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Shift Your Focus
Read more: Shift Your FocusPhoto by Ethan Sees from Pexels Happy New Year, my friends. I know it’s now February. Wow, where did January go? But this is my first post of 2022. I’m so looking forward to this year. Where is our Focus? A new year often brings new beginnings, new hopes, new challenges. Often it simply brings…
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Seeing the Manifestation of the Goodness of God
Read more: Seeing the Manifestation of the Goodness of GodHey SUM family, Tiffany here! I recently opened up my Bible to spend time with the Lord. "Somehow" (grin…isn't God good like that?) I turned to a bible passage that I had been reading three years TO THE EXACT DATE. I wasn't even looking for this passage, nor did I remember I had taken notes…
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A Love Letter – Prayer & Fasting 2022
Read more: A Love Letter – Prayer & Fasting 2022Lynn Donovan here: Many of you don't know Rosheed Lee. She was a writer for SUM a number of years ago. It was Rosheeda who actually initiated our family fast here on the web. Ro, was tragically killed in a car crash on her way to a conference where I (Lynn) and Dineen were speaking.…
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While in the Wilderness – Fasting Day Two
Read more: While in the Wilderness – Fasting Day TwoHow did day one of the Fast go for you? If you didn't manage it yesterday don't beat yourself up — It's perfectly normal to have a few hiccups in this big exercise called fasting. Just dust yourself off, get back on the horse, and start afresh. Over here, so far so good. I've not…
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Day One of our Community Fast
Read more: Day One of our Community FastHello friends Ann here and it’s Monday, day one of our fast. I am so looking forward to seeing what God will do among us this week. There is always something exciting that happens. Now, I woke this morning raring to go. However, I was nervous too. I’m going without food all week, and that's…
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Community Fast & Pray January 3-7
Read more: Community Fast & Pray January 3-7Fast 2022 As far back as I can remember the SUMite Nation has fasted together the first full week of January. Well, at least for more than a decade now. That's amazing! I’m convinced that any type of fast we offer the Lord, opens up the prayer line to our Father. However, a genuine food…
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A Personal Word for Next Year
Read more: A Personal Word for Next YearDear SUM family, Ann here. We have certain routines in this community, and one of these routines is that around this time of year many of us will ask God for a word for the year. For ourselves, that is, as individuals. Asking God questions about our own life is such a good way of…
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The Puzzle of the Gospels
Read more: The Puzzle of the GospelsBy Ann Hutchison Jesus. There is so much swirling disagreement about him that my eyes sometimes widen at that. But this is all part of the package. Long ago, at Jesus's birth it was prophesied by a man called Simeon (Luke 2:34-35) that Jesus would be a "sign that would be spoken against." And so…
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Be Present – some thoughts on Advent
Read more: Be Present – some thoughts on AdventPhoto courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net I’ve always loved December. Living in Australia, it’s summer, the end of the school year so we always had our long summer break over December/January. It’s also my birthday month and … it’s Christmas. I still recall those days approaching Christmas when the presents used to begin to pile up under…
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The Shift Of This Generation Begins With Us. It’s GO Time.
Read more: The Shift Of This Generation Begins With Us. It’s GO Time.Hey SUM family, Tiffany here! I just wanted to pop on quick and share a wonderful song with you all. In searching for the original, I found a cover by a group called the Creative Trio. There is something prophetic about this group covering the song. I know a lot of us have young ones…
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A Carter Update And Prayer Request
Read more: A Carter Update And Prayer RequestHey SUM family, Tiffany here! This has been quite the transitional season for the Carter household. We have been living with my in-laws for 8-9 months now. As far as our current arrangement, time has flown by! As far as our new house being built and completed, it can't go by soon enough. I am…
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A Quick Hello on Our Day of Worship
Read more: A Quick Hello on Our Day of WorshipAnn here! As I write, it's late night here in New Zealand, and somewhere over the Pacific ocean, three from our community are kicking us off. What a lovely thought! Now, don't worry if you didn't sign up — Just jump in and worship any time during this day. You can look at the list…
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Do you know what happens in the Spiritual realm when we worship?
Read more: Do you know what happens in the Spiritual realm when we worship?Tomorrow is our “Church-without-Walls” community worship event. My friends, determining to worship together brings the Kingdom of God near. 1am Pacific, Thursday 18 November to 1am Pacific, Friday 19th I’m convinced that worship thins the veil. Worship is an invitation into encounter, an encounter with love. An encounter with our Savior who affirms; we are…
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Taking Refuge in God
Read more: Taking Refuge in GodImage courtesy of Phil_Bird at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Hi all, Ian from Sydney, Australia here once again. I’m coming off a hectic month of caring for my parents. Both have been in hospital and as lockdown restrictions eased, we’ve been able to have minimal visitation access which has been great so one or two of us can…
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When Someone Seems Impenetrable to the Gospel
Read more: When Someone Seems Impenetrable to the GospelHello friends, Ann here! After our recent series on the Gospel, this week I'd like to share two specific words that God gave me a while ago about our activity in carrying the Gospel. I'll share one of these words today, the other on Friday, and I hope they help you along as they have…
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When The Past Comes Back To Haunt You
Read more: When The Past Comes Back To Haunt YouHey SUM family, Tiffany here! Today I want to talk about guilt and shame. My children are now 7 and 8. Man how the time flies! In their earlier years (sadly even in the womb) I had some serious anger issues. I did not know how to control my temper. In many ways I was…
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But Will His Grace Cover….Me?
Read more: But Will His Grace Cover….Me?Hey SUM Family, Tiffany Here! I was reluctant to share this with you today; however, I hope to bring encouragement to those who may be struggling as well. I love my husband. I love my marriage. I love my SUM life. I am truly blessed! I had lunch with someone recently who I met a…
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‘Preaching’ the Gospel — To a Spouse?
Read more: ‘Preaching’ the Gospel — To a Spouse?Hi everyone, it's Ann here and I hope you've had a good weekend! Today we'll start with these words of Jesus to his then-disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15, NLT) "Yes, Lord", we say to that, as modern-day disciples. "In whatever way you want us to…
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A Work of God in My Home
Read more: A Work of God in My HomeBy Ann Hutchison Hi SUM family! Today I'm continuing on from Monday's post, with a curious story about something God did in my home this year. It shows just how good he is, and I really do hope you enjoy this story. As I've shared before, last year none of my family was going anywhere…
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Loving when it’s hard
Read more: Loving when it’s hardImage courtesy of Tina Phillips at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Ann’s most recent post has lingered in my mind for a few days and I thought I’d reflect a little more on it. If that’s okay? Ian here from a sunny Sydney. We have those between a rock and a hard place moments don’t we? As I think I’ve…
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Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Read more: Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place“This isn’t what I married.” Said Bryce. “And there may come a point where I say to you enough is enough.” He stood by the chest of drawers suddenly seeming distant. I sat on the bed. My heart was pounding with fear. “Don’t you ever say to me you can’t give it up if I…
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Financial Giving and Your Unbelieving Spouse
Read more: Financial Giving and Your Unbelieving SpouseBy Ann Hutchison "How can I give to the church when my spouse disagrees?" This one seems to pop up for most SUMites. For me it was an area of challenge in my heart for a good few years. There were so many areas of disagreement already, in relation to faith, that giving ‘our’ money…
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In Our Homes We Are Fresh as a Daisy!
Read more: In Our Homes We Are Fresh as a Daisy!Hi dear friends, On Monday I talked about a particular feature of our Christian life in our homes: That on the one hand we're engaged in fierce battle against the powers of darkness; but on the other, much of our faith life is about enjoying the abundant life of Jesus by receiving his love and…
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Representing Jesus to Our Families
Read more: Representing Jesus to Our FamiliesBy Ann Hutchison Hi SUMites! I just had a realization that gave me a giggle. I went onto our Instagram page, scrolled down, and realized that I have put so many pictures of weaponry on there. We have at least two sets of boxing gloves … a sword … a spear … a few videos…