A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present “Seven Wonders of the World.” Though there were some disagreements; the following received the most votes: Egypt’s Great Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, the Panama Canal, the Empire State Building, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Great Wall of China. While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her list yet. She asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, “yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.”

 “… The things we overlook as simple and ordinary…”

 “… a new season has begun…”

This story is about a women who is weak from the constant loss of blood, anaemic and abused. She would have tried every mythical idea of a remedy; drinking herbs; sudden frights; even sitting in certain ditches. She was at her wits end, financially exhausted and her options had long since run out. God loves it when our options become limited. All too common in today’s society is the Christian who straddles the fence of the world never burning all the bridges; holding onto the past; even the pain of the past. Jumping from crisis to crisis; looking for the sympathies of a world that couldn’t care less.

 “… she made a decision…”

“… allow God to use YOUR old wounds to bring healing and hope to others…”

He will set you free from the quick sand of vain regrets; those haunting memories of what would’ve been, could’ve been, and should’ve been. We need to learn from the past, not be enslaved to or by the past.
Jesus continues to free us from the fear of not being good enough. I still feel insecure and under equipped in some important areas of life, mostly relational. I yearn to be more of a present person and less of a performing commodity. We probably all assume people want from us, more than they want to know us. May God break the chains of that assumption?
I want to be a much better listener and rememberer; giving people the gift of engagement, and not just momentary politeness. God forgive us when we compare ourselves with others. It’s one thing to look for good models, but quite another to turn your models into idols. Let no other voice have as much defining power in your life as His.
My prayer for us all this week is that God continues to set us free from the shaming and angering power of old wounds and help us accept the fact that some stories will only be fully healed when He returns. Just allow God to use YOUR old wounds to bring healing and hope to others…now there’s a thought!

Memory Verse
Psalm 142:7 Bring me out of prison that I may give thanks to your name

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This Video is a short overview of our Big Church Serve outreach this Easter!

This clip was made for our ‘Stories of Hope’ night in Emmanuel Church, Lurgan on the 8th April 2012

The apostle Paul writes in 1Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is devoid of truth and is fruitless. And again in verse 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is mere delusion [futile, fruitless], and you are still in your sins.

“… He is not here, He is risen…”

According to Paul this was the very essence of our preaching. We don’t worship a dead Saviour but one who died and then burst the bands of death asunder and rose victorious to prove that all was settled. Last week is commonly known as ‘Holy Week’ and what a week it was here in Lurgan with the BIG serve but also 2000 years ago when Jesus was arrested and tried then mocked, flogged and crucified. In 1 Corinthians 2:7,8 Paul says “we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery”, or a ‘secret’ because, “if the rulers of this age had have known they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.”

What a mess they made, the devil and his host of crusaders planned and schemed the crucifixion of Christ even infiltrating Jesus’ own elite team and stealing Judas, only to realize on Easter morning that they hadn’t planned it at all. As a matter of fact he was just a little pawn in the King’s chess board and as dawn came on that Sunday Morning the devil understood ‘Check mate’.

The Resurrection is such a vital part of our faith so today with fellow Christians all over the world we celebrate the fact that there is indeed a Man in the Glory, “the first fruits of them that have fallen asleep,” 1 Corinthians 15:20

That simply means that because Jesus conquered death so shall we also in that last day, we who are mortal will put on immortality. Let’s celebrate our amazing King today.

Are there any giants preventing you from fulfilment in God? Here’s what should you should do.

“…The weapons that we fight with are not weapons of this world…”

Identify the giant V’s 26; David asks, “Who is this that defies the armies of the living God.” It’s of vital importance that we call it what it is. One of the problems is we begin to make excuses.

Choose your weapons V’s 40; David chose five small stones, he had heard from God and he knew exactly what to take. So we must learn our weaponry 2 Corinthians 10:4 says “The weapons that we fight with are not weapons of this world. On the contrary they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”(niv)

Advance towards the giant V’s 48; David did not run in fear or defeat, he met it head on knowing and trusting that God would bring him through.

Don’t take victory for granted V’s 50,51; Remember not to rest on your laurels when you have come through, this is a very vulnerable time. Take its head off while you can.

Memory Verse

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“…Hosanna…”

A couple of things happened that would turn the hearts of the people. As soon as Jesus arrived in the city He went to the temple and found sin immorality and people abusing others, (sound familiar). He was furious and overthrew the money changers tables, made a whip and drove them out of God’s house. Yes this is the gentle Jesus meek and mild, loves sinners but cannot and will not tolerate sin. He then left but came back and faced the chief priests again. Read the story in Mark 11 to Mark 14.

Jesus just outsmarts them over and over again and His genuineness only enhanced their fraudulence. His connection with the Father only magnified their disconnect until their only option is to annihilate and destroy Him. These deceivers then stirred up the people against Jesus, (sound familiar). Have you ever thought how God brought the beautiful work of redemption out of this untold venom of hatred and jealousy? Satan’s plan to destroy the Prince of peace was only working into the hands of the master craftsman who was weaving out the story for you and me to come to fulfilment and life eternally. What began this week 2000 years ago is still unfurling in the world and has commonly become known as holy week. That’s was what Palm Sunday is all about HISTORY…HIS story, and the coolest part is that you and I are part of it all…His story!

Have a great holy week, love you loads.

Memory Verse

Psalm 53:1 … The fool has said in his heart there is no God

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“… Jesus is not dead but alive…”

Memory Verse

Isaiah 40:18
To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness will you compare unto Him.

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