Be passionate

31 August 2011

John 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

When one starts to take a person out on a date there is an excitement and after awhile you find that you have fallen in love, all you want to do is to be with that person. When they say they are coming to see you, everything is wonderful and filled with expectation. As time goes on ones heart burns with passion for the other and all you want is the best for the one you love, even if it means sacrificing all. Often we forget the passion of our love and with time it seems to get cool, every now and again we need a spark for it to flame up once more.

Just think how passionate Jesus is for you, all He wants is to be with us, to do everything with us, His heart is on fire for us. The question for you and I is do we have the same passion for Jesus and the things of Jesus? In our relationship with Jesus we often find that it cools into the mundane and routine and so we also need to find those moments which sparks a fresh touch and a rekindling of our hearts that have grown cold.

Be encouraged today to be passionate about Jesus, He is passionate about you.

David

Point to ponder: Jesus is passionate about you.  

Question to consider: Are you passionate about Jesus?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

Are you backsliding?

We ask people all the time, "Are you ok?" “Is your family ok?” "Is everything alright?"  We are genuinely concerned about the welfare of the other person.  True concern, however, causes one to ask the deeper questions.  It forces us to enter into a conversation on uneasy ground.  Debora Patta  is renowned, because of her ability to ask interviewees the probing questions that often times bring those she interviews to tears.  They never expected her to ask "That" question.

I know – myself as an example- we oftentimes don't like to ask the hard questions.  We rarely enter into conversation with someone where we don't feel comfortable.  Yet, here is the place where a person is most vulnerable, wondering and waiting for help: why do I feel empty? What’s point of going on day after day in the same meaningless way? Where can I find a sense of purpose and a reason to go on?  Here is a place where they are searching for answers.  Here is a place where they often times feel lost.  Hard questions demand hard answers.  Hard answers lead to a right way of living.

Traveling to Mozambique recently, I realized that we need to ask the right question, like “ARE YOU BACKSLIDING?”

Are you "backsliding"?  Here's a question we would almost never ask somebody.  And what an incredible question it is.  "Are You Backsliding?"  It's not a question to condemn another.  It's a question to ponder.  As God's elected ministers of the Gospel, children of God,, many would not want to ask their congregants this question, as it might offend. How many, however, might still be saved today if only someone had asked them this simple question, while there was still time to correct their path?

"Are you backsliding?"  "Are you getting too close to danger?"  "Are you too far from the church?"  "Is your heart right with the Lord?"  "Is something wrong?"  "Why have you been missing so much church lately?"  It's a tough question to ask, but we need to ask it.  I am sure the question like this should be asked because we are brother’s keepers (Gen 4:1-16).  It is time the church to wake up and serve other.

Thank you my brother in Christ

The Rev. Emmanuel Solomon Surwumwe
St Marks, UPCSA, 

P.O. Box 27945,

Yeoville, 2143
Tel 0116481115

Cell +27823643139

What we can do for Jesus

Over the weekend of 6^th and 7^th August 2011 the Rev Abraham Akih led a faithful group in thinking about this question.

Colossians 1:13-14 “He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son, by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.”

Starting with the above text from Colossians 1, he led us through the Gospel of Luke, looking at who we are (or should aim to be) and what we are called to do as Christians.

He spoke of us building a vigorous, joyful, and active community of Christians working in Yeoville to spread the love we share in Jesus, to expand and strengthen His Kingdom.

How can we do this? By following the example of Christ Himself: “Luke’s gospel gives us a vivid picture of the life story of Jesus Christ. It is Part I of a two part history of the Christian church.” Luke’s Gospel teaches us about Jesus Himself.. 

Acts, which was also written by Luke, and is dedicated to Theophilus, whose name means ‘Friend of God’ or ‘the one who loves God’, is Part II of that history and is the story of the early church: Jesus’ followers putting the teachings of Christ into action to change the world around them (their communities) and the lives of those they met. Our model, therefore, is Jesus Himself, and answering the question “What can we do for Jesus?” is simply done by modeling ourselves daily on Jesus, studying His word and doing the things that He did. 

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, sent to us as our Helper, we work towards becoming more and more like Christ, focusing on His will for us and for our community.

If we do this, following Jesus’ example in Luke, we will have the impact on the community of Yeoville that Jesus had on His community. What a challenge that gives us!

These are some of the Headings that the Rev Akih looked at, over the course of the two days. Read Luke with these in mind and apply all to yourself. I think you will see and understand Luke’s Gospel in a way you had not seen it or understood it before.

THE JOY OF CHRISTIAN MEMBERSHIP (Luke 1-2)    

THE JOY OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (Luke 3-4)  

THE JOY OF CHRISTIAN HEALING (Luke 5-6)    

CHRISTIAN ANOINTING (LUKE 7-8 and James 5:13-20)

JOY IN RELATING TO CHRIST AND ONE ANOTHER (Luke 9-10)  

THE JOY OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP (Luke 13-15)      

CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP LUKE 17-19          

Lord Jesus, help us to be true followers of your way, that our lives might reflect yours and have the impact on our community that You had on yours. To the Glory of God, Your Father and ours, for the furtherance of Your Kingdom on earth, through the Power of the Holy Spirit and for Your sake we ask this. AMEN!

Blessings,

Elizabeth White

Session Clerk St Mark's

Hope in tomorrow

30 August 2011

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."

The challenge of being a Christian today is to try to make sense of a world around us that just does not seem to make sense. When one looks at the killing of rhino for it’s horn, sale of which to countries swamped in superstition and idolatry, looking at the political revolution unfolding in the ANC, greed motivated price increases and price fixing, how can one not become negative about this world. If we were God, would we simply not wipe them off the world and never recreate man again? This world really sucks, but there is just one problem, God loves this world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life. This is the only hope we have of this world ever coming right.

So as Christians we become observers of the world stage, we look at situations that are hopeless and we see hope, we look at people and we know that God is and willing to change their hearts for the good of this world. So we pray for people so that God will be mindful of them, we lift up our persecutors for God to bless them, we pray God’s protection over His creation so that we will have rhino’s on our earth. We need to be conscious of our environment because it’s the ll building starts with you and I.

Be encouraged today to pray for our world and its leaders so that our children will have hope.

David

Point to ponder: God is your only hope.  

Question to consider: Do you get negative because of what you see and hear?

Test your Footing

29 August 2011

Psalms 9:10 And those who know thy name put their trust in thee, for thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek thee.

Life has it’s upside’s and it’s downsides and we all have them, so are funny and some are not, yet we all seem to at the end of the day cope with them. Last night our young dog (Coco) decided to jump onto the couch and then move from the one couch to the other using the coffee table as a stepping stone. As she placed her weight on the coffee table the glass on top of the table slid and both she and the glass crashed to the floor. It was very funny watching her trying to cross from one couch to the other, but when the glass broke it was another story all together.

I suppose we all can learn something from her experience, that when we move from one place to another what may seem to be solid may turn out to be slippery and very uncertain when we actually use it. This is true in many aspects of our life, when it comes to spiritual discernment, changing jobs, relationships with others. We need to be sure of our footing before we actually trust it.

When we understand this principle we understand why God so often reinforces that we can stand on His Word, that He will give us a sure footing and that we can trust Him. In the same way when people need us, are they able to put their trust in us.

Be encouraged today to test things before you trust them.

David

Point to ponder: Be careful what you trust.  

Question to consider: Do you trust without testing?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

Spread the love of St Mark's

Mike and Session determined to grow our congregation in Yeoville

Dear friends,

When the going gets tough the tough get going. Your scribe has been out of the loop this past fortnight, but I left the service today filled with hope and pride at the resilience of our congregation and will to fight for growth in Yeovile.

Mike MacMurray spelled out a simple and powerful method to get the Word that St Mark's exists out to the people of our inner city suburb- by the simple expedient of handing residents we meet in passing a slip of paper inviting one and all to join us in worship.It's a fact that many, who live only a city block away do not know of this sanctuary of peace in their world.

More exciting news is that the Communion service next Sunday will be led by Charmaine Rayment from Jews for Jesus to give us fresh perspectives on our faith.

Today was also special for Sophia Williamson and the needy in our pews  Sophia had asked us to contribute towards her 75th birthday celebrations by giving to the pantry. She got five baskets of foodstuffs and R1 200 in monetary offerings. Sophia you are a true servant of the Lord.

At the other end of the scale please uphold those who are looking for work in prayer. Foremost in our thoughts are Augustine Tifang, Donat Yamalumbu and Morgan Ncube.

Blessings,

The Editorial team

Holy Spirit Seminar - get there

HOLY SPIRIT SEMINAR

Linga Longa Christian Retreat Centre

Eersbewoon: Bela Bela

14 TO 17 OCTOBER 2011

STARTING FRIDAY EVENING

REFRESHING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

ALL WELCOME

MUSIC WORSHIP: REV CECIL EDWARDS

MINISTRY: REV DAVID HUTT.

SPEAKER: TO BE CONFIRMED

Cost: R500.00 including accommodation, food, and seminar per person sharing.

Booking essential:

Tel. 014 736 3339 or 014 736 4300, or

Fax 086 689 3019

Technology

26 August 2011

Proverbs 18:24 There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

It is amazing how many people want to be your friend on Facebook and the more there are the more there wants to be. Communication networks have changed over the years and centuries, and when we look at the time of Paul how amazing it is that he was able to write letters to which we owe much of the New Testament. Just think if everyone that wanted to be your friend on Facebook or Linkedin or any of the other sites where part of your spiritual prayer partners and that could have the same interest in encouraging each other in the name of Jesus Christ. What a difference it may be!

The technology today is phenomenal and the ability to get the message out is better than it has ever been. Yet despite this the communication of the Gospel and its power for real world change seems to be getting less and less. We may well ask why? Is it because in this real time real world there just isn’t time to even think how screwed up this world is and how the world believes it just does not need a Saviour but rather a financial solution?

We all need to stop on occasion and ask ourselves what is really important, is it the obligation to answer emails, to allow immediate access to our time by the cell phone, the demands of appointments and the meeting of others obligations and not our own? What would life be without all of these, we would have to learn to spell again and study our arithmetic tables.

Be encouraged today to observe just how much technology has become your master.

David

Point to ponder: Friends know you.  

Question to consider:  Does technology control you?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

All or nothing

24 August 2011

Acts 5:1-2 But a man named Anani'as with his wife Sapphi'ra sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.

One of the hardest questions to answer is this, ‘have you died?’ the answer to this question is dependant on your understanding of your faith and what you believe. If you have truly died then you have no longer have an earthly estate and you have divided your inheritance as if you have truly died. Only once you have died can you be resurrected into eternal life, where you no longer trust in earthly wealth but in the providence of Jesus Christ your Lord and Saviour. You then are no longer bound by materialism and earthly wealth, but riches that you have stored up in heaven.

In the teaching of Paul when we are baptised it is the symbol of dying to self, we die with Christ when we are baptised and live a resurrected life in and through the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. So when we ‘die’ being baptised all that we own on earth no longer belongs to us and is disposed of according to our last will and testament, in many cases we give all that we have to God for the work of His church. It then requires us to place our complete trust in God for all the things that we need for life.

In the case of Ananias and his wife Sapphira they did what they thought was best for themselves and in so doing no longer trusted God but in their wealth. By claiming that they had given all to God and did not clearly was deceitful and dishonest. We cannot claim to give all to God and all that we have belongs to God and still keep part for ourselves just in case God does not provide. With Jesus Christ it is either all or nothing.

Be encouraged today to put your entire trust in God, He will provide.

 David

Point to ponder: Trust God.

Question to consider: Have you given all your material things to God?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

God is our constant

23 August 2011

Psalms 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.

It is always exciting to watch the change of seasons, to see the peach tree starting to bud, the avocado full of blossoms, to also smell the change in the air and the beginning of the Spring winds that are filled with the promise of rain. There is always a hope in our tomorrows, a joy that is yet to come, and it is in the beauty of a sunrise and the grandeur of a rising moon that we know God is in control. Mankind may for a moment believe that destiny is in their hand, but when we have seen a million sunsets and life that comes and goes, who is man in comparison with God?

When we listen to the news and the trauma of Libya and Colonel Gadaffi, the problems in the world economy, the power play of the UN, global warming and every other negative that the news can bring, we then sit back and realise that all of this that is happening is just part of human vanity. We cannot change a sunset, yet we think we can change the world, through politics and power. We as Christians live a life of victory because although all things around us may be negative we have the capacity to see and believe in the positive. God provides for us, God has provided for us and God will always provide for us, simply because He is God.

Be encouraged today to enjoy the change of seasons, the changes that life brings.

  

David

Point to ponder: God is with us.

Question to consider: Is God with you in all the changes you experience?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

Christ the Lord

19 August 2011

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Each of has a name, we usually have two names, our surname and our name by which people call us, or our Christian name. Our name is important to us because our name in a way reflects who we are and we live according to our name. So when a child is born that child is born into the surname of its parents and then after careful thought a name is given to the baby by which the family know who the child is.

The name of Jesus was given to Him by God and this name is above every other name. Each of us will bend our knee and bow before Him and we will confess that He is Lord. This name is filled with supernatural power, filled with natural power and use of this Name is able to change everything. As we confess who Jesus is in our life, so we become empowered by that Name and in doing so we are able to ask for anything in His Name. We are all called by the name Christian and this brings us into unity with Him because we are part of His family.

Be encouraged today to confess that Jesus is Lord!

David

Point to ponder: Christ is Lord.

Question to consider: Is Jesus Christ your Lord?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

Interest of others

18 August 2011

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The greatest problem that we all face is that of how we view ourselves and our own self importance. We all are achievers and we enjoy it when others recognise this because this just affirms our importance. With time this becomes an expectation and when people do not respond to us as we expect they should we are affronted and upset. The fact that you can do the things you do and who you are should not make you believe that you are better than others. No matter how menial the task, each task has its own skills base and knowledge requirement to do it properly.

When your interests become my interests and your success becomes my goal in life then my attitude to you must change. All people that we meet are able and capable of doing and being a better person than we can be, so in humility we help and give them every opportunity to succeed. This process is putting the interest of others before your own and this is in fact the perfect definition of love. Seeing someone you love succeed is a joy and honour, and when their plans come together and their dreams are fulfilled we share in them.

Be encouraged today to do nothing from selfishness or conceit.

David

Point to ponder: Look after interests of others.

Question to consider: Do you look after others interests?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

Memories from Huntsville

Sorry for not having been in touch recently, but I just wanted to let you know that Geoff, Sophia, Liz, Norman, and St. Mark's have been and are in our thoughts and prayers.

I was finally able to obtain a copy of the DVD that was made of the joint South African/Alabama worship service last September - so I got several copies. I'd like to send two or three to you, including one for Sophia (who had requested and paid me for a copy, quite a while back). 

And I'd also like to send you all a copy of the photos I took during the team's visit. What is a good mailing address to use? And would you or the church office be able to distribute copies to Sophia and Norman?

We hope you are doing well - and I promise to stay in contact better, with you and our St. Mark's congregation.

God's blessings 

Heidi

Heidi Meadows

First Presbyterian Church

Huntsville, AL USA

Christ is Lord

19 August 2011

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Each of has a name, we usually have two names, our surname and our name by which people call us, or our Christian name. Our name is important to us because our name in a way reflects who we are and we live according to our name. So when a child is born that child is born into the surname of its parents and then after careful thought a name is given to the baby by which the family know who the child is.

The name of Jesus was given to Him by God and this name is above every other name. Each of us will bend our knee and bow before Him and we will confess that He is Lord. This name is filled with supernatural power, filled with natural power and use of this Name is able to change everything. As we confess who Jesus is in our life, so we become empowered by that Name and in doing so we are able to ask for anything in His Name. We are all called by the name Christian and this brings us into unity with Him because we are part of His family.

Be encouraged today to confess that Jesus is Lord!

David

Point to ponder: Christ is Lord.

Question to consider: Is Jesus Christ your Lord?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

A worthy life

16 August 2011

Philippians 1:27-28 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

The question that we all need to answer is whether we live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ? This implies that whether people see us or not, we do not live to please others but to please Christ. We do this by standing firm in one spirit, that the spirit that we have within us is that of Christ, that we have one mind with Christ and through that we live in the faith of Christ. The consequence of this is that we have no fear and are not frightened by anything or anyone.

We are more than conquerors because we have Christ with us who has conquered all, even death, there is nothing we cannot do through the One who lives and reigns within  us. The dilemma that most of us face is actually living the life we proclaim, to be that which we say we are. When we are born into a royal family we will live knowing our royal destiny, we are born into Christ’s family and so we should life according to our birth right. The manner we live should then be worthy of who we are born to be.

Be encouraged today to let your manner life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.

David

Point to ponder: Be worthy of the Gospel.

Question to consider: Do you live according to the Gospel of Christ?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

Proclaim Christ

15 August 2011

Philippians 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.

Many people do not realise that they often proclaim Jesus Christ, even when they are not aware of it. So we find festival times like Easter and Christmas are celebrated around the world by all kinds of people, even though many of them have no understanding of the actual Christian event being celebrated. In the same way we may think of many issues that brings Christianity to the fore.

So in the world today those that are opposed to Christianity have realised this and are changing the focus of the Christian celebration into a worldly event, so Christmas becomes ‘happy holidays’ and Easter is about bunny’s and chocolate. The sad part is the silence of Christians as they fear to offend those opposed to Jesus Christ as Lord of all. This is further complicated by people who preach and teach Christ, pretending that they actually believe what they preach, they preach Christ but do not live accordingly.

So there are many ministers and pastors who do not believe that God heals today, that God is their only Provider, and that they are accountable to God for all that they preach and teach. So many people today are more afraid of the people and so try to please them rather than God, yet in all of this Christ is still being proclaimed.

Be encouraged today to proclaim Christ.

David

Point to ponder: Proclaim Christ.

Question to consider: Do you proclaim Christ?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

Hungry

12 August 2011

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

It is amazing how many people are conscious of their health, what the eat and how they eat it, allergic to this and that, it makes one think that they are afraid to die. What we eat and drink is not as important as our relationship with Jesus Christ. In the healing ministry is it not possible that we may be healed of our allergies and our sicknesses? Part of the problem that we do have is the modern way that food is processed and prepared resulting in longer life on the shelf and less value to the human body. Once upon the time all bread had to be a certain weight and have a stamp on it stating that it contained wheat and yeast, today we eat bread of unknown materials, even the mould sometimes cannot not grow on it.

Yet God has called all foods good for us and when we pray and give thanks for the food we trust God that what we eat He will make beneficial to our bodies. In the same way we need to live in such a way that our trust of God is seen in us by others, so we do not live in fear. We should have no fear of dying, although many of us are afraid of how we die, but when we trust God then in that trust we know even in death He will not forsake us. In the way we eat, in what we say, in all that we do is part of our life, and this life is a gift from Christ, because we died with Him when we were baptised. So for each of us to live is to live for Christ alone, to serve Christ alone and do all to please Christ alone.

It is only those who have too much food that can choose to be selective and be on diet, for those who are hungry whatever they have to eat is all that they have. In the same way those of us who have all of Christ presented to us, we have the choice to serve Him or not, but those who do not are hungry even for the crumbs that fall from His table.

Be encouraged today to live for Christ.

  

David

Point to ponder: Live for Christ.

Question to consider: ?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

Love abounds

11 August 2011

Philippians 1:9-11 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

The more you love the more your capacity to love grows, in the same way your knowledge increases and because of that you become more discerning about the things that happen. As you become more discerning so you start to recognise what is good and excellent which then in turn helps you to avoid those things and people who are not. The consequence is that your thoughts, your attitude and your intentions become pure. When your intentions are pure and focused on pleasing Jesus Christ others blame you; yet in the eyes of Jesus you are blameless. The end result of this is that you are filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ and so others see this in you and give glory and praise to God.

We all know that practise makes perfect, the more we do something the better we get at it. In the same way we also know if we had all done our homework for school better we may have had a better education than what we have now. Looking back on our life we all could have done many things differently, yet we have a new opportunity everyday to start over. We all can love others more, these things are not beyond our ability, it just takes a decision to do it.

Be encouraged today to love more.

  

David

Point to ponder: You are able to love more.

Question to consider: Do you love people?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

You are Good

10 August 2011

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

In the beginning when God created you, He stood back and told all the angels how good He made you, you are perfect as you are.  Yes, there are times when we do not function as well as we have been designed to, some of us may not be perfect in our own eyes and in the eyes of the world. But in the eyes of God we are and will always be His creation which He proclaimed to all that it was good. We as part of that gift of life from God have the gift of free choice, we either choose to love or we choose not to, our freedom of choice is ours and God will not take it from us. How we use that choice is dependant on our response to God, to the world, to others and mostly to ourselves.

So when we acknowledge God our Creator, and we seek to love Him, even though we are unable to love perfectly we love to the best of our ability. Because of what Jesus did on the cross and our complete reconciliation with God, we are no longer under any curse and so are not bound by sin. We have been set free from the consequences of sin. So in all things we are not perfect, yet Jesus Christ perfects us. The work that was started in us by Jesus Christ will be completed and He will present us as complete and perfect to our heavenly Father.

Be encouraged today to know that in the eyes of Jesus Christ you are perfect.

David

Point to ponder: Christ makes you complete.

Question to consider:  Are you complete in Christ?

Our webpage: www.chf.yolasite.com

The refreshing of the Hly Spirit

PROGRAMME

Theme: The refreshing of the Holy Spirit

Presented by the Christ Healing Fellowship

At LINGA LONGA

15 to 17 October 2011

“The Church and its role to be light in a dark world”

Cost: R500.00 all inclusive.

Contact 014 736 3339 to book your place.

Worship Leader: Rev Cecil Edwards

Ministry Convenor: Rev David Hutt.

PROGRAMME

Friday Arrival afternoon if possible?

18:00 Supper

19:00 Welcome and introduction with praise and worship.

Saturday

07:00 Stillness and communion with Jesus

08:00 Breakfast

09:00 Praise and worship

09:30 First talk:.

10:30 Tea

11:00 Meditation text:

11:30 Second talk:

13:00 Lunch

14:00 Meditation text:

15:30 Tea

16:00 Third talk:

17:30 Meditation text:

18:00 Supper

19:00 Fellowship and our ministry journey with the Holy Spirit

Sunday

08:00 Breakfast

09:00 Fourth talk:

10:30 Tea

11:00 Worship service with Holy Communion

12:00 Lunch

Departure back home

Note: Personal ministry will be available for any who require it throughout the weekend.

A teachable heart

8 August 2011

Psalms 25:4-5 Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long.

Experience is something that one gains through the mistakes and failures of life, and success is usually as result of learning from one’s mistakes and so gaining the experience needed in life. An expert is a person with enough experience to know how to fix the mistake. What we gain from this is the ability to realise that mistakes are not bad but are part of the development of experience in life.

Preparation and ability to use time is part of the expertise that we learn and it does not help to rush when patience is needed.  So if one bakes a cake it takes time for it to be baked properly in the oven. In the same way growing as a Christian also takes time and experience, knowing how to bake a cake is not the same as baking it and then when tasting it to be able to tell what is good and bad in the final product. It took Paul the Apostle many years to become the missionary, it took Jesus Christ three years plus to teach His disciples and they still did not get the lesson. Yet they all had teachable hearts and experience became theirs because of it.

Yet today we have people who are walking and beginning churches with half baked ideas and believing that the truth has only been revealed to them, believing that their personal experience and so reject the history and teaching of the past.

Be encouraged today to have a teachable heart.

David

Point to ponder: We experience God.

Question to consider: Do you have a teachable heart?

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