Bad Habits

Ashya and I have just got back from Europe and there was one thing that really made an impression on me!! It was a little incident that happened on the train while we were in London. It was about a 45min trip and at the 4^th stop a guy who was a similar age to us hopped on the train and sat down next to me eating McDonald’s. 
After a couple more stops, he had finished his macca’s when I sprung him picking his nose. He didn’t know what to do so he just looked at me and paused with his finger still up his nose. At the time I 
thought that was a bit odd but tried to keep my laugh to myself. Within 2 minutes of me seeing him I get a nudge from
Ashya, who pointed at the window opposite us and through the reflection we could both see this guy flat out picking a winner!! Than one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen happened; after picking his nose for a good minute he pulls his 
finger out, looks at it, smells it and than sucks on the end of his finger. He then proceeded to start the whole process again.

By this time Ashya and I are trying our best not to laugh out loud. This went on for the next 5 minutes.

In Hebrews 5:11-14 it reads:

“I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you've picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit 
down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square 
one—baby's milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Milk 
is for beginners, inexperienced in God's ways; solid food is for the mature, 
who have some practice in telling right from wrong”.

Just like the guy on the train, Many Christians still struggle with the fundamental basic of a powerful Christian life instead of walking in destiny and victory. They struggle with some silly old sinful habit that keeps them feeling unworthy or not righteous.

I wonder how old this guy was when he first ever picked his nose and ate it. I think every young child did it once upon a time, but the truth is that normally your parents, friends or siblings help you to stop it.

It’s the same in Gods Kingdom; you can’t do life alone. Find someone you can trust that can help you be accountable to changing the old habits so you can keep growing stronger and richer in

God and the destiny he has for you.

Jack McDonald

The Local Church

On the first Sunday after I was born I was carried into my parent’s Local Church in my mother’s arms. I have been incredibly blessed to have been given a rich heritage, due to previous generations loving and serving in the House of God. My church congregation also became my extended family and the place for encouragement, friendship and development of who I was and what I could achieve in my life. Most days of my childhood included relationship with friends from my Church and opportunity to discover relationship with Jesus. I totally love the Church and its impact on mankind. It certainly is the Hope of the World!

Jesus said ‘I will build my Church and the gates of Hades won’t prevail against it.’ This is a seriously encouraging statement, because you and I are the Church. It’s not a building, its people like you and I connected together in this living, pulsating, organism called The Church!! A vibrant healthy church creates the opportunities for destinies to be unlocked, lives to be transformed, and hearts to be set on fire and a purpose to exist on planet earth! No wonder Satan is in fear and trembling, because when believers are filled with faith and the Holy Ghost, anything can happen!!!!

Here in Sydney, the Church is continuing to grow weekly. One of the most fulfilling experiences of my life is seeing the salvation of men, women, teenagers and children. My five year old grandson responded to the opportunity to give his life to Jesus, last Sunday night. His precious life is already being shaped in the most amazing way by the preaching of the Gospel. Generational transfer is happening before my eyes, as I see Isaiah loving Church and particularly impacted by worship. He goes to sleep most nights listening to the ipod playing his favourite worship songs.

There has been a saying for many years ‘the family that prays together stays together.’ The Local Church creates the environment for families to build this habit in their home. It’s the place where hearts are nurtured towards God and each other, and a spirit of unity established, that creates faith in the hearts of everyone in the home.

Be a contributor to the Church with your time, talents and tithe and you will be a recipient of abundance, grace and incredible blessings.

Psalm 92:13 ‘Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.’

Blessings to you,your family,home and Church

Tricia McDonald