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Christmas Reflections Devotional

November 19, 2021 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

A visual of the Christmas Reflections 21-day Devotional.

Introduction:

What are your hopes for Christmas this year? Are you surrounded by unfulfilled dreams, unanswered questions, setbacks, and loneliness? Are you looking for restoration and hope after the challenges of the pandemic? This devotional titled ‘Christmas Reflections’ contains 21 easy to read nuggets of inspiration that will give you encouragement to face the Christmas Season.

Christmas Reflections Contents –

The topics covered in this 21-day Christmas Devotional are :

Christmas – A Season for Dreams (3 Devotionals)
The Christmas Light (3 Devotionals)
The Heart of Christmas (3 Devotionals)
Questions at Christmas Time (3 Devotionals)
The Christmas Names – of the Christ Child (4 Devotionals)
God Speaks at Christmas Time (2 Devotionals)
Also included – God’s Favor on the New Year (3 Devotionals)

Our prayer is that the contents in this devotional will inspire you to enjoy the best Christmas yet! Get your copy today from amazon.com here.

Find a short Christmas Devotional here.

10 Practical Ways to Improve Mental Health

October 9, 2021 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

A photo of a joyful man wearing a red-colored sweater leaning on an evergreen wall as a symbol of sound mental health.

The lady who called me was clearly struggling as her depression had worsened. She had been through many sleepless nights and kept hearing voices at times. Restful sleep had eluded her the previous night as well. “Pastor, could you please pray with me?” she requested. I did. I prayed with her.

I normally sleep well at night, but there are some occasions when I struggle too; particularly if a tough decision or a difficult conversation is ahead of me. On such occasions, I generally feel quite sluggish the following day. Focusing on my work seems more difficult too. “If I struggle so much after losing just one night’s sleep, how difficult must it be for someone who has to cope with many sleepless nights?” I thought to myself after the call.

God’s Restoration (Isaiah 54)

September 4, 2021 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

This video talks about God’s Restoration based on Isaiah 54, and covers the following 4 thoughts about Restoration.

1) God’s Restoration will renew your joy (1:42″)

2) His Restoration will enlarge your influence (2:36″)

3) His Restoration will remove all shame (3:26″)

4) His Restoration will break all opposition. (4:32″)

Be encouraged as you watch and do subscribe to our You Tube Channel if you are blessed. Thank you.

For further reading on the restoration God brings, click here.

If you would like to read the full sermon, please click here.

God’s Restoration Comes in Unexpected Ways (2 Kings 8)

July 26, 2021 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

God's Restoration, depicted through a beautiful visual of nature. — Image by RÜŞTÜ BOZKUŞ from Pixabay

Scripture: 2 Kings 8:1-6

This devotional is based around a Shunammite lady who had been greatly blessed by Elisha’s ministry. Not only was she blessed with the miracle of a child (2 Kings 4:17), but later, the now grown up son, was raised from the dead through God’s power (2 Kings 8:1).

On Elisha’s instructions thereafter, she had left her home and gone to Philistine territory to avoid a 7 year famine (8:1-2). When the famine was over, she returned home, only to find to her dismay that the house and land no longer belonged to her. It is possible that the land had either been seized by the Government, or been encroached on.

3 Special Ways God Cares For His Children

March 29, 2021 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

God'scare for His children shown through a visual of a mother swan taking care of her young. — Image by Elsemargriet from Pixabay

(We have amalgamated 3 of our devotionals to bring you a 3-point sermon on one page about how God cares for His children.)

Introduction:In an interview with The Reader’s Digest magazine, Grammy Award winning pop singer Gloria Estefan spoke graciously about her year one teacher, Dorothy Collins, who helped shape her early English language skills. Gloria has in fact spoken many times of that period in her life and the challenges she faced (including severe teasing), as a foreign student, particularly due to her inability to communicate in English. However, Gloria received assistance in her language skills and was given the confidence to persevere by her teacher, Dorothy Collins.

Eventually, Gloria won the class reading prize and went on to study languages at University. She also built a highly successful international career in pop music. Said Gloria, “My year one teacher didn’t just teach me the language; she helped me find my voice.“

Finding God’s Favor (Room) to Flourish and be Blessed – (Genesis 26)

March 8, 2021 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 4 Comments

A visual of open spaces with sheep to signify God's favor on His children. — Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay

Finding God’s Favor – Introduction: Most people, especially those with a heart for adventure, like wide, open spaces. On our travels too, we prefer to move away from crowded cities looking for open spaces. We look for beaches, mountains, open roads, rivers etc to enjoy open spaces and the beauty of nature

In sporting events like rugby, soccer, cricket and basketball, when a team gives the opposing team additional room or extra space to make a move, it can lead to giving them an opportunity to score and maybe even win the game. I am reminded of Carlos Alberto’s legendary goal for Brazil in the final of the 1970 soccer World Cup. Yes, finding extra room can even be a deciding factor between victory and defeat.

Jesus – The Prince of Peace Still Transforms Lives (Isaiah 9:6-7)

February 23, 2021 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

The above video is taken off a sermon titled ‘Jesus- The Prince of Peace’ presented on December 27th, 2020, at the People’s Church in Colombo, Sri Lanka. A brief outline of the sermon is given below. Included in the sermon is a powerful life-changing story by Vanessa Perera at 16.11″ at and a beautiful Solo (‘O Holy Night’) by Melanie Bibile at 24.05″. Thanks to Mokshini Jayamanne for the sign language translation.

The Prince of Peace ( Isaiah 9:6-7)

Introduction:

Illustration to introduce topic
Reflect on the desperation in Isaiah’s time and the similarities in today’s situation
In Isaiah 9:1-2, the darkness and gloom is removed and the light comes shining through
Read Isaiah 9:6-7 and pray

Main Thought:

Only Jesus can bring true peace to individuals and society.

David’s Intercession During a National Crisis (1 Chronicles 21)

February 15, 2021 / Palitha Jayasooriya / 0 Comments

A visual of a devastated forest due to a calamity to indicate the need for intercession during a national crisis. — Image by FelixMittermeier from Pixabay

(This is an edited transcript of a sermon preached at The People’s Church in Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Good morning Friends, my message today is taken from 1 Chronicles Chapter 21 and it’s titled ‘David’s Intercession During a National Crisis’.

I am going to speak about a major crisis that came upon Israel that is reflected in the Old Testament. But before I go further, let’s read 1 Chronicles 21:26. It says, “David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.”

.David’s sacrifice mentioned here was a sacrifice of intercession. It was a sacrifice of intercession in the midst of a crisis. So today, as we look at whatever crisis situations we may be going through in our nation and in our own lives, may be there is something that God is leading us to by way of bringing a sacrifice of intercession towards Him.

I want to leave with you 5 points from this chapter about David’s intercessory sacrifice at this critical moment, and I pray that one, or two, or more of these points, will speak to your heart this morning. Whenever God’s Word is proclaimed, irrespective of who presents it, God speaks, and I believe that God will speak to all of you in some clear form or the other as I share from this passage.