Adeline's Art Cafe

23/03/2025

Good morning

Worship from the heart

Sunday 23rd March 2025

'Worshipers would have been purified once for all time.' Hebrews 10:2 NLT

To become a worshipper in the fullest sense requires two things. First, an understanding that God's love towards you is not predicated on your love towards him. The moment you accept Jesus as your Saviour, God accepts you and clothes you in the righteousness of Jesus. Second, understanding that God's love for you is not merely a theological concept, but something that's embraced with your heart and responded to through your emotions. In the act of worship, you 'let yourself go', giving yourself without reservation and abandoning yourself to him.

'Worshippers, once purified, would have had no consciousness of sins' (Hebrews 10:2 NKJV). When you believe that Jesus' blood cleanses you from all sin - past, present, and future - you become a worshipper enraptured with his love. Sinful patterns are changed, and stubborn habits are broken when you focus on Jesus. Paul writes, 'Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord' (Ephesians 5:18-19 NKJV). Note the words 'in your heart to the Lord'.

The psalmist David writes, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in him!' (Psalm 34:8 NKJV). Note the word 'taste'. Picture yourself sitting down to your favourite meal, tasting each bite and savouring each flavour. The truth of God's love for you must not just remain in your mind; it must be experienced in your heart. When that happens, you are truly worshipping God.

22/03/2025

Good morning and Happy Sabbath

Signs follow faith

Saturday 22nd March 2025

'The Lord worked through them, confirming what they said.' Mark 16:20 NLT

The book of Mark ends this way: 'They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs' (Mark 16:20 NKJV). Understanding the will of God is not a precise science; even the most spiritually mature can get it wrong. But this much you can count on: God will use a combination of the Spirit and Scripture to guide you. As you open his word and open your heart, God will speak to you. Then you have to act on it. The way to get spiritual momentum is by praying, and then making a decision. And the harder the decision, the more momentum it can produce.

The main reason most of us don't notice God moving is because we aren't moving. If you would like to see God move, you need to make a move! Near the end of her ministry, Mother Teresa was frequently asked by her admirers how they could make a difference with their lives the way she had with hers. She often replied with only four words: 'Find your own Calcutta.' That doesn't mean God's will for you is to be a missionary in a foreign land. It could be; the greater likelihood is that God is calling you to take action where you live and where you work. Before God asks you to do greater things, he will ask you to use what you have, do what you can, and serve where you are.

So, what little things do you need to do now that will make you ready for the big things God wants down the road?

21/03/2025

Good morning

Building your self-esteem

Friday 21st March 2025

'I have loved you with an everlasting love.' Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

After four hundred years of living as slaves in Egypt, the Israelites struggled with low self-esteem. So, God said to them, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt' (Jeremiah 31:3-4 NKJV). Notice the words 'built' and 'rebuilt'. How can you build, or rebuild, your self-esteem? In three ways. First, by believing in God's unearned, undeserved, unchanging, unfailing love for you at all times.

Second, by serving and giving to others. When you've been victimised in the past, you tend to focus unduly on yourself. It's not that you want to be selfish, it's just what you feel you must do in order to survive. Yet, the opposite is true. Helping someone - even making a small difference - lifts your self-esteem. It's difficult to harbour bad feelings about yourself when you're doing something good for someone else. And, adding value to another's life causes that person to value you more. It creates a cycle of positive feelings from one person to another.

Third, doing the right thing, even when it's the hard thing. Being true to yourself and your values is a remarkable self-esteem builder. Each time you do something that builds your character, you become a stronger person - the more difficult the task, the greater the character builder. You can actually 'act yourself' into feeling good about yourself, because positive character enlarges into each area of your life, providing you with confidence and positive feelings about all you do.

13/03/2024

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMMMTHFsL/

291 likes, 6 comments. “Coffee + Art + Views = 🥰 📍 Adeline’s Art Cafe”

23/08/2023

Good morning

All you need to know

Wednesday 23rd August 2023

'Be still, and know that I am God.' Psalm 46:10 NIV

If Job had a weakness, it was his tongue. He talked excessively. Not that you could blame him. After being hit by calamity, there wasn't a wall standing in his house or a loved one living. And his wife, empathetic soul that she was, told him, 'Curse God, and die' (Job 2:9 NKJV). Then his four friends with the bedside manner of drill sergeants told him he had probably brought all this trouble on himself. We're thirty-seven chapters into the book of Job before God speaks a word. Chapter 38 begins, 'Then the Lord answered Job' (NKJV). And after God got through speaking, Job said, 'I am not worthy; I cannot answer you anything, so I will put my hand over my mouth' (40:4 NCV).

Before Job heard from God, he couldn't talk enough. But after he heard from him, he couldn't talk at all. The only thing Job got right was: 'God may kill me, but still I will trust him' (Job 13:15 CEV). Sometimes the best way to handle your problem is to trust and not talk. Job didn't know it at the time, but God's plan was to give him back twice what he had lost. And it happened when he stopped focusing on his own problems and started praying for his friends (see 42:10).

So, be still. Be open and willing. God is still on the throne. He is in control of every detail of your life. Even in the worst of circumstances, he has your best interest at heart. 'The Lord will work out his plans for my life' (Psalm 138:8 NLT). That's all you need to know!

22/08/2023

Good morning

Pray for wisdom (4)

Tuesday 22nd August 2023

'If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.' James 1:5 NKJV

Here is a time-tested and proven formula for obtaining wisdom:

(1) Acknowledge that you need it. Benjamin Franklin correctly said, 'The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of your own ignorance.'

(2) Go to the right source. 'The Lord gives wisdom' (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV). He alone can give you true wisdom because he alone has true wisdom. Indeed, his wisdom makes ours look like foolishness. Paul says, 'The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom' (1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV). Think about that. If God were capable of a stupid thought, which he is not, it would still be wiser than the wisest thought we could ever conceive.

(3) Ask for it. God doesn't hoard his wisdom; he is ready to give it away. Solomon says: 'If you call out for insight...cry aloud for understanding...look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding' (Proverbs 2:3-6 NIV).

James writes: 'If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind, and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you anything at all' (James 1:5-8 CEV). Today, pray for wisdom.

15/04/2023

Good morning and Happy Sabbath

You're a reflector

Saturday 15th April 2023

'Mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.' 2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB

As the old saying goes, 'You become like the company you keep.' Paul explains it this way: 'All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit' (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB). J.B. Phillips' translation puts it this way: 'Christians...reflect like mirrors.' And the King James bible translators say it like this: 'Beholding as in a glass.' So which translation is right? All three! The ancient Greek word katoptris can be translated either way. Bottom line: the more you spend time in God's presence, the more you will reflect his likeness and carry his presence with you.

What does 'beholding' your face in a mirror mean? It's more than just a quick glance; 'behold' means to study, stare at and contemplate. The Bible tells us after Moses spent forty days on a mountain in God's presence, the people of Israel couldn't bear to look at his face because it was suffused with the glory of God (see Exodus 34:29). What Moses beheld was what Moses became!

The Bible says that 'whatever you do, do all to the glory of God' (1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV). That means 'whatever you do', you're a reflector! Jesus said, 'Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven' (Matthew 5:16 NIV). In other words, people should be able to look at you and see the God who lives within you. And that should be the case at home, at play, in the workplace and anywhere else you happen to be.

Beautifully located on the scenic-hilltop of the coastal fishing village of Canaries, Adeline's Art

14/04/2023

Good morning

Give God all the glory

Friday 14th April 2023

'Your right hand and strong arm...helped them.' Psalm 44:3 NLT

Did you hear about the frog that was running out of water, so he asked two birds to transport him to a nearby pond? He convinced them both to carry one end of a stick in their beak while he bit down on the centre and held on. They were making progress until a cow in a pasture looked up, saw the trio passing overhead, and asked, 'Who thought of that?' At that point the frog couldn't resist. Pride prevailed over prudence, and as he plummeted to earth, he yelled, 'It was meeee...!' Don't make the same error. 'Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall' (Proverbs 16:18 NLT).

Why are you good at doing what you do? For your own comfort? To save for your retirement? To bolster your self-esteem? No, these are all bonuses, not the main reason. You're good at what you do - for God's sake. It's about him, not you! Read and ponder these words in your heart: 'Wealth and honour come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand...at your discretion people are made great and given strength' (1 Chronicles 29:12 NLT).

Recalling the victories, blessings and successes Israel had experienced, David reminds us: 'They did not conquer...with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm...that helped them, for you loved them' (Psalm 44:3 NLT). Keep in mind that the blessings you enjoy every day are yours only because God favoured and smiled on you. That's the truth!

13/04/2023

Good morning

Jesus' love for you

Thursday 13th April 2023

'Christ's love...is too wonderful to be measured.' Ephesians 3:19 CEV

Princess Alice was Queen Victoria's daughter. When her son contracted an incurable disease called black diphtheria, the doctors quarantined the boy and warned his mother to stay away lest she get infected. One day she overheard her son whisper to his nurse, 'Why doesn't my mother kiss me anymore?' His words melted her heart and she smothered him with kisses. Within a few days, she died. What would compel a mother to risk her life for her child? Love!

Now stand at the cross and ask what would lead Jesus to do something even greater for us? Love! Writing to the believers at Ephesus, Paul says, 'I want you to know...Christ's love...is too wonderful to be measured' (Ephesians 3:19 CEV). You can trace the greatest action of Jesus to his greatest attribute - love. Perhaps the people who should have loved you, didn't; and those who could have loved you, wouldn't. Maybe you were left at the hospital, or left standing at the altar, or left with an empty bed and a broken heart. Regardless of the cause, you were left with the question, 'Does anybody love me?' And today Jesus answers unequivocally, 'I do!' The truth is, his love for you 'is too wonderful to be measured'.

Hymn writer Charles Gabriel wrote: 'I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, And wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How marvellous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be: How marvellous! How wonderful! Is my Saviour's love for me!' God couldn't love you more than he does right now, and that will never change.

Beautifully located on the scenic-hilltop of the coastal fishing village of Canaries, Adeline's Art

12/01/2023

Good morning

Meditate-percolate (5)

Thursday 12th January 2023

'The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.' Psalm 19:8 NKJV

'The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes...More to be desired are they than gold...sweeter also than honey...by them your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer' (Psalm 19:7-8, 10-14 NKJV).

This prayer shows that the psalmist regarded meditation as an utter necessity to his spiritual life. And if that was true for him in his day, how much more vital is it for you today! You need to bathe your mind each day in the waters of God's Word so that your words and your thoughts are pleasing in his sight. Use your time - the start of the day, at coffee break, during your lunchtime, riding home from work, before falling asleep at night - to reflect upon the truth of God's Word.

The greatest changes in your life will come through the process of meditating on the Scriptures - just letting the Word of God filter and percolate through your mind and into your life. First-class Bible reading calls not for snapshots but for timed exposures.

25/09/2022

Good morning

Keep a good attitude

Sunday 25th September 2022

'I will praise you seven times a day.' Psalm 119:164 TLB

Few things in life are more important than your attitude, and here are four ways you can keep a good one:

(1) Realise your attitude needs to be constantly adjusted. Anything you don't maintain eventually deteriorates. The stronger your natural inclination is towards doubt and negativity, the more you will have to work at it. So begin each day with an attitude check, and throughout the day look for red flags signalling that you're not doing so well.

(2) Pray because you will need God's help to maintain a good attitude. The Bible says: 'Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you' (Psalm 37:3-5 NLT).

(3) Look for what's good, and you'll find it. Mother Teresa required two things from those who worked with her in the Calcutta slums: a desire to work and a joyful attitude. Think: if she could be joyful amongst the dying and destitute, surely you can too! (4) Look for people with faith and spend time with them. Where are they? You will find them soaring above the doubters like eagles. If you're having a bad day, get close and 'draft' behind them the way racers do. If they're having difficulty, you be the one to get out in front and make things easier. Seven times a day David paused to praise God. Can you imagine what that would do for your attitude?