messages
We have been talking a bit about attitudes lately. Interesting how our real
heart attitudes come out when we are stressed, anxious and under
pressure. I know these are difficult times, and each day is filled with
uncertainty and often with bad news of further restrictions, illness and
sometimes death. It can be depressing. But let‟s remember that God is for
us. He is our Great encourager, and our refuge.
When David was under great pressure, the Bible says, “he encouraged
himself in the Lord.” (1 Samuel 30:6) David had been out fighting wars and
generally doing warrior kingly things, when he and his men came home to
Ziklag, discovering the women and children, including his own had been
carried off by the Amalekites. Everyone, including David, was distressed.
The men were weeping and wailing and threatening to stone David. But
David went to God with the problem. He asked God what to do, and God
encouraged him, giving him a strategy for recovering all that had been
stolen from him. The adventures of David make great reading – but more
than that, I find it really encouraging to see how, even though he made many
mistakes, and though life was not always fair, he always came back to God –
even when he had sinned, and even when his friends betrayed him, and
even when people let him down. The one constant in his life was the Lord.
This is reflected in so many of the Psalms, (Psalm 31 and 71 for example).
David says, “In you O Lord do I put my trust”. This has to be our “go to”
attitude.
When things are challenging, difficult, or seemingly out of our control, we
can take refuge in our God, and be strengthened by His word, and encouraged
by His presence. How about reading a Psalm a day through August –
just for fun – and for encouragement.
Be blessed,
With love from Glenda
Prayer Points
This week, please pray for those who are ill and those who are in nursing homes, unable
to have visitors at the moment.
We must also continue to uphold our Premier and Prime Minister as they continue to lead
our nation through this pandemic.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7). Jesus’ mandate to the church is to “love God and love others”. One of the biblical pictures of the church is “the Bride”. You can’t say you love Jesus, and not love His church. If you truly love Jesus, you will also love His church and desire to be intimately connected with other followers of Christ. This is our Spiritual family. This is the heart of God. Ephesians chapter 5 talks about the relationship between a husband and wife and compares it to Christ‟s relationship with the church. Verse 32 says, “this is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you must also love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Jesus wants us to enact the same love He has for us by showing that love for one another. The heart of God longs for people to know His love for them and allow that love to flow out to others. Romans 5:5 says that when we accept God’s love for us, it flows through us. As His love flows through us it purifies our motives and helps to make sure that the very foundations of the church are built on the practice of loving God and loving others.
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
We, the church, are called to be witnesses of God’s love to the world. The best witness we can be is to love one another as Christ has loved us.
God bless, have a great week.
Love to you all,
Glenda.
I read a statement today from Christine Caine about stepping out and taking risks. There are times when God leads us into a new path. It may seem like it will take more effort, or create more responsibility, but when God brings an opportunity, he will give us the wherewithal to do the job he is requiring of us. She says, “We often fail to take risks because we don’t want to risk failure. After three decades of leading diverse organisations, large and small, here’s what I know. You will have to take risks to fulfil purpose and you will sometimes fail. You’ll survive. Go ahead, take that risk.”
When we step out in faith, we do not always know what the result will be. Sometimes God calls us out of our comfort zone, to walk unchartered territory. We can feel unsure of ourselves, and even doubt our capabilities. But I know that who God has called he will equip, anoint and empower. Like Abraham called trust God to provide the sacrifice, or Moses, leading his people out of Egypt, or Peter stepping out onto the water, we can choose to step out in faith and trust God with the outcome. Like God said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
I do believe this is a season where God is calling people out of their comfort zone, and leading them to try something new – to take a step that perhaps will lead up a path that seems unfamiliar, or to do a job you feel ill equipped to handle. I want to encourage you, that this may be one of those times to “go ahead and take that risk,” and see what God will do.
Have a great week.
Blessings
Glenda
The Apostle Paul went through some hard times. Shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonment. Time after time, God spoke to Paul in the middle of his trials and tribulations. He was in jail in Jerusalem when Jesus told him, “Be courageous” (Acts 23:11). Paul told Timothy (2 Tim4:16) “All deserted me…but the Lord stood by me”. In Acts 27, the Lord came and spoke to Paul in the middle of a storm and assured him it would all be ok. That is why Paul could accept God’s word to him in 2 Corinthians 12::8 after he had pleaded with the Lord to take away what he called “a thorn in the flesh”. God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”.
During this season when circumstances seem to be changing on a daily basis – just when you think things are going to get better, they get worse again, may I encourage you with the words of Paul. He said that he could endure the things that happened to him, because God’s power could work best in his weaknesses. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
I pray that you will be continually strengthened and encouraged by the word of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Remember God’s strength is shown when we admit our weakness and allow him to work on our behalf to bring about the victory. The Corona Virus may seem like Paul’s thorn in the side – we have prayed, and proclaimed, and declared, but it has continued to wreak havoc, especially in our state capital. Remember the other thing Paul said, “I have learnt whatever state I am in to be content”. (:-) ).
Sometimes, we need to just remember, whether we are in the storm, or whether things are going well, he is with us, and will bring us through. How has God shown you his strength throughout this season? It is through adversity that we find out what we are really made of. We develop our spiritual faith muscles and build our character and grow up inside as we learn how to face difficulty, depending on God’s grace.
Why don’t you take a few moments to slow down, breath, reflect, listen, and see what God is saying to you as you face this crisis, not alone, but with Jesus’ grace to strengthen and encourage you.
Pastor Glenda
Hi New Life Family,
I hope you have been enjoying the winter sunshine. It is nice to be able to get out into the fresh air in between the icy mornings and cool evenings.
This Sunday we are inducting Keith Weigold into eldership, alongside his faithful wife, Jean. We are so pleased to invite them to be a part of the governance team of the church. The elders’ mission is to lead, teach, protect and love their church members the way shepherds care for the sheep in a flock, so that the church members will grow up into spiritual maturity (Ephesians 4:11-13). Shepherding God’s people is part of the role of pastors and elders in the church, as they work side by side in service of the body of Christ. We always find elders (plural) in New Testament churches (e.g. Acts 15:4; 20:17; Titus 1:5) Each congregation should have a team of pastors or elders – the word is always in the plural. The elder should be set an example of a godly household, being faithful to his wife, and raising his children to follow Christ. We have been so blessed to have Keith and Jean as members of our church and pray God’s blessing on them both as Keith takes on this role alongside Steve, Barrie and myself.
This week we have been saddened by the loss of two people. We send our condolences to the family and close friends of Molly Keely. Molly’s ever- present smile and slightly naughty sense of humour would brighten up every conversation. She will be sadly missed.
We also think of Karen Harley and her family who said goodbye to their beautiful son, Damon (Lorna’s grandson). Our love and thoughts go out to you all. May God bless you at this time and be your peace and comfort in the coming days.
As we begin to prepare for a new season of growth and fruitfulness, I pray that this week you will all be able to take some time out to rest, reflect and be refreshed as you wait on the Lord. As the Pandemic still causes so much anxiety and uncertainty and frustration, I can only encourage you to keep leaning in to Jesus. He says, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matt 11:28 Have a great week.
Blessings
Glenda
Hi there, New Life Family.
Well, these are really changing times, arent they? Last week we were getting ready to open services to accommodate up to 50 people, but within the space of a few days, restrictions were reintroduced, and now we are back to having only 20 people in a worship service, or church related meeting. Home meetings are restricted to only 5 guests in the house. At this stage, we are happy for people to attend Sunday services on site, but would ask that you please just phone ahead and let us know you are coming in case we have to prepare the overflow room for extras. In the meantime, we hope you are enjoying the online services. We have had lots of folk call as a result of the live-stream services, requesting prayer and making enquiries. I do believe that this element of our ministry will be an ongoing part of life at MNLCC. We are also encouraging you to gather in small groups for communion and Bible study, and of course fellowship. Remember to observe the physical distancing guidelines, and health and safety protocols such as hand-washing and sanitising surfaces. And please – don’t be offended – but please stay at home if you are at all unwell – you are welcome to call and we will pray for you and organise a home visit if you require. We certainly care about you, and the pastors and leadership team are working hard to meet the pastoral needs of the church. We would love to hear from you! We would also love to hear your stories and testimonies.
Let me recap a little from Psalm 121. “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains – from where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”
Jesus looked at a mountain as well. He told his disciples they could speak to the mountain and it would be cast into the sea. There are mountains to face. There are storms to ride out. But God is the One who watches over his people, he doesn’t sleep – not even a nap! He knows what we are going through, and he says he is there to help us through it. I will not focus on the problems, the issues, the virus, the unrest, the economy, the uncertainty. I will keep my eyes on Jesus. I will do what I see him doing and say what I hear him saying. He is bigger than any battle you may be facing. And he promises to be there in the shadows and the valleys. He watches over our going out and our coming in.
May God continue to bless you and keep you in these coming days.
Lots of love to you each one.
Glenda
Here is a good old song that may cheer you up. It is a bit of an “ear worm”, so only listen to it if you want to be singing it the rest of the day! 🙂
https://youtu.be/2KiDj7qGL10
Dear Church family,
Greetings to everyone. I hope this letter finds you well and that you are rejoicing in the love of Jesus as days go by.
Things are beginning to move, and we are along the way to being able to re-open the doors of our church to our regular attenders and the wider community. We are closely following the government protocols and guidelines for our health and community safety. From June 22nd, we are officially allowed to have up to 50 people in a public gathering. However, we still have to comply with the 4 square feet per person rule. This means that in the space we have available in our church hall, we can still only have up to 30 people meeting at one time. Therefore, we are asking that if you would like to attend either in the morning service, or you can take part in the afternoon Churchill service (which is still being live-streamed from Moe) that you call or text either Steve or myself to reserve a place for you and your family. We are considering creating an “overflow” room with live-streaming to the dining room, and possibly to the small hall depending on demand. We are also looking at the possibility of multiple services.
So, the plan is as follows as from June 22nd
* Small groups and home fellowships can meet, as long as the numbers do not exceed 20 people, (including children) and social distancing, sanitising and signing in procedures are being followed. Rooms must be cleaned and sanitised before you leave.
* Sunday Services can accommodate up to 30 attendees, with extra room for “overflow” if necessary. The same personal-distancing, sanitising and signing in rules will apply. We would love to prioritise people who have not been able to access on-line services.
* On-line services will continue for the foreseeable future, with live streaming on Sunday morning and later available on you tube and our web-site. Also, the Churchill service in the afternoon at 2.00 will be live-streamed until their venue is open to the public.
* Please book ahead if you intend to attend Sunday services.
* Please stay at home if you are unwell. We love you and care about you, but not your germs!
* If you would like to clarify any of this information please call Steve, Sandie or Glenda.
Don’t forget there are many people doing it tough out there. Joan is collecting knitted beanies, scarves and gloves for the homeless. Please drop them off to the church for collection and distribution.
Remember that the Lord is calling us to get ready for the move forward. It is time to wake up and prepare for the time ahead. Are you weary? Are you sad? Remember what Isaiah the prophet says, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless….But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.”
I hope to see you all in the near future. In the meantime, may God bless and keep you in his loving care.
Pastor Glenda
Our world is being shaken, there is no doubt. We have seen natural disasters, bushfires, the Coronavirus pandemic, and now recently protests, riots and injustice. Some of these things are quite out of our control. How do we, as Christians, deal with these things. I have heard it said, it is not the things that happen to us that test us, so much as how we respond to them. When we see injustice, it is right to see it and call it, and do something about it. Jesus did this as he walked this earth. He exposed injustice, and time and again, he lifted people up and helped them and others to see their dignity and worth. Sometimes it is right to get angry over issues – but then we are left with a decision to make – how do I respond? The Bible says, “be angry and sin not. Don‟t let the sun go down on your anger, and don‟t make room for the devil”. Anger can cloud our judgement and cause us to react in destructive ways that can create more problems, and not deal with the real issues. In these challeng-ing times, I am sure we have become a bit frustrated and angry at the things going on around us. But that is not a reason to take it out on the people around us. Whether it is in our own homes, or whether we feel strongly about the things going on around us – the racial tensions, the riots and unrest in America – these things can produce very large emotions within us. But there is one thing we can do to help alleviate those feelings of anger and frustration. We can pray. We can look to our Heavenly Father and see the example that Jesus set for us. We can take time to pray for all people – both sides of the argument. We can pray for those in leadership and ask for wisdom and direction for them that we may live in peace and safety, and live quiet lives in godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:2) We can lead by example, offering love, compassion and forgiveness to others. We can be compassionate, kind, and look for ways to live God‟s righteousness and show his mercy. (Micah 6:8). There may be times we need to speak up. I pray that then we will speak in the wisdom, truth and love of God‟s word, and not out of our own opinions or mis-guided theology.
I pray that you will have a great week ahead. As things are getting back to a bit more “normal” we are loving opportunities to get together in small groups. I encourage you to keep in touch. If you are feeling disconnected, please remember there are people who love and care about you. Let us know how you are doing. Our church community is so much wider than just our Sunday service, and there will be someone who can reach out, visit with you, give you a call and encourage you, and we can point you to a small group that you might like to attend at least until our meetings go back to normal. If you would like to attend the Sunday Service, please contact us, as numbers are still restricted.
Blessings as always,
Glenda
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Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. It is a day that we celebrate the birth of the church as the Holy Spirit was poured out, firstly on the 120 in the upper room, then on the church as the gospel spread, people responded and were transformed by Holy Spirit power. Jesus promised he would send the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-17. He would be an advocate, to help and be with us forever – Jesus called him the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit would come to live with us and in us. While it is great celebrate on Pentecost Sunday, I just want us to pause and reflect on the fact that as a Pentecostal church, every Sunday is Pentecost. Let us be known as a Spirit filled church, moving in Holy Ghost love, power and authority to see our Community renewed and transformed as we live out the great mandate to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.”
We are getting closer to the time we can meet together onsite at MNLCC, but It will be some time yet before we can be together as a whole community. We must remember that even though we cannot yet meet physically together, we are united by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit breaks down every barrier between us – culturally, economically, geographically, to make us into one body – the Body of Christ. We are united in Christ through the Holy Spirit, and held together with the bond of peace. Let us be intentional as we pray for one another, and care for one another through this challenging season. We will be back together soon – and oh, what a celebration that will be. But until then, let us continue to uphold one another, care for and comfort one another, and “make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” (Ephesians 4:3 NLT)
Pastor Glenda
Hi everyone,
Well, officially, I am on time off. Can‟t really say “holidays” as I‟m not really going anywhere. My aim is to have some time off, not because I am in self-isolation, or forced lockdown, but just because I think it is important to have some time to think, to pray, and to seek the Lord about what life for us as a church community is going to look like as we emerge from Covid19 quarantine.
We look forward to meeting more and more in person, but I am sure that church online will continue to be an important part of our future. The eldership, the leader-ship team, and the management team are all in discussion over the coming weeks to form a road map for our journey back to “normal” whatever that looks like for us. I hope you will pray with me as we make decisions about who and how and when and what and why, and which meetings will resume, and which to let go, and maybe some new things we haven‟t even thought of yet. “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). I believe the Lord has a plan and a purpose in mind. These words were written in a letter to encourage people in exile. Jeremiah told them to look forward to the future. He said, live well while you are there – plant crops, marry, have children. But there will be a day when you will no longer be in exile, but a time of spiritual and material prosperity will come to those who listen to the Lord and obey wholeheartedly. We need to just rest in his plans and follow his instructions as we discover what they are and how they should come to pass. We ask for your patience, your support and your prayers as these decisions are made, and as we work towards our future. It is going to be good. It is going to be exciting.
I believe that we will see fruit, and increase and new leadership emerging, and new people attending. But just like building a house, we need to consider all the elements involved and how all things will fit together. We will not be having open meetings for a while, even though we can have up to twenty people attending. We need to make sure there are good health and safety protocols to follow, and that we will not be creating problems or issues. In the next couple of weeks, we will make it clear who can attend, and how that will happen.
In the meantime, may God bless you, and may your life be filled with his joy and peace, and His blessings be on you and your family.
With love,
Glenda