By the way, I learnt that the phrase "Out of the mouth of babes..." actually originates from the Bible, as mentioned in Psalm 8:2 (KJV). How cool is that!Exodus 15:26 (MSG) ~ "I am God your healer"
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
Out Of The Mouth Of Babes
I couldn't resist publishing this fabulously cute yet sincere "get well" greeting for Dabak from our friend's daughter, Taylor. It certainly says it all!
By the way, I learnt that the phrase "Out of the mouth of babes..." actually originates from the Bible, as mentioned in Psalm 8:2 (KJV). How cool is that!
Exodus 15:26 (MSG) ~ "I am God your healer"
By the way, I learnt that the phrase "Out of the mouth of babes..." actually originates from the Bible, as mentioned in Psalm 8:2 (KJV). How cool is that!Exodus 15:26 (MSG) ~ "I am God your healer"
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Boundless Bounty
In our age of information and knowledge, it is perhaps considered by most people narrow and limited to express the view that God is the only One who can fully equip us. Nowadays there is so much we can do to skill ourselves in life. But let's face it, most of our self-skilling relates to "head-knowledge" (temporal) and what I'm referring to here is "heart-knowledge" (eternal). While man is finite, God is infinite.
An anonymous someone once quoted these words that are now familiar sermon material:
"God doesn't always call the equipped, but He always equips the called".
How does that thought sit with you?
I'm certainly encouraged to know that, even when I reach the limit of my own resources, God is there waiting to empower and strengthen me with the inspirational resource of His boundless grace. Hallelujah!
SASB 579 (verse 3) ~
An anonymous someone once quoted these words that are now familiar sermon material:
"God doesn't always call the equipped, but He always equips the called".
How does that thought sit with you?
I'm certainly encouraged to know that, even when I reach the limit of my own resources, God is there waiting to empower and strengthen me with the inspirational resource of His boundless grace. Hallelujah!
SASB 579 (verse 3) ~
"When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun."
words by: Annie Johnson Flint
Monday, 12 March 2007
Incredible Plate Diet
A friend of ours, Jennei, with whom we have shared special moments such as her marriage and dedication of her children, featured tonight in a TV appearance on Channel Nine's A Current Affair.
Click on the link below to share in this good news story of her personal weight loss achievement.
http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?g=70E54456-9CE4-43B5-AFC7-6060D484BDAE&f=&fg=email
Congratulations Jennei! You're an inspiration.
And, by the way, pass me the plate...
Click on the link below to share in this good news story of her personal weight loss achievement.
http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?g=70E54456-9CE4-43B5-AFC7-6060D484BDAE&f=&fg=email
Congratulations Jennei! You're an inspiration.
And, by the way, pass me the plate...
Sunday, 11 March 2007
Eternally Empowered
In giving further consideration to Paul's writings from Ephesians 1, we look at his pastoral prayer in verses 15-23. Read them for yourself sometime and see just how fitting they are in acknowledging that we are all eternally empowered to live blessed lives.
This positive passage is imperative to all Christian believers and makes it quite clear that we are all EQUIPPED BY GOD, STRENGTHENED IN JESUS and SUSTAINED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT ~ not only for the present, but for the future hope of our inheritance!
Ephesians 1:17-18 (MSG) ~ "I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory, to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him ~ endless energy, boundless strength!"
This positive passage is imperative to all Christian believers and makes it quite clear that we are all EQUIPPED BY GOD, STRENGTHENED IN JESUS and SUSTAINED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT ~ not only for the present, but for the future hope of our inheritance!
Ephesians 1:17-18 (MSG) ~ "I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory, to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him ~ endless energy, boundless strength!"
Friday, 9 March 2007
Here's To IT!
Custom shows, hyperlinking and nudging... these are just some of the Information Technology (IT) terms we explored today at the Powerpoint Intermediate course conducted by John Beverin (IT Trainer) at THQ. Sounds technical, but it was really quite skillful.
Whether we are up with technology or not, we come across it everyday and, more often than not, benefit from its use. Take for instance, the use of the data projector during church services to aid us in our experience of worship. Each week at Inala Chapel, we are grateful for its ability to communicate visually what is not always understood audibly.
By the way, spiritually-speaking, always remember that JESUS CTRL+Ss ('saves')!
Whether we are up with technology or not, we come across it everyday and, more often than not, benefit from its use. Take for instance, the use of the data projector during church services to aid us in our experience of worship. Each week at Inala Chapel, we are grateful for its ability to communicate visually what is not always understood audibly.
By the way, spiritually-speaking, always remember that JESUS CTRL+Ss ('saves')!
Thursday, 8 March 2007
Leaving Behind A Legacy
The following poem was referred to today as I conducted the funeral service for a former resident of Inala Village, with whom we had associations through our chaplaincy ministry.
"You can shed tears that he is gone
Or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on."
I was reminded that the way people respond to grief is purely individual. Despite our sympathetic words or kind actions, we ultimately don't have any control over their emotions or responses. We can only control what happens to ourselves. So, I was challenged to consider what kind of legacy I am leaving behind. Is it an influential and positive one that inspires others?
It was the great evangelist, Billy Graham, who once stated: “Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.”
The legacy we leave behind is a combination of the individual choices we make and the character we allow God to cultivate within us. Let's make it the best it can possibly be!
"You can shed tears that he is gone
Or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on."
I was reminded that the way people respond to grief is purely individual. Despite our sympathetic words or kind actions, we ultimately don't have any control over their emotions or responses. We can only control what happens to ourselves. So, I was challenged to consider what kind of legacy I am leaving behind. Is it an influential and positive one that inspires others?
It was the great evangelist, Billy Graham, who once stated: “Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.”
The legacy we leave behind is a combination of the individual choices we make and the character we allow God to cultivate within us. Let's make it the best it can possibly be!
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
The Centre of God's Attention
From the moment we are born we find ourselves vying for the attention of others. Many like to be the centre of attention, while others long to be valued and appreciated from "behind the scenes". Either way, humans long to be acknowledged no matter what at age or stage of life we might be.
It's great to know with real certainty that we are the centre of God's loving attention. The psalmist declares in Psalm 139 that God has lovingly searched us and knows us ~ inside and out. Jude shares a similar thought in verse 21 of his short epistle exhorting us to "stay right at the centre of God's love". God's unconditional love covers all circumstances and situations. We are His personal concern. The centre of His loving, redemptive attention. Doesn't that make you feel valued and worthy in God's eyes? It does it for me!
Jude 21 (MSG) ~ "...stay right at the centre of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!"
It's great to know with real certainty that we are the centre of God's loving attention. The psalmist declares in Psalm 139 that God has lovingly searched us and knows us ~ inside and out. Jude shares a similar thought in verse 21 of his short epistle exhorting us to "stay right at the centre of God's love". God's unconditional love covers all circumstances and situations. We are His personal concern. The centre of His loving, redemptive attention. Doesn't that make you feel valued and worthy in God's eyes? It does it for me!
Jude 21 (MSG) ~ "...stay right at the centre of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!"
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