The recent weather conditions makes it so hard to believe that we are now moving into the summer holiday season! It's been freezing and wet! However, many schools have now closed for the summer break and people are already away or will soon be leaving on holiday. Pastor John, Ruth and Mark will be back with us this week. Others are still away. We wish everyone an enjoyable break from the norm regardless if you are getting away or not.
Things normally slacken off in church life during the summer, but I would ask you to stay focused and to stay committed and to let this show in your attendance at church and in your ongoing support of our activities. A special thanks to everyone for your ongoing support regardless of the season around us and regardless of the seasons in your life.
Thank God for another good day at New Life.
On Sunday morning Davy John brought an excellent message on Dealing with Weaknesses. Based on Isa. 40:29-31 and 1 Cor. 1:27 he went on to show the following:
> God is our strength who gives power to those who are weak
> What value is there with a title or a position without God's power?
> The weaknesses of the disciples did not stop them from becoming world changers
> Having weakness in your life does not make you a failure
Davy listed several weaknesses that might well be affecting us as individuals, but then showed how these weaknesses can be dealt with by an encounter with God.
On Sunday night Jonathan brought an equally excellent message that so much fitted in with what Davy John had brought in the morning. His message about Seeking God was based on the story of Mary and Martha showing that while is it is important that we do the practical things of life and of church, and that we do them well, yet our main goal should be to sit at the feet of Christ in our quest for God. He went on to show the following:
> Everyone is searching for something
> The greater the value in what is being sought after, the greater the search
> We need to seek the Lord while he may be found
> We need to manage our time well and ensure time to seek the Lord
Jonathan concluded by encouraging us to press in to where God is and to find him as we worshipped together. Both services finished with several people coming forward to encounter God and to press in to where he is. This shows that some are hungry for more of God, which makes all we do worth doing if we can help people discover and experience more of God.
What's on this week? The main thing is the Shane Lynch event. This has been well publicised. We are expecting a huge turn out, but would ask you to keep promoting it and to make sure you get there. That is Thursday at 7.30 pm in the building in Northumberland Street. If you want to know how you can help please contact Gareth, Jonathan or Davy John.
PRAYER: Continue to pray for Tracey Seawright's full recovery and also for baby Lucas. Pray also for John Warden who is in hospital and will undergo an operation. Also keep praying for Johnny and Heather in India, as we did in church last week. And Shannon in your thoughts and prayers.
Final thought: We have been reminded recently that: 'Amateurs built the ark, but professionals built the Titanic'. Now that's classy on its own, but I would add to this by saying: Anything you build with God will float, but anything you build without God will surely sink; and hey, just because your Titanic sinks does not mean you should try to sink someone's ark!
Hope to see you all again next Sunday, if not before.
Pastor Jack
