‘Oldest nun’, credited with sheltering Jews during Holocaust, dies aged 110

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‘Oldest nun’, credited with sheltering Jews during Holocaust, dies aged 110

Father Pawel Rytel-Andrianik, spokesman for Poland’s Roman Catholic Church, on Thursday confirmed the death of Sister Cecylia Roszak last week at a Dominican convent in Krakow.

He described her as “probably the oldest nun in the world” and someone remembered as saying that “life is so short and passes so quickly”.

 

Born on March 25 1908, Sister Cecylia joined the convent aged 21.

 

 

During the German occupation of Poland during the Second World War, when she was in her 30s, she was one of several nuns who set up a new convent near Vilnius, today in Lithuania, sheltering Jews who had escaped the ghetto there.

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Kenneth Copeland Devotional 23 November 2018 – Obey Him in the Little Things

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Topic: Obey Him in the Little Things [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 23 November 2018]

He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much. – Luke 16:10, The Amplified Bible

Have you ever wanted to take on some really big project in the kingdom of God, but the Lord just wouldn’t seem to let you? If so, there’s probably a good reason why.

You can see what I’m talking about if you’ll read about what God did with the children of Israel after He brought them out of Egypt. He wanted to take them on into the Promised Land. But before He could do it, God had to know if they would obey Him. He had to know if they would listen to His voice. Because if they didn’t, the enemies they were about to face would wipe them out.

So, do you know what He did? He tested them in a small matter.

Exodus 16:4 tells us about this simple test. “Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.”

God took a little, insignificant matter—the food they ate—and used it to see if they would listen to Him or not. He told them how much of it to gather, when to gather and when not to, and what to do with it after they brought it in.

And the Israelites went right out and violated those instructions. They showed God by their actions that His voice was not important to them. They were not willing to obey even His simplest commands.

God works the same way today. Before He sends you on a major mission, He gives you the opportunity to prove you can be trusted with small instructions.

But many of us miss that opportunity. We pray, What do You want me to do, Lord? Where do You want me to go? I’ll do anything You say. But then when the Lord says, I want you to get up and pray in the Spirit one hour every morning, we fail to obey Him. We say, “Oh yeah, that would be good. I ought to do that.” But somehow we never quite get around to it.

Don’t make that mistake. Start today obeying God in the little things. Let Him see that He can trust you out there in a place of much authority. Let Him know you’ll be faithful to His words and to the voice of His Spirit. Once He knows you won’t let disobedience wipe you out, He’ll start sending bigger assignments your way.

Scripture Reading: Exodus 16:1-28

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

The post Kenneth Copeland Devotional 23 November 2018 – Obey Him in the Little Things appeared first on Flatimes.

Andrew Wommack Devotional 23 November 2018 – The Silence of the Son

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Topic: The Silence of the Son [Andrew Wommack Devotional 23 November 2018]

Luke 22:63-64 “And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?”

Here is the account of God’s own creation mocking and insulting His Son without Him intervening. The pain that this must have caused the Father defies description.

Those who struck Jesus and told Him to prophesy who it was that struck Him, must have taken Jesus’ silence as proof that He was not who He claimed to be.

The natural mind could not conceive that Almighty God would take this kind of abuse from His creation. But this was the plan of God.

Isaiah prophesied that, as a lamb before its shearers is dumb (Isa. 53:7), so Jesus would not open His mouth. Isaiah also mentioned that Jesus “was taken from prison and from judgment” referring to the fact that He was not given a fair trial (Isa. 53:8). Isaiah went on to prophesy in Isaiah 53:9 that Jesus would make “his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.” This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified between two thieves and buried in a rich man’s tomb.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

The post Andrew Wommack Devotional 23 November 2018 – The Silence of the Son appeared first on Flatimes.

Billy Graham Devotional 23 November 2018 – The Abundant Life

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Topic: The Abundant Life [Billy Graham Devotional 23 November 2018]

He that eateth, eateth to the Lord; for he giveth God thanks . . . — Romans 14:6

Do you think that God would have bothered to send His Son to the world, if man had been able to face life and eternity alone? Christ’s coming to the world proved that God was not happy with man’s unhappiness. He sent Him not only that we might have eternal life but that we might have life here and now, and that we might have it more abundantly-Life with a capital L!

Jesus’ teaching was unique and different. He took religion out of the theoretical category and placed it in the practical. He spoke with authority! He spoke with finality! He spoke as though He knew . . . and He did! His was not the soft empty conjecture of the philosopher, who professes to search for truth-but readily admits he has never found it. It was more the confident voice of the mathematician who gives his answers unhesitatingly, because the proof of the answers can be found within the problem.

Prayer for the day: Lord God, I know that I am completely dependent upon You. Thank You for daily providing all that my body needs.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

The post Billy Graham Devotional 23 November 2018 – The Abundant Life appeared first on Flatimes.

PM Theresa May praises Christian mums supporting daughters affected by eating disorders

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PM Theresa May praises Christian mums supporting daughters affected by eating disorders

Bestowing a Points of Light award each to Jean Hart and Di Archer, Theresa May said they were “making a real difference” through their charity, ‘tastelife’.

She said: “You have both responded to the struggle of supporting daughters with eating disorders by creating a tremendous force for good.

 

“Your ambitious work with ‘tastelife’ is not only providing sufferers with vital support on their path to recovery, but also giving carers and families much needed guidance in how to cope with the daily difficulties of eating disorders.”

Jean, who lives in Southampton, and Di, who comes from Kenilworth in Warwickshire, developed – along with a GP – their own recovery course after struggling to support their own children through eating disorders.

They said: “We are absolutely delighted that we have been chosen as ‘Points of Light’ for our work in combating the hideous modern curse of eating disorders.

 

“Through ‘tastelife’, lives are being changed, families remade and now, with this award, news of this work will surely spread to new areas of the country.”

The programme, which was born out of Highfield Church in Southampton, was first published in July 2013. The eight weekly sessions are now run in 27 locations nationwide.

Jean and Di are encouraging people in areas currently without a ‘tastelife’ programme to consider running one.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Asia Bibi’s daughter says she hopes to visit Italy soon

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Asia Bibi’s daughter says she hopes to visit Italy soon

Asia Bibi is currently in a secure location provided by the government but her family are in a different location.

The family are in contact with the charity Aid to the Church in need and, according to CEO John Pontifex, have expressed concern about their own safety.

He said the situation is constantly evolving but that his last conversation involved the family saying that people were looking for them by going house-to-house, asking if people had seen them.

Asia Bibi’s daughter (pictured above at Premier earlier this year) has filmed a video, thanking Christians around the world for their support.

Eisham Mashiq says in the video, which is translated:

“Thanks to all of you for…praying for my mother. I would also like to thank the great judges and the Pakistani justice system that recognised my mother’s innocence.

“I would also like to thank all the governments, as the Italian government, that are [concerned] about our future and our safety.”

“I remembered that last February we were in Rome when Aid to Church in Need illuminated, in red, the Colosseum – my mother was in prison at that time.

“This evening, while you [illuminate] in red Venice, thank God – she is free.”

She was referring to lighting-up of eight buildings in Venice in red light on Tuesday night.

Eisham went on to say that she would like to go back to Italy: “I hope that our entire family are finally happy…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Five Examples of Small Victories in Struggling Churches

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Churches often underestimate how small wins can create momentum—to the point where they don’t even recognize the victories. Today we discuss what small wins to look for, what to do, and how to celebrate them.

Today’s Listener Question:

FROM MAURICE

I pastor a small, rural church. We are trying to revitalize, but it’s not easy. You’ve mentioned in previous episodes about the importance of celebrating even the small wins. What are some examples of those?

Episode Highlights:

  • Be creative and try to use your church facility to bless the community in every way possible.
  • Your church building is the best resource you have to minister to your community.
  • There are kids in every community. There are always ways you can minister to kids and their families.
  • If your community has holiday parades or festivals, figure out a way to be involved in some way.

The five small wins we cover are:

  1. Using the facilities for the community
  2. Transfer of leadership to those who actually live in the community
  3. Older adults beginning a children’s ministry
  4. Becoming involved in and contributing to community events
  5. Becoming a friend to single parents

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Six ways to instantly become a more positive person

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Six ways to instantly become a more positive person

Thanksgiving is the quintessential American holiday. Or so we think.

We tend to believe that the Pilgrims invented the holiday when they held a feast to celebrate their successful fall harvest. However, they borrowed the tradition from the English.

And the English celebration is nowhere as ancient as the Japanese national holiday known as Kinro Kansha no Hi (“Labor Thanksgiving Day”), which goes back more than two thousand years. The Chinese have been celebrating their version of thanksgiving even longer, with a Mid-Autumn Festival that goes back 2,500 years.

Why is giving thanks such a universal phenomenon? Because it’s so good for us.

The relationship between optimism and health

One problem some of us face on this Thanksgiving Day is that we don’t feel like giving thanks. If we’re facing hardships, Thanksgiving can be more obligatory than celebratory.

However, it’s when we don’t feel like being thankful that we most need to be thankful.

Time recently published a fascinating article titled “6 Ways to Instantly Be a More Positive Person.” The author notes that optimism is essential to our overall health.

For instance, when Harvard researchers studied seventy thousand women over an eight-year period, they discovered that the most optimistic quartile had an almost 30 percent lower risk of dying from several major causes of death compared with women in the least optimistic quartile.

How can we be more positive, whatever our circumstances or challenges?

The Time article encourages us to “savor the good,” “set reminders” such as positive quotes where we can see them, “do something nice for someone else,” “phone a friend” for help with challenges, and “say thanks.” The last suggestion is important because, as one expert notes, our interpretation of events influences our emotions more than the events themselves.

“Reframe or divert”

At the top of Time‘s list, however, is this vital suggestion: “Reframe or…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Young campaigner returns ‘home’ to CAFOD 30 years on, as new director

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Young campaigner returns ‘home’ to CAFOD 30 years on, as new director

Christine Allen said her appointment to replace Chris Bain – who is retiring next spring after 15 years in the post – feels “like coming home”.

Having become a campaigns co-ordinator for the charity in 1989, Allen went on to take high-level roles in organisations including Christian Aid and Progressio.

 

She said: “I’m honoured and delighted to be appointed to this role at CAFOD. It feels like coming home.

“Working for CAFOD as a young campaigner, I discovered Catholic social teaching and was hugely inspired and influenced by a church that took action for peace and justice.

 

“The need for global solidarity today is as great as ever.”

Following eleven years as the executive director of the international development charity, Progressio, Allen has been heading up policy and public affairs at Christian Aid since 2012.

 

She continued: “CAFOD, and its thousands of supporters, stands as a powerful witness of love in a world of greed and selfishness, as we seek to end the injustices of poverty, inequality and environmental exploitation.

“I am immensely…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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American adventurer killed by tribe was Christian missionary

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American adventurer killed by tribe was Christian missionary

Visits to India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands are heavily restricted as the people resists outsiders, often attacking anyone who comes near.

Despite this, John Allen Chau from Alabama decided to go there, with the help of seven fishermen who helped him get there and whom have now been arrested for doing so. 

He described himself in his twitter bio as: “Adventurer. Explorer. Wild. Kingdom Seeker.” and had been a student with Oral Roberts University missions in the past, an evangelistic organisation. 

William Wilson, President of ORU missions, said: “We are not surprised that John would reach out to these isolated people to share God’s love”. 

Police said Mr Chau arrived in the region on 16th October and stayed in a hotel while he prepared to visit the prohibited island.

He was apparently killed by arrows, but the cause of death cannot be confirmed until his body is recovered.

Police have approached anthropologists with contacts on the island in an effort to visit and recover the body.

He interacted with some of the tribes people, giving them gifts he had prepared such as a football and fish. But the tribes people became angry and shot an arrow at him which apparently hit a book he was carrying

CNN report that one of his friends, John Middleton Ramsey, said: “I see him as a martyr,

 “He was someone who died out of love for these people to bring the good news of…

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