"Daughters Arise Ministries"

 DON'T PUSH YOUR LUCK! DON'T PUSH YOUR LUCK! Key Text: Romans 2:4 (KJV) “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Have you ever heard someone say, “Don't push your luck!”? Usually, those words come as a warning to someone who keeps taking chances, ignoring advice, or engaging in behaviour that could eventually have serious consequences. Recently, while crossing the road, I noticed a man puffing on a vape. I stopped, held his hand, and encouraged him to take care of himself. His response caught my attention. “Something has to take us home.” I agreed that we will all die someday, but I reminded him that smoking does not have to be what takes us there. He explained that he had stopped smoking cigarettes and was now vaping instead. I told him that both smoking and vaping carry health risks and that changing from one to the other does not mean the danger has disappeared. He ...

 WHO SEND YOU? WHO SEND YOU? Key Text: Jeremiah 23:21 (KJV) “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” Devotional Have you ever had someone come to you with a message, and after listening, you found yourself wondering, “Who send you?” Perhaps they claimed someone had sent them to tell you something. Or maybe they arrived with advice, instructions, or an opinion you never requested. Sometimes the message is helpful. Other times, you wonder whether the person was genuinely sent or simply decided to get involved. I remember something my Aunt Gwen said about the importance of knowing who called you. Her words reminded me of a powerful spiritual truth. Before you take on an assignment, you need to know who sent you! Sometimes people become involved in situations because they want recognition, influence, or control. Others take on responsibilities because someone pressured them, or because they believe they can do a better job than th...

Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church   NOT EVERYTHING IS YOURS! NOT EVERYTHING IS YOURS! Key Text: Romans 12:15 (KJV) “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be for some people to genuinely celebrate another person's success? Someone receives a promotion, and instead of congratulating them, the criticism begins. Someone is selected for a position, and suddenly others are questioning their qualifications. Someone receives recognition, an opportunity, or a blessing, and instead of rejoicing, people begin finding faults. Some even go further. They speak negatively about the person, attempt to undermine their efforts, or try to convince others that they could have done a better job. But here is something we need to remember. NOT EVERYTHING IS YOURS! Every opportunity was not designed for you. Every position does not have your name on it. Every assignment is not yours to fulfil. And th...

Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church  WHO FEELS IT KNOWS IT! WHO FEELS IT KNOWS IT! Key Text: Romans 12:15 (KJV) “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” There is a familiar Caribbean expression that carries a powerful message: “Who feels it knows it!” And how true those words are! Pain is something we cannot always fully understand, especially when we are not the ones experiencing it. What may seem insignificant to one person can be deeply hurtful to another. What one person recovers from quickly may take someone else months or even years to overcome. Yet sometimes we are quick to tell people how they should feel, how long they should grieve, or when they should move on. We say things like, “You should be over that by now,” “It's not that serious,” or “Other people have been through worse.” But have we considered how those words might affect someone who is already hurting? Just because something would not hurt you deeply does n...

Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church   MIND YOUR STEP! MIND YOUR STEP! Key Text: Proverbs 4:26 (KJV) “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” Have you ever heard someone say, “Mind your step!”? Perhaps you were walking along an uneven pathway, climbing some stairs, or approaching a slippery surface when someone warned you to be careful. Those three little words may have prevented you from falling or hurting yourself. But as I reflect on this familiar expression, I realize that it carries a much deeper spiritual lesson. Every step we take has the potential to affect more than just ourselves. As a leader, parent, and wife, I recognize how important it is to watch my steps. The decisions I make, the words I speak, and the actions I take can have far-reaching consequences. Sometimes we think a decision affects only us, but that is not always the case. A careless word can damage a relationship. An impulsive decision can affect ...

Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church  GET UP Key Text: John 5:8 (KJV) “Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” There are several remarkable accounts in the Bible where Jesus healed someone and instructed them to rise, get up, or move forward. To the man who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years, Jesus said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” To the paralytic brought by four men, He said, “Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” (Mark 2:11). These individuals had experienced conditions that restricted their movement, independence, and ability to live as they desired. But when Jesus intervened, something changed. They were no longer required to remain in the condition that had held them down. And I wonder how many of us today are still lying in situations, attitudes, or circumstances from which God is calling us to rise. Perhaps you have been knocked down by disappointment, betrayal, rejection, failure, or a...

  The Cleansing Process Key Text:  “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (KJV) Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church  I am not sure that all of us enjoy cleaning, but it is something that has to be done. Dust gathers. Dirt accumulates. Stains appear. Things that were once fresh and clean eventually need attention again. I have noticed that supermarket shelves are filled with cleaning products, all promising different results. Some promise to remove the toughest stains. Others promise to whiten, brighten, disinfect, restore or make things look new again. Sometimes these products work wonderfully. At other times, despite all their promises, they leave us disappointed and perhaps feeling that we have wasted our money. But there is another kind of cleansing that no product on a supermarket shelf can provide. It is the cleansing of the heart. Life has a way of leaving stains on us too. Sin, bitterness, a...

 SILENCE SILENCE Key Text: Psalm 46:10 (KJV) “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Sharon Campbell-Danvers Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church  How many of you enjoy silence? Silence is that moment when the noise stops, the conversations cease, the distractions fade, and everything becomes quiet. For some people, silence is uncomfortable. They enjoy vibrancy, activity, conversation, and the constant sound of something happening around them. The television must be on, music must be playing, or someone must be talking. Others treasure silence. They find peace in quiet surroundings, away from the demands and distractions of everyday life. I think I prefer a balance. I enjoy the laughter, excitement, and energy of being around people, but I also appreciate those precious moments when everything becomes still. And I have come to realize that some of the most meaningful moments in our relationship with God can happen ...

ASK Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church  Key Text: Matthew 7:7 (KJV) “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” It is often said that we have not because we ask not. Yet, if I am being truthful, there are moments when I hesitate to ask Jesus for certain things. Sometimes, even if only briefly, I wonder whether I am bothering Him or whether what I need is simply too much to ask. But then I remind myself: How can I possibly ask too much of the One who has already given everything for me? Jesus did not say, “Ask only when your problem is serious enough.” He simply said, “Ask.” What a powerful invitation! Yet many of us spend more time worrying about our problems than praying about them. We rehearse our difficulties, imagine the worst outcomes, and exhaust ourselves searching for solutions, while neglecting the One who invites us to come boldly before His throne. You cannot expect answers to requests y...

  Who Am I Pleasing? Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church  Key Text: “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 (KJV) As a scholar, I am diligent in completing my assignments. I take my studies seriously and desire to achieve good grades. Naturally, I appreciate positive feedback from my professors. There is satisfaction in knowing that the effort I have invested has been recognised. The same is true in the workplace. Many of us want the approval of our managers and colleagues. We want our work to be recognised and appreciated. Sometimes, however, the desire for recognition can go too far. People may even undermine others so that they can shine, receive the praise and appear to be the better worker. But when I really think about it, I am reminded that we must be careful not to miss the mark. There is nothing wrong with striving for excellence....

Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church  Heading in the Wrong Direction Key Text “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV) Recently, I was heading to a particular place when a telephone call with my husband revealed that the traffic was terrible. We agreed that instead of continuing with the journey, I would go home and do the errand another day. Initially, we had planned to meet at Foster's Supermarket so that I could collect the item I was supposed to take to that particular place. Since the plans had changed, there was no longer any reason for me to go to Foster's. I was supposed to be heading home. So, I headed home. Or at least, I thought I did. Some time later, I found myself at Foster's Supermarket. Then it dawned on me.  I had made the wrong turn. Although I knew that my destination had changed, I had automatically fol...