Hi Everyone,
It has been welcome to see some sunshine this week but the temperature is still low. Please continue to pray for those who struggle to heat their homes and for those who do not have a home. I also encourage you to act by donating to the Anglicare Winter Appeal (see below) and by bringing non perishable food and grocery items to put in the purple box.
On Sunday, Gill spoke on the subject of miracles – the power and presence of God released among us.
We say we want miracles but often our own behaviour gets in the way.
*Offense – we can give it and we can take it. Both stop God doing what He wants to in us. If taking offense is something you struggle with, consider asking for prayer at the end of the service this week
*Dishonouring others – we are all sons and daughters of the King, called to honour each other. Why is it that we look with human eyes and dishonour those who don’t meet our expectations – Jesus was dishonoured in his hometown by those who started thinking not about what they heard of His teaching and miracles but about how they had grown up with him and knew his family and consequently discounting all the evidence in front of them.
*Expectation – we raise our expectations for someone new but are quick to lower them when we think it’s just part of the everyday. God doesn’t see prejudices, He doesn’t rule out using the familiar and seemingly unexciting when moving in power.
*Dishonouring ourselves – too often we say “I can’t, not me’, we refuse to believe that God could use someone like us. We are all ministers of God, gifted by His Spirit and we are all, like the disciples, sent out to what Jesus could not do for lack of faith in his home town.
When we honour one another, gifts come, we see, we hear the Spirit moving. It is not in our own strength that God works, but in our weakness as we rely on His strength that His glory is seen. Grace is the empowering, enabling presence of God poured out on those He chooses – us.
Paul wrestles in Corinthians with dishonour in the church and as he writes, we see God dealing with his own heart. He writes ‘Three times I have pleaded with God,’ We have all had times of pleading with God . Take the times of pleading as an opportunity to ask “Lord, what do you want to teach me? Will you have Your way in me?”
Don’t forget that there is prayer every week after the service. Don’t be shy to keep asking, keep pleading as Paul did, we are always ready to pray with you whatever the reason. You can also contact Gill if you need prayer in between or Deb if you wish to be added to the F5 prayer list.
This Thursday night at 6pm, the Welcome Team will be gathering to train. If you would like to be part of this ministry (door, table, intentional welcome in hall) talk to Sally on Sunday night.
3D Kids launches in three weeks time, please pray for Sally and her team, for the families and children considering becoming involved and for more volunteer helpers. Without prayer, we are going in to battle unprepared.
Your F5 Team
Paul, Robyn, Gill, Sally, Don, Ruth, Karen, Ken
Anglicare | Winter Appeal
Thanks to our gift matching fund, your gift can now have twice the impact!
This is an opportunity to see your donation doubled if you donate today.
can buy warm blankets for a family this winter
can provide a night of emergency accommodation
can buy a family one month’s worth of groceries
can provide an after school program and a worker for a month
