Totally Awesome God

While making a visit to one of our chapel members this morning, I was greeted at the door with an air of excitement ~ not about my turning up, but rather about the discovery of one of God's precious promises. With open Bible in hand, I listened with interest as they shared this verse from Jeremiah 33:20-21a.

"Thus says the LORD: ‘If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season, then My covenant may also be broken..."

Do you sense the excitement of this discovery? The permanence of God's presence is assured with the rotation of each day. Just as sure as we are that day is followed by night and then the next day, so too we can be deeply assured that God's promise of love and salvation remains a permanent and personal surety.

Be encouraged that God's commitment to us as individuals is both unbroken and unrelenting. Hallelujah!

Valuing Leadership

Members of the World Mission Fellowship were once again privileged to welcome the delegates to the Administrative Leaders Training Course as special guests for our monthly meeting.

The leaders represented Salvation Army ministry and mission in Korea, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Their faithful service and obvious joy in following Jesus was evident through their sincere words and gracious Christlike lives.

Last night was a unique opportunity to affirm their individual leadership within our God-blessed movement and assure them of our continued prayers in their various ministry roles.

Valuing leadership is vital and always appreciated. It's something that we in the Army are not always good at, but something that we need to be more proactive in addressing. When leaders know that they are valued, the value of their spiritual efforts and personal contributions is strengthened and the movement enhanced.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 (MSG) ~ "And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!"

Celebrating Harvest

Under the leadership of Majors Alan and Val Laurens, we met together for worship in a spirit of thanksgiving to celebrate Harvest and the bounty of God's creation that we enjoy. Echoing the words of our Creator God Himself, "it was good".

Reflecting on the parable of the sower in a message entitled "The seed and the flower" we were encouraged to allow the Seed of our salvation (Jesus Christ) to bloom in and through our lives to His glory.

The choir's message, A Song for Harvest, encaptulated the real essence for our worship celebration.

Upon this special day, Lord, we come with hearts sincere
To thank You for the blessings provided year by year
Of nature’s rich and bounteous yield we’re daily made aware
We bring our heartfelt praises for all Your loving care

We contemplate creation, such beauty all around
And never cease to wonder at ev’ry sight and sound
The seasons come, and seasons go, all ordered by Your will
Lord, make us thankful people and keep us praising still

And as we bring our off’rings to lay before Your throne
Acknowledging Your Lordship of ev’rything we own
We give You back that which You have entrusted to our care
And pray You’ll make us worthy, Lord, in your work to share

In the tradition of Harvest Thanksgiving, following worship we shared in a fellowship meal of homemade soup, pasties, salad and fruit salad, icecream and cream. Yummy!

Yes, for food, friends and fellowship we truly give You thanks, o Lord.

Luke 8:15 (MSG) ~ "...the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest."

Ministry Matters

God-glorifying stories...challenging lyrics with catchy tunes...reflective recitations...powerful messages on God's grace...

All of the above descriptions sum up a most interesting ministry evening with Chick and Margaret Yuill held tonight at the Box Hill Corps. In a nutshell, we were 'blessed beyond measure'.

There was a real sense of God's hand upon this casual encounter with these amazing people of God.
There was a real evidence of personal and spiritual integrity as the Yuill's led us into the very throne room of God through sharing their stories and inspiring songs.

I'm the richer for having been there, for I met God along the way.

1 Chronicles 16:8 (MSG) ~ "Thank God! Call out his Name! Tell the whole world who he is and what he's done! Sing to him! Play songs for him! Broadcast all his wonders! Revel in his holy Name, God-seekers, be jubilant! Study God and his strength, seek his presence day and night..."

People of Divine Purpose

He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendour.” (Isaiah 49:3 NIV)

God has always designed us to be people of purpose. Primarily, to praise Him by “displaying His splendor.” Isaiah 49 refers to the coming Messiah and God’s foreknowledge in sending his Son to bring hope and redemption to Israel and beyond. Back then, Israel had been given a mission to be a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:2-3). Their main purpose was to glorify God and trust implicitly in His divinity. And nothing much has changed since then. God is still intensely interested in everyone’s purpose.

We are all products of a highly individualistic society and, as such, we often think of our purpose as being nothing more than the accomplishment of our personal dreams and desires. When we come to understand that our relationship with Christ demands more than this. Our purpose is more than what lies at the crossroads of our gifts and passions. There is deeper, spiritual level to purpose.

Purpose is two-fold. It is influenced in my relationships with those in the body of Christ who God has put me alongside, and it is also influenced in my relationships with those who do not yet know God and who I am called to reach.

Purpose isn’t static. It is constantly in motion. Wherever God calls me, my purpose is to fulfill His sovereign desire for the redemption and restoration of human individuals.
We are a purposed people of God!

Julie Frawley 1961-2008

Today we met to honour the life of Julie Frawley, the youngest child of Majors Lawrence and Joy Coleman, who was "Promoted to Glory" on Thursday 21 February 2008, aged 46 years. Loving wife of Kieran and devoted mother to Lawrence (19) and Ciaran (14). Born in Melbourne, Julie spent most of her childhood years living and studying in Kenya where her parents served faithfully as missionaries for many years. Her strong Christian upbringing made an impact on her life that saw Julie profess her own personal faith in Jesus as an adult. Julie loved life and lived it to the full, always looking to the needs of others and loving those around her.

The service was held in Our Lady of Victories Basilica in Camberwell, concelebrated by Fr Michael Morgan and myself. It was truly an ecumenical celebration of thanksgiving for Julie's life that brought much honour and glory to God.

In times of great personal tragedy and testing, it is comforting to know the more than sufficient grace of God upholding and strengthening us. With this in mind, Jesus shared words of comfort with His disciples saying … “Do not be afraid. Trust in God, trust also in me.” (John 14:1)

It is the grace of God that guides us into a personal relationship with Jesus.
It is the grace of God that assures us of His loving care and concern.
And it is the grace of God that finally brings us “without fault and with great joy” into His eternal presence.

An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Self Denial Launch

With 20 years ministry experience on the international mission field, Lieut-Colonels Ian and Sonja Southwell were worthy guest leaders for our Self Denial Appeal Launch. It was a time of inspiring worship as we journeyed to Zambia and learned something of the Army's ministry in that part of the world. The personal challenge to consider making a sacrificial gift toward this year's appeal was reinforced by the immense social and spiritual needs brought to our attention.

Why deny ourselves?

• Because Jesus said so.
• Because of the needs of the world.
• Because Jesus set the example.

How will our giving benefit others?

• Nothing we ever do for the Lord is wasted.
• The gospel still needs to be proclaimed.
• New leaders need to be trained.
• Poverty needs to be addressed.
• Illness needs to be fought, and
• Those with varying needs cared for.

Mark 8:34 ~ "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."