7 Blessings of Christmas

As we close out 2021 and approach Yuletide, we will all have had unique experiences, some pleasant, some sad, which permeate our thoughts as to what the year has meant for each of us individually. I no less than most.

Yet as we reflect on Christmas there are certain takeaways which align with the Heavenly host and declare, ‘Glory to God in the Highest’. As such I’d like to share with you the 7 Blessings of Christmas.

1. THE BLESSING OF GOD’S INVASION OF MANKIND.

The first blessing as the subtitle suggests, is that in an instant God invaded mankind to move from a revered abstract God to become a personal Saviour and Friend. A loving caring Father who is interested in every detail of our lives and emotions down to numbering the hairs on our head and choosing to come and dwell among us. – What a Blessing!

2. THE BLESSING OF RECEIVING AND GIVING OF THE GIFT...

Download the full AC Talk below...

Attachments:

AC_TALK_DEC_21.pdf

[ ]

1096 kB

HERE IT IS?

The devastation, confusion, division and hatred caused by the COVID virus, cannot leave any Bible believing Christian with any doubt that Satan is behind all of this, in one way or another.

“Is this the end of the end times?” is a question many are asking. Jesus, in replying to the question of the Pharisees concerning the coming of the Kingdom in Luke chapter 17, said:

21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” Luke 17:21 (NLT)

We are all still asking the same questions. When will it come and what will be the signs of the coming of the Kingdom?

With all the chaos of COVID over the last eighteen months and the earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars, what do we make of these events and are they indeed the signs of the end  of time?

More importantly, what are we to do about it? The Kingdom does not come with signs to be observed, Jesus notes in this passage in Luke 17. The notion that its coming will be marked by some cosmic display, is challenged. He is changing the Pharisees’ expectation that they may point here or there and declare that
they have found it, because the Kingdom is “in their midst” or “within their reach.” 

The Kingdom hope is present in His presence and given its proximity, He suggests we should not be wasting time or effort in trying to determine where it might be located.

Download the full AC Talk below!

Attachments:

AC_TALK_SEPT_2021.pdf

[ ]

1935 kB

It is with much fondness and reflection we remember our dear Son, Father, and Friend, Peter Webber who went to be with the Lord on August 15, 2021.

Peter along with his wife Tess relocated from Jeffreys Bay, South Africa to establish and plant what became the Life Connection Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 2006. They have five children Ariel, Astin, Kaelen, Callia, and Kenan.

Peter was a true ’son in the house’ of Church of the Nations in the most accurate sense of the word. He garnered respect and love from all his peers and those he led. He was known as a man who followed Jesus and the leading of the Spirit with his whole heart.

He will be missed by all. ‘Absent from the body, present with the Lord’.

Our prayer is that the Lord will undergird Tess and the children with the peace of the Holy Spirit, the true Comforter at this time.

In Him,
The Apostolic Council of Church of the Nations.

Dear COTN Family & Friends,

As you will be aware by the Save the Date notice attached that we are once again approaching our COTN Day of Prayer.

We are very excited about this year's theme of “Kingdom Clarity” and we will be forwarding you more information and materials over the next few weeks.

As you know this is the only fully corporate event we have worldwide every year and we ask every church and ministry within the COTN family to participate.

Blessings,

David Cape
(On behalf of the COTN AC)

VISIT THE PRAYER DAY PAGE TO DOWNLOAD RESOURCES

Jesus Shall Reign

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun Does his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

Last time I wrote this column, we were beginning to hear about this thing called COVID-19 and I reflected then on the backlash in America and especially in Europe, against Asian members of those societies, all because of news reports suggesting that the virus had its origins in China. No one could have predicted just a year ago, how our world would be affected at every level by this pandemic. New words have been coined to describe what we live in, from “conspiracy theory” to “new normal” to “unmute” to “lockdown” and “zoom”, which is not something one does in a hurry. We have seen politicians struggle to lead effectively in territory none has ventured into before.

We have witnessed huge change in just about everything that has been our security in the past and many can testify to experiencing things that we never thought possible in our lifetime. In this period, I have welcomed two grandsons into the world and I realise that they will grow up never knowing a pre-covid world, such is the scope of changed reality for all of us. Depending on what our departure point is in regard to our faith, we can see this state of affairs either as cause for real anxiety or as an
incredible opportunity to demonstrate the reality of what we claim as followers of Christ.

Download the full AC Talk below!

Attachments:

AC_TALK_JUNE_2021.pdf

[ ]

685 kB

The Power of Kingdom Community

In this unusual time we find ourselves in, we realise the importance of Kingdom Community as part of God’s plan and strategy to deal with the effects of uncertainty, loneliness, loss and lack that has led to tremendous anxiety.

During this period of COVID-19, we’ve heard amazing stories of people that were cared for, comforted, supported, counselled, provided for both financially and with basic needs such as food because they BELONG to a community.

We also heard of people that experienced a tremendous sense of LONELINESS without any ENCOURAGEMENT and FRIENDSHIP. People that experienced LOSS without COMFORT and SUPPORT. People that experienced LACK without any SUPPLY or PROVISION due to not BELONGING and CONNECTING in a caring COMMUNITY.

As believers, we know that we've been created for community, made in the image and likeness of a God, who Himself is a community. God created us out of community, to form a community and to be blessed in community. He did not intend for us to live in isolation and autonomy but created us to thrive in two essential communities: a loving, dependent, worshipful community with Him and a loving, interdependent serving community with one another. The other forms of community flow from these two essential expressions and involve people of different walks of life, different faiths, churches and businesses.

Download and read the full AC Talk below!

Attachments:

AC_TALK_APR_2021 .pdf

[ ]

497 kB