Harvestlands Culcairn

02/04/2020

“Perfect, absolute peace surrounds those
whose imaginations are consumed with You;
they confidently trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

31/03/2020

SEATED WITH JESUS TOGETHER.

Have you ever had a person repeatedly pop into your mind or heart but you’ve not known why? Or have you ever had moments where you’ve felt excited, agitated, scared, joyful, happy (or some other emotion) in regard to someone? Sometimes what we are sensing about someone could literally be what that someone is experiencing in real life.

I personally cannot count the number of times I have had friends contact me in different seasons to say, “Cath, are you ok? You have been on my heart all morning, so I thought I’d drop you a line,” or “Cath, I feel such excitement for you at the moment! Wanna catch up?!” or (as has happened more often than not) “Cath, I am ‘seeing’ “this” go on around you. Is this true? If so, I will pray… I’m standing with you.” Suffice it to say, those friends were spot on and I felt their love simply because they reached out.

The amazing thing is that we are all a part of one body ‘IN’ Jesus. We have access to feel how our ‘feet’ are doing, or our ‘hands’, or our legs, our eyes, our fingers, etc., and the mind-blowing truth about this is that God raised us up WITH Christ and seated US WITH HIM in Heavenly realms. Ephesians 2:4-9 says:

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, MADE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And GOD RAISED US UP WITH CHRIST and SEATED US WITH HIM in the heavenly realms IN CHRIST JESUS, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. FOR WE ARE GOD’S HANDIWORK CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS…”

In this particular season, many of us have found ourselves isolated in different ways, but this doesn’t have to be the end of the story or the adjournment of adventure. This is a time where the body of Christ can continue to function as a body—or even grow as a body—from a physical distance and reveal the ‘incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness’ towards us.

If someone is constantly on your mind, or if you’re hearing / feeling / seeing a word of encouragement for someone, why not drop them a line? Or shoot them a message? Or video yourself doing a liturgical dance in full regalia to let them know that you are thinking of them. Alternatively, why not organise a ‘Zoom’ or ‘Messenger’ group video with your friends? Or if you’re feeling slightly creative, why not serenade someone with a song you have written for them, post an art piece that you have painted for them, send video updates on your latest handstand progress, create a “how to’s” list of weight-lifting cheats, or weave together a dramatic home movie by taking turns in adding to the visual storyline via shared media?

Social distancing does not equal complete visual distance or distance in spirit. And if you have been finding this season a little more difficult than others, please don’t lose heart. If you begin to feel isolated, reach out. Let people know how you’re doing, because you ‘are’ His child. WE are His children. WE walk in His truth and power. And WE are seated together WITH JESUS in Heavenly realms, no matter the season we are in.

Much love to you all.

Have a great week!
Xx

Photo Credit: Oceans in the Desert

14/12/2019

Christmas is almost here! What a great season it is to reflect on His love and kindness and His heart for every person to know him as He truly is—a loving dad who so wants the best for each and everyone of us. Emanuel, God with us!

For Christmas this year, we will be meeting at Neil and Fe’s for fun in the pool as well as other engaging entertainment—carols will start at 5pm.

Please bring meat and drinks and a salad to share.

We love our Harvestlands community and love what God is doing in the mids of us.

See you there!

All our love,
Jo and Paul

P.S. We don’t have a service this week (tomorrow) but we look forward to seeing you Saturday.

07/12/2019

Good Afternoon Everyone!

We will not be meeting for church tomorrow morning, but instead we will be gathering at Henty’s Carols by Candlelight.

The Henty Carols evening will begin at 8:00pm at the Henty Memorial Park.

Please bring a blanket or some chairs to sit on and some food to nibble if you wish.

Additionally, the Henty Community Fair will be on tomorrow and will start at 4:00pm. There will be rides, a jumping castle and face painting for the kids, some live entertainment, food, and market stalls... some great fun to be had in one of our local communities!

We hope to see you there!
Xx

29/11/2019

Hello everyone!

Jacobs School of Creative Arts Concert is on tomorrow, Sunday 1st December @ 4pm. As a result, we will not be holding a church service tomorrow morning. But please feel free to join us at the concert.

Let’s celebrate Jacob along with his students, as we gather as community!

15/11/2019

Good Evening Harvestlands Family!

This Sunday (17th November) we will be meeting at the Culcairn Footy Grounds in the club rooms at 10:00 am for a combined church gathering.

We hope you have had a great week and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

May blessings, yada, and all things wonderful cross your paths today.
Xx

19/10/2019

Hello everyone!

Just letting you know that there won’t be any church tomorrow (Sunday 20th October) as many of us will be away.

We hope you have an enjoyable Sunday doing whatever you choose to do!

Mucho love! X

23/09/2019

31/08/2019

Hey hey Harvestlands Family,

I hope you have had a great week - today's weather was awesome.

Just wanted to let you know that we have decided to not have a normal service at the hall this Sunday but celebrate Father's Day with the community down at the bakery. There are a lot of people celebrating the day in other place, which is awesome, so we thought to release people to either give their dads breaky in bed, or even better, come to the bakery and enjoy amazing food prepared by Josh and Jess.

Sorry for the late notice—we only just made the decision but hope you have an amazing day!

Many blessings
Paul, Jo and team

07/08/2019

FIRE AND SEEDS.

When we look at a seed it can be easy for us to assume that the little DNA pod we hold in our hand simply needs to be planted—tucked into the soil and loved on with sunlight, nutrients and water so that it will grow. But what if that’s not always the case? What if there’s another element needed in the activation of some seeds?

‘Pyrophytic plants’ are species of plants that only come alive when their seeds have been activated through fire. Yup, you read that right... FIRE.

When exposed to flames, the resin that has sealed shut or laid dormant some Pyrophytic seeds will be forced to melt away, allowing the seed shell to open. Other Pyrophytic seeds use the chemical signals from smoke to open up. Australia actually has a bunch of seeds that are only activated through fire. Eucalyptus and Banksia are two such species (the article below is an interesting read!).

We can walk around with dormant seeds in our lives. Dream seeds, seeds of hope, seeds of health, etc., but in some instances, it might just take the fire of God to activate those seeds.

John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

On Mount Sinai, the Israelites witnessed smoke rising from the mountain top because the fire of God was resting there. He was activating something. Tongues of fire appeared above the disciples heads when Holy Spirit met them in the upper room in the book of Acts. They had been waiting for the Helper to come, and He came by way of a mighty rushing wind and by tongues of fire.

In times of fire, seeds that have laid dormant in our lives—sometimes for decades—can be instantly activated and spring to life. Out of the most difficult and fire-filled seasons of our lives can spring the most beautiful living gardens around us.

Rare plants are springing up in an Australian park ravaged by bushfires – plants that had never been recorded there before the fire

19/07/2019

Jesus, my spirit was made alive because of You. Language is not adequate enough to describe the joy, gladness, delight, rapture, and excitement I feel at how good and how amazing Your love truly is, but that won’t stop me from trying!

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is [deep] within me, bless His holy name.
Bless and praise the Lord, O my soul,
And do not forget any of His benefits;
Who forgives all your sins,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you [lavishly] with lovingkindness and tender mercy;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the [soaring] eagle (Psalm 103:1-6).

Lyric video By:Liberty Christian Fellowship