
“My point is, Aaron, since she married our brother, it is as if he has no time for us, much less our advice. It isn’t right for an idol worshiper to have so much
loved and respected her. Still, Nakia’s heart ached. She wanted so much to be too.
“Not exactly all of us.” Aaron corrected her. “He talks to Moses face to face.
●
“So, why are we being punished because he married her?”
●
“Exactly, Aaron. Aren’t we as good as Moses? Isn’t that why God chose me to lead the women of our nation and you to be our first high priest? He didn’t just choose Moses to lead our people out of bondage; he chose his family—you and me.” She purposefully excluded Moses’ wives. “What right does Moses have to keep all of God’s visits for himself? He’s the one who married that. . .that Cushite. He’s the one who should be punished!”
32
God loves all people Becky Bradley
“MIRIAM!” Miriam gasped. She had never heard
on purpose, I will add.
get to hear me through visions and dreams.” He let his words linger in her
“But-but . . .” “Miriam, I am God. I
and Aaron’s mind for a moment before
created all colors. I did it because I
adding. “But Moses is more faithful to
enjoy every one of them. Because I am
me than you or anyone else. Because
so pleased with them, I wanted to use
of that, I speak to him clearly and face
them everywhere. I wanted to share
to face, not in riddles. And, because of
them. They are my gift to all of you. In
that, he is allowed to actually see me.”
fact, you are who you are because I
The churning cloud pillar suddenly
mixed up just the right combination of
looked like a giant, black tornado.
colors for you. And because I value all
“Why then were you not afraid to
colors, I expect you and the rest of my
speak against him?!”
family to value them, too.
God’s voice before, but she knew it “Yet, you have decided my creations
was him.
are not worthy of you. You hold
“AARON!”
yourself above me when you reject my gift—especially since it was born from
Aaron shuddered. That was definitely
my heart.”
God’s voice and he was angry.
Stunned, Miriam could not and dared
“Meet Moses in front of the meeting tent NOW!”
not say anything.
Moses looked worried.
Miriam and Aaron could see the large, pillar of a cloud in front of the meeting
Moses looked worried. Whatever his
tent. It was the Lord’s presence. The
brother and sister had done, he could
angrier his cloud looked, the more
not help them now.
She was white as snow Leprosy!
“As for Moses,” God continued. “he is too humble to tell you this, so I will. I gave you the gift of prophecy. That is an honor not everyone is given. You
they wished they could sink into the ground and hide. As Moses arrived, the two brothers and sister waited.
“Miriam, do you love me?” “Yes, my Lord, with all my heart and
“Miriam, Aaron, you wanted to hear
soul.” She frowned. How could he ask
my voice; hear it now. Approach me.”
such a question?
He had been listening! Miriam sucked
“As does Nakia.”
in a big gulp of air and stepped forward. Aaron, never as brave as his big sister, followed just half a step behind.
Instantly, the cloud lifted. Miriam
“Nakia?! But she is a Cushite! And she’s
screamed. Her body was shaking.
bl—. I mean she is not one of us—
Aaron turned to look at her and could
chosen.”
hardly keep from running away. All
“Yes, she is black; just as I made her—
Moses, the humble servant.
color had left her skin. She was white as snow. Leprosy! She had the most
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“God doesn’t hold our sins against us” He is all forgiving
So, for seven days the Hebrew camp
Love Conquers All
waited. And when the day came for Miriam to return to her tent, Nakia
was waiting with a cool cup of water and a smile on her face. But Miriam brushed the cup away. Then, she stepped closer to her sweet sister-inlaw and wrapped her in her arms and
MOSES! he cried. HELP HER! PLEASE!
not let Miriam go completely
We were fools, Moses. And we are so
unpunished. “Moses, Miriam must stay
sorry! Please, Moses, don’t hold our
outside the camp for seven days. Then
sins against us!”
she can come back.”
Shaking and terrified for his sister,
Moses and Aaron fell on their knees,
Moses cried out to God. “Please, God,
crying and praising God. They knew
heal her!!!”
what that meant. Miriam would still be
hugged her tight. THE END
contagious seven more days, but after As soon as Moses spoke, God listened
that her skin would return to normal
to him. His anger melted, but he could
and she would be completely healed!
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Ancient of Days, the God with no
A Name Jennifer Van Allen
limits on time, please help us not be stressed with our limited time. Allow us peace, comfort, and perseverance when we feel overwhelmed with to do list, and
deadlines.
What is your name? It depends on
know Him by. One name was used in
who is calling you? Maybe you are
Daniel alone. This name was Ancient
called mommy, or daddy? Maybe you
of Days. We find this in Daniel 7:9
are dear, or honey? When the doctor
NKJV “I watched till thrones were put
calls, your ears hear your full
in place, And the Ancient of Days was
name. When you hear which name
seated; His garment was white as
someone is using, then that can tell a
snow, And the hair of His head was
lot about the roles that exist between
like pure wool. His throne was a fiery
the people. The Lord has been known
flame, Its wheels a burning fire. Study
by many names. In the bible we see
light.org commentary discusses that
different references for the names we
this name Ancient of Days is about
stressing the eternity of God. Oxford
of whom our mighty God is? What if
dictionary states that eternity means
our prayer today was focused on this
unending time. Ancient of Days is our
Lord who is eternal?
Lord showing us that He is beyond
time to reach out to Him. When we do,
time.
no
the words that flow from our spirits,
He is not
can be spoken with a peace. A peace
That
time
impact for our God. concerned
as
the
has
days
turn
to
Let us take the
that they are given to the One who can
years. He is not worried that task will
hold our desperate cries.
not be completed. The clicking of the
holds on to those heartfelt words,
clock is just a background noise with
knowing that time itself will erase
no pressure on His actions. How does
some of the pain of our prayers, and
an eternal Father make a difference in
the other ones may be tied to time that
our limited lives right now? We may
only He understands. Ancient of Days
have an expiration date on earth, but
is just another name in the role that
our
do
our Savior has with us. When we have
not. Prayers that reached the Ancient
that time alone, what will change
of Days is the one thing that will
knowing that our Lord has a name that
continue with Him, even long after
is beyond the passage of time.
they
prayers
leave
to
our
the
lips.
Lord
1
Our Father
John
5:14 NKJV Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Daniel 7:9 gives a good visual
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Filled with great cooking tips and yummy recipes such as pineapple upside down, thank you pies, heart shaped burgers and ever there marshmallows; this is a collection of simple, intriguing recipes and stories from married life that will help readers to get married to Christ in order to be fulfilled in their married lives. Our marriage should be like God’s ordained ministry where it is cherished and nurtured to achieve its full potential. Being Christ’s beautiful bride does not require a lot of effort, but it is the grace of God that will help us through. The Marriage Cookbook is available at Amazon and online bookshops.
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Cult or Church? Adwoba Addo-Boateng
behaviour. The prisoners began to
for their members as to how they
accept their roles as subjects to the
should live their lives. There is always
prison guards because the prison
an evil one who causes all the
guards were highest in authority and
commotion. The members also out of
they had control over them. The
fear subject themselves to this person
Stanford Prison Experiment showed a
with perceived power and eventually
positive relationship between power
their behaviour changes to conform to
and social roles and external pressures
a group. They normally say “everyone
that influence our behaviour.
is doing it, why should I be different?
Why do people feel less important
professor using college students. The
when a leader with perceived power
study was conducted to show the
restricts them? The Stanford Prison
extent that the power of rules, roles
In these modern days, there are more
acknowledged by the leader and
Experiment (1971) was an experiment
and group identity makes ordinary
cults spreading like wildfire. There is a
gradually the leader becomes the focus
that investigated the psychological
people behave in a certain manner. In
leader with perceived power who
and not Christ. Christianity is love;
effects of perceived power between
sum, people’s individuality was taken
manipulates the members for his own
There is no fear in love. But perfect
people in authority that is Prison
away and was ruled by fear by people
selfish gain. Member’s freedom is
love drives out fear because fear has
guards and people whose freedom has
in supposed authority. The study
taken away and they are supposed to
to do with punishment. The one who
been taken away from them that is
concluded that the fake prison
be under the dictates of the leader
fears is not made perfect in love. We
prisoners. This experiment was led by
situation rather than an individual’s
which is detrimental to their well -
love because he first loved us (1 John
Philip Zimbardo, a psychology
characteristics caused a participants
being. These leaders make decisions.
4:18 NIV)
They want to be loved and
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Cults distort the gospel ofChrist, by misinterpreting the bible for their own selfish gain. ●
A Church that I went to would call people in front to give money for supposed
For it is by grace, you have been saved. ●
Members trust is in the Charismatic Leader but not in the Lord.
●
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
financial blessings. I was not a fan of that initially but when I started going to that church, I conformed totally because I wanted to have an identity to the group. The more someone gave money, the more the leader liked him or her.
who draws strength from mere flesh
In effect, everyone wanted to be in the leader’s good books therefore they gave
and whose heart turns away from the LORD. (Jeremiah 17:5 NIV).
out money not because they wanted to give to the Lord but for the mere fact that they will be loved and cherished by their leader. In short, the fear of being
hated by the leader was a motivating factor for conforming. ●
●
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1 NIV).
These leaders preach sermons that cause divisions in the Lord’s people. Most of the sermons are on how to deal with people who have wronged you. They cause confusion in marriages and in family, which causes marriages and
families to be dysfunctional. God gave us earthly families to love and support us through our journey here on earth. If families were not important, the almighty God will not have created it. ●
Cults distort the gospel of Christ, by misinterpreting the bible for their own
selfish gain. ●
Members tend to rely on the lead for all spiritual knowledge and interpersonal relationship with God is downplayed or is nonexistent.
●
The leader is autocratic and does not allow any divergent views from other members of the group. In so doing he turns to manipulate his followers with his own ideas and knowledge. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
●
Permission must be sought from the leader before a certain decision is made in order to be saved for Ephesians 2:8-9 says ; For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.
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Hiding behind the wall I have been diagnosed with AIDS (Acute Intimacy Deficiency Syndrome). You see, I have a problem with intimacy with God.
Well really, intimacy with any
relationship because it is difficult for me to allow anyone to see the real me.
Because I lack spiritual intimacy, my battle with the enemy is on the path to selfdestruction. I have battled this disease for a long time, and my own spiritual diet and exercise regimen has failed to overcome it. A friend told me to try God where I would find help through His commandments and instructions for healthy living --spiritually, physically, and emotionally. In his word, I will find the treatment to defeat this spiritual disease. Proverbs 23:7 says, “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (KJV).” Therefore, I hid the word of God in my heart and meditated on it day and night. My mind was renewed by God’s counseling as he showed me how to face my stumbling blocks and how to keep my walls from getting thicker, higher, and harder to tear down. Let us start tearing down that wall and rebuilding it, not with man’s bricks, but with the bricks provided by God, because without God, we can do nothing. God’s Words will tear down those insecurities and replace them with His confidence and words of encouragement. He will toss out low self-esteem and give you a brick of His love. The process of tearing down our beloved fortress
can be extremely slow and devastating to our soul, especially when God not only stands us in front of His mirror, but then He cuts us with His double-edged sword. Besides our wall did not pop-up overnight, therefore, tearing it down and building a wall of trust in God takes time, effort, and tears. However, the more we trust Him, the more faith grows. Growth is painful, but there is a blessing in this pain if we
Ann McD aniels
just persevere. Thought questions: What is hiding behind your wall? Is it a diseased soul or a soldier preparing for battle? Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us despite ourselves. Help us to rearrange our schedules and make
you our first resource. Help us remove all of life’s distractions and meditate on your Word daily. Teach us to balance our lives so that we can give you our best. AMEN
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Give your life to Christ Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.�
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