Dear Church family,
This is a tough time that we are experiencing. We have all been affected by Covid-19 in some way. For some, it is a minor inconvenience, for others, there has been loss of income, days off work while waiting for results from a C-19 test. For others, maybe worrying about relatives in metro-Melbourne, or a parent facing home learning again. But as we face this crisis, it is my hope – and my belief that there is no better place to be than in the trustworthy and safe hands of God. We are in the middle of a crisis right now. We are buckling down for six weeks of stage three restrictions. There are more cases now in the Valley, and one even in Moe. I am not saying this to worry anybody – just to bring home that what we are facing is real. But the wonderful part of this is that we are facing this together. Even though we are unable to meet in person and have our usual weekly catch up, I do believe that through this time, mostly, we have been brought closer together. Who knows what the future holds? With or without the virus, life can be difficult. What do you think Jesus would say about this crisis? Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows”. We should not be surprised that sometimes life will get tough. We actually should expect them.
Let’s take a quick look at the life of Job. He had a great life. It was going so good – a great family, wealth and social status. He had it all. Until one day he lost everything in one fell swoop. A great storm reduced his business to almost nothing, and also killed his whole family. How quickly things have changed for us over the last few weeks. But like Job, we have a decision to make. Will I choose to trust God even when things are going wrong? Our first response might sound like Job, “my bitter soul must complain”. All the “Why’s”.
Henry Cloud says that in crisis, we experience the three “P’s”. The first P is “personal”. This crisis is very personal. It has affected each one of us in some way. The second “P” is “pervasive” where it seems that it affects everything around us. Our job, shopping, going to church, school. It is pervasive. The third “P” is “permanent”. We feel like this thing is never going to go away or never get better, or never be the same again. We might even question whether God knows how bad things are, or if he cares, or if he is answering our prayer. Like Job, I do believe in the goodness of God. I believe that God can always be trusted, even when life throws us these “detours”. Even when things are going wrong, we can trust God in the middle of every storm, every crisis, every situation or circumstance. “In this life you will have many trials, BUT TAKE HEART, because I have overcome the world”. Jesus says. He doesn’t promise us life will always be easy. But he does promise us that he will be victorious. He promises us that he will never leave us or forsake us. My decision is that I will trust God. Job was changed because of what he went through. He found the goodness of God even in his trials. My hope is that we will be different people for having gone through this crisis. Be open to change. Be open to grow. Be open to learn from the Holy Spirit through this experience. We will come through this because God can always be trusted. We can choose to trust God. We can choose to worship God. We can keep our eyes on Jesus. We can pray for one another. We can reach out and encourage one another. And please – reach out if you need encouragement. We are here for you.
God bless you as you look to him – our strength, our comfort and safe place in the storm.
Love and kindest regards,
Glenda.
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.