One thing to remember

13th December--Thought 4 the Week :
Wow, this is my last weekly email to you all (sob sob). So I think I better say something profound, so here goes… “If the world caved in around me, to You I will still hold on, cos You’re all that I believe, You’re the one that created me, Jesus because of You – I’m free!”
If I can pass anything on to you, or that you will remember one thing from the time we have been involved with Litehouse youth ministries, that would be that the one and only thing that matters in life is your relationship with God. If you have a personal relationship with Him, and are developing that each day through prayer and reading the Bible, cos you want to and love to, then absolutely everything else flows out from this. If you stand firm on that and purpose to live you life only for God, then you will know true purpose and fulfillment. My prayer is that you will all stand strong, that you won’t be distracted by stuff that doesn’t last, and that you will help each other to do the same. May God bless you as you choose the best path of a lifelong relationship with Him.
“Just live your life with God inside, and you won’t regret one moment of it.”

Extra ordinary gifts

7th December--Thought 4 the Week :
I had a big clean out at home the other day and came across a pamphlet from TEAR Fund, that I had received last year. It was entitled “Extraordinary Gifts” and displayed gifts like goats, & cows etc that I could purchase as a Xmas gift for someone in another country. This idea struck me as something quite practical and significant in another person’s life.
We have been challenged this year to look past our own community and REAL authentic in our faith by showing God’s love to those around us.
Maybe this is a way you can practically care for someone who is less fortunate than us. You know how much you hate a mosquito buzzing around your head at night? Well, you could purchase a mosquito net for $7 and a family in Cambodia who sleeps under it dramatically reduces the risk of contracting malaria. Or you could purchase safe water for a child for $5. A Bible is $20, a goat, $50, a pig $45. I have plenty of brochures, if you would like one, please just ask, or you could also visit www.tearfund.org.nz
Let’s give a gift this Xmas that counts for eternity rather than one that ends up in next year’s garage sale.

No regrets

29th November--Thought 4 the Week :

I was watching a DVD the other day called ‘The Interpreter’ and it had a story in it about an African legend. The story went a little like this…
If a member of your family was murdered by someone, on the year anniversary of the murder, the person who committed this crime would be taken to the river, a weight tied to his foot, and taken out to the middle of the river where he was let go. The family members on the bank had two options. They could watch him drown, and live with the grief all their lives, or they could swim out and safe him and be able to live the rest of their lives without bitterness and grief. It illustrated quite profoundly the power of forgiveness to me, or the opposite of hanging onto to our grievances and bitterness.
As we look back over this year, and reflect on what has happened, may I encourage you to forgive and let go of those things that are hurtful or bring grief and bitterness. Let’s head into 2006 with no regrets!