New Year Resolution

So, for my New Year’s resolution, as Paul said, let us determine only ONE THING: “I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. … And that I may actually be found and known as in Him, not having any self-achieved righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands, but possessing that genuine righteousness which comes through faith in Christ.
For my determined purpose (New Year’s resolution) is that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection (His life), and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His likeness.”

Phillipians 3:8-10

Revival

"Sow righteousness, reap love. It's time to till the ready earth, it's time to dig in with GOD, until he arrives with righteousness ripe for harvest." Hosea 10:12

How interested are we in praying to the Lord and truly worshipping His Holy Name?

How interested are we in growing in God's truth and knowing Him deeply?

How interested are we in gaining a greater knowledge and understanding of His Word?

And just how interested are we in sharing those precious things with the dying world around us?

Revival is something that needs to happen daily.

It's an ongoing transformation of our hearts to be constantly moved by the Spirit of God.

We need to be daily breaking up our fallow ground, those places in our hearts which we've allowed to grow hard.

We have to ask the Lord to reveal those hard places, pray that He would forgive us and ask Him to heal all our rough edges that we might be soft before Him and sensitive to His leading.

Let's get serious about getting ourselves revived!

The world needs to see us flourishing!

There's so much work to be done!

What a wonderful world!

WOW - ht Andrew Bale

Merry Christmas!!!

It's Christmas!

Mr Bean Christmas

This is Christmas

God bless Santa

Christmas Glitter Graphics

Carolling YAY !!!

The rain was steady - the wind couldn't make up its mind which way to blow - keeping music in place was an art in itself - it was so enjoyable - the comraderie - the obvious pleasure of the shoppers - not to mention the staff in Coles - heaps of calendars shared - so despite the weather - joy abounded - the Christmas spirit was in full swing - lots heard the message of Christmas!

The Days Before Christmas

Twas the days before Christmas, and all through the church

The pews are all filling, as everyone perched.

The hands are all shaking, and greetings abound

Soon I’ll go to the pulpit, prepared to expound.

I spent the whole week trying to hear what God’s saying

Studying, reading, and earnestly praying

The choir has practiced and taken great care

Their singing this morning, for weeks they’ve prepared

We’ve had Christmas sermons of angels and wise men

Of shepherds and mangers, no room at the inn

I pray that this week, the message will do

The job of moving the folks from the pew

But I must keep it brief. I must watch my time

For at noon I will hear the watches all chime

This is a season so full of distractions

But we know that this world has no satisfaction

If we don’t share the Gospel of Christ

Not just his birth, but his paying our price

If we speak of the manger, but not of the cross

The fullness of Jesus somehow gets lost

This Christmas season, do Jesus a favour

Make it a season to share Christ the Saviour

Contributed by: Don Procunier

Christmas busy - ness

Yesterday [Sunday] was another busy day.

Worship @ 9:30 am ~ we looked at the 'praising shepherds' - these were one of the lowest-paid, lowest-status jobs of the time - yet God chose to tell them first - so the question was asked 'Did people's attitudes change towards the shepherds?' The answer 'no' - but the shepherds did change - it's the same for us.

Carolling @ 11:30 am ~ Maryvale private hospital [a lovely courtyard setting] - how wonderful it was to sit and play carols - a great time of worshipping God.

Pick up @ 12:30 pm ~ the Presbyterians as part of their morning worship had a toy giving segment and these were donated to us to give out to those needing them. What a delightful group of faithful saints!

Carolling @ 3 pm ~ Gracedale nursing home [we were most welcomed] - what a privilege is ours to be welcomed into so many people's homes - the hospitality is amazing!

Anglican's @ 7:30 pm ~ we helped the city band at this carols by candlelight service held inside the church - a bit liturgical as is their way - a bit strange though at supper time where champagne was served - for me it seemed a little out of place - but for them so natural - a great time of fellowship!

A busy day 'yes' ~ a day full of worship 'yes'!

The Lord still lives in this old house

I'm a bit of a J D Sumner fan [some of you probably have no idea who he was] - he was probably the best ever bass singer. He was a one time holder of a Guinness world record honouring the lowest bass note ever reached, he was the driving force behind the Stamps Quartet, which earned secular renown as the long time vocal support for Elvis Presley. Born November 19, 1924 - he died in his sleep on November 16, 1998 - just three days short of his 74th birthday.

J D said, his brother was the preacher, his sister the testify-er, and he was just the singer - here are the words of the song he sang in those latter years - a great testimony to have!

“If this earthly tabernacle should be devolved today, I’d trade it for a finer one that would not pass away, But till the day arrives when it’s time for moving out, It’s such a joy to know the Lord still lives in this old house.

The sweetest fellowship I’ve known has fortified these walls, And peace has reigned since he’s been walking up and down the halls With snow upon the roof top now, and these hinges near worn out, It is such sweet peace to know the Lord still lives in this old house.

(Refrain) To him it’s been a dwelling place where he’s kept my hand in his. To me a home away from home is all it really is. It sure ain’t fine and fancy and all I can boast about, Is after all these years the Lord still lives in this old house.

Now there’ve been times he had the right just to up and move away And there have been days and night it took God’s amazing grace to stay But he never left this old building once, which is why I can sing and shout, That after all these years the Lord still lives in this old house.”

Asleep in the night