Are you really saved?

This was the message that Stephen Manhanga shared at Hope City Church. He shared from Luke 3 and focused on verses 10 - 14 where the multitudes, the publicans and the soldiers asked "teacher, what must we do?"
John's message for repentance was turn away from sin and turn to God. We need both.
We got into smaller groups and discussed 3 questions

• What is contentment?
• When is enough, enough?
• Can we really be content with what we earn?

The message was received well from the saints at Hope City Church.

By Molly Manhanga

Mother's Day Thoughts.......

With messages going forwards and backwards and many thoughts of ‘mothers’ being shared –

It’s easy to see why some people are able to say ‘sweet’ words of love to their mothers and demonstrate their love for their mothers. This day is set aside to ‘spoil’ mothers. It’s easy when relationships with mothers are good or with mums who have a vested interest in your spiritual, social, emotional and mental well-being, with mums that have been ‘there’ for you though the highs and lows and even when you are an adult with children of your own, mothers continue to be mothers through the generations.

There are those whose relationships with their mothers is toxic or has been toxic and no matter how hard they tried, they never measured up or heard the words ‘I love you’ from their mums. Words that build confidence or self-esteem were scarce or non-existent. Instead of “Mother’s Day” being special and full of sentimental thoughts, it’s a day that brings back raw pain. Forgiveness and healing are needed – much easier said than done!

Others still have only the memory of the mothers who are no longer with us. Those memories can bring a smile to your face as you treasure them or bring unwanted tears to your eyes.

Mothers are there to love, care for, nurture, guide, protect, pray for …….. their children, be it biological, within a family, within a community and within the body of Christ.

Here’s wishing you a peaceful Mother’s Day.

By Molly Manhanga

The kind of woman to marry

It was great visiting Hope City Church this morning. Tapiwa Chizana shared a word -

Title: The kind of woman to marry

Text: Proverbs 31 : 10 – 31

Summary

Some qualities of a good wife

·         A woman who fears the Lord

·         A woman who is generous

·         A hardworking woman

·         A woman who knows Gods word

Don’t disqualify a woman

1.    Who earns more money than a man

2.    Who is able to purchase fields with her earnings

3.     Whose trade is profitable

4.    Because of her job

5.    Because she is not like your mother

We ended up by praying for the single men.

Be encouraged...(2)

Be encouraged...(1)

Psalm 121 :: NIV. I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Be encouraged. God is with you every step of the way.

Memories...

Fascinated at how the human brain works? I am! My experiences over the last decade has 'forced' me to take note of how my brain works, what memories are stored whether pleasant or unpleasant and how to 'carry on' regardless of the circumstances in front of me.

I have read that memories are stored in "various areas of the cerebral cortex, which is the large outer area of the brain more commonly known as 'gray matter'. When your brain stores a memory, it makes another decision about how important that memory is..." 

I am so thankful to God that I have MANY pleasant memories. I thank God for creating me in His image  and likeness and for making me so unique. Psalm 139:1 - 18.  The plans He has for me are to give me a hope and a future Jeremiah 29:11.

Then there are the memories that are not so pleasant that have been stored away. Memories that have mainly been created by external forces. Because of my belief in God, I have been able to rise above whatever has come my way. Spiritual battles  - there are many, especially the battle for the mind. There are so many distractions/temptations that are deliberately created in this digital age we live in but, like Joseph, we need to be able to refuse 'things' that are wrong because it would be a great sin against God.

We need to know who we are in Christ, that the battle is His and not ours. We need to live lives worthy of our calling and no matter what comes our way, to stand firm in Christ. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

By Molly Manhanga.

Is it the building? (2)

..............Celebration can be lively or calm. There is no formula to how we celebrate or worship Christ. Outward hype is not a reflection of one’s relationship with Christ. We can have outward hype at a secular celebration too. The church building we meet in is a bonus and a blessing of the provision of God. Many Churches within the cities or towns meet in a building  - owned or rented. Likewise, in the rural areas, some churches meet in a building.

As Crossroads Community Church in Mablauwuni, we are blessed to have a building where we can meet. The “Church” is the people that gather there to worship and celebrate Jesus Christ. 

There are so many external forces/distractions that try to control where people meet or how church is done. Christ is building His Church (Matthew 16:18) and He is coming back for His BRIDE - the people, not the building (1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 18)

By Molly Manhanga

Is it the building? (1)

Why would ‘born again’ believers have a problem with believers in a community meeting in a building that has been specifically built for that purpose? Is it because of who erected the building, the plans earmarked for the building or the mere fact that the building is in a central enough place for people to walk or drive? Interesting questions in the age that we are living in. I would question the state/condition of the mind and the heart.

Meeting at someone’s home is wonderful but whether we meet at a home or at the local church building does not determine whether a person goes to heaven. It does not determine ones relationship with Jesus Christ. It does not determine the number of people that attend. Sunday services are a celebration with other believers of what God has done in our individual lives or for us corporately as a body of believers. Jesus Christ is the only one who saves, not the building.

Read on........

Hard work...... It's worth it!

I posted an article on June 17 2011 entitled "A tragic and heartfelt story". Seven years later, we can see the benefits of her hard work and how God has blessed her. Take a look.....

Mildred Mkwananzi's home in 2011

Mildred's kitchen in 2011

Mildred's home in 2018

All glory goes to Jesus Christ who has strengthened her and blessed the work of her hands.

By Molly Manhanga 

Going Deeper......

Home of Mildred Mkwananzi

We had an awesome service today at Mildred Mkwananzi’s home. Mildred is one of our faithful ‘older’ ladies from Crossroads. She hadn’t been able to come to church at Emsumeni Business Centre, so we took church to her home. It was wonderful having people from Crossroads, Silozwe, Sipunduli and Brethren in Christ. 

Stephen Manhanga, Elder at Crossroads Community Church, shared a word from Luke 5:1 – 11 – The need to go deeper:

We need to go deeper mentally – He encouraged people to overcome mental failure and believe that the work they are doing will come to pass. Peter had been out fishing all night and caught nothing. One can only imagine what was going through his mind when Jesus said go into the deep water and cast your net on the other side.

Stephen Manhanga sharing God's Word

We need to go deeper physically – When we have had a mental breakthrough, we can apply ourselves physically. Peter had to put the net down physically. When he did that, he saw the fruits. They caught an abundance of fish.

We need to go deeper spiritually – Jesus told him that he would be a fisher of men. When they had come back, Peter left everything and followed Jesus. Stephen encouraged us to go out and share the word of God with others.

People socialising after sharing a meal together

By Molly Manhanga

Little encouragement....

Philippians 4:19

"But my God shall supply all my needs
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Is Easter necessary in the day and age in which we live?

Is Easter relevant today as there are so many pressing issues and concerns that people are facing. This, to a certain extent, this is an open-ended question which can lead to a long discussion seeing as there are many concerns/struggles that people are facing. Despite what we go through, Easter is as relevant today as it ever was.

We read about the rejection, mockery, humiliation and horrific death Jesus went through and his resurrection in Isaiah 53 verse 1 – 12 as well as in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Easter is the proclamation of the Christian faith. Its Gods power to salvation I Corinthians 15 verse 1 – 8.

The Gospel is truth and it will not change for you or me or to suit us. “It’s not about what makes us comfortable, but what took place on the cross and at the empty tomb.” John 3 verse 16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.” Society and culture will change. Pressing issues will come and go but, the Word of the Lord will remain forever.

Jesus paid the ultimate price for us because of love. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Knowing that Jesus life, death and resurrection was because of love and because He wanted a relationship with us is amazing and humbling.  

Pure love for you and me!

God made him 'who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteous of God' 2 Corinthians 5:21

From The Netherlands......

It was good having Alex de Vreugd from the Netherlands visit Crossroads and share the word. Not many people were in the service due to a funeral in the neighbouring Silozwe community. Non the less, Alex shared the word of God and encouraged us to live like Jesus.

Alex de Vreugd