How would you respond if someone you know tells you they don’t need to go to church to be a Christian? This week do thank God for your church leaders and the blessing of belonging to your church family.

This week Simon returns to the theme of “Loving the Lost”. Jesus tells us that this is important to Him and so should be important to us. In helping us to evaluate whether or not we have this kind of love, why not ask yourself these three questions: 1) Do I notice the lost? 2) Do I seek the lost? 3) Do I rejoice when the lost are found? Your answers will reveal just how well each of us are doing!

As the rain clouds gather and the dark evenings approach perhaps you are in need of an uplift? If so, then savour this amazing truth declared in Jeremiah 31:3: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love.’

Smith Wigglesworth once said, “There are four principles we need to maintain: First, read the Word of God. Second, consume the Word of God until it consumes you. Third believe the Word of God. Fourth, act on the Word of God.” Now that still sounds like really good advice for us all!

This week why not spend some time thinking about something that encourages you in the present and something that gives you hope for the future. Then thank the Lord for His amazing grace.

Amongst other things, this weekend’s news sheet gives details of our “Love Aldwick – Family Harvest Special weekend” which will be taking place on Saturday 2nd October and Sunday 3rd of October. As usual we are inviting you to make food donations for our local Food bank. Please look at the list of items they really need. They definitely don’t want anymore baked beans!!!

Once again, I am going to leave you with a quote from D L Moody to think about over the next week.

“The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.”

This week make sure you are open to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life through God’s word.

Have you ever been so busy that you don’t know what to do next? Well that sums up my week. Which is probably why I was particularly drawn to this quote from D L Moody, “Before we pray that God would fill us, I believe we ought to pray Him to empty us.” That is exactly what I need to do! Perhaps you feel the same? Derek.

This week, please think about this quote from Smith Wigglesworth. “There are four principles we need to maintain : First, read the Word of God. Second, consume the Word of God until it consumes you. Third believe the Word of God. Fourth, act on the Word of God.” Now that sounds like the recipe for a life that pleases and glorifies God. So what are you waiting for?

Do you sometimes struggle in prayer? If you do, then this week, why not start to read your Bible a little more and watch TV a little less. Why? Because as L Moody once said, “When I pray, I talk to God, but when I read the Bible, God is talking to me … I believe we should know better how to pray if we knew our Bibles better.”

Brian and Jackie Chilvers, out link missionaries, have now been in Chard for two months. You can catch up with their exploits by downloading their August Newsletter.