"Daughters Arise Ministries"

Would Jesus Turn Back for Me? Key Text: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."   Hebrews 13:2 Leaving home on a particular Friday morning for work, my sister gave me $25 to pick up something on my way back from the hair shop. I thought it was unusual because the shop was out of my way, but I took the money and hoped I would remember to buy the hair spray later. As I was driving to where the staff meeting would be held, a man signaled for the vehicle to stop, but I kept driving. Then I heard a quiet prompting in my spirit: Turn back. I responded to that nudge, turned around, and picked him up. As we drove, the man began sharing how much his country had changed. As a senior citizen, he had seen a lot in life and had much to say. He also shared about his medical issues and how he was unsure if there was money left on his card, but he was going to Foster's because he believed people there knew him and would help if needed...

Why Not Now? Key Text: "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near."  Isaiah 55:6 During worship, a question was asked that caused deep reflection: If you knew Jesus was coming right now, what three things would you change? Many shared heartfelt answers, asking forgiveness, repenting, praying more, reconciling with others, telling family members to surrender their lives to God, and making things right while there is still time. Then came the deeper question: What is hindering us from doing these things now? That question reaches the heart. We know life is uncertain. We are losing loved ones around us, yet many still live as though there will always be another day, another chance, another tomorrow to get serious with God. But tomorrow is not promised. Sometimes, if we are honest, we know that if Jesus appeared this very moment, we might want to run and hide. We might ask for more time to fix what we delayed, to surrender what we held back, to bec...

by: Dr. Alicia Valasse-Polius Odsan SDA Church; St. Lucia  Key Text: “...the God of glory thundereth...the voice of the Lord is powerful...” Psalm 29: 3-4 I’ve learnt the sight, sounds and feel of the ocean, having lived near it for decades. In storms, waves thunder and unruly surf slams sandbars, seemingly obeying no one. In the calm, swashes rush up the shore, wind waves swamp campsites and ripples move idly, seemingly obeying no one. Across polytheistic religions, man worshipped gods that presumably ruled over the elements of nature. Renowned in the Canaanite and Phoenician cultures, was Baal [Hadad], the storm and fertility god - a frequent adversary of the God of Israel (1 Kings 18; 1 Kings 16:30 – 33). In this context of brazen apostasy, David pens the “Psalm of the Storm”, a hymn of praise affirming God as one who commands nature’s inexorable power - Psalm 29. The apostate world presented Baal [Hadad] as lord over nature’s elements, the giver of rain, necessary for food and...

Safe Into God’s Harbour "Be still, and know that I am God."   Psalm 46:10 How many times have you experienced a rough season in your life? Seasons where the winds seemed relentless and the waves would not settle. So often life can feel like rough seas, where we are tossed to and fro by burdens, disappointments, uncertainty, and fear. Yet think about this: if we were literally at sea in the middle of a storm, we would not give up easily. We would fight for survival. We would hold on to every thread of hope. We would search for help. We would not surrender without a fight. Why then, when life becomes stormy, do we sometimes feel ready to let go so quickly? The same determination we would show in physical waters is needed in spiritual storms. Hold on. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep praying. Keep moving toward the One who calms the sea. God offers a harbour stronger than the storm. His invitation is not first to strive, but to be still. Stillness is not weakness, it is confi...

Rest Before You Run Scripture “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 As a former athlete, I understand the importance of not starting a race already tired. But the reality was that I often competed in multiple events. I would do long jump and shot put, then run the heats for the 100 and 200 meters. By the time I reached the semifinals or finals, I was physically exhausted. That is the same feeling many of us may be experiencing as we approach a new year. The truth is, we are tired- mentally, financially, emotionally, and physically. Life has demanded much from us, and the weight of those demands has left us weary. This verse reminds us that Jesus is fully aware of our exhaustion. He does not call us to push harder or run faster on empty. Instead, He invites us to come to Him. Rest, according to Jesus, is not found in stopping alone, but in surrendering. Laying down our burdens and allowing Him to restore us. Before we run into what ...

  by Dr. Terry-Ann Robinson Key Text : “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”   Isaiah 26:3 There is a stillness that can be found only on an island, surrounded by the gentle hush of the sea. Yet, for much of my life, true stillness and peace felt out of reach. The very idea of faith seemed passive to me; something for those unwilling to take action. I saw faith as a crutch, an excuse for inaction, a fallback for those who had mismanaged their lives and now expected God to intervene. So, I worked. I planned. I prayed, but my prayers were hollow, emptied of trust. I believed that if I simply tried hard enough, I could control the outcome. Still, despite my efforts, my heart was restless. Anxiety became my constant companion. Accomplishments stacked up, but peace remained a stranger. But then, in the quiet moments spent with Jesus, I discovered a truth that changed everything: faith is not passive. Faith is th...

Lamentations 3:22–23 (KJV) : “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church    I remember one morning not too long ago. I woke up before the sun had fully risen, and everything felt heavy. Not loud, not chaotic, just a quiet kind of heaviness that sits on your chest. The kind you cannot easily explain. The house was still. No noise. No distractions. Just me, my thoughts, and that weight from the day before that I had not quite shaken off. I walked over to the window and pulled the curtain slightly. The sky was just beginning to change, that soft mix of grey and gold. And for a moment, I just stood there, breathing. No prayers yet. No words. Just stillness. Then this verse came to mind: “His mercies are new every morning…” And I remember thinking, even this morning? Even after yesterday did not go the way I h...

by: Dr. Terry-Ann Robinson Key Text: “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39  Recently, I watched a mother and her daughter. The little girl, around seven years old, asked her mother for something. The answer was no. The girl sulked, her disappointment clear, though she never uttered a word of protest her posture spoke volumes.  How do we respond when God tells us no? What is our posture when, after pouring out our hearts in prayer, the answer seems to be silence or even a firm no?  Storm-proof faith is not about getting what we want. It is about trusting the One who knows what is best, even when His answer is not what we had hoped. It is faith that remains steady in the waiting, unwavering in disappointment, and anchored even when the winds howl and the waves threaten.  Jesus did not promise a life free of storms. He promised His presence in every storm. When the discip...

  Injection Fear Key Scripture:  Isaiah 53:5-  “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Sharon Campbell-Danvers Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church How many people struggle with injections or blood tests? For some, it is never simple. Veins are hard to find, and what should be quick often turns into multiple attempts. There is always that quiet tension, the bracing for pain, the anticipation of another needle. On this particular morning, it took four needles. Sitting there, wincing yet trying to remain still, the moment shifted from discomfort to reflection. Watching the blood slowly fill the small container brought a deeper awareness. It became impossible not to think about Jesus and the blood He shed. His suffering was not clinical or controlled. He was not pierced with sterile needles. He was pierced with rough nails. The purpose was not to draw blood. ...

   by: Terry-Ann Robinson Key Text: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9   Have you ever noticed how people light up when mango season comes around? Julie mango, East Indian, Number 11, Black mango—everybody has a favorite. At practice, school, or after church, somebody always has a bag to share. Some people eat theirs right away. Others save it to make juice, or to relax and eat later. But here’s the thing about mango season— it always comes with flies . Just when you’re enjoying your mango, here they come buzzing around, trying to steal your focus. They’re annoying, distracting, and just won’t leave you alone. Still, most of us aren’t about to drop our mango just because of them. Life with Jesus can feel like that. When you decide to grow closer to God—pray more, read your Bi...

  by: N. Blackmore Key Text: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree…” – Book of Psalms 92:12 There is something remarkable about a palm tree. Here in the islands, I’ve watched them stand through strong winds and storms. They bend, sometimes almost to the ground, but they do not break. When the storm passes, they rise again still rooted, still standing. The palm tree has become an object lesson for my life. Strength is not always about standing rigid; sometimes it is about learning how to bend without losing my foundation. There are seasons when life feels like strong winds responsibilities, pressures, quiet struggles no one else sees. In those moments, I am reminded that true strength is not found in myself, but in being deeply rooted in Christ. The palm tree survives because its roots run deep. And so must mine. Ellen G. White writes in Steps to Christ : “The closer you come to Jesus, the faultier you will appear in your own eyes…” That reminds me th...