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Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance - James 1:2 - 3 Trials. We all experience them. Hard times which we would prefer not to have happened. Whether it is something in our personal or professional life; a loss of a family member or just something unexpected; unpleasant and difficult experiences are a part of life. And most of times, that is all they are - an unpleasant, difficult experience that we go through and come out the other end. They leave a mark, but it's comparable to a cut which eventually scabs over and heals; maybe leaving a faint scar. But sometimes these events are more. For some, our current situation is like this. We have had the initial shock and panic caused by the recent outbreak and lockdown; and now we are just living with this scary, distressing situation. People have lost work and therefore income; been told family and friends are close contacts of COVID cases - or in some cases been diagnosed with COVID. Lives have been lost in the past 6 weeks and, frustratingly, although the numbers do not appear to be increasing exponentially, infections in the community remain high. As we talked about last week, it is situations like this that our Sympathetic Nervous System kicks in. Our body starts producing adrenaline to help us cope with the stress and we start focusing on identifying and managing the threat. We become alert and blood starts pumping faster around our body (including into our brain) so we can more faster, react quickly and survive. And while our body is working automatically to protect us from the threat; our brain is also working quickly to process information and learn from the experiences. The brain is one of the most powerful organs in our body. It is capable to doing multiple tasks concurrently, including ones that you aren't aware it is doing (e.g. digesting food, keeping your heart beating). It takes all the information your senses receive, analyses and synthesises them to help you understand and interpret the world. Our brain also has the amazing, unique, capacity to become aware and reflect on their own thought process- a concept known as "meta cognition" - creating an inner dialogue which can help or hinder our ability to cope with stressful situations. Unfortunately, often in stressful situations our inner dialogue or "self talk", although attempting to help us, inadvertently makes things worse. Because we feel threatened or in danger, our brain focuses on, and sometimes magnifies, the risk to help prevent it from occurring. As we become more aware and focused on these risks, we often start feeling overwhelmed and have thoughts such as "I can't cope" or "Things are never going to change". Which then means we magnify the risk even more, leading us to feel even more overwhelmed, anxious and scared. Ultimately, this pattern creates a never ending, distressing, cycle. All of which is based on our thoughts and perceptions of the world. However, in the sermon this week (see HERE if you haven't watched it), Richard referenced James 1:2 -4. Richard explained how James encourages us to have a different perspective (and therefore inner dialogue) towards these trials; focusing on the opportunity rather than the cost involved. From a psychological perspective, this involves firstly taking a massive step back. You see, ultimately our inner dialogue has no influence on the real world. Your mind constantly has ideas that you chose not to act on; whether it is not having that second glass of wine, or deciding to go to work when you are tired - you chose whether to listen to it or not. Once you recognise that the inner dialogue is simply a thought, you can decide whether to listen to it or not. For example, when I start worrying about what could happen to my family if they get COVID; I can take a (metaphorical) step back, and then say to myself "Ashleigh, that is your anxiety talking. You do not need to listen to it". And then I focus on something else. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”‭ - Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ And the best thing is that God has given you something else to focus on. In times like this, when often our thoughts are unhelpful and focused on the situation, redirecting our thoughts to what God says and commands is a great way to help us feel better. If worrying about my family's safety makes me feel scared, thinking about the power and love of God makes me feel safe. So, today I want to finish up with some verses. Verses that can remind us of God’s power, of how he is in control and that during this time we are not alone. And I encourage you, during the week when you start to notice that your self talk isn't helping you, take a step back, tell yourself it isn't a helpful thought and then remind yourself of one of these verses. And hopefully, that will help you calm down and feel safer. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” - Psalm‬ ‭23:4‬ ‬‬“Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” - John‬ ‭14:27‬ “The Lord be with you all.” - 2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:16‬ “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you” - Psalm‬ ‭55:22‬‬‬ “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” - Matthew‬ ‭11:29‬ “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” - Proverbs‬ ‭3:5‬ “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” - Exodus‬ ‭14:14‬‬‬ As always, God bless and stay safe. - Written by Ashleigh Crosilla.

It’s funny how quickly four walls can become oppressive. How suddenly friends and family can become risks rather than sources of comfort. How our routines, our structure, can suddenly be forced to change for reasons out of our control. Our safe world (again) has turned into a dangerous place to be. And during these times, we often start searching for places or people to support and comfort us. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold" - Psalms 18:2 How many times have you read or heard someone tell you to seek God in times of stress. To read the bible, pray or worship him. While this is vital and I cannot stress hard enough the importance and truth of turning to God first and foremost in all aspects of your life; I firmly believe that seeking and turning to God is not this isolated, spiritual action. God does not just act in this miraculous, solve your problems, give you a spiritual hug way. God acts within this world, providing and using the resources that exist. Have you ever heard the story about the Drowning Man (see HERE)? It describes a man who is drowning and is approached by three men to help him. Each time he rejects them, claiming God will save him. Unfortunately, the man ends up drowning and in heaven, approaches God asking why he did not save him. God replies "I sent you three men to save you, what else could I possibly do for you?" We read the bible and see stories of Burning Bushes (Exodus 3:1 -2), Pillars of Clouds and Fire (Exodus 13:21-22); Jesus healing the sick (Matthew 8:16) and raising the dead (John 11:1 -44) and while we want that to happen for us; unfortunately most of the time God works with the tools he has already placed in the world. And right now, that's science. Science is what God is using to create a way for us to live safely in this world - whether it is physically, or mentally. Now I am not going to start discussing vaccines and whether we should or should not be taking them as I am not a medical professional. But what I can talk to you about is what science has told us about stressful situations and their impact on how body and mental health. Physically, our bodies are this amazing thing. The way different the different parts of our bodies work, how powerful our brain is and how we are "wired" to protect ourselves is amazing. From birth, our body tells us when we are hungry, tired or need the bathroom; we breathe automatically and we can react to dangerous things without thought. And this reaction is due to the interaction between our senses (which obtain information about the world) and our brain (which interprets that information in a multitude of ways) through the Automatic Nervous System. Source: AncientsSynergy. The Automatic Nervous System regulates involuntary responses including heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. And there are two pathways - one which activates or increases these responses (The Sympathetic Nervous System) which is what is triggered when we feel threatened or unsafe - our Fight or Flight Response; and one which deactivates or reduces these responses (The Parasympathetic Nervous System). Right now, my Sympathetic Nervous System is on high alert, flooding my body with adrenaline which increases my heart rate, gets my blood pumping and keeps me hypervigilant. And when you are getting chased by a lion, you really want that. But, long term, this isn't helpful and ultimately can result in our body shutting down entirely (the Parasympathetic Nervous System kicking in to the extreme or Freeze Response). Instead, while we want to activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System; we want to do that in a healthy way to bring our body down to a calmer, more regulated place. And that is where self care and social engagement become extremely important. “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,” - ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:29‬ ‭‬‬ When we are in danger, taking self care and having a chat with someone is the last thing we want to do. Which is why in these times it is the most vital thing we can do - and in some ways, how turning to God actually effects us physically. Self care is about meeting your physical and emotional needs. It communicates to the body you are safe and important. How? Well firstly, we have physical bodies with physical needs. Just like a car, we need fuel (healthy food and drink), we need to be used (do some exercise) and we need rest (sleep). When you don't care for your car it ends up breaking and the same applies for us. Secondly, we need to relax. When we are scared, we breathe shallowly to get lots of oxygen in, so deep, belly, breathing naturally calms the body down. There are plenty of online guides for breathing exercises (I recommend THIS one); or try some slow exercise such as yoga, Pilates or stretching. Thirdly, connect with someone. Social connection activates the Parasympathetic Nervous System. Being around people (even online) communicates safety and companionship. So, arrange an online chat or call someone. Come to online church and say hi in the chat boxes. We have life groups running multiple times per week - so come say hi. And finally, connect with God. God is real and talking to God or reading the bible is the same as talking to a friend or family member. Open up to him about how you are feeling and watch as being close to him calms you down. “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you” - Psalm‬ ‭55:22‬‬‬ Know that you are not alone right now. Whatever you are experiencing - whether it is financial stress, social isolation, having to be out in this community; there are multiple physical and spiritual tools available to help. And if you need more - seek them. Talk to your doctor about additional supports; turn to your Life Group leader or have a chat to Rob or myself. God bless and stay safe. - Written by Ashleigh Crosilla.

I have found understanding the love of God over my life the most exhilarating, and at times the most elusive, of challenges. Increasingly more often than not I am so strong and clear in my understanding of His great love for us, and for me. But more often than I'd like, in my life, in my affections, in my thinking, I seem to temporarily lose my securing centre in the love of God. During lockdown, the Lord has been taking me deeper into a fresh understanding of the love of God. And it has led me to this statement regarding the love of God revealed to us in Jesus: "God loves us totally" This statement seems scandalous. How can God love us totally? Would I love me totally? I mean, there are parts of my life that I am very much trying to work my way out of, with God's loving grace and power leading me all the way. Does God love those parts of me? God isn't pleased with my sin (Lamentations 3:34-36), so how can He love me or any of us totally? Check out the love Jesus is described as having for his disciples in John 13:1 - "It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." (John 13:1) What we read here is what is meant by God's total love for us. He loved his disciples constantly, and right to the very end of his time on earth. What this means is that He never stopped loving them. There was not a time when Jesus stopped or reduced His love for them. This is an immense statement. This is Jesus's trustworthy orientation to the disciples, and us. Were these disciples perfect? No. Were they always faithful? No. Did they get Jesus, and His mission, at all points? No. Did they demonstrate profound weaknesses of character and belief in Him? Yes. And yet, He loved them totally. Total Love Means Love to the Very End This is the orientation of Jesus, to us. It is a bent towards us that we simply cannot change. We may change how we relate to Jesus, but He does not change from loving us, to the very end. We may refuse His love but He will not be changed in His love towards us. We may doubt His love, we may ignore His love, we may not get His love - but He will love us, to the very end. This IS the scandal of God. This is the scandal of the Gospel. It is not just the scandal of the love of God. It is the scandal of who God is. And boy is it good news to all who come into God's love-orbit!!! So what does this love look like? Can it be described? Can it's characteristics be listed. Because it is one thing to know that God loves us totally to the end. It is another thing to understand how He loves us totally, to the very end. This is what God's Love Looks Like An inspired study of the key word for God's love in the New Testament, agape, has been done by French Bible scholar Ceslas Spicq (1901-1993), in a three volume work called Agape in the New Testament. In Volume three, Professor Spicq outlines 6 characteristics of the love of God from his extensive survey of the New Testament use of the term. Here they are, giving us a clearer sense of just how Jesus loves us, to the very end. I have quoted from Spicq's work, because his way with words is profound. From page 161-162 of his third volume, which you can read here, Spicq describes Jesus' love as: a declared love - "affirmed and reaffirmed and always proved. The Lord wants to convince the disciples of his love for them." a love of respect - his mission is given to us. "This accounts for the value we have in Christ's eyes and for the attention with which he receives us." a delicate, extremely solicitous (full of desire) love - "which wants to exclude all anxiety and fear from the hearts of those he loves (John 14:1). It communicates his peace and joy to them and exhorts them to absolute trust." a love of predilection - "'I have chosen you' (John 15:16) as a shepherd who knows his sheep and calls each by name." (John 10:3; 14). an intimate love- "'His own' are his familiars...even his friends...whom he initiates into the mystery of the life of the Trinity." Jesus wants a deep communion with us, to remain in his love as quoted above, and more than this, He wants to be "in them" (John 17:23)! a merciful and generous love - "Jesus did not come to judge; his entire mission was to save man from darkness, sin and death. When he offered living water to those who thirst (John 6:35; 7:37), he wanted to communicate to them a superabundance of the divine life (John 10:10; 17:2) and a participation in his glory and beatitude (John 17:23-24). Mediator of the divine charity, the Son transmits what he has received from the Father, all that fills him interiorly, his pleroma [fullness] (John 1:16)...his gifts are identical with his Person (John 6:35) so that when he gives himself, he gives all things (1 John 5:11). Can it be said that Christ transmits even greater riches, meizona touton (14:12)? He will send you 'another advocate to be with you for all time to come' (14:15)." a gift-giving love - "His sacrifice is a decisive proof of his love and a gesture which shows how great a love it is. Having always loved his own, the Saviour ended his life by sacrificing himself for them. This is supreme charity (John 15:13)." Can you come away from this, and not be inspired. This is how Jesus loves you, and me, to the end. Right now You may be doing great, or doing poorly. You may be feeling anxious regarding lockdown, anxious about other things, or loving not having any obligations or commitments outside of your home. Wherever you are at, this meditation on the character of the love of God is a game-changer. How do we get His love into us? The gift of meditation, as God calls us to it in His word. Psalm 1 declares that we are blessed if we "meditate on [God's] law day and night" (Psalm 1:2). I can think of no more important law in God's whole revelation than the law of Divine love. My encouragement to you is thus - over the next 6 days, personalise these key characteristics of the love of God, in prayer, for you personally. For example: Day 1 - Jesus has declared His love to me. He has affirmed and reaffirmed His love to me in His word, such that I can live convinced He loves me. Day 2 - Jesus love respects me, far more than I deserve. He has given me the highest calling, to participate in His mission, and so He values me and attends to me deeply. Day 3 - Etc. But don't stop here. In your interactions with others, look for opportunities to encourage them in the love that you are internalising. Share with them that the same love you are discovering in Jesus, is for them just as much. Times like we're in right now are times that be greatly fruitful. If we take the opportunity to get secure in the ways that no lockdown, or virus, or series of world events, can shake us from. Pressing into the love of God in Jesus Christ with you this week! Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

I totally felt this way on Sunday night, having been in the first day of our stay-at-home-order. I had a growing sense of anxed in the pit of my stomach, and I realised...I felt locked down within, and it wasn't pleasant! It was 10:30pm at night, and I was feeling as wired as ever. So I went for a walk. This is my way of getting moving (when I feel stuck), getting energy out, and getting clarity prayer-walking with the Lord. God, faithful as He is when we seek Him, brought me some much needed clarity as began this stay-at-home work week. As I was thinking about how I could encourage us, the Lord reminded me of David's experience in Psalm 18. Quite the dramatic Psalm, David speaks of his overwhelm, of God's might moving on his behalf, and then he declares so eloquently what the Lord did next: "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." [Psalm 18:16–19] Now it would be extreme to equate our current lockdown restrictions to being attacked by strong and powerful army forces, but that's not quite the parallel I'm seeking to draw. Rather, the encouragement for us is this - that God, Almighty God Himself, responds to our overwhelm personally! Psalm 18 is all about David being hemmed in on all sides, crying out to the Lord, and finding deliverance and brought out into a "spacious place". For the Claustrophobic Among Us David's testimony of God's mighty response to his "locked-in" condition is faith-building. So how do we break through our anxed, our fear, or our sense of being "locked-in" - no matter whether it is because of our current circumstances, or whenever it might strike in our lives? Praise God for Who He Is - Notice how David starts this Psalm: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:2) You can feel the strength of this declaration, as you read each phrase and line. And this is the secret to strength in hard times - finding the truest source of strength. And God is always and unceasingly our sure source! Even more importantly - God's strength CANNOT be affected by the changing circumstances of our lives and times. So as we focus our hearts on praising God for who He is - our anxed is replaced with awe and wonder in who God is, for us, right here and now! Cry for Help (Pray) - David does not deny his need. After freshly beholding the Lord in His greatness and strength, David gets straight to it: "In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help." (Psalm 18:6a) Be Assured of His Answer - In the second portion of verse 6, David continues: "From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." (Psalm 18:6b) David is without doubt as to God's response to his cry for help. He is heard, and then we read on from verse 7, of God's powerful answering response. But...Will God Answer Me? This is a question that has assailed me many times. And it is a real one. Does God really take such close notice of my life, as to answer me like He answers David here in Psalm 18? Let me offer a response by way of pointing to the regular teaching of Jesus in the Gospels. It is powerful to note that Jesus often taught like this in order to build our faith to seek God and expect powerful answers. Check out these two passages, as examples, that indicate to us just how Jesus wants to respond to our cries and prayers: "Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:21–22) "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1–8) What can we say about God's desire towards our prayers? He clearly wants us to pray, with expectation that He will answer us. You Can Pray Anywhere, Anytime Here's the biggest deal about prayer - prayer cannot ever be "locked-down." You can seek God, cry out to God, and experience His answers anywhere, anytime. Prayer is the single most powerful, important, and constantly accessible form of agency you and I have in this life as followers of Jesus. So, this week - choose to praise God, cry out, and be assured - God's mighty answers through Jesus Christ are on the way. miracle of miracles, God may provide immediately in answer to your cries!!! He's capable, and willing! Don't underestimate the power of your prayers before the living God! Let's get praying church! Written by Ps. Rob

The emphasis in the book of Acts is overwhelmingly on the Holy Spirit. The book could be said to be the Acts of the Holy Spirit, as New Testament Scholar William Barclay notes in his book, The Promise of the Spirit. The Book on the Holy Spirit Writing in an article "The Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts", Hubel L. Drumwright, Jr. notes this regarding the simple observation of the emphasis Acts has on the named activity of the Holy Spirit in the book: "In the American Standard Version of Acts there are fifty-six references to the Holy Spirit. By comparison to other portions of the New Testament the special significance of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts can be demonstrated. The combined sixty-eight chapters of the Synoptic Gospels contain only thirty-four references to the Holy Spirit. The combined chapters of Romans and 1 Corinthians (thirty-two), which are Paul’s longest letters, contain only forty-five references to the Spirit. In the Johannine literature, the Gospel and the Epistles, a combined total of twenty-eight chapters contain only twenty-one references to the Holy Spirit. With fifty-six references to the Holy Spirit in twenty-eight chapters, Acts can with justification be said to be especially the book of the Spirit." [Ref: https://preachingsource.com/journal/the-holy-spirit-in-the-book-of-acts/ ] I did a word search check in my bible software of the ESV (A version of the bible that is strong on accurate rendering of the original texts), and found, by comparison, when searching the term "Holy Spirit": Acts contains 83 references to Him. The Synoptics (Matthew, Mark & Luke) contains 46 references. Romans contains 12 references. 1 Corinthians contains 7 references. In the whole Johannine literature (including Revelation), there are a total of 9 references. In other words, the total references in all this combined NT literature does not surpass the total references in the book of Acts alone. At Every Key Moment At every key moment in the book of Acts, it is the Holy Spirit taking centre stage, or the lead role in what is happening in this early church history: The promise made by Jesus in Acts 1:8 is that the apostles and disciples would "receive power when the Holy Spirit" came upon them. We see this promise being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. The Apostle Peter explains - what you are seeing of the Holy Spirit is the promise of God in the OT (Acts 2:33). Peter also assures - any who repent and believe in Jesus shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). When Peter is brought before the Sanhedrin, he is filled with the Holy Spirit and with great boldness explains what he had just done in bringing healing to a lame man at the temple (Acts 4:8). When the church is reprimanded for preaching Jesus by the Jewish leadership council, the Sanhedrin, and told not to proclaim Jesus anymore, the Holy Spirit fills them and gives them great boldness to continue proclaiming Jesus (Acts 4:31). When Ananias & Sapphira lie about their level of generosity, they are said to be lieing against the Holy Spirit, and are struck down dead for their falsehood (Acts 5:3). When the church is struggling with growing pains in Acts 6, it is men full of faith and the Holy Spirit who are appointed to leadership positions to help with leadership in the growing church (Acts 6:5). When the word begins spreading into Samaria, the Apostles come down from Jerusalem to pray for the believers there to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15). When Saul is confronted by Jesus in a vision, and then blinded, a Christian man named Ananias is sent to him to restore his sight and specifically pray for him to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17), which happens, and then Paul begins boldly preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ thereafter. After this conversion of Paul, the church is said to walk in the fear of the Lord and the "comfort of the Holy Spirit", and "it multiplied." (Acts 9:31). Jesus life and ministry is explained in terms of being anointed by God "with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." (Acts 10:38). The Holy Spirit expands the church towards the wider Gentile world by falling upon and filling the eager Gentiles who gathered at the Roman Centurion Cornelius' house in Acts 10. Barnabas is used by God in Acts 11 to encourage the spread of the Gospel to the Gentile world and was a man described in these terms: "full of the Holy Spirit and faith" (Acts 11:24). The Holy Spirit is the one who commissions Barnabas and Paul (formerly the persecutor, Saul) for the work of the Gospel to which He was now calling them - the first of a number of missionary journeys Paul was commissioned to go on to expand the work of the Gospel in the world (Acts 13:2, 4). And this is just 15 of the 83 references to the work of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. And we're not even halfway through the book of Acts in terms of its number of chapters. As far as span of time is concerned, we're talking around 10 years of actual historical time passing. One thing is clear. The inspired author of Acts, Luke, is pointing out an undeniable reality. The lead actor, mover and shaker, and activator of the people of God in the book of Acts is the Holy Spirit Himself. Can we afford to be any different? We cannot be, as a church, nor as individual believers. We are a people, as the Apostle Paul declared in Romans, "led by the Spirit of God." And as Acts amply demonstrates, this is an active, specific, and powerful leading. What was clearly demonstrated in the history of the call, mission, and expansion of the church in Acts is assumed and explained theologically in the rest of the New Testament. The work of God in their midst is reflected on, understood, and explained in the pastoral Epistles of Paul, Peter, John, James and Jude. And of course, the book of Revelation could be described as the book of Holy Spirit revelations (starting in Revelation 2:10). I really desire to grow in this area, more and more! I have so much more to learn in being led by the Spirit, and so much more to discover in walking with Him! So, how do we live led? Acts 13:1-3 gives us three simple (and challenging) steps to take, everyday: Pray. Listen. Act obediently. Check it out more closely, here: "Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." [Acts 13:1–3] Here you clearly see: Earnest prayer - not just prayer, but prayer with fasting. Listening for the voice of God the Holy Spirit - who speaks to them a specific instruction. Obedient action - they responded in obedience to the clear instructions of the Holy Spirit, sending Barnabas and Saul off for missionary work. We can do no better than what is demonstrated here in Acts 13. Joining with you in being led by the Holy Spirit - as a believer, and as a church! Let's go! Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

What do you want people to say about you, when they talk about you to others, or talk to you? Do you want people to say things like: "You're so nice!" OR "She's such a capable person!" OR "You're so friend!" OR "He's so generous with everyone!" What about... She walks with God! When I'm around him, I cannot help but sense God is present. Francis Chan - Pastor, communicator, passionate exhorter of the church worldwide - notes in this video that this is exactly what the early church was known for. Check it out here: My Prayer for our Church For our church is simply this - That we would be known for this one thing, above all else: "God is really among you!" [1 Corinthians 14:25] Would you join me in seeking to be filled with the Spirit for one another, for our community, for our city! Let's be a people of God's Holy Spirit and His empowering boldness!!! Written by Ps. Rob

This week, Senior Pastor Sue Botta shares with us her 3 tips for building a strong partnership with the Holy Spirit! Worship I find that I connect with the Holy Spirit when I worship. The Bible talks a lot about worship – this can be with music or praise. Singing, listening to worship and just enjoying hearing songs, takes my heart and mind to another place. Saying Thank You Jesus. When we worship and lift the name of Jesus with our mouths, the power drops to our heart and His presence comes. It also shifts our minds from negative thoughts and complaining (Psalm 100:4). Walking and Praying I love to walk around our neighbourhood and when I do I pray. I pray in English and I pray in tongues - without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16). The blessing of speaking in tongues is that my brain does not need to engage. It is my direct communication line to Jesus from my heart to Him. Stilling my heart Life can be so hectic and busy, so noisy. I always remember the story of Susannah Wesley (Mother of Charles and John). She never preached a sermon, she had 19 children of which only 8 survived. She had an extremely hard life, yet she found time every Sunday afternoon to teach her children (with about 200 others who turned up) about Jesus. She practiced daily devotions and declared the grace of God. I heard that she had a rocking chair in the kitchen and when her apron was placed over her head, her children knew not to disturb her – she was spending time with Jesus. She was known as the “mother of Methodism”, as her sons went on to be the founders of the Methodist Church. (Psalm 100). Let these 3 tips stir and encourage you as you reflect on how they apply to your life! Written By Ps. Sue Botta (Senior Pastor of C3 Church Carlingford & Wentworthville)

This week, our Senior Pastor, Richard Botta, shares 3 ways you can build your partnership with the Holy Spirit. Tip 1 - Take Some Time If you want to connect with the Holy Spirit, then give Him some time. Undistracted, unhurried time. Don’t be in a rush to be with someone or something else – make the Holy Spirit your priority at the time and you will benefit immensely. Some things are not instantaneous – and relationships, deep abiding relationships are one of these things! Tip 2 - Pray in Tongues “He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him…” [1 Corinthians 14:2]. Speaking to God in tongues is not the only way to speak to Him, but it’s an accelerator by which we gain intimacy with God, and by which the Holy Spirit empowers us to serve others. The Lord loves each of us in a way that is distinctive. When we pray in the Spirit, we are speaking only to God. While we don’t know what we are saying, we do know to Whom we are speaking, as well as the texture of what our heart feels toward Him, as the Holy Spirit enables us to speak beyond the words we know. Quick link - A helpful insight on Tongues from internationally respected biblical scholar N T Wright if you are interested in finding out a bit more about this gift of the Holy Spirit. Tip 3 - Remember God wants to Give You the Holy Spirit “If imperfect parents know how to lovingly take care of their children and give them what they need, how much more will the perfect heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit’s fullness when his children ask him.” [Luke 11:13] I love that God wants to give us the Holy Spirit and John 3:34 reminds us that God gives us the Spirit “without measure”! Sometimes we think God has a pie that He carves up and there are only so many pieces of the pie. The impact of this thinking is we may think it is a competition to get even a little portion of the Spirit. But God wants to give you the Holy Spirit “without measure”. I like to think of a big water fall, like Niagara, water cascading in un-countable amounts, when I think of God’s desire to give the Holy Spirit to me. Written by Ps. Richard Botta, Senior Pastor of C3 Church Carlingford & Wentworthville

The title question is a question anyone who is following Jesus needs to ask. There are many reasons, but above all: Jesus promised us His Spirit - "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:15–17) Paul declared that being led by the Spirit is essential to being God's kid - "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God." (Romans 8:14) This week on the blog, I'm aiming to guide you through some great resources that I've curated in three crucial areas of understanding - your theology, your biblical understanding, and your prayer/worship. Why these three? Your theology is the structured thinking you have around a topic of Christian understanding. Your biblical understanding is the scripture that fills out that structure and gives that structure weight. Your prayer/worship makes it all real in living relationship with God. Firstly, Your Theology I know of few more influential scholars on the subject of the Holy Spirit, and especially Paul's understanding of the Spirit, than Gordon Fee. Two books that I would highly recommend on this crucial subject for Pentecostal Christians like us are: Paul, The Spirit and the People of God - a shorter version of a much longer work, basically exploring how important the Holy Spirit is to the whole work of God in history, through Old and New Testaments. God's Empowering Presence - the tome of in depth biblical study and scholarship that goes into the shorter above work. If you want to get a well researched, thorough, and inspiring understanding of a good theology of the Spirit read Fee. If you want to read an interesting interview about Gordon Fee that gives you a bit of his story and his influence in the world of Christian scholarship, check this out. If you want a visual storyboard of "Paul, The Spirit and the People of God", check this video out below: Secondly, Your Biblical Understanding I've curated what I would consider, from viewing a few of the samples, some solid bible reading plans from bible.com that you could consider working through to get a starting understanding of some of the key scriptures on the Holy Spirit. Here they are: 5 days - "The Holy Spirit Today." Some key scriptures, short teaching from the author, and questions for reflection. 6 days - "Who Is the Holy Spirit." More devotional, with a number of key scripture readings. 8 days - "The Holy Spirit." A catechism that captures core doctrinal beliefs around the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, Your Prayer/Worship Of course, you may have a great structured understanding of the Holy Spirit, and some great scriptures to back it up, but you need to have a living, breathing, dynamic relationship with God the Spirit. Prayer and worship are crucial. Here are some great songs/resources that will help you here: "This I Believe" from Hillsong - a fantastic, soaring anthem that will really build up your sense of God, including God the Holy Spirit. "Holy Spirit" by Kari Jobe and ft. Cody Carnes - this is a powerful song of desire for growing in your relationship with the Holy Spirit. "Circles" by Ryan Smith - fantastic instrumental music, creating a great atmosphere for prayer and engagement with the Holy Spirit. "Bethel: Synethesia" - again, different instrumental music for creating a great atmosphere for prayer. Hopefully you find a thing or two in here to encourage you and grow you in your partnership with the Holy Spirit. Growing in partnership with Him is not only key to a really enjoyable walk with God, but essential to living a powerful life on mission with God in the world. Let's get growing together! Written by Ps Rob Waugh.

Over the past few months I have (inadvertedly) explored concepts that feed into the idea of communion and it's meaning. Over Easter, I explored God's love for us within the context of Jesus' death (click here to read that blog post) and in doing so, explored explicitly the physical and psychological impact of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. I also explored the importance of sharing a meal with someone (see here), and last week I flipped the perspective from God's love for us to how God encourages us to love him in the way a child loves (click here). As such, when I realised the sermon (and therefore my blog) was going to be related to communion, I had no idea what to write. And so, like all great writers, I turned to the best source of wisdom in the world for some support - google. And in doing so, I stumbled onto an aspect of communion I rarely thought about - it's relationship to eternal life. Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day - John 6:53- 54 Eternal life. It's pretty much what this gig is all about, right? We make decisions, take actions and have faith not only so we can have a relationship with God in the here and now, but so we get to be with him on into the eternal future (John 3:3). It's a really good reason to persevere when we are struggling in our circumstances. Now, I am no theologian, and I find reading the Biblical book of Revelation absolutely terrifying (and mind boggling), so I am not going to delve into concepts such as what eternal life is going to look like, or the concept of a new heaven and new earth - there are way smarter people who you can turn to if you are interested (for example see HERE). Furthermore, the reality is no one can truly comprehend what the full picture of what our future holds - so I am not even going to try. Instead, I want to talk about life. John 6:53 says that without eating the flesh of God and drinking his blood (ew!), we have no life in us. That's a big, brave and scary concept, and from one perspective - not true. After all, we are alive right? Christian or not, we breathe, we eat, drink and do stuff. We have a consciousness that separates us from animals and, as philosophers all around the world argue, a "soul". So, what the heck is Jesus talking about when he says that we have no life? It's because Jesus isn't referencing the physical world; he is talking about the spiritual realm - our spiritual life. As such, The eating of the bread and drinking of the wine is a symbolic act allowing us to connect with God and his personal Presence - His Holy Spirit (John 6:56). Prior to Jesus' death, the Jew's communicated and worshipped God in the Temple or Tabernacle (Exodus 25:8-9). The Tabernacle was consecrated ground where God's presence could be found on the Earth (Exodus 29:42). We know that when Jesus died, the curtain of the temple was torn - God was no longer limited to this One place in the Earth (Matthew 27:51). Jesus, in acting sacrificially in our place, took all of our sin onto himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). In doing so, we no longer needed a temple to worship or connect with God. Instead, our bodies became the temple which housed the presence of God - the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). When we become Christians, we gain the Holy Spirit - much like the first Christians did on Pentecost (Acts 2) - which blesses us and helps us. So, in my mind, there is a link. Jesus' death gave us access to God who comes to us through the Holy Spirit. By partaking in communion, we are symbolically engaging in that process and remembering it. Communion reminds us of the eternal life that we have in God and his connection with us in the present moment by his Holy Spirit in us! And linking into the idea of the Holy Spirit, over the next few weeks Rob is going to explore with us the nature and concept of the Holy Spirit and some ways for connecting with Him. God bless! - Written by Ashleigh Crosilla.

Monday was technically my third Mother's Day... ...I was five weeks pregnant on my first, still trying to comprehend that I was about to become a mother. Rosa was four months old for my second and we spent the day just the two of us bonding. And yesterday we had a big family celebration with lots of laughter, food and love. Each in it's own way has been memorable and special and one of a kind - a reminder of the massive change in my life and the blessing that has been. Becoming a mother has significantly changed my perspective on a number of things. I have a greater, and deeper understanding of the sacrifice Abraham made by obeying God's order to offer Isaac on the altar (Genesis 22). And God's decision to send his son Jesus to the cross - the willingness to let his son suffer and die for us (Romans 8:3) is so much more profound as I understand and experience the love a parent has for their child. Even more powerfully, I can understand God's love for us in a greater and deeper way - considering we are his children. But while being a mother has not only taught me more about God's love, watching Rosa has shown me so much about how God wants us to be. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3 For the disciples - as a matter of fact, for all of us - getting to heaven is the end goal, right? And so, it makes sense that they would ask Jesus how to achieve this goal. And while I don't have a biblical reference to support this, I expect the disciples were seeking a list of deeds that they needed to do - I'm imaging like the list of labours Hercules did in the Greek myths (reference to that, here). Instead, Jesus told them to become like little children. At first, I couldn't understand that. As an adult, I used to see children as "mini adults"; but as I have watched Rosa grow over the past 18 months, and as I have observed my friends and families children, I have discovered a whole new way of seeing and interacting in the world. And as such - connecting with God Our Father. Children are innocent and unguarded As an adult, how easy is it for you to openly trust and be vulnerable with someone? When you started dating your husband, wife or partner, did you immediately open up and tell them your life story or did it take time for you to show them all the parts of you? Did you fall immediately in love with them, or did it take time? What about your friends - did you immediate trust them, implicitly? Or your parents - is love something that is entirely natural, or do you need to work on it everyday? While this might be a slightly challenging question, in my mind its normal. As adults we have had our hearts, our love, sadly used and abused. We have, mostly accidently, been betrayed and hurt by those we love - whether it is our parents, friends, partners, or even ex-partners. We have learnt that loving involves pain and that makes it sometimes harder to be open and vulnerable. So we protect ourselves. We take time to open up and be vulnerable. Children, especially young children, haven't learnt that yet. They love completely unconditionally. You can see it in their behaviour - how they run to you (or strangers in the case of my daughter) for hugs, they smile these big open smiles, laugh, and when you stare into their eyes it can seem like their heart is pouring out of them. There is no fear or caution involved - they just love. Children seek comfort when distressed And because they can love unconditionally, they can trust us to comfort them when distressed. We know children are not born with the ability to regulate their emotions; they need their parents to help them understand, name and develop the skills to manage their emotions. Unlike most animals born in the wild, a new-born literally cannot survive without a caregiver to feed, change and protect them. So they learn to seek this caregiver for safety and comfort. Research has shown the psychological impact of children not receiving this emotional comfort (see here for some information - warning it is quite distressing to read) and it is devastating - in psychological circles we call this "attachment theory" and it is the foundation of the treatment style I work with. We are the heroes protecting them from the big bad world and, therefore teaching them how to see, understand and cope within this world. Children want to have fun and spend time with you. On the other hand, while we are a source of comfort and safety for children we are also their favourite plaything. Rosa has recently developed the habit of walking up to me, grabbing my hand and bringing me to sit next to her while she plays with her toys. While it's partially about safety - "as long as mummy isn't scared, I'm safe" her mind thinks - it's also about her desire for me to spend time with her. She is actively seeking a relationship with me and wants me to "delight in her" (again a concept from psychology - see HERE). And it's not just Rosa - I see it in all the children around me; smiling and laughing when they are playing with mum and dad, sharing toys and constant stories about their life, day and what they can see. They want to be close to us. We are God's children So, if this is how children are with us , then I imagine that this is how God wants us to relate to him. God is our father - our primary caregiver (1 Corinthians 8:6). He loves us the same way we love our children and wants us to relate to him in the same way. Much like our children openly love and trust us, he wants us to be open and vulnerable with him (Psalms 139:23 - 24). He loves us unconditionally (Isaiah 54:10), and as such we can love him the same way. He has a plan and purpose for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Similarly, he is there in times of discomfort and pain and we can turn to him (Psalm 34:18). Lastly, we can have fun and celebrate with him. He wants a relationship with us (REF); for us to talk to him and share our lives (Revelations 3:20). We can trust him because he is the perfect caregiver. So, this week think I want you to think about the children in your lives. Watch how they interact with their parents, friends and family. Take time to notice the innocence and openness they display. And consider how you can use what you have seen to connect more closely with God. And as always, if you find this to be a struggle then seek out community, and seek out help. Talk to your life group leader, to Rob or even seek professional help. As always, God bless and have a wonderful week. - Written by Ashleigh Crosilla.

Have you ever been abseiling? Otherwise known as "rappelling", it involves using ropes to complete a controlled decent down a vertical drop - often a cliff face - backwards. Harnessed in, you carefully step backwards towards the edge of the cliff, and once you reach it, you lean backwards until the rope is taunt and holding your weight before taking a step into thin air. It's a huge leap of faith you as trust the rope will hold you as otherwise you will fall off the cliff. Much like skydiving, or bungy jumping, its both exhilarating and petrifying as you are releasing control into someone - something - else. Planting a church is much like taking that step off the cliff. While we have been generously supported by C3 Church Carlingford and are still part of the one church across two locations, we still had to take the leap. Much like the ultimate aim of abseiling is reaching the ground, the purpose of the church plant is to eventually become an fully autonomous C3 Church. But this is a steady process involving multiple controlled steps. When we first launched, Rob and Beth described this undertaking by referencing the The Fellowship from The Lord of the Rings. In The Lord of the Rings, a Council was held at Rivendell, an Elvish Town, and involved representatives from three of the largest races - Men, Elves and Dwarves (thank you Lord of the Rings Fandom). The outcome of this meeting was the development of the Fellowship of the Ring - nine members who united together to take the ring to Mount Doom to be destroyed. I love the metaphor, us as a church uniting together to achieve something. And as Rob explored in the service - we have done this fantastically as a church and we should be proud of our achievements. And we know from the books that eventually the Fellowship achieve their goal - the ring is destroyed. Just like we eventually will achieve ours. However, the path to destroying the ring did not involve all nine members completing the journey to Mt Doom. As a matter of fact, ultimately only two of the nine actually reached that milestone. Instead, each and every member had their own journey to take in supporting that goal. Similarly, as individual members of the church, we have our own purposes, pathways and roles. Whether it is participating in a team, attending the monthly pray meetings or acting as a team leader, we each actively contribute to this church and the church is blessed for it. Furthermore, as we explored last week, being present with God is a vital part of both church life and your own spiritual growth. And while the practical and active side of planting a church is vital (you can't destroy a ring unless you physically travel to the mountain or can't reach the ground unless you climb down the wall), for me personally, I think it starts with something else - something spiritual. And it is something I often think in our daily life we forget about. And that is faith. "...Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 The members of the Fellowship had faith that united, they could destroy the ring. Rob, Beth and the launch team had faith that together we could plant (and sustain) a church that would make a meaningful impact in Wentworthville. And God has rewarded that faith. God has united with us in impacting Wentworthville. But, sometimes I wonder, in our busy, daily lives is this something that you actively, consciously do? Do you consciously, specifically take time to turn to God and release control? Not just when it is too much, but even on the days when you can manage it yourself. I became a Christian because I realised I could not control my life. Much like taking that first step when abseiling, I had to release control and trust (have faith) that something more powerful, something greater would catch me. Faith begins with knowing that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour (Luke 2:11) - actually it starts by believing there is a God (John 14:1) - which objectively is a huge commitment when you cannot tangibly see him. Faith is giving God control (Psalm 22:28), rather than relying on our own actions. Faith doesn't have to be big, gigantic thing - it can be as small as a mustard seed. And yet, even that tiny bit of faith can move mountains. I have previously spoken about my "Impossible Faith" list - things that I have no control over which I intentionally give to God to address. And God has answered a number of my prayers. As a church, united, we have faith that we can achieve something. That's the foundation of the church. But individually - how much faith do you have in God? Have you given God control over your own life; or just the parts that are beyond you? Where are you standing on the cliff? Are you creeping towards the edge, but still remaining in contact with the ground? Are you starting to lean back - or have you completely released control? I know God has a purpose for us (Psalm 57:2 ESV) if you give him the space to lead you in it. So this week - what do you need to do differently? Whether it is turning directly to God or seeking support and prayer from your Life Group or at church, can can you start building and growing your faith in God? There is a purpose for this, and much like the various members of the Fellowship your journey will be unique, challenging and (sometimes) exciting, but most importantly - not alone. God bless - see you in Church on Sunday to celebrate Mothers Day. - Written by Ashleigh Crosilla.