Lynda's Blog

  I have commenced my annual spring cleaning and remember anew the importance of ‘spring cleaning’ my mind and heart. I have been challenged yet again as I read through James. In particular, as I read James chapter three. The first few verses are titled ‘Taming the Tongue’. Oh how that small portion of our bodies has such an enormous impact. We have the opportunity to bring others down with our words, to ruin reputations, to grumble and complain OR we can build others up and encourage them and we can take opportunities to praise God with a positive attitude. A study of God’s Word uncovers plenty of warnings about this little organ, especially in Proverbs. The words that struck me the most in James were that it ‘corrupts the whole body’. What a frightening thought! Further James uses vivid imagery to challenge us that if we love God how can words of praise and words of defamation come out of the same mouth? I am reminded that in Matthew seven it tells us not to judge as in t...

  I had the most wonderful day last Sunday. If you have followed my journey you will know that this year has been difficult; having my brother stay for three months when his relationship broke up, project managing renovations that took seven months to complete with little communication if any about when tradesmen would turn up, helping organize 140 year celebrations for my church, keeping up with my volunteer work and duties around the home plus my husband’s ill health. Then in September, I took on a walking challenge which in retrospect was a pretty silly thing to do at a time when I was already tired! I was thrilled with coming third out of ten people and walking 121.6 kilometers for the month though. I really felt I had accomplished something. However, I am not young anymore! Two weeks ago the renovations were completed and I had the spare rooms ready for my family for the 140 th celebrations by the skin of my teeth! I literally finished unpacking the guest rooms, which had bee...

  We recently celebrated 140 years since the establishment of our church in our city, just ten years after the small township was itself established. So many changes in that 150 years and so many changes in our church—some good and maybe some not so good. We were reminded though that looking back on our church history helps us to acknowledge our faithful congregation of the past and also provides guidance for the way forward. Not redoing the past, but letting the past inform the future. So many great and wonderful God-glorifying experiences for us to celebrate. At the foundation of it all, is of course God, and family. The registrations of two hundred people may seem small to those who belong to large churches, but we were thrilled to see those who have been part of our spiritual family return for this celebration. There was a time when we sent out many of our faithful to train as ministers and they are now serving in churches throughout the country. It was such a wonderful ...

  The same God. What does that mean? Does it seem ---too amazing to be true? That the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Is the same God, who through The blood of Jesus rescues us? The Bible says, ‘For God so loved the world That he gave his only begotten son’ The world! That’s you and me, set free. He handed us the master key To endless love, to endless grace. And as we seek His face He reveals the essence of who He is. Unchanging. Exchanging our sin-sick heart With the heart of Jesus. Exchanging all we are for all we can receive From Him. Abundant life Old life to new Through – Him.                                   He saved back then, He saves today       He will save tomorrow. And in our tomorrow is no more sorrow. The same God.   Shadrac...

  The renovations are slowly coming to an end – very slowly! The installation of the new kitchen was supposed to happen two weeks ago and take two days. They started BUT it has taken two weeks so far and they are not quite done. They keep coming back to do small bits at a time. The sink leaked and it took two plumbers over four visits to find the problem. Glue was left on the benchtops when they were installed so they are coming back to try and get the bits of glue off. I’m reminded again of the importance of patience and thank God that he keeps challenging me to grow in this area. The hardest part? I think the long time to get everything done, as it has sapped my strength continually. Once the bulk of the work was done and the carpet in—with a huge amount of dust as they lifted the old carpet—I arranged for a cleaner to come and do a really good spring clean of the whole area, so everything was dust-free for the hanging of the wallpaper. She was marvellous and did a really excel...