Jan 5, 2026 | Articles
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time,
because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16-16)
In the last week of December, 2025, I began to reflect on the end of the year and the
beginning of a New Year, 2026. I stopped making New Year resolutions a few years ago,
as I have seen and experimented their short duration. We all like to think at certain times
during the year that we will start anew or start something new. Like at the beginning of a
New Year, or right after school finishes, or right after vacations, or right after graduation,
and the list could go on and on. The fact is, resolutions often don’t evolve into long-term
actions.
So with all of this in mind I noticed that there are people who choose a “word” for the year
to help them go in a certain direction. As I pondered this thing, I thought to myself “what
would be a good word for me?” And immediately I thought of the word “write”, something I
would like to do on a regular basis but I don’t. Then I began wondering if the Lord would
give me a word, so I asked Him: “Lord, do you have a “word” for me? I’m thinking of “write”
which I feel you want me to do more of, but is there a specific “word” for THIS year that
you want to give me?” And I waited for an answer but received none.
On the last two days of the year during my prayer times, I forgot to remind the Lord of this
prayer I had made days earlier. I was busy with many things that do come upon us at the
end of a year and the beginning of another.
It is on the first day of every year that I always pray and ask God for a verse or verses that
He knows would be of particular encouragement for that year when finding myself in
difficult circumstances. However, I was desiring something more from God, so I started
praying a week before this day “Lord, do you have a “word” for me?” Do YOU ever desire
something more from God?
In my mind I had figured that if the Lord was going to give me a “word” it would be during
this particular prayer time. However, I woke up on the last day of the year 2025 and heard
God speak to me loud and clear. I had forgotten my prayer of days ago but He had not. I
was amazed and humbled at the same time because God chose to meet me in this way
and all because I had sought His Presence and asked Him for a “word”. And that “word”,
so softly spoken on the last day of December 31, 2025 was-TIME.
What we do with our TIME is important and I am sure that every one of us can find where
we can borrow TIME from useless activities (what about doom scrolling? and other such
activities) and use it for better things for the Kingdom.
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
I want to use my TIME evermore so wisely with what days the Lord has left to me on this
earth. I want to make those day and hours count and to be of good use for His kingdom.
Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the
heaven.”
There is a TIME for every purpose, and how we spend the TIME in every season is up to
us to do and spend as we will. TIME is precious and it is a daily gift from God. Let us use it
wisely.
Take TIME with God every day and He will take TIME with you.
-Kathleen Pio Arcidiacono-
Jan 2, 2026 | Articles
While attending a retreat recently, a series of words penetrated my thought process. Have you ever known someone who was so desperate for something natural or for a relationship to develop that you could feel their despair when it wasn’t happening? How can you identify these people? You sometimes see it in their actions, their behaviour, their dress, their leisure activities and their conversation. Other times it is just something more subtle that you sense in the Spirit. You notice that they don’t have peace or contentment in their life.
I am thinking of a young lady who is so desperate to get married that it colours everything she does. You see it in the way she conducts herself; you see it in her dress; you see it in her attitudes. Consequently, what I fear will happen is that in her desperation she will begin to look outside of the church to get a man. I fear she will begin despising her situation so much that eventually she will dessert the Truth of God’s Word that she knows. In situations like this, people so easily rationalise their actions in an attempt to justify what they are doing. (This often happens to people in desperate financial situations.) This is a very dangerous place to put yourself in and a very slippery slope on which people usually lose their spiritual balance and fall off to the wrong side. One of our mentors taught us this: “There is no right way to do the wrong thing.”
When we are in a desperate situation that could lead us to despising and deserting what we know is right, could we not turn the table on the enemy of our souls? How about if we change these three “D” words to despair, dedicate and desire? This allows a situation to make us better, not bitter.
When the enemy would like to slowly and subtly destroy you, why not allow that despair to bring you to a deeper dedication to the Lord knowing that He is your only answer? We all know that when we try to do it OUR way on OUR timetable, situations get worse and often out of hand. It happens without us even realising that the devil is destroying our walk with the Lord.
In totally dedicating ourselves to the Lord, we get a deep desire to be like Him and we realise that He will bring to pass the desires of our heart that He delights to give us. If He doesn’t give it to us, then we can trust knowing that the Lord knows it is not best for us in the big picture of our life. Deeper and deeper desire for the Lord brings a contentment and fulfilment that the world cannot understand. When we reach to the supernatural power of the Holy Ghost in our desperation, the world finds this bewildering and it becomes a real testimony of God’s greatness in our life.
Let’s add a final “D” word—duplicate. We long to be like Jesus and have His power duplicated in our lives and ministry. Let’s not stumble in our despair that leads to depising and deserting our walk with God. Let the despair cause us to dedicate more deeply and patiently wait for God to give us
the desires of our heart. When we do this, we are becoming someone that the world will notice and want to duplicate. Dedicate yourself this year to a deeper prayer life.
Remember the “D” words.
By Jerolyn Kelley
Dec 1, 2025 | Articles
December has arrived, and as we celebrate that our Lord and Savior came down to this earth, robed in flesh to save the world, it is a wonderful time to reflect on everything He is to us! Many times, relationships are deepened when one other person knows or understands more of the other. The most important relationship we can ever have is with the Lord, the One who gave His life for us. As we pray and talk to the Lord each day, we have an opportunity to know Him more and to pray according to His Word and who He is (and wants to be) in our lives.
He is EVERYTHING to me. He is everything I need! I’ve said this many times and believe wholeheartedly still today – but I also often ask myself, am I allowing Him to truly be everything in my life? Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Wonderful
He is wonderful! This expresses the wonder, the miraculous and marvelous nature of our God. His wondrous ways are beyond our human abilities or understanding. As we pray, we recall His wondrous works and His very nature knowing that He continues to work wonders, showing His miraculous nature to us today. No matter the circumstance, I pray believing and knowing that God is wonderful and there is nothing impossible, nothing He cannot do, no situation too difficult – but I must know, believe He is Wonderful and pray according to His Word!
Exodus 15:11
“Who is like Thee among the gods, O LORD? Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?”
Psalm 77:11
“I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.”
Psalm 77:14
“Thou art the God who workest wonders; Thou hast made known Thy strength among the peoples.”
Counselor
The Lord is our Counselor! His wisdom is beyond our human capabilities. He has all knowledge and wisdom to divinely guide us along this life’s journey. His word instructs us to freely ask the Lord for wisdom with the promise that He will give it to us! And what a privilege it is to seek the Lord’s guidance all throughout this life – whether we’re between the rock and the hard place or walking in a peaceful season, I want Him to be my Counselor in every area of my life.
Proverbs 2:6 “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Colossians 2:3 “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Mighty God
We serve a Mighty God! He is the same yesterday, today and forever and when we pray, we pray understanding who He is! He is all powerful and there is nothing that can stand before His might and authority. Understanding that He is mighty – in the midst of the impossible circumstance, when we cannot ‘see’ past the human factor at times, we know the Lord our God is mighty and He has won the victory.
Psalms 24:8 “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”
Psalms 3:4 “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.”
Zephanaiah 3:17 “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
Everlasting Father
We can pray to the One who is our Everlasting Father. The One who has promised to never leave us and never forsake us. Praying and allowing the Lord to function as our Everlasting Father means to trust in Him. To trust that He cares for us and knows what is best for us. To believe that He will always take care of us and be willing to surrender our will to Him and allow Him to instruct us, to protect us, to truly love us with His perfect love.
Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
Prince of Peace
He is our Prince of Peace and gives us a peace that passeth all understanding. When we find ourselves in a situation that would cause us fear, have anxiety or be troubled, we pray knowing He is the Prince of Peace! We have a hope and peace in the knowledge of salvation in Jesus’ name! The helmet of salvation provides a hope that keeps our hearts and minds. This world and the enemy will lie to us and make us doubt who we are in God or His plans for us, wanting us to become afraid and troubled in our hearts and minds. Pray the truth of the Word of God over your life and situation and allow His Peace to reign in your life.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
By Amy Uecker
Nov 4, 2025 | Articles
While travelling on a flight last year, I casually took the shortbread biscuits [cookies] offered to me by the stewardess. The shortbread was especially good, and I turned over the package and began reading about the ingredients. Here’s what it said:
“The Isle of Mull is renowned for wild and unspoilt landscapes and its welcoming islanders. It’s our home and where we make these particularly characterful biscuits.
We mix only the best organic ingredients and bake them using unique ovens that are heated by Mull’s plentiful renewable timber. Like our organic ingredients this is not only environmentally sustainable, but the gentle heat gives a slow, perfect bake.
Our mixers whizz with clean hydro-electricity generated on the Tobermary River that flows past our bakery. This works best on Mull’s frequent rainy days . . . every cloud has a biscuit lining.”
I love it! “Every cloud has a biscuit lining.” I like it even better than the old cliché: “Every cloud has a silver lining.” I love biscuits [cookies] and cakes and this little line really resonated with me.
I have a lesson entitled, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” All of us go through trials and tough times. It’s just life, whether you’re saved or unsaved. The question is: do the rainy days and clouds bring about something sweet in my life? Do I make lemonade with the “lemons” in my life?
My desire is that when people observe my life that they will want to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” I want the bad times in my life to make me better, not bitter. When life throws me a lemon, I want to get all the juice out of it and then throw away the rind. Some people chew on lemon rinds for years, never getting over the bad times and constantly reliving them.
Yes, Scotland has lots of rainy days. We also have lots of “clouds”, both naturally and figuratively. I’m going to keep looking for that biscuit lining!
I’m going to keep praying for my children and grandchildren through the good times and the bad. My desire is to be there to encourage them and cheer them on when they’re going through tough times and to humbly be grateful when they are going through times of blessing.
Until I draw my last breath, I will keep praying daily for our children, their spouses and our grandchildren that they will walk in Truth, holiness and integrity all the days of their lives AND that they will love it. Some only walk in obedience, but I want my family to also LOVE Truth, holiness and integrity.
When you get discouraged and the clouds block your view of the “Son”, remember that with every cloud there can be a “biscuit lining”. Hold on in prayer. Never give up!
By Jerolyn Kelley
Feb 16, 2025 | Articles
As I contemplated writing this article on prayer, the words, while it is day, were
impressed on my heart and mind. The words of the Lord Jesus, as seen in John 9:4,
say, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh,
when no man can work.”
Various commentators define the phrase, “while it is day,” as opportunity or even life
itself. Jesus spoke of His time and opportunity. We, today, have our time and
opportunity.
The phrase, “work the works,” in the Greek reads, “ergazesthai ta erga.” The
interpretation of that is basically defined as doing the work or the business that needs
to be done. I personally believe that prayer is a work of the Christian.
The scriptures tell us to pray—
Pray for others.
Pray for laborers.
Watch and pray.
Pray and believe.
Pray always.
Pray for yourself.
Pray for forgiveness.
Pray in the Spirit.
Pray everywhere.
Pray when afflicted.
Pray effectually and fervently.
Pray against temptation.
Pray as the Lord taught.
Pray when sick.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Pray morning, noon and evening.
Pray without ceasing.
Pray, pray, pray.
It is our business to pray!
It is not enough to read about prayer or think about prayer or talk about prayer, but it
is time to pray. Now!
For years, I have lived in a country that has an intimate relationship with their
cemeteries. (Romanians are of the Romanian Orthodox religion.) Anytime throughout
the day, the cemeteries are filled with people visiting the graves. They are often
praying for the dead. This is done by saying prayers such as this— “Into Thy hands, O
Lord, I commend the souls of Thy departed servants (names) and pray to Thee to grant
them rest, O Lord, in the place of Thy rest, where all Thy blessed saints’ repose,
where the light of Thy countenance shineth.” Also, they light white candles. The
belief is that it honors the departed and secures their eternal rest.
As I have observed these traditions for the dead, I have often thought how empty,
desperate and void those actions appear to me. Praying for the dead? Their day is past.
Their night has come. Which reminds me of the first Romanian funeral that I attended.
As the coffin was lowered into the grave, the mourners cried out, “It is dark in there.”
“It is cold in there.” Honestly, I was somewhat traumatized. I may have had those
thoughts as I have stood at a graveside, but I have never vocalized it loudly as they did
that day. Yes, it was dark in there. It was their night. It was the end of their life. But,
for you, and me it is day! It is time to work! It is time to pray!
Let us be about our Father’s business. Let us work while it is day. Let us pray while
we have life and opportunity.
Valita Jill Patterson
Jan 2, 2025 | Articles
Listening is a vital aspect of true conversation. If someone is so consumed with what
they want to say that they don’t listen to what others are saying, they may truly miss the
full potential and meaning of the conversation. Sometimes this can easily happen, and
we say more than we listen. My father used to say that God gave you two ears and one
mouth. Therefore, listen twice as much as you speak.
Having just come through the Christmas season, I was struck with some “What ifs?”
WHAT IF Mary hadn’t heard and listened to the voice of the angel?
WHAT IF Joseph hadn’t listened the voice of God in his dreams concerning Mary and
concerning the need to go to Egypt?
WHAT IF the shepherds hadn’t listened to the heavenly host of angels?
WHAT IF Simeon hadn’t heard the voice of the Holy Ghost when Mary and Joseph
brought the Baby Jesus to the temple?
WHAT IF the wise men hadn’t listened to the warning in the dream?
It would be a much different Christmas story if these people hadn’t listened. Indeed,
we might not even have a Christmas story!
God is speaking and we must always be careful in the hustle and bustle of life that we
don’t ignore or completely miss what He is speaking to us. Even when we read God’s
Word, we need to be sure we are “listening” to the enlightenment that can come from
the Lord.
When a mother listens to a cry, she not only knows her baby’s cry, but she also knows
what the cry means—hungry, tired, needing changed, pain, etc.
We endeavor to teach or children to listen. When they don’t listen to our instruction or
advice, we may become irritated, discouraged or exasperated. Teenagers often have
selective hearing. They hear what they want to hear but not always what they need to
hear. I pray I will never be guilty of selective hearing when it comes to the voice of God.
The Lord listens to our cry. He wants to speak to us and commune with us. I don’t want
my prayers to be all one-sided, but I want to stop and listen to the voice of the Lord each
and every day. Am I tuned into the Spirit 24/7 or does something dramatic have to
happen to grab my attention and force me to listen? (Remember Saul on the road to
Damascus.)
Lord, help me to listen faithfully and continually for your guidance, instruction,
encouragement and correction. It will make all the difference to my relationship with
the King of Kings. Although He is the Creator of the universe, He still cares about me
and wants to commune with me. What an honor! What a joy! What a privilege!
In 2025, LISTEN . . . God is speaking! Let us LISTEN and OBEY!
By Jerolyn Kelley
