Barb Twigg
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Summer Study: Let’s Look at Elizabeth and Zacharias
Hello SUM family, welcome to our summer study! It’s Ann here, and this whole month we’re going to be looking at different couples in the Bible who had a faith difference. Today, I have the pleasure of kicking it off, and so let’s turn to Luke 1 to meet our first couple: Mr and Mrs…
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Announcing our Summer Study!
Hi friends, Ann here! The sun is shining as I write from down here in New Zealand, and it’s even more summery up in the Northern Hemisphere. So, with the sun beaming I’m happy to announce we are about to launch into our annual summer Bible study. This year we’re going to do something a…
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How God Stretches Us!
Hi friends, Ann here. We’ve just had Pentecost, a day when the Holy Spirit came with power upon the early church. What a moment! I can only imagine what those disciples felt when they saw fire on each other’s heads. They must have surely been scared but excited. One time I had an experience in…
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Am I Hearing God or Is It My Imagination?
Ann here! Today I thought I would chat a little about hearing God’s voice as a whisper. Often the way God speaks is through the softest of moments, much like the everyday companionship of a good friend. Even the prophet Elijah heard God in the still small voice rather than a dramatic fanfare (1 Kings…
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Locked-Down Life: It’s Renovation Time
Dear friends, Ann here! Today, as we enter our umpteenth week of staying home I thought I would share a personal story. I think I got an inkling last year about this whole Coronavirus thing, but didn’t understand it. I know a couple of others who had the same thing happen. See what you think…
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About Our Homes…The Heavenly Perspective
Hi friends, Ann here. Today I want to share something that God showed me about the homes within this community: the Spiritually Unequal Marriage community. These homes are deeply special to Him, and although they are unconventional in Christian terms, what He showed me is that they ‘sit under an open heaven’. That’s a great…
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Let the Fragrance of Worship Fill My House
Hi friends, Ann here! During this time of incubation in my home, I’ve been reflecting on what I’m to focus my energy on. I sense it’s this simple thing: Lock my eyes onto Jesus. As far as I can, I need to fix my eyes firmly on Him, and steadily hold that gaze. This week,…
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What Happens While We’re Locked In?
Hi friends, Ann here! How are you all doing, I wonder? Well, here we are with a new normal that has been thrust upon us: That of being house-bound with all regular routines interrupted. As far as I’m concerned everything has been interrupted, including my routine with God.
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Keep Playing The Christian Music
Hi friends, Ann here! If there’s one passage in the Bible that brings a SUM moment to life, it’s the one where David dances to the Lord, his wife Michal sees him through a window, and she ‘despises him in her heart’. Gulp — Let’s take a look:
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Salvations in Our Community: What’s Next?
Hi friends, Ann here! There’s a curious thing happening in our ministry right now: We’re seeing significantly more spouse salvations than we have before. For years we’ve known it would happen, and now it’s visible. We’re seeing it mentioned in emails or on closed Facebook groups; that’s how we know. It started about a year…
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I Asked God Some Questions …
Hi friends, Ann here! We’re spending time talking over on Facebook about intimacy with God, so I thought I would follow suit in today’s post. Many years ago, I observed another Christian’s intimacy with God, and it was so eye-catching that it kick-started my own relationship with Him. Here’s what happened:
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To Cherish …
Hi friends, Ann here! The other day I noticed something new about marriage in scripture. It was like a big flashing light-bulb going off in my mind, so I thought I’d share it. See what you think of this: In the Bible there are a few key scriptures about marriage, as we know. But what…
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Jericho — Coming Soon!
Hi friends, Ann here! Like many of us, I’ve been watching the launch of Lynn’s new book, Marching around Jericho, with interest and am looking forward to cracking open its fresh pages. Today, I thought I would tell you some of what I’ve seen from the side-lines.
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SUM Fast Day 4 – Promises and Memories
Ann here! We have reached day 4 of the fast. It’s Thursday afternoon here in New Zealand and, remarkably, I’m still going foodless. I’m pinching myself as this is officially the longest I’ve managed to go without food. I’m praying that I can inch across the finish line tomorrow. Now to us: I have my…
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SUM Fast Day 3: He Gathers and Covers Us
I would say us SUMites identify strongly as people of covenant. We dig deep to make our marriages great, we’re intentional about staying connected to our spouse, and the whole concept of covenant drives us deeply. Our faith difference necessitates it. This covenant mindset helps us sympathize with Jesus’ covenant that He carried so deeply.…
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Our Community Fast is Nearly Here
Hi friends, Ann here! I'm looking forward to our fast next week and, as I'm preparing for it, this thought keeps turning around in my head: Sometimes the only way to take God's hands is when we let go of other people's. Only when we let go of others' support can we inspect His strong…
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God’s Voice: The Faintest Whisper
Two Christmases ago, I was sitting alone in a spacious old church in Edinburgh, enjoying a family service. I’d been visiting that city on a solo trip, and it was a treat to go to a new church. I chose one I’d like to visit and as I took my seat it warmed my heart…
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When God gives us a Promise
One of my favorite stories is that of Elizabeth in Luke chapter 1. We probably all know her story, but there’s a curious detail within it that is currently hitting me, and it’s this: Her promise had a plot twist. It took the form of her baby having a surprise name.
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Some Thoughts on Arguments Against the Bible
Recently a reader posted a question for the SUM community that many of us would relate to. I thought it would be a good one to share on here, and I wonder if we could add any answers to her question in the comments? Her question was this: “My husband is reading and using a…
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The Day My Church Friends Came to Dinner
“How would you and your husband like to come for dinner?” A dear church friend threw her arm around my shoulder one Sunday, extending her hospitality. My heart began to pound. Not this again. Inwardly, one word hit my brain. “Noooooooooo!” I smiled as best I could and said, “That’s really nice. Um. Can I…
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Spiritually Mismatched: Been There, Got the Shirt
Ann here! On this blog, we’ve been through many an adventure. Well, today, I'd like to share an insight God gave me about some of the purpose. I hope what I share will spur you on. The insight came in the form of a dream I had in 2016. At the time I was a…