PATTERNS… IN HIS PATTERN

Patterns In Daily Life…

Patterns prevail every part of our lives

We experience patterns from child’s play to career choices

· The toddler separates red blocks from blue blocks

The separation is a pattern: the reds go here, the blues go there

· A first grader makes a pattern with stamps or stickers

· While in primary school we learn that multiples of five end in five or zero – another    pattern

· In High School, students learn that in mathematics from algebra to calculus is all about function, which is the pattern of how one number changes into another

· In careers --- The stock trades looks for trends – patterns – in the stock market

· Designers of all kinds create beautiful and functional patterns, ranging from the pattern in fabric to the way rooms are arranged in a house to the order of images in a TV commercial.

But above all these there is God’s patterns throughout the Bible to guide us and teach us…

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13

As I search the Scriptures in the Bible on God’s patterns I have been pondering over ‘Knowing God’s Will’. Knowing God’s will can be a daunting question for some of us. No one wants to miss knowing God’s will. It’s normal, and it’s human.

‘Live Your Passion’. What are you passionate about? You could be passionate about missions, preaching, worship, writing, a particular craft etc, and the list goes on… Why are you passionate about the particular things you are passionate about? The reason is because God put them there! It’s not by chance or random encounters that we have that particular passion. If you are passionate about something, it’s part of God’s will for your life. It is God’s will that you live your personality and your talents.  Each of us has been created uniquely and our particular design of talents points us to God’s will in our lives.

He alone designs the patterns of our lives.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is --- his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

The only decision God does not want us to make is the decision to sin or resist His will. God wants us to make choices that are in agreement with his will. So, how do you know what God’s will is for you? If you are truly desiring God’s will for your life, God will place His desires on your heart.  The key is wanting God’s will, not your own.

Elaine Hales

Seeing the world through different eyes

“Give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes so I can see, everything that I’ve been missing, give me love for humanity”, these are the words to another song I love and pray each time I hear it but I never realised how dangerous that prayer was until just recently.

Over the last few weeks I have experienced emotional pain and seen things in a way I think I never really wanted to. I have had to face the world through the eyes of someone who has almost never experienced happiness, never experienced real peace or even lived in love. I have entered a place of darkness and it is not pretty.

My thoughts run wild as I think about our pain and how God must see things. If it took only one person to take me to this place through their pain then I shudder to think what it would be like if God really were to open my eyes to every person’s pain. Would I cope? Would I really want to know? What would I do if I could see all these things? How would my world change?

I came from a country where really bad things happen and I have often conveyed the stories to people here who wonder how we lived that way and yet I see things here and I stand in awe wondering how people survive some of the heartache they need to face.

My Mum asked me once, if I had an opportunity to throw all my worst problems in a bucket along with other peoples and draw out someone else’s, would I want to do that?

I know that my answer is a resounding NO! I thank God for what has come my way, for strength to face it and the wisdom I have obtained through overcoming it.

Shed 19 and Hope Link

A Ministry of Gladstone Church of Christ

HELPING A COMMUNITY HEAL – GROW – SUCCEED, ONE LIFE AT A TIME.

Karen's Page

Hopes and Dreams

One Friday afternoon last month, myself and many others stood on the edge of one of the motel’s pools, here in Dubai , watching 14 people from different cultures and backgrounds being baptised in the name of Jesus.  What an exciting time it was and what a buzz there was in the air as in this public place these people were not only openly being baptised but they were telling their testimony for everyone to here. These people varied in age, height, colour and backgrounds but all were united in Christ.  Each had their own story to tell that was diverse and exciting.

God knows what is needed to bring people to him and the time that should happen.  One girl in particular that stood out in the crowd, was glowing as she gave her testimony.  She was particularly excited and her testimony was compelling because God had made a dramatic change to her life.  You see, this girl had been a Muslim, her family still were, and God had reached out and pulled her out of her darkness and into his light.

What made her realise that Jesus was Lord and not a prophet?  What made her overcome her fear of being disowned from her family for believing that Jesus is Lord and Saviour?  What made her realise that what she had been taught against Christianity was a lie?  How did God reveal himself to her so that He was real to her?

Her testimony was about how Christ had revealed himself to her in a dream.  This girl didn’t even know who Jesus was until after the dream.  She asked her mum who was a Muslim, who told her that he was a prophet but she knew from the dream that he was more than that.

She also knew then, that He was real and she started seeking out Christians who were able to give her a Bible to read.  As she read, the word revealed to her the truth and what she dreamt now made more sense and convicted her that Jesus was the way, the truth and the life and that through him was the only way to be with God in heaven.

Quite often I hear of God speaking to Muslims through dreams and once they have heard who Jesus is and that He is real, they immediately worship him.  Muslims need a sign or wonder for them to realise that they are on the wrong path before they will leave their families and drop the life they know and follow Jesus, because they are very dependent on their family for everything and to disobey their parents and to go against their teachings is shameful and can lead them being cut off or considered dead.

In Acts 2:17 and similarly Joel 2: 28 , God says that in the last days, I will pour out my spirit on all people, Your sons and daughters will prophecy, your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions.

Even though this testimony was exciting, the other testimonies were just as special because they testified how Christ revealed himself to them and that in itself is extraordinary.  Hearing these testimonies and witnessing these baptisms encouraged me and lifted up my faith here in this place, to know that God is working in our midst and has reminded me that He never leaves us nor forsakes us wherever we are.   May you be encouraged to share your testimony to bring hope to others .

Karen Kirby

Seasons in My Life

As a woman, we often find ourselves talking about seasons of our lives.  I find myself approaching a new season of change in my work as I move on from working as admin support for Jan Christensen Global Mission Partners Qld Mobiliser.

It has been a journey of learning, a seasons of working with a mission organisation where I previously had no heart or knowledge.  What a growing experience!  I am grateful for the opportunity to have added my skills to a team, to release others to do what they do best. But I also find myself reflecting on the myriad of ways that I can continue, allowing God to grow a mission heart, now my direction is changing at work.

I know that not everyone can jump on plane (not something that I can see myself doing straight away!) but there are other ways to be involved.

I can pray for our partners – News is updated on the In Partnership website

I can give – There are church development projects, aid program and child sponsorships

I can support short term teams that go

I can facebook and keep up to date

I can collect stamps (How hard is it to save the stamps that come through my way?)

Encourage our visiting partners – come listen to their journey when they visit

What about if I join a mission action group

In fact I really have to find an implausible excuse not to keep involved and growing.

And maybe, I could go … but that’s another story

Can I encourage you to find where you can be involved, it can be big or small, just suit the season of your life.

Serving in Christ’s Love

Cathy

From our Churches

Rosevale Women’s Fellowship

50TH Anniversary Luncheon

The Rosevale Women's Fellowship celebrated their 50th anniversary on 5th June, 2012.

It was wonderful to see the Chapel filled with many ladies, and a few men, both from the local area, Brisbane, Nambour, Toowoomba and many other places as well as New South Wales.  It was a day filled with many blessings.

Marilyn Wainwright shared the history of the Ladies Fellowship.

Other speakers were Shirley Mansell  who spoke about the life of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was healed, the theme for the day being " Women of the Bible".  Evelyn Colbran reflected on the lives of Mary and Martha.

Barbara Shipton (nee Christensen) was able to come home, and share with those gathered, some stories and minister in song with daughter Holly.

Over one hundred meals were served consisting of a hot roast dinner and desert. Three original members of the Ladies' Fellowship were given the privilege of cutting the birthday cake - Sheila Leitch, Lori Schulz and Serophene Christensen.

Our 50th Anniversary Recipes and Memorabilia Book was on sale for $10.  The ever popular after lunch stall was again a feature of the celebrations with cakes,slices, biscuits, fruit and veg., jams, pickles and plants on sale.

We thank God for the many ladies who worked so hard to make the day an experience to be remembered by those who attended.