ABC News sheet 9th February 2020
This week, why not pray that God will open your eyes to see more of His power at work in you and in the world around you? Perhaps then you will understand why we should really always stand in “awe of Him”.
This week, why not pray that God will open your eyes to see more of His power at work in you and in the world around you? Perhaps then you will understand why we should really always stand in “awe of Him”.
Have you ever been labelled for something you have done, or perhaps even worse, for something you haven’t done? Labelling people is often hurtful, so thank God that in His eyes every one of us is special. Every one of us is beautiful. He loves every one of us! It’s what’s in your heart that matters to God.
This evening we will be holding our monthly Devotional Communion around the Communion table. Our text for this service is Isaiah 46:1-5 in which God reminds that He is the one who made us and carries us when we are struggling. He is the one who sustains and it He who has rescued us through. Now that really is worth remembering and celebration together. Please join us.
Today is our monthly family service and so, as you look around the congregation, you might spot some new faces. Do make them feel welcome and part of our family. As you look around, I am also sure that you won’t find anyone who is exactly the same as you. It is somewhat reassuring to know that we are all unique and, although we all made in God’s image, we are still all different. This is one of the many wonders of God’s creation. In our world people are often labelled by categories as it they were products on the shelf. Some labels are useful but labelling people can be misleading and even hurtful. It’s good to know that the LORD does not look at the things man looks at. He doesn’t label us in the way we do. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7) Today take the opportunity to see beyond the labels that we sometimes use to define people by and, in doing so, challenge the stereotypes that often go unquestioned. In God’s eyes every one of us is special. Every one of us is beautiful. He loves every one of us! It’s what’s in your heart that counts.
As we continue into this new decade, the leadership team and I have been praying for the Lord to give us His direction for the church. In particular, how can we turn our vision to love God, love each other and to love the lost into meaningful, Christ-like action. Over the last two weeks we looked at the first two pillars of our vision – Loving God. And Loving each other. In today’s talk, we will be looking at the third pillar – Loving the lost. In our reading today, Jesus teaches an expert in the Law, what it really means to love your neighbour as he tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It is a familiar story, but do we really take Jesus’ message to heart and live our lives accordingly?
This week we reach Mandate III of our vision statement as we are challenged by Jesus to love the lost. What do you intend to do about that this weekend?
This Sunday evening is our monthly slot for “Prayer and presence”. In these sessions, there is a short word intended to encourage us in our praying. In this evening’s reading from Leviticus, we read how God reveals that it is only by keeping His Divine laws that we will can move towards a state of holiness where will then be able to resist the corruption of modern day living. Further by striving
This we will be focusing on the second strand of the church’s vision. Loving each other. Now that doesn’t sound too difficult, does it? So why do we sometimes find it so difficult?
As we begin a new decade, the leadership team and I have been praying for the Lord to give us His direction for the church. In particular, how can we turn our vision to love God, love each other and to love the lost into meaningful, Christ-like action. Consequently, over the next three Sunday mornings, I will be talking about some very important fundamentals of how we believe we are meant to implement our vision into our every day lives. Please make every effort to be here for all the services. This morning, I will use Jesus’ visit to Mary and Martha as our starting point. Both of these women loved Jesus and delighted themselves in serving Him. One of these women was working her fingers to the bone, the other just simply sat at Jesus’ feet listening to His words. Martha, in being so busy, was actually neglecting her guest. Each one of us has to ask ourselves are we a Martha or a Mary. Are you so busy doing things for Jesus that you’re not spending any time with Him?
At the start of a new year, it is always a good idea to take time out for reflection on what lies ahead. It is an even better idea to spend this time in the Lord’s company and see what He has to say. Maybe He is telling you to STOP being so busy and SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIM. You will be surprised how much more you will then accomplish in 2020.