Faithpoint

Bird v dogs...
My neighbours' dogs bark a lot. I did speak to the neighbour politely about it but he became very upset. It's someone else's dogs that bark according to him...
I have prayed for peace for four years but the dogs still bark and my neighbour sadly no longer talks to me.
... I awoke early to a dark and chilly morning. A little later as the sleep fog lifted from our minds, we prayed for the day ahead and for various needs for others. I finished with another request for the Lord to bring peace within our borders, specifically looking for relief from the, at times, incessant barking.
As we finished praying, our regular morning songster, a New Holland Honeyeater, broke forth in sweet praise to the Lord as the sun began to rise. It sings from a bush near our front door and its beautiful sound fills the house. We were blessed by the melodious song. Peace flooded into our borders.
It reminded me that, no matter the circumstances, no matter the drama around us, whether created by others, a neighbour's neurotic dogs, or even ourselves, we can still lift our praises to the Lord. It's a choice I intend to make each day!
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Direction, not intention, determines destination - Pastor Raymond Woodward

God is not looking for ability. He is looking for availability.
Long long ago in a place far far away I was at a conference. The worship was about to start and the drummer hadn't turned up. Perhaps he was sleeping, eating or fellowshipping. Maybe he thought his time was more important than everyone else's. Perhaps he thought he was indispensable and the whole conference would wait for him. I don't know his reason for not being there but the worship director wasn't pleased.
So...meone said I could play the drums, so the worship director asked me if I could play. I hesitated. I'm not even second rate. I'm a third rate drummer. The brother who was supposed to play was a good drummer. She pressed for an answer as time was running out. So I said, Yes, I'll play.
Part way through the second song the scheduled drummer appeared on my left. Can you play the drums, he asked. I didn't need the distraction from playing so I somewhat abruptly answered, What am I doing now? I asked him if he wanted to take over and he declined.
That drummer had much more ability than me but I had greater availability. God will always seek availability over ability. So if you have ability, or if you have little or no ability, the best thing you can do is make yourself available. Jesus will make up for any shortfall in your ability if you simply say, here I am Lord, use me.
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If you wondered where your pastor has been this last week, he took a team on behalf of Australian Home Missions to a conference in Indonesia.
The conference was called Discipleshift 2018 and was run by Tabernacle of Joy from Singapore, led by Pastor Timothy Lee. Main speakers were Rev Stan Gleason and Dr James Littles. The teaching was outstanding.
The aim of the conference was to shift our thinking from what we do as a church body to the mission given to us by Jesus in Matth...ew 28: Go Make Disciples!
You will hear more from us on this very important commandment over the next weeks, months....and years!
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It's not how you start but how you finish the race that counts.
Our dog Maxi had a bad start.
Found on the side of the road at year old. He was then kept chained up and used as a pigging dog. After six years his owner was going to shoot him.
... Another man took him to save his life but he spent the next three years chained up to a tree on a property and his rescuer visited him most days to feed him.
He was rescued by an animal lover and she asked us to adopt him.
Maxi is entitled to have a bad attitude. But he has a sweet personality.
He had a bad start but his last few years should be very comfortable as my "therapy companion".
His bad past is behind him. He's been saved, set free, redeemed...in a doggy way.
So it is in our walk with Jesus. We've been saved, set free, redeemed. Does the past matter any more? Does what's happened to you matter any more?
It's not how you start but how you finish that counts.
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Bob preached this morning on Choices, and in particular spiritual choices. Choose you this day who you will serve. How will you serve. And so on. How can we know and make sure our choices align with our purpose and goals. How do we know His will. This was all examined in the context that our choices are important and have immediate and eternal consequences. In Lk10: 39-42 Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet and even though Martha pressured her, she chose to listen to Jesus - over family , over jobs and achievements , over entertaining , she chose time with Jesus. She is a great example for us. Jesus didn't rebuke Martha, but simply affirmed that Mary had chosen better than she.

One word defines the message of the Bible: redemption - Rev Stan Gleason, Discipleshift 2018, Batam, Indonesia

"Lord, help me to be willing to be willing." I'm sure it was a man they called Bro Andrew - God's Smuggler - who said this.
Bro Andrew was a man who risked his freedom and even his life to smuggle precious Bibles behind the Iron Curtain decades ago when the Communist governments made it illegal to do ... so. They banned the Bible!
When he wasn't willing to obey God, perhaps because the task seemed too hard or too risky or maybe because he was too weary, he would say, "Lord, I don’t feel willing but help me to be willing to be willing."
Are you struggling with your will? Then why don’t you ask God, "Lord, help me to be willing to be willing."
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Someone said that worry is interest paid on a loan you haven't taken.
My grandmother said, If you worry you die: if you don't worry you die anyway; so why worry.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Character is easier kept than recovered - Pastor Pou Hikila

Don't let your problems affect your praise - Dr M Dobbs

When God is warning us to change, it's wise to listen

Tonight Pastor Frank ministered on:
Stay on the (Potter's) Wheel
1/ Fund out where God wants you to be ... 2/ Stay where God wants you to be 3/ Rejoice in where you are
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This morning we also celebrated Juvy's baptism in Jesus name and Spirit baptism, presenting her with a certificate as a memorial of this blessed occasion.

Psa 18:29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
It is the Lord that gives us the victory but victory is followed by our actions.
We run through a troop, our problems.
... We leap over a wall, our obstacles.
Thank God who gives us the victory through Jesus!
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God is more interested in your development than your comfort - Dr M Dobbs

Tonight Pastor Bill baptised Juvy in Jesus name and she was wonderfully filled with the Holy Ghost, glory to God!
Juvy is pictured here with her mother Loli and Maria as well as Pastor Bill and Robyn.

God is not just interested in giving you a blessing. He is wanting to transform you into His image - Dr M Dobbs

My second family :)

FaithPoint is a vibrant, living church, filled with people who love God, and love each other. You will enjoy attending here. Before I moved overseas, I chose to drive over two hours each Sunday to call this place my home church.

Home church.... Jesus focused

My second family :)

My second family :)

My second family :)