New Year Revelation

Photo: Anna Gardner

Over the Christmas, New Year period I have been praying about the future of this blog and tossed up and out various ideas, only to find out that other bloggers are facing the same directional challenge.

I believe this blog is to take on a different flavour to that of the magazine of 2011. 

Intimacy with God is a high calling and one God desires for each of us.  So while I will still be reporting on upcoming and past church events in our shire, my main focus will be directed towards our relationship with God as the number 1 priority in our lives. 

If you haven't already done so, clear time in your day for time with God, worship, prayer and meditation on His Word, Scripture.  This will do you far more good than meditation of any other kind. 

Set aside time also for spending in the Word of God.  Know the Word as a weapon against doubt, dispair and every other type of junk that comes against us.  

Let us live out of an overflow rather than a dry well. 

Let us make our number one priority for the year to seek God. 

December 2011

This year I have felt God speaking to me about my attitude and that it needs to be more encouraging. There is a blog that I read: www.passionatehomemaking.com, where at the end of every month she lists a whole heap of things in every day life that she is thankful for. I felt that I should list ten at the end of each month. So here are mine for December.

1. My garden is thriving and soon I will have some lovely vegies to pick
2. The rain that has made our lawn grow nice and thick to choke out the weeds, burs and bare patches that were here six months ago when Stephen first started renting.
3. Our trip to Sydney for Nikki and James Higgins wedding.
4. The book Beaded Hope that I found on Kristy's bookshelf in Port that has inspired me to keep writing mine.
5. Answered prayers.
6. Homemade vanilla essence with vanilla beans and two bottles of vodka!
7. My wonderful husband who always helps me with hairbrained projects.
8. All the wedding, Christmas and birthday cards hanging around me which should probably come down soon.
9. A clean kitchen tonight!
10. Canoe ride on the lake last night.

Narrabri Christian Fellowship Christmas Eve Service

Narrabri Christian Fellowship hosted a delightfully traditional, yet modern Christmas Eve service, featuring carols, video displays, a skit highlighting the true meaning of Christmas and an item by Carly Watt and Katherine Bell.   As usual, a delicious supper was given at the end which was enjoyed by all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scripture of the Week - Proverbs 24:10-12

Proverbs 24:10-12

New International Version (NIV)

  
 ¹⁰ If you falter in a time of trouble,
   how small is your strength!
¹¹ Rescue those being led away to death;
   hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
¹² If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
   does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
   Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Israeli Speaker at the Narrabri COC - Report

by Lizzy Ainsworth

Jewish issues would not be something that one would think would impact a small town such as Narrabri, but in fact, journalist and the Chief Executive of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, Vic Alhadeff, came to speak at the Christian Outreach Centre on the night of the 29th November.

While Israeli issues are not something that necessarily confront us on a local level, Vic, came to speak to numerous groups around our area, including the mayor of Gunnedah, about different issues affecting the Jewish community within NSW and further abroad.

His role in his position as Chief Executive of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies is to be proactive in bringing a good public outlook to Jews, an outlook that is severely tainted, from even further back than the Holocaust.   This includes bringing together high school children such as Jews, Muslims and Christians to be able to explore each others cultures in a neutral environment, along with speaking in schools to promote a positive image of Jews.

In other cases, his job is to react to blatant defamation of Jews both in NSW, Australia and abroad.  While the Australian government as a general whole is supportive of the Jewish community, there are many attempts in the media and community to defame and degrade the name of Israel. 

While this may not be an issue of which you were previously aware, it will never hurt to broaden our horizons to include the people of a nation that is so often in the news, and to dig deeper for the truth on an often misunderstood and rejected people.

As Christians, our responsibility goes even deeper.  Israel is the most mentioned country in the Bible, and the place where Jesus walked and lived.  Without the Jews we would not have our rich heritage and many of our traditions.

Israel is a nation close the to the heart of God, and it is a topic well worth delving into for our own study of what God has to say about this nation.  If you have never studied this topic, it is well worth the look, for we need to ‘study to show ourselves approved,’ searching the scriptures so that we may know for ourselves the truth of the matter.

Acts 17:11 and 2 Timothy 2:15

New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies: www.nswjbd.org

Photo: Vic Alhadeff, 3rd row, far right in suit, with the group he spoke to at the Christian Outreach Centre in Narrabri.

Israeli Speaker at the Narrabri COC

Speaking at the COC church in Maitland Street in Narrabri, on Tuesday 29th November, at 7pm, will be former journalist Vic Alhadeff.  This man is currently the chief executive officer  of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, and will be speaking about Israel and his journalistic experiences in Narrabri.  Come along to hear his story.

Upcoming Events at the Narrabri Anglican Church

26th Nov - Gingerbread House Night @ Anglican Church. Contact Natasha Baxter for more details

18th Dec - Carols on the Lawn - Anglican Church - Time to be confirmed.