Dear Customers,

After the last newsletter about advertising, Valentine’s Day is going to be a case in point. Back-to-school advertising is done, so the next commercial onslaught is Valentine’s Day. It’s all very festive when all the shops are decorated in red, but of course, it’s all a lure to buy more. There’s nothing with buying loved ones gifts, but the pressure to buy on a certain day – implying you’re mean if you don’t – rubs me up the wrong way.

To state the obvious, we live in very stressful times. We need encouragement; we need to be strengthened in our Lord. Chocolates and roses are feel-good stuff for a moment, but the Word of the Lord has lasting value. Be a true lover – a lover of the soul – and encourage your loved ones to seek and find Christ daily.

Last night in our Isaiah studies, we came to chapters 38-41. Chapter 40 is a wonderful picture of the power and magnificence of God, echoing that given in Job chapters 38-41. This omnipotent, omniscient, almighty God is the kind, loving wondrous God who picks us up in hard times with the beautiful words of Isaiah 40: 29-31:

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Oh, my fellow believers, be encouraged in the Lord: our politics, financial difficulties, illnesses and stresses are all as nothing when compared to the grace and hope our Lord gives us. This is not to belittle our trials, but to magnify our Lord who takes us through them. Pull these truths deep into your soul and then pass them on to others who need to be encouraged in the Lord. Hope in the Lord is surely the best gift you can give your loved ones. Give generously!

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CSB Bibles: many of you have been asking after the new CSB. We finally have a variety in stock. Our supplier lists 144 variations of the CSB! We are obviously not able to stock all of these, but have chosen 16 of these as listed below. If you want teen or kids’ bibles, or a different colour variation, these are all available at CUM book stores.

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