NHCF Blog

These are certainly very difficult times that we find ourselves in, and perhaps this whole world pandemic and all the restrictions being placed on us as a society are starting to take their toll on you and your family. Often when we’re faced with tough stuff it can be very daunting and overwhelming. I think I’ve coped quite well with it all, but like everyone else I have my moments when I become quite depressed and agitated, especially at the thought of how long it could possibly drag on for.  I was so uplifted when a Christian friend encouraged me with this portion of Scripture in Hebrews 12 in which we are told to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, “…2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2NIV)I found it to be an encouraging passage inasmuch as it gives us some sort of direction in handling the inevitable challenges of life. For the joy set before him was the best way for Jesus to overcome pain, to endure crises, and it is also the best way for us to overcome the stumbling blocks and tough times in our own lives. The joy that Jesus had set before Him was the incredible, unconditional love He has for each one of us, and ultimately what His death would accomplish on our behalf. Jesus’ mission on earth was to restore humanity to God. When Jesus hung on the cross He was able to find strength and joy rooted in His love for us. And we need to find the same joy and strength in overcoming the challenges that we face in our lives.  If Jesus pictured us as He hung on the cross, then it makes sense that we should fix our eyes on Him as we persevere through whatever life throws our way. In his book “The Cost of Discipleship”, Dietrich Bonhoeffer articulates this same kind of thinking. He writes, “We shouldn’t look down the road ahead at what is too hard for us, but rather we should set our eyes on Jesus, who is right in front of us…”In his book, Run The Mile You’re In, long-distance marathon runner Ryan Hall wrote, “I remember being at mile six of the London Marathon and feeling my calves prematurely tightening up on me. I started thinking about how many miles I still had to go, but fortunately I was able to channel my thinking and instead focus on just running the mile I was in and ended up running my personal best … Had I continued to think about how hard the road was going to be, I never would have made it. The truth is that the road was hard, but greater truth is that God always supplies, by His grace, all the strength we need for each moment…”Grace…

Guest Post Ephesians 5:1-2 (AMP)Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; 2 and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.This verse carries a message for our time as it should always have done. It asks the question, what makes it different, and why now? It asks us to look and question ourselves about our own example we have set in the past and begs for change. It also lets us reflect why it is so pertinent for us now.One of the metaphors illustrating the words,  setting an example of love could read “Love is a battlefield. Love is simple, but people make it complicated.”  It is one of the realizations we have come to during this time of Covid-19.  Jesus on the other hand is asking us to imitate Him as He imitates the Father, and He calls us well-beloved children. It calls for a continual walk, and I pray we will not forget the changes it brought in our own lifestyle of care and awareness for others too soon.Scripture highlights for us the how: practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others. It states that Christ also loved you and me and gave Himself up for all of us (no exception), an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.Christ’s life left a fragrance (a sweet aroma) in His walk on earth.  And so it is incumbent on us that we ought to also value our brothers and sisters (especially those in need and ostracized) and become an offering and sacrifice made to God through our actions.This time of Covid-19 has emphasised for us to repeat (continually) and not forget His example. To my brothers and sister in Christ at New Harvest,Shalom, Herman Groenewald

Two days ago we looked at the fact that God thinks about us and cares for us based on Psalm 8. But have you ever taken the time to ponder on what exactly God thinks about you? I ask because I believe we can fall into a trap of believing that God thinks negatively of us even after we have believed in Jesus and have been welcomed into the family of God. The idea for today’s blog began upon reading these words by Matt Chandler while doing research for Sunday’s sermon:“You will not experience the joy of God’s grace and kingdom if you think the King is always disappointed in you. He is working on you, growing you, shaping you under the banner and covering of his love. He doesn’t need you to get your act together. He is helping you get your act together. This doesn’t mean we don’t repent of sin. This doesn’t mean sin doesn’t grieve our hearts. This is not permission to walk in rebellion. God disciplines those he loves. It does mean God is for you, not against you. He loves you.”Those last words, “It does mean God is for you, not against you. He loves you” really stood out to me.  I must admit that I can sometimes find myself in a dark place spiritually and actually believe the lie that God either doesn’t care for me or doesn’t think much of me – but this couldn’t be any further from the truth! While God thinks many amazing things about us, one that I really felt I needed to share with you today is this:“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” – 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT) When God looks at you He thinks of you as valuable – so much so that He paid the ransom to save you from your sins with the precious and innocent blood of His Son, Jesus. Just let that sink in for a minute – God thinks of you as that valuable – wow. Be encouraged today knowing that you are thought of as valuable and allow that to impact how you live in the present. Strive to live as a valued one and honor God in light of this incredible truth.Much love,Luke

I'm part of a WhatsApp group called "Believers Daily Bread" a group consisting of Christians from all different denominations around South Africa, and even further afield in Africa. I don't always look through all the messages shared on the group but occasionally the Lord highlights a certain verse or message. This morning two such verses stood out to me. The first was Isaiah 43:2 which I'll share here with a portion of its surrounding verses:Now this is what the Lord says—the one who created you, Jacob,and the one who formed you, Israel—“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by your name; you are mine.2 When you pass through the waters,I will be with you,and the rivers will not overwhelm you.When you walk through the fire,you will not be scorched,and the flame will not burn you.3 For I am the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, and your Saviour.(Isaiah 43:1-3a CSB) Image Credit - https://www.fullofeyes.com The wonderful thing about God's promise here is that He has already backed it up. The hearers of this message would recall how the Lord mightily delivered His people from the Egyptian army by creating a way through the waters of the Red Sea. They would have recalled the story of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (more commonly known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) who were cast into the raging furnace and yet were not even singed by the flames as there was another in the fire with them. I love the point that was shared along with this verse in the WhatsApp chat: "He did not remove the Red Sea but He made a way in the Red Sea. He did not stop Shadrach, Mesah and Abednego from going into the fire but went into the fire with them."God hasn't removed the Coronavirus pandemic and all it's ramifications, but He is with us in the midst of it. He will walk with us through it. How do we know this? Because God keeps His promises. This is the other verse that really stood out to me this morning, the one that speaks about what God has promised:“I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” (Hebrews 13:5 AMP)God BlessGraham