the strength to get through. The good news is that God wants to give us the strength we need to do the hard things in life. The Bible says, ‘God gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. … Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.’ (Isaiah 40: 29, 31)
How do we access God’s strength to do the hard things that feel beyond us? Jesus provides
an answer to this question. He faced many challenges along the way but none were greater than dying on the cross for our sin. How did Jesus find the strength to do this?
Jesus found God’s strength through prayer. Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place to pray. So
it is no surprise then to see Jesus going off to pray the night before he died on the cross. His prayer reveals the struggle he was going through. “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Luke 22:42)
Jesus was asking God for another way; a way that would be easier for him. At the same time Jesus submitted himself to God’s will whatever the outcome of his prayer. God’s will was to bring all people back to him and for this to be possible Jesus would have to die on the cross for our sin. God could not give Jesus another. Instead, God answered Jesus’ prayer by giving him the strength to go his way to the cross. We read, ‘Then an angel appeared and strengthened him.’ (Luke 22:43)
We are not sure how the angel strengthened Jesus, but when he had finished praying he got up and walked back to his disciples where his enemies arrived at the same time to arrest him. Jesus could have run away but he chose to walk straight into the hands of the people who would kill him. He trusted God to give him the strength he needed for every step to the cross. God’s strength would come as he in faith did what he knew God wanted him to do.
Jesus shows that prayer is vital for connecting us to God’s strength. Have you prayed about your current challenges? Even if you have never prayed before, God hears you and you may be surprised by the way he answers you.
God’s strength comes as we go. God’s strength comes as we take him at his word and do what we know we have to do no matter how hard it is. You will be amazed at what God enables you to do if you just take the first step.
Why not take some time today to pray about what you feel is too hard and when and you have finished get up and take the first step needed trusting that God will give you the strength as you go?
Pastor Noel Kluge
This Sunday at Good Shepherd
This week’s message is “Reaping what you sow” as we continue the series “What’s in your hands?” Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
Bible Readings: Luke 6:37-38; 2 Kings 4:1-7
New Personal Journal Available in Worship
Each week we have Activity Folders available for kids who stay in the service. During the school holidays and going forward there will be a new Personal Journal handout available for older kids and youth to interact with and respond to the services. Please make sure you try these out!
Kingdom Kids will not be meeting this week as it is school holidays! We hope you enjoy worshipping our amazing God together in the services!
Planning is well under way for our Kingdom Kids Celebration Service this year with a theme of ‘Make Room for the Saviour’. Make sure you book in the date of Sunday 30th of November (10:30am service) which is the first week of Advent. More info will be out soon about how you can get involved!! It’s going to be an amazing time to share as a family with lots of different ways to participate.
Beth Einthal
Children and Family Team Leader
Prayer Requests:
Prayer requests are not included in the weekly news. If you would like to view the current requests refer to the email that alerted you to this weekly news. If you have a prayer request please email churchequiries@paravista.org.au with your request.
Interested in supporting our local Christian Pastoral Support Workers?
Earlier this year, four CPSW workers shared at our Sunday morning service the difference they are making in their school communities. Inspirational!
The local board that supports and helps resource our local CPSW’s is made up of representatives from local churches. This board is called SHIN: Salisbury Hills Interchurch Network. In recent years, Good Shepherd has been represented by Pr Noel, Dean Eaton, and for the last three years your truly.
Since I intend to finish up on SHIN at the end of 2014, I am keen to find another person from Good Shepherd to take my place. SHIN currently meets bi-monthly on a Thursday night at Ingle Farm Salvation Army centre (cnr of Bridge and Maxwell roads). Normally 5-8 people attend, and meetings run for 1-2 hours, including visits and reports from our local CPSW’s.
SHIN is also looking for a new treasurer for 2015. If you have served on a governance team in the past, or have gifts in admin, supervision, communication or finance –- and are even ‘just a little’ interested –- I would love to hear from you.
Pr Rolly Stahl
From the Office
Air conditioners
The evaporative coolers in the church have been opened for the summer months. Overview instructions for use are situated on the wall next to the controllers. If you experience any problem using the units please inform the administration manager during office hours or leave a note in the communications book in the hall kitchen.
Time-Out Devotion Book
Pre orders for the 2015 devotion book “Time Out. God calls” are now being taken. The books will be available early in December for $22 per copy.
The book provides Christian devotions by Australian writers for each day of the calendar year. Each meditation, edited by Greg Lockwood, is a “time-out” of about 3 minutes. The devotion writers’ thoughts are life-related and centered on the message of God’s love for people shown in Jesus Christ.
Please advise the church office churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 8263 5087 to order your copy, by October 20th.
Lutheran Media newsletter
Lutheran Media presents comfort not only to lonely and hurting people, but to everyone through God’s message of hope. Read personal testimonies and other articles of interest in the Lutheran Media newsletter, now in your pigeon hole.
Noticeboard
Organist Meet & Swap
Saturday, 18th October, 2014 12noon to 5pm at Zion Lutheran Church Glynde: 15 Glynburn Rd, Glynde. Cost: $10 for light lunch and refreshments – payable on the day. Registrations due by Friday 10th October to: joymildren@hotmail.com
Sports Carnival
For all young people - Sunday 19th October from 2pm at Golden Grove Lutheran Fellowship
FREE event, including a Jumping Castle! Cricket, Netball, Ultimate Frisbee, Relays.
Followed by a bbq at 5.45pm and a youth worship service at 6.30pm. More information can be found at www.blueprintministries.org.au
Adelaide: Grab a bargain at our annual Garage Sale on 25 October
Gather a group of friends and grab a bargain at Lutheran Community Care's annual Garage Sale on Saturday, 25th October from 9.00am-2.00pm at LCC, 309 Prospect Road, Blair Athol. We will have hundreds of items for sale including clothes, shoes, accessories, electrical items, home wares, bric-a-brac, children's toys and books. We will also have a sausage sizzle and other refreshments available for a small donation. All proceeds from the day will directly benefit our community programs.
Adelaide and Barossa: Sign up now to volunteer with Christmas Hampers
We are currently looking for volunteers to help with the packing and distribution of Christmas Hampers. Packing will take place at the end of November and the hampers will be distributed in December.
If you have time to spare and would like to help those in need this Christmas, please contact our Blair Athol office at 08 8269 9300 or the Barossa office at 08 8562 2688 for more information on how to get involved.
Saturday November 1 - Seminar
Presenting research into young adults in the Lutheran Church
$10 including lunch. This event is open to every congregation member and friend. More information can be found at www.blueprintministries.org.au
Part Time Marketing Officer Vacancy
Enquiries can be made to Karen Granger on 8236 4278 or humanresources@sa.uca.org.au.
Application close date: 13th October 2014 at 4.00pm.
Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.
that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
