(by pastor Norman)
In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus lays out a template on which our prayers for ourselves, our families, others and all the world around us can be based (1 Tim 2:1-4). The prayer starts (v9) with worshiping God our Father as holy, sacred, set apart from all others and worthy of all our worship and praise. The prayer continues asking that His Kingdom and will be established on earth just as in heaven (v10). We can ask for needs to be met (v11) and for forgiveness of our sins. However, we must forgive to receive God’s forgiveness (v12; v14-15). We can ask God to protect us from temptation and all the attacks of the devil (v13). The prayer ends with praise and worship of God (v13). In Philippians 4:6-7, the apostle Paul wrote that if we draw near to God in humility, with worship and thanksgiving as we pray, we will experience His peace. It’s good to have a daily time for prayer in private (Mark 1:35; Matt 6:6) but we should also be open to pray at any time (1 Thess 5:16-18). God doesn’t need long prayers (Matt 6:7), He knows our needs but wants us to pray (Matt 6:8-9). We pray to God the Father in Jesus name (John 14:13). If we allow, God will direct our prayers by the Holy Spirit (Eph 6:18a). We must pray in faith (Mark 11:24) and we grow our faith by spending time in God’s Word (Rom 10:17). “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14). Amen!

(by pastor Jean)
Integrity means doing the right thing. All the time. Even if no one is watching you. Integrity includes honesty, telling the truth at all times (that’s why integrity and truth are often linked together in the Bible). It also includes having strong morals and sticking to them. A good Biblical example of someone of integrity is Daniel. He stayed true to God’s standards even though He was living in a foreign culture. It is said of Daniel in Daniel chapter 6:4 that, “He was faithful (a man of high moral character and personal integrity) and no negligence or corruption of any kind was found in him” (AMP). When Paul was giving instructions to Titus, he said,” Be an example of good works, with purity in doctrine (having the strictest regard for integrity and truth)” (Titus 2:7; AMP). The writer of Proverbs instructed, “Let your life be shaped by integrity with truth written on your heart (Prov 3:3; TPT). We understand from King David that God delights in “uprightness and integrity” (1 Chron 29:17; AMP). According to Proverbs chapter 11 integrity will guide us (verse 3) and give us a permanent reward (verse 18). We also know that God hates lying (Prov 6:17, 12:21) and the Bible urges us to speak the truth (Zech 8:16, Eph 4:25). In closing, “Better the poor person who lives with integrity than the rich one who distorts right and wrong” (Prov 28:6; CSB).

(by pastor Norman)
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18; NKJV). The apostle Paul states clearly that through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross He paid the price for our sins so that we could be restored in our relationship with God and share the good news with others. Paul exhorted his spiritual son Timothy to be faithful to teach others to share the good news of Jesus (2 Tim 2:2). The apostle Peter told us that, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9; NKJV). Paul asks us how people will know and believe in Jesus if we don’t tell them and he added that those who go and tell have beautiful feet (Rom 10:14-15). God has given us the power and ability of the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) and even promises to give us the words to say (Mark 13:11). I love the divine appointment Jesus had with the woman at Sychar (John 4:9-42). God will give us those divine appointments to witness to others and all heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). The first two gospels in the New Testament (Matthew and Mark) direct us to share the gospel and make disciples of Jesus (Matt 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18). What more encouragement do we need? Let’s be God’s ministers of reconciliation!

(by pastor Jean)
Faithful in the New Testament means someone who can be trusted to keep their promises. There are many examples of God’s faithfulness in the Bible, for example God’s promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah, Joseph’s story – from prison to palace and many more. “Therefore, know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deut 7:9; NKJV). 1 Corinthians 1:9 says that because God is faithful, we are called into fellowship with Him. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that because God is faithful, He won’t allow us to be tempted more than we are able. 2 Thessalonians assures us that because God is faithful, He will strengthen us and guard us from the evil one. According to Hebrews 10:23 we also learn that because God is faithful, He can be relied upon to keep His promises. Also, because of God’s faithfulness He will forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9). In the book of Revelation, Jesus is called “faithful and true” (Rev 1:5, 3:14, 19:11) and here we see His ultimate victory. God is also called faithful and true in 1 Thessalonians 5:24 because He will preserve us until the return of Christ. God is always faithful, unchanging and can always be relied upon; “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim 2:13; NKJV).

 (by pastor Norman)
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13; NKJV). As we truly believe in God and make Him the Lord and master of our lives our spirits are made new and God receives us as His children (Rom 10:9-10, John 3:3-8). God’s amazing love enables us to become children of God (1 John 3:11). The apostle Paul emphasizes that we all became God’s children by faith in Christ (Gal 3:26) and the Holy Spirit living in us assures our spirit that we are God’s children (Rom 8:16). The faith Paul speaks of has to be like that pure uncluttered faith of a small child (Mark 10:13-16). As His children, we are heirs of all God has for us and most especially eternal life; however, we will also face persecution as Jesus did on this earth (Rom 8:17). If we are truly sons of God this relationship should surely affect the way we live. Our lives should be led by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14), we should love our brothers and sisters and walk in righteousness (1 John 3:10). Righteousness is right standing with God, a heart attitude to walk in the will of God. We should, “desire the pure milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2a; NKJV) so we can grow to be more and more like Jesus. Isn’t it amazing that God said, “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters” (2 Cor 6:18a; NKJV)? Let’s walk as children of God.