We all have bad days. We all have days where everything just seems to go
wrong from the time we get out of bed until the time we lay our heads on the
pillow at night. Our kids act up. Our partner misunderstands us and heated
words are exchanged. Everyone on the road seems to be trying to push you off of
it. And all this is even before you get to work!
Everyone has bad days. There is no way of avoiding them. However, I have
noticed that the way I choose to respond to them can either add to my bad day
or help me get through it more effectively. When my kids act up before school I
can either get angry and yell at them, or I can remain calm but firm. I can let
the bad driving of someone on the road irritate me to the point that I wind
down the window and give them serve or I can just take it in my stride and keep
going.
Now it is much easier to write about the positive response to situations
that cause my bad day than it is to do them. How do you and I bounce back from
the things that happen during our days that can really pull us down and leave
us feeling rung out with nothing left to keep on going? Where do we find the
strength to keep going when our days have drained us of all that we have?
The best way I have found to bounce back from a bad day and even just a
tiring day is to look past my circumstances, look past the way I feel, and look
to the one who has given me my day, God. Every day, whether good or bad, is a gift
from God. It only makes sense then that when I lack the strength and internal
resources to keep going after my bad days that I look to the one who gave me
the gift of the day in the first place.
The Bible says that ‘He (God) gives power to the weak and
strength to the powerless. Even youths become weak and tired, and young men
will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new
strength.’ (Isaiah 40:29-31) I really like that last line, ‘those who trust in the Lord will find new
strength.’ After a bad day I need new strength and these verses show that
when we look to God he is only too happy to give it to us. Next time you have a
bad day why not try asking God to help you through? Why not ask God to give you
new strength to keep going and also the wisdom to make the right response to
the tough situations that come your way? God can really help us bounce back
from our bad days.
Pastor Noel
Prayer Requests: Not included in this newsletter, but if you would like to view the current requests, refer to the e-mail that alerted you to this Newsletter. If you have a prayer request or wish to be covered by prayer please email churchenquiries@paravista.org.au with your request
This week we continue the series “Getting a grip on life” This week’s
message is “The fine art of friendship” He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a
companion of fools suffers harm.
(Proverbs 13:20 NIV)
Bible Reading: Job
6:14-17 and John 15:12-17
Kingdom Kids:
Kingdom Kids now on
holidays and will kick off again on the 28th July.
Playgroup
Playgroup now on holidays and will kick off
again on Wednesday 24th July.
Child Safe Team Member Training
To help everyone meet
their Child Safe requirements, we will be hosting a Child Safe Team Member
training session here at Good Shepherd on the 10th August from
12-6pm. Tea, coffee and afternoon tea will be provided! It will be held in the
Education Centre (up the stairs at the back of the church hall).
Child supervision will be
provided by Beth and Laura for those that need to bring their children.
If you have completed
Mandatory Notification Training in the last 3 years then you will only need to
complete the first 3 hour session of the training (you will need to present
your original certificate on the day).
We need ALL volunteers in
Children, Family and Youth ministry to complete this training ASAP so that we
can continue to run safe programs for our kids.
Please contact the church
office on 8263 5087 to register. Payment will be covered.
Laura Carson – Children and Family Team Leader
Women’s Fellowship
Next Meeting:
Tuesday 6th August at 1.00pm in Para Vista Church Hall
Guess Speaker:
Ken Semmler
Topic:
Tsunami Disaster Recover ALWS Aid Program
Reminder:
LWSA Northern Zone Convention Thursday August 15th at Albert Park
Church
Quiz Night Come to the Maranatha Health quiz night this year
with an African theme. Come dressed as a tribal chief, African village lady or
a giraffe or elephant and enjoy a fun Saturday night of games and socialising!
Saturday
3 August, 6:30pm for a 7pm start. Endeavour College, Mawson Lakes. $15 per
person, tables of 10. BYO food and drinks (tea and coffee available) Trading
table of Ugandan goods
From the Board
2013 Budget
3 weeks ago I alerted the
congregation to major concerns with our 2013 budget. The congregation was asked
to join in a team effort to increase offerings to enable us to achieve a
balanced budget by the end of the year. The increase in offerings over the last
2 weeks has been very encouraging. This is a marathon till the end of the year
but we have made a strong start. Thank you for your support as achieving a
balanced budget will enable us to continue with our mission of “Reaching into
the community…..”
John Dolling - On behalf of
the Board
Membership Sunday
Last Sunday, ten adults and
two children were welcomed into membership at the 10:30am service.
The Bible's Big Story - Our Story
For many Christians, the Old
Testament (OT) remains a closed book. We
may know some stories: David and Goliath, Jonah and the whale, or Moses leading
the Israelites out of Egypt. But without
a framework to hang these stories on, we miss the unfolding drama of God's
action in history… as well as our place in God's story.
The OT is the Scriptures that Jesus and his apostles
used. If we ignore the OT, we ignore the very source of the things Jesus talks
about. In this course, you'll get an overview that will help you make sense of
the OT - as well as Jesus.
Time: Six Wednesday evenings –14th August to 18th September, 7:30 – 9pm
Facilitator:
Pr Rolly Stahl
Place: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 388 Montague Rd, Para Vista 5093.
Format: Teaching
with pictures. Readings from the Old Testament. Q&A
Cost: $20 for the
course book and timeline (one book
can be shared by a couple)
$10 Concession To be paid on the first night.
What to bring?
Enthusiasm,
your Bible and a biro.
Register by Mon 12th August
P: 8263 5087
Assistant Team Leaders & Disability Support Workers required
Casual and permanent positions are available.
Certificate 3 in Disability Services
is essential.
Some relevant previous experience is
desirable but not necessary.
Driver’s Licence, First Aid and
Police Clearance essential.
To receive a copy of a Position
Description or to make a confidential enquiry, please phone 8212 7766 or email admin@ldssa.org.au. All applications must include a
copy of your current CV and the details of two Referees
Look not at what you have lost, but at what
you have left!
