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Using Your Time to Grow

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by Luke KincaidEven though I often complain about it, I enjoy house work. There is something satisfying about seeing a pile of dishes, and after some good ol’ elbow grease, seeing them all washed up! I enjoy seeing the results of tidying up the house (even though it isn’t always fun in the moment) while previously seeing it in a messy state. While experiencing the satisfaction of a tidy living space is one of my primary motivators, I also enjoy the many lessons I learn while cleaning. I will usually throw on some headphones while doing this work and listen to a podcast, sermon or some music and double up my use of this time to learn. The amount I have learnt about life or heard from God is actually quite amazing because God has shown me that these times don’t have to simply be a chore – they can be an opportunity to grow.Now I know we all have our own responsibilities that we have to deal with on a daily/ weekly basis but what I want to encourage us all with today is that we can use this time to grow. We can find ways to connect with God, or even better ourselves if we skill up in an area of weakness to better serve God.And at the end of the day, the seemingly mundane can become an opportunity for us to put into practice Paul’s following words: 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31 God has gifted us with time on earth – so let’s take every opportunity to glorify Him with everything we do – even things we don’t feel like doing – and find creative ways to use these times for our betterment! Much Love,Luke

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Our Time is in His Hands

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by Calven CelliersAt the Men’s DNA Group that I attend on a Thursday evening, the guys always enjoy a time of worship together, after a quick cup of coffee and a catch up that is, and then we delve into the Word and fellowship over a study of some sort. Last night as part of our worship we sang a new song called Here Now (Madness). One of the first lines of the lyrics grabbed my attention – Time runs its race within Your hand… As I listened to the song, I was reminded of a quote by Aiden Tozer who said, “The man of true faith may live in the absolute assurance that his steps are ordered by the Lord. For him, misfortune is outside the bounds of possibility. He cannot be torn from this earth one hour ahead of the time which God has appointed, and he cannot be detained on earth one moment after God is done with him here.”Our time is in God’s hands! In Psalm 31 King Davis declares, “14 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands…” (Psalm 31:14 & 15NIV) David acknowledges that our lives belong fully and finally to God. We receive each day as a gift from the Lord, to serve Him and to serve others in His name through all we do. If you think about it, King David’s words stand in remarkable contrast to what we have heard for most of our lives. We’ve been told to make the most of our time, to make sure we aren’t missing out, and to make sure we aren’t wasting our lives. There is an incredible weight that is placed upon our shoulders when we feel that our success or significance is entirely up to us. The reality, however, is that our steps are ordered by the Lord.In Psalm 31 David cries out to the Lord because of his enemies; they are surrounding him on every side and are seeking his life. He is despised by everyone around him, and we can sympathize with his loneliness and despair. But more than David laments his trouble, he rejoices that God is on his side. He repeatedly calls God his refuge, fortress, hiding place, and strength. David had nowhere to turn in his sorrow but to the Lord, and there he found joy, peace, hope, and rest.As Christ followers, how are we meant to respond in moments of pain and trial?We must learn to live in the tension of real pain and real provision. We are never meant to ignore our trials or challenges. The call of Christ isn’t to simply put on a happy face and pretend everything is okay. The space we must learn to occupy is one where we are open and honest before the Lord about our hurts and disappointments, yet at the very same time fully trusting that He is with us and moving among us.How are our times in God’s hand today?…

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Non-Negotiable

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Guest Postby Dave GriffithsEvery year Christians pause to remember an event that changed history. Whether you call it Easter or Resurrection Sunday, it’s a day of rejoicing.  An amazing account of the Lord Jesus’ victory over the grave.Ever since the empty tomb was discovered, when Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead.  This is the central tenet of Christianity.Why do Christians believe  Jesus literally and bodily rose from the grave? The answer to this crucial question is found by scrutinizing the first hand testimony of those who experienced the event as recorded in the New Testament. Mary Magdalene was the  first to tell Jesus’ disciples of the empty tomb she has discovered earlier in the morning. “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him” ( Jhn.20:13). While she was there, she came face-to-face with Jesus, but failed to recognize Him, yet as soon as He spoke, she immediately recognized Him.She heard His voice.She saw His face.She touched His glorified body.        He was Alive!Later that day, He appeared to people who were walking home from Jerusalem. He decided not to reveal Himself until He reminded them of the witness of Moses and the prophets. As they walked, they listened to Him as He expounded to them the Scriptures, the things concerning Himself. (Luke24:27) The risen Jesus was alive and walking with them. After accepting an invitation to stay at their home, Jesus joined them for the evening meal. He took bread, blessed it, and broke it and gave it to them. Then, their eyes were opened and they knew Him.He was later seen by 10 disciples, and, although the doors were locked, He suddenly appeared in the room with them. (Jhn. 20:19)  He showed them the scars on His hands, feet, and side.Eight days later, He appeared again and challenged Thomas to feel His wounds, verifying He was alive.The next time His disciples saw Him, they were in Galilee where Jesus cooked them breakfast from fish they had caught. When the apostle Paul recounted the events surrounding the resurrection, he reminded his readers, “He (Jesus) was seen by over 500 brethren at once”.The resurrection was not an ethereal or spiritual event. Jesus rose physically and bodily from the dead, and the facts are available for the world to see:He was crucified in Jerusalem.He was placed in a tomb in Jerusalem that was guarded by the Roman military.Three days later, the tomb was empty.He appeared in His resurrected body to the disciples and large groups of people in the environs of Jerusalem numerous times for 40 day after His resurrection. (Acts 1:3).The disciples began proclaiming His resurrection in Jerusalem.After the apostle Peter preached in Jerusalem, 3000 believed in the resurrection. The number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem and the evidence showing Jesus rose from the dead was so compelling, they were convinced, and they believed.The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is a non-negotiable foundational tenet of Christianity.  The historical record is available for investigation. The evidence…

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They Know His Voice

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by Graham MolOur litter of puppies are now nearly six weeks old and are still growing by the day. At the four week mark I introduced them to solid food - some pellets softened by soaking in water and formula. The puppies enthusiastically took to this new source of food and as a result I became a very important person in their lives. My VIP status is not quite as high as that of their mom, but I'm definitely up there as a provider of tasty food. With this new status come some perks, one of them being that when I call by whistling all eight of them come running. Although it may not be for everyone, I'm loving the sight of this little pack of dogs as they come running and tumbling out the door and feeling their soft fur coats brush up against my legs as they crowd around me. I don't even have to have their food bowls in my hands for them heed my call.I'm reminded of Jesus' words recorded in John chapter 10:“Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.The sheep of a shepherd's flock know and follow his voice when he calls them. Why? Because they know that he will lead them to pasture, that he will provide for them and care for them. They trust him. Jesus speaks of Himself as the Good Shepherd, one who will go to any length to protect and care for his flock, even willing to lay down his life for them. In others words, Jesus is someone we can trust in. He will not lead us astray.The question then remains is that will you heed His call? Do you recognise His voice? The author of Hebrews notes:Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son... (Hebrews 1:1-2a)The Bible is often called the "Word" of God. In it we find the recorded word of God and the very words that Jesus spoke. As we read and meditate on Scripture we start to become familiar with God's voice. We begin to know the Word Himself, Jesus. And so we start to recognise His voice so that we may follow Him wherever He may call us. God BlessGraham

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