Hi Grace Church

 

We pray you are well and enjoying the warmer sunnier weather. Sometimes things that change regularly or not enough or too much in one direction can greatly affect us.  We feel moody or sad during long periods of rain and cloud and happy during moderate temperature days with the sun shining.

One of my friends oversaw a common space in Britain a few years back and found even in the best months of summer, there was still a lot of grey and gloom in his location and so in his lunch space he painted everything bright and sunny with tropical pictures and sunshine beaming. He said it made a difference people were not so glum in the lunchroom and it lifted their mood in the workspace. 

Robert Harison preached a great word on Sunday and told of the greatest love story ever through Mark 15. Jesus willingly dying on the cross for us. It is essentially a sad story where one life is made a ransom and dies for the sake of the many that includes us. But it is a death not done in gloom and darkness it’s a death done by choice and joy and love. 

So, what should our response be to such love demonstrated for us. Sadly, I think many Christians respond like they do to the weather. Its all based how they feel in the season. I believe this robs us of the same joy Jesus had when he thought of us as he endured the cross. 

But our response should be a consistent thankfulness, gratitude, loud praise, demonstrations of worth, declarations of freedom and love for all that he has done for us. 

Don’t live according to the weather. Live by the truth. Jesus loves me this I know for the cross demonstrates it so! Always. 

An additional note there are great opportunities for mission contribution over the next month with Operation Christmas Child ramping up and Young People being asked to sign up for a mission trip to the Philippines.  Please consider what you can do and provide. 

Don’t forget Father Day this Sunday. It will be a fun day with a photo booth and a generous morning tea.  So come along and enjoy family together. 

Good to be with Church,

Love Greg and Amanda