Blog

Yesterday was a tough parenting day. With the schools still being closed the teachers have been sending through work packs for the kids to complete so that they do not fall behind due to the lost teaching time. It's like a double dosage of homework and let me just say, my son is not a fan of this idea. Some days go smoothly, but others are a bit of a fight to get him to complete the days work. Yesterday was one of those days where even before we had started he was already sulking and goofing off. Things got so bad at one stage I resorted to threatening to eat all his remaining Easter eggs if he didn't do his work!The  "fun" didn't end there and I'm sure many parents have experienced those days, during this lockdown period, that are filled with ears that don't seem to function, reckless play that leads to the inevitable tears and all round evident frustration. It was not the best of days.And so at bed time, before I read the next chapter for his bedtime story (a much beloved tradition) I prayed. You know, one of those "teaching prayers" that parents do, acknowledging it had been a day of bad behaviour but thanking the Lord that He forgives us and praying for tomorrow to be a better day. Well, it's that tomorrow now and my son woke me up early to open the passage security gate. He grabbed some breakfast and cleared the kitchen table. I thought, "Oh? This is different? Is he really planning to do schoolwork first thing this morning?" And he was! I can assure you that this is not usual. Despite this being something I had prayed for, I was still surprised. I am also reminded of one of favourite passages of Scripture:22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;    His mercies never come to an end;23 they are new every morning;    great is Your faithfulness.                                        (Lamentations3:22-23)No matter how bad today was, there is always hope for tomorrow. A new morning represents a fresh start, a new beginning, a new opportunity for us to do it better, to do it right. Every time the sun rises at the dawn of new day, we are reminded of God's new mercies for the day, every day. We are reminded of His steadfast love, His great faithfulness. Even if we're in a place of brokenness and devastation, as was the writer of Lamentations, God's mercies are new every morning. We can trust and have hope in His amazing love. God BlessGraham

I have experienced quite a few positives while living in the reality of our current lockdown. One area that has been a bit of a struggle is working consistently in this time. Some days go really well but then there are days like yesterday, when I don’t get nearly as much done as I should’ve. When chatting to Cammie about what I could possibly write about she made the point that I am probably not the only one struggling. Cammie mentioned that it can be quite challenging to work when there isn’t always someone to answer to directly in an office setting. I was reminded once again of the biblical principle regarding who disciples of Jesus actually work for regardless of whatever task we are attempting to accomplish:22 Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favouritism. 4 1 Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven. – Colossians 3:18-4:1 Now I am in no way saying that I feel like a slave and my slave master is NHCF or wanting to get into a theological discourse on the topic of slavery. What I take from this passage, interpreting it in the modern world we live in, is more in the way of an employee/employer relationship. With this interpretation in mind, it only makes sense that I must work as hard as possible as it is an absolute honour to serve as a pastor to the New Harvest Family and to those God has brought my way. And at the end of the day the main person I have to answer for in regards to how well I work is to God Himself. So when we are facing a day when we don’t really feel like working, we must remember that God is who we ultimately work for and we should honour Him with our work, even when we don’t feel like it.Paul, on another occasion, put it like this:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God – 1 Corinthians 10:2This scripture takes it a step further in that we must glorify God not only in our work but in everything we do. To glorify God is to honor him with our lives and we are to do this in everything we do. This has been such an encouraging reminder that I know that tomorrow will be a better day as I try my best, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to live out these life giving truths.Much love,Luke

 This morning I sat down to read through some chapters of the Gospel of John, as we've being reading one chapter of John a day as a congregation since the beginning of the lockdown. I'd missed doing yesterday's reading so I started at chapter 17 and moved on to 18... and then I carried on to the next chapter without thinking... and then I just read through the remaining two chapters. I know the story, and yet even in reading it again I was captivated by it. The Gospel story has that effect, no matter how many times we read it or hear it, it retains its captivating power.We've just come out of Easter Week, a time where the focus is on Jesus life, death and resurrection. A time where we hear the old, old story once again. And once again, God has used the Gospel story to touch our lives. It really is the greatest story ever told!The words to the hymn Tell Me the Old, Old Story highlight the relevance that the Gospel has for our lives to this very day.  Tell me the old, old story,Of unseen things above,Of Jesus and His glory,Of Jesus and His love;Tell me the story simply,As to a little child,For I am weak and weary,And helpless and defiled.Tell me the story slowly,That I may take it in—That wonderful redemption,God’s remedy for sin;Tell me the story often,For I forget so soon,The “early dew” of morningHas passed away at noon.Tell me the story softly,With earnest tones and grave;Remember I’m the sinnerWhom Jesus came to save;Tell me the story always,If you would really be,In any time of trouble,A comforter to me.Tell me the same old story,When you have cause to fearThat this world’s empty gloryIs costing me too dear;And when the Lord’s bright gloryIs dawning on my soul,Tell me the old, old story:“Christ Jesus makes thee whole.”So let us continue to read and listen to the old story, let us continue to tell and retell it to others. There are those who desperately need to hear about God's remedy for sin, that Jesus came to save us. There are those who need reminding of the truth. There are those who need to receive the comfort the Gospel story brings. There are those who need to see the glory of the Lord that will always outshine the empty glory of the world.Tell them the old, old story of Jesus and His love.God BlessGraham