Devotions (Page 9)

As someone who is interested in missions and has the privilege of teaching about missions, I’ve really enjoyed our guest speakers and their messages over the past few weeks. Mary Cho shared about her ministry in Sierra Leone, and thanked us for our support. Donnett and Daniel updated us about Compassion’s work around Rubongi, and we’re glad to be partnering with them in the new mother’s program they’re starting. Jenny spoke about ministry among refugees, and encouraged us in our own…

If you’ve been in LifeSpring long enough, you may be familiar with the saying “Blessed to be a Blessing.” At LifeSpring we believe that we are blessed to be a blessing. In other words, we have been blessed by God, so much so, that we can bless others and be a blessing to them.  The Lord reminded me that in order to be a blessing to others we must first recognize that we ourselves are blessed. Conceptually this makes total…

Thanksgiving is a powerful Kingdom key. Thankfulness is a gateway to the presence of God. Even the word “praise” can be translated as “thanks to God”. We can use the word praise or thanksgiving interchangeably. Therefore, thanksgiving is not something that is simply a good act, it is essential in our journey of maturity and fruitfulness. We want to mature in our journey of thanksgiving. We want to move from being thankful (singular moments) to being people who at the…

In 2022, LifeSpring had the opportunity to raise funds and partner with the Global Aid Network (GAiN) to build seven water wells in Benin, West Africa. Last week, Lyndon and Patrice from GAiN shared a testimony with us about these wells, and Gabe and I also had a chance to hear more from Lyndon and Patrice about GAiN’s work over a meal. From what I remember about the water well project, when we first considered the idea in 2021, we…

Don’t you hate it when the Sunday speaker seems to speak right into your heart? That’s exactly what Pastor Alvin did. If you haven’t gotten a chance to listen to his message or read his Monday devotional, please take the time to do so.  Pastor Alvin has once again given us a practical tool for learning how to live out a fruitful life. When I was going through the “Faith in Action!” exercise and saw “Action Step: When dealing with…

We live in a world where judgment happens all the time. Regardless of whether it’s in our personal relationships, on social media, or in our communities, it can be tempting to have quick opinions about others. But Jesus calls us to a higher standard—one of mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Luke 6:37 This doesn’t mean we should never discern right from wrong, but rather that we shouldn’t have a harsh, critical…

I lost my Bible. The last time I remember seeing that book was when I brought it to a bible study. I didn’t need to bring it, because everything was digitalized, but I felt compelled to pack it anyway. I didn’t end up using it, but couldn’t find it the next day and panicked. I didn’t know my Bible meant that much to me, but it was almost 10 years old and had notes and scribbles that couldn’t be replaced;…

In God’s design, a requirement for growth and fruitfulness is sunshine. Sunshine is vital for plants because it is a source of energy that plants need that creates food for growth and survival. Without sunshine, plants will not grow strong and may not grow at all. In fact, if two seeds are in the exact same environment (soil, water, etc.), but one seed is given sunlight and the other is given no sunlight – the difference is that one will…

From October 19 to 26, a group of five people from the leadership and settlement teams at LifeSpring will be traveling to Greece for a mission trip. This past Sunday, I had an opportunity to update the church family about how the preparations for the trip are going now that we’re a few weeks out from the date. First of all, on behalf of the whole mission team, I want to thank the LifeSpring family for your support for our trip.…

Recently, I’ve been trying to support a friend who’s going through a very sad and difficult time, and it has showed me the value of mourning and grieving with others. Romans 12:15 (KJV) says “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” It’s quite engrained in us to look on the bright side, stay positive, and not dwell on sadness, and although that is not inherently bad, there is a comfort that is found when someone…

As I’ve been reflecting on my Christian walk with God I’ve realized something: God wants all of me. Now that might seem obvious to many, but you have to understand where I’m coming from. When I accepted Jesus into my life as my Lord and Saviour, no one told me that my life was going to change so drastically. They focused on all the positive outcomes but forgot to mention all the negative ones.  You might be wondering, what are some…

Another Sunday and another amazing blessing from a guest speaker. This past Sunday we had the privilege of hearing from Jenny (Remember Ministries), who has been instrumental in helping the LifeSpring family in our refugee sponsorship process. As Jenny was sharing her journey into refugee ministry, the Lord highlighted that everything changed when Jenny encountered and experienced the heartbeat and love of God. God did not put ideas in her head first, God gripped and changed her heart. Once God…